Taking Off: Denisenko Ready to Make the Jump to North America

Grigori Denisenko has an NHL contract.

All he's waiting for now is a plane ticket.

After agreeing to terms on a three-year, entry-level contract with the Florida Panthers earlier this week, the feisty Russian winger is more than eager to make the jump to North America and start getting to work once travel restrictions caused by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic are eased.

"[I'm] ready [to travel] as soon as possible," Denisenko, who will turn 20 in June, said on a conference call Wednesday through a translator. "When the airports open, [I] want to come as soon as possible, search for [a] home, meet the team, meet coaches and [check out] the town."

There will certainly be no shortage of new things and experiences for Denisenko to take in once he does eventually to arrive to South Florida. There will be a new language to learn, some new customs to figure out and, most importantly, an entire new league and organization to adapt to.

But, like a would-be defender, Denisenko plans to skate right around those problems as well.

"There's not any kind of problem that can stop [me]," he said. "All the cultural differences, all the training differences, the people, the language barrier. There's only one way to prove [myself] and make everything happen."

Selected 15th overall by the Panthers in the 2018 NHL Draft, Denisenko has spent the past two seasons fine-tuning his game while playing against men in the KHL, which is not only the top professional league in Russia, but also considered to be behind only the NHL in terms of talent.

And although he didn't have the best opportunity to shine while playing for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (teenagers are typically given limited minutes and reduced roles in the KHL), Denisenko never failed to turn heads while playing against his peers in tournaments on the international stage.

At the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, he burst onto the scene with a stellar showing for Team Russia. Finishing tied for the tournament's scoring lead, he posted nine points (four goals, five assists), earned a spot on the event's All-Star squad and also took home a bronze medal.

Serving as Russia's captain the following year, Denisenko was just as good -- if not a little better -- during his second trip to the World Juniors in 2020. In addition to registering a team-best nine points (three goals, six assists), he also added a silver medal to his growing list of accolades.

Tweet from @HeresYourReplay: 🚨 Grigori Denisenko2-1 RUS🎥 @TSN_Sports #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/8KPc9LQhV5

In two appearances at the World Juniors, he notched 18 points (seven goals, 11 assists).

"Grigori is an exciting, dynamic and highly skilled young forward who has been a top player on the international stage and served as captain of Team Russia at the World Juniors," Panthers President of Hockey Operations & General Manger Dale Tallon said. "We are thrilled for his bright future with the Panthers for years to come."

Widely viewed as one of the league's top prospects by various writers and outlets, Tweet from @HeresYourReplay: 🚨 Grigori Denisenko2-1 RUS🎥 @TSN\_Sports #WorldJuniors pic.twitter.com/8KPc9LQhV5

On TSN's rankings of NHL-affiliated prospects that was released back in January, Denisenko sat second behind only New York Rangers prospect Igor Shesterkin. On the Hockey News' annual "Future Watch" prospect rankings, Denisenko ranked sixth in 2019 and eighth in 2020.

In watching clips of his game, it's easy to see all of the things writers love about Denisenko. His offensive skills are quite lethal and his skating is off the charts. But, even at 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, he also has a physical edge to his game that should prove beneficial at the next level.

Along with fellow former first-round picks such as Owen Tippett (10th overall, 2017) and Henrik Borgstrom (23rd overall, 2016), Denisenko projects to be one of several rising forward talents within Florida's burgeoning system competing for playing time in the NHL in the near future.

"[I'm] very happy for this opportunity to play for Florida and [sign my] first NHL contract," Denisenko said. "[I'm] ready enough to play and be a great part of the team."