Patrick Roy coached Mikhail Grigorenko in major junior, with the Quebec Remparts.
Even at that level, Roy could agonize or be angered when he felt Grigorenko didn’t compete hard enough or take advantage of his unquestioned talent.
Now that both are with the Avalanche — Roy behind the bench after his return to the team for which he tended goal from 1995-2003, Grigorenko as a 21-year-old center — their challenging, tough-love relationship continues.
WATCH:
“I’m harder on him because I like him a lot,” Roy said after practice Friday. “And I think he can play at this level, and he could be dominant at this level. … I think he’s got a great hockey IQ, he’s got great talent, he’s got a great shot, he has all the tools to play at our level.”
But it keeps coming back to what Roy calls Grigorenko’s “compete level.”
This came up again Friday because Gabe Landeskog, who missed the Avalanche’s loss to Pittsburgh on Wednesday because of back spasms, wasn’t on the ice at practice. Roy said the Swedish winger and Avalanche captain would be on the trip that begins with a Saturday night game at Nashville. “He’s much better today,” Roy said, then added: “He’s going to be evaluated every day.”
Grigorenko skated in Landeskog’s spot on the top line with Nathan MacKinnon and Matt Duchene at practice, and Roy said he would stick with that if Landeskog isn’t able to play.
Grigorenko was scheduled to be a healthy scratch against the Penguins until Landeskog couldn’t go, and he began the game on the top line before Roy — again dissatisfied with his compete level — dropped him down and put Alex Tanguay on the line instead. Grigorenko played the rest of the game with Jack Skille and Chris Wagner on the fourth line.
Now he likely is getting another chance on the top line.
“Obviously, it’s a good opportunity for me,” Grigorenko said after practice. “They’re great players and hopefully, I’ll be able to get (the) most of it and make something happen.”
Is Roy harder on him because of their major junior connection?
“I don’t know, maybe, because he knows my potential and stuff,” Grigorenko said. “He knows the game I can play and obviously he wants to see it from me. I guess it’s hard for him when he doesn’t see it. I think he’s really fair to everyone on the team, so there’s no problem at all.”
Grigorenko was one of the major elements in the deal that sent Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn to Buffalo. Defenseman Nikita Zadorov is with San Antonio of the AHL after starting the season with the Avs. Colorado also received the rights to J.T. Compher, still playing at Michigan, and a seond-round draft choice. Grigorenko has one goal and nine assists in 25 games for Colorado.
“Maybe there is some pressure, but it’s not like it’s a bad thing,” Grigorenko said of the trade. “It’s good when you have those expectations and the coaches believe in you and know your potential.”
He said that when Roy dropped him off the top line the other night, “He said, ‘You have to be strong on the puck, win those battles.’ … I understand that in my position, to play with those guys, I don’t have the privilege to lose a battle or make mistakes.”
Terry Frei: tfrei@denverpost.com or @TFrei
COLORADO AT NASHVILLE
When: 6 p.m. Saturday
TV/Radio: ALT; 950 AM
Spotlight on Shea Weber:
The Nashville defenseman was the NHL’s No. 2 star for last week, and he had his first NHL hat trick in a 5-4 overtime loss to Detroit last Saturday. Weber and Roman Josi play 24 minutes per game on the back line, and Josi scored twice in a win over Boston on Monday. Josi is the Preds’ leading scorer, with seven goals and 22 points, while Weber is third (nine goals and 19 points).
NOTEBOOK
Avalanche:
Colorado practiced Friday at Family Sports Center, so the Avs won’t have a morning skate Saturday … The Avalanche is 0-13 on the power play in the past six games … Jarome Iginla has gone five games without a goal since getting the 597th of his career against the Islanders on Nov. 30 … Semyon Varlamov will be in the Colorado net against the Predators … The trip also includes games at St. Louis Sunday and Chicago Tuesday.
Predators:
Nashville is coming off a home-and-home set with the Blackhawks. The Preds lost 4-1at Chicago and won 5-1 at home … This is the first of five meetings between the Central Division rivals … The Predators’ average attendance of 16,863 is only 19th in the NHL, but it also represents 98.5 percent of capacity at Bridgestone Arena. (Colorado is 22nd.) … Nashville has the fifth-best power play in the league at 21.6 percent.
Terry Frei, The Denver Post
