[sureLoss]

Great article on Gridin:
https://rg.org/news/hockey/calgary-f...ath-to-the-nhl

"Before the draft, I was sure that I would be selected at the end of the first round. I don't remember any meetings with the Flames representatives at all. After the draft combine, I thought that Colorado or Toronto would select me. I didn't think Calgary was interested at all. Toronto had 23rd pick, Colorado had 24th, but both teams traded their picks, so I thought I would be selected in the second round."

Gridin is often compared to the Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov, who also left Russia for the USHL at 16.

"I can see it; my path has been similar to Svechnikov’s, but when people ask me who I resemble the most, I always name Evgeny Kuznetsov. He is my favorite player. I think we have similarities in terms of hockey IQ and skating. He’s not the player he once was, but he is still very skilled. I fell in love with his game when I was about five. When I lived in Khabarovsk, Kuznetsov played for the Traktor, and I even have a photo of us together. He was my idol. There was also Datsyuk, who I was fond of.

“At development camp in Calgary, I talked to a nutritionist about gaining three kilograms of muscle mass. She wrote me a plan and her recommendations helped me a lot. Now I’m 6’1 and 190 pounds.

“The goal for this season is to work on my weaknesses, like my play away from the puck in the defensive zone, forechecking, and backchecking. It will help me accomplish my goal of making the NHL next year. Calgary has a young, rebuilding team, which could help a young guy like me break through if the opportunity presents itself. It’s on me to prepare for that opportunity."