At 9:10am this morning, the QMJHL’s Quebec Remparts selected Russian prospect Mikhail Grigorenko with the second overall pick in the 2011 CHL Import Draft, right after the London Knights picked Olli Maatta. The Remparts received the pick in a trade with Rouyn-Noranda.
Grigorenko also was selected 8th overall by CSKA Moscow in the 2011 KHL Junior Draft at the end of last month.
This past season with Krasnaya Armiya Moscow (MHL), Grigorenko accumulated 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 43 games. He also added five points during the playoffs. In April, Grigorenko played for Team Russia in the 2011 IIHF World U18 Championships where he led his team to a Bronze medal. He also led the tournament in assists (14) and was second in points (18).
Many consider the 6’2″, 191-pound forward to be the best Russian player born in 1994 (17 years old). Grigorenko is so good that he is the captain of the 1993-born Russian national team. He is also projected to be a Top 5 pick in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft considering he is great on his skates, has great hands, can see the ice very well, and has tremendous scoring ability with and without the puck. (Eric He of Bleacher Report has him at #4).
It looks like Grigorenko is on his way to becoming the next big Russian hockey star, and joining the ranks of Ilya Kovalchuk, Alexadner Ovechkin, Pavel Datsyuk, and Evgeni Malkin.
To read an interview with Grigorenko click here.
.