Mikhail Grigorenko’s second act in North America might wind up being shorter than his first. According to a report from Sport-Express, the 27-year-old is expected to return to CSKA Moscow of the KHL with the team buying out Ivan Telegin’s contract to create cap space, a move that was made official earlier Monday. Grigorenko spent the three seasons before this one with CSKA before deciding to give the NHL another try after things didn’t go well with Buffalo and Colorado in his first opportunity. However, he didn’t do any better this time around, notching just four goals and eight assists in 32 games with the Blue Jackets this season while clearing waivers back in mid-March. At this point of his career, a third tour of duty in the NHL would seem unlikely.
More notes from around the international hockey world:
- Sticking with the Blue Jackets, Daniel Zaar has left Rogle, the SHL team announced. However, it’s not to return to North America. Instead, the 27-year-old told SportExpressen’s Johan Svensson and Linus Vedmar that he is off to the KHL to play with Torpedo. Zaar was a 2012 sixth-round pick (152nd overall) and actually received an entry-level contract but opted to head back overseas when it expired back in 2017. Columbus qualified him to retain his NHL rights but the Blue Jackets will lose those in July when the calendar flips to begin the 2021-22 season.
- Red Wings prospect Albin Grewe is likely to sign with Ilves in Finland for next season, reports HockeySverige’s Uffe Bodin. The 20-year-old was a third-rounder back in 2019 (66th overall) and was unable to play with OHL Saginaw this year as planned with that league not playing. Instead, he remained with Djurgarden but had a limited role, notching just three goals and three assists in 39 games this season. A transfer to the SM-liiga could give him an opportunity for more playing time which would help his chances of eventually signing an NHL deal. Detroit holds Grewe’s rights through June 1, 2023.
- Senators goaltender Marcus Hogberg is likely to return to Linkoping of the SHL this summer, suggests SportExpressen’s Johan Svensson. Hogberg played in their system from 2010 to 2017 before heading to North America. Ottawa informed the 26-year-old last week that he would not be tendered a qualifying offer this summer and coming off a poor performance that saw him post a 3.74 GAA with a .876 SV% with the Sens, he’s unlikely to attract much NHL interest. Accordingly, Svensson believes that will bring him to Linkoping who has been in touch with his agent already about a potential reunion.
More must-reads: