I presume that they were all on ELC's. So does that mean Ristolainen and Grigorenko lose a year?
Risto has past 9 games....He likely gets called back up later in the year.
Fans thought risto played perfectly fine. I expected him to get sent down in part because Buffalo's affiliate in Rochester in playing in the Spengler Cup in December so they want to send the best team there.
Grigorenko burn his first year of his ELC so you cant slide the second year...
....but...
In order to reach UFA status you need to get an accrued season. Grigorenko last year did not play enough to burn the first year of UFA status so his UFA start time slide one season. If they send him to JRs again his UFA time slides another year.
Zadorov only played 7 games.
With the 9 game limit there is also a day count on the roster that affects burning the entry year. This is what happened last year with Grigs. It also happened to NJ draft pick Matteau.
I think part of the reason Zadorov was sent down now was also because he reached that day count To start the year he was on IR because of a hand so that time did not count. Its only time on the 23 man that counts.
Grigorenko would have burned an ELC year even if the Sabres had sent him back to the QMJHL during training camp. Once a player burns a year on their ELC as Grigorenko did last season then they can't slide.
I do agree with the league's position on this. What Buffalo is trying to do is not a "conditioning stint" in my opinion.
That is debateable...if he hasnt played much and had a minor injury i dont see much of a problem with it. Grigs is still counted against the 23 man roster and is still payed his NHL salary so there wasnt any cap diversion made.
If they had Grigs on the IR there wouldnt be an issue then--right?
The sooner the NHL and CHL get their heads out of their ***** and sort out a set financial package that allows NHL teams to "buy" a 19 year olds (no exceptions for 18 year olds) way out of their CHL commitment.
Most of the time it is clear the player should remain in juniors or be in the NHL. Cases like Grigorenko are the middle ground where he isn't NHL ready and another year in the Q is a waste.
I believe exceptions should be made for 1st round picks. the NHL team decides if they should go to the AHL or back to the CHL.
the problem is Grigs is ready to move on to the next step but CHL to NHL is a big step so he really should be able to play in the AHL.
I would like it if there was a way for the NHL team to buy him out of a CHL contract.
I would be fine with players 1 yr after them drafting of being able to move on to the pro club or AHL affiliate.
A middle ground would be 1st round selections can immediately go to the AHL while 2nd and 3rd round picks wait until their 19.
I also think CHL should lose their rights for import players when drafted by the NHL.
This is part of the problem that is happeneingg now with Grigs. He cant go back to the Q because the Ramparts already have their 2 import slots filled. Its possible all CHL import slots are filled....thus Grigs should be able to just go to the aHL.
Buffalo could easily loan him to a european league team.
So does this mean that one of Grigorenko, Zadarov or Risto need to be traded?
The issue isnt the Sabres---its on the Remparts in the Q---they already have their 2 import slots filled with players so they cant take back Grigs so they must trade him to another team who has an import slot to fill.