Blues Acquire Winger Grachev from Rangers

Evgeny Grachev (BridgetDS/Flickr)

Going in to this weekend’s events in Minnesota, St. Louis Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong hoped to address at least one personnel need. After a quiet Friday night on the floor, he got to work Saturday morning. Sending one of the Blues two third round picks to the New York Rangers in return for prospect forward Evgeny Grachev. Potentially filling one of the several openings up front.

The Yaroslavl, Russia native was picked in the 3rd round, 75th overall, in 2008 NHL draft. The subsequent season, 2008-09, he crossed the Atlantic to play for the Brampton Battalion. In 60 OHL games he registered 40 goals and 80 points. His North American transition progressed quickly to the AHL. Where Grachev has tallied 28 goals and 66 points in 153 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack/Connecticut Whale.

According to Hockey’s Future, Grachev is a top line power forward capable of scoring 30 goals in the NHL at max potential. Sounds an awful lot like Patrik Berglund. A big body forward who can use his size and strength advantage to protect the puck to clear space and utilize his above average shot.

For additional insight, here is a quick blurb from Dave Shapiro of Blue Seat Blogs:

Evgeny Grachev (#4 prospect in a deep NYR system) is a tremendous talent with size (6’3”, 202 lbs).  With his soft hands and great shot, he has enough raw talent to succeed in the NHL, potentially as a 30-goal scorer and a top-six winger.  After a very successful second year in the OHL two years ago, where he netted 40 goals and 40 assists, Grachev turned pro early, where he struggled mightily.

Grachev (BridgetDS/Flickr)

Grachev’s first season with the Wolfpack/Whale was rocky to say the least, as he struggled to adjust to the rigors of the AHL season.  He showed great improvement in his second season, and although the production isn’t consistent with his talent, he turned a -13 rating into a +21 rating in one year.  The biggest issue with Grachev is that he is a bit of a head case.  He required “aggressive motivation” while in CT, and he showed great improvement towards the end of the season.

As a Ranger fan, I’m surprised they gave up on him so early (he is just 21 years old), and more surprised about the lack of return. If he puts it all together, Grachev can be a very successful pro hockey player. That is a big “IF” though.

Cris Cohen, who covers the Rangers for Hockey Independent, provided BNZ with her take as well:

It’s reported that Grachev asked out of the organization and the Blues were the only team interested as the Rangers shopped him for the last year. Grachev was a 3rd round pick in 2008, and they managed to get a 3rd round pick back. Not bad, considering what Nikita Filatov, a former 1st rounder fetched for the Blue Jackets.

In his 2 AHL seasons, Grachev came nowhere near the offensive output he managed in his one year with Brampton of the OHL, but in my opinion, Grachev’s biggest issue is his inability to put in a consistent effort night in and night out. Look at what the Rangers have become – a team a grinders and hard workers. Coach John Tortorella has no patience for lazy play. Ask Nik Zherdev and Enver Lisin – both talented, offensively gifted players who drove Tortorella nuts with theirs and are now ex-Rangers.

Typically, I am not proponent of giving up on a young player, especially one that has many of the qualities that I felt the Rangers would be looking for in the draft this year – size (6’4″, 224lbs), strength and offensive potential. I can’t say I’m shocked he was traded though. I just expected it would be in a package for an NHLer.

Grachev (Clydeorama/Flickr)

It certainly sounds like the Blues made a low risk, high reward gamble on a project for Scott Mellanby and Tim Taylor.

Grachev likely fits in as the third left wing behind Andy McDonald and Alex Steen since David Perron will not likely be ready for the start of the season. A good place to teach defensive responsibility, reinforce consistency in effort and reward with some offensive opportunity. Starting the season in Peoria wouldn’t be a terrible idea either. Head Coach Jared Bednar will be able to keep a short leash while Grachev provides a nice complement to TJ Hensick and Phil McRae.

A good deal on paper if the Blues can cut out the mental issues. Looks a lot like the Vladimir Sobotka deal from last summer.