Grigorenko sees perfect fit with Columbus

For Mihkail Grigorenko, perhaps nothing about his chance to return to the NHL was more important than fit.

After five up-and-down NHL seasons as a youngster followed by three excellent campaigns in his native Russia, Grigorenko looked at Columbus and found that fit.

He sees a team that will give him a chance to succeed, a management group that knows what his game is about, an exciting young team with a chance to win and a great city to do it in.

Add it all up and that's why he signed a one-year contract with the Blue Jackets and general manager Jarmo Kekalainen. While the contract was rejected by NHL Central Registry because of a misunderstanding pertaining to the filing window, the deal will be filed officially when the window opens on July 1.

"I like the fact that Jarmo watched me play for the past two years and watched me play live in Russia," Grigorenko said Tuesday. "He made some trips to watch me play. He really knows what kind of player I am, and I think it's important for me to get in a situation where people know what type of player. I think that's good.

"They offered me a contract and they offered me an opportunity. If I come to training camp and perform well, I'll get a chance to play and have an opportunity, so that's everything I can ask for in this situation. I thought Columbus would be a good fit."

Kekalainen certainly agrees, which is why he was willing to add the talented forward for the 2020-21 season. Grigorenko is coming off a successful three-season stay with CSKA Moscow, where the 25-year-old scored 46 goals and had 116 points in 147 games over three seasons. Over the last two seasons, he was nearly a point-per-game player, posting 36 goals and 93 points in 102 regular-season games and adding 13 goals and 21 points in 20 playoff games last year as CSKA won the KHL's Gagarin Cup.

"Time will tell, but he's just getting into his prime as a player," Kekalainen said. "He's 25 years old. I think the positive thing is there are other levels for him to get to still. It's not like he's plateaued or should plateau now. I think he could keep getting better for the next five years.

"We do believe in his potential. We do think he has a lot of those ingredients that will make a player successful over here."

Grigorenko was chosen 12th overall in the 2012 NHL draft by Buffalo and made his NHL debut as an 18-year-old the next season, spending three seasons trying to cement a spot with a Sabres organization that changed coaches twice in that time. He went on to spend two seasons with Colorado, notching 16 goals and 50 points in that span, before heading back to Russia with 22 NHL goals and 64 points to his account in five seasons.

This time around, Grigorenko views himself as a different and better player as he eyes his NHL return. His goal-scoring prowess, evidenced by 85 goals and 178 points in 115 QMJHL games as a junior, has returned in Russia with his shot routinely beating the best goalies in the league. He has earned time in all situations and seems ticketed to be a key addition to the CBJ power play next season. Grigorenko also says he's gained confidence after being a key player for one of the KHL's top teams.

"I think I got better as a player," he said. "I can't wait to get back on the ice and see for myself what kind of player I am. I think I can play in the NHL. Obviously, me signing in Columbus shows that Jarmo and the management think that I can play in the NHL. I can't wait to prove to the people that have trusted in me and (to) myself that I belong in the NHL and I can play at that level and help the team have success."

Grigorenko also points to success with CSKA and the Russian national team as helping him refine his game. He was a member of the Russian squad that won the gold medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, joining Vladislav Gavrikov on that team, and has been a key contributor at the World Championships the past two years.

In addition, CSKA won the Gagarin Cup a season ago after reaching the finals in Grigorenko's first season.

"I am just a more complete player, and it also has helped me that we won the Olympic Games with the national team and we won the Gagarin Cup in the KHL," he said. "I think it is important for a player to be winning team and know what it is to win."

As for joining the Blue Jackets and moving to the city of Columbus, Grigorenko did his due diligence in talking to Gavrikov and former Blue Jackets defenseman and current team scout Fedor Tyutin before making his decision.

"Gavrikov is a guy I played with and I talked to him on the phone a couple of times before signing and he said that Columbus is a good team with a good group of guys and coaching staff," Grigorenko said. "It's a good family town also. My friend Fedor Tyutin still lives in Columbus. We actually kept in touch since we played in Colorado together, and he likes it a lot in Columbus. Obviously after he finished his career he moved back there and is back there now.

"It shows how good of a city it is to raise a family. You just focus on hockey and not any other distractions. I'm really excited to get to Columbus and get to know the city and the team a little better."