BUFFALO, N.Y. – Sabres rookie center Mikhail Grigorenko has been ruled ineligible to play in the NHL Prospect Tournament this week because of the number of games he played with Buffalo last season.
The Sabres made the announcement Wednesday, a day before the eight-team annual tournament opens in Traverse City, Mich.
The 19-year-old Grigorenko made the immediate jump to the NHL last season after being selected in the first round of the NHL draft in 2012. The Russian-born player finished with a goal and four assists in 25 games with the Sabres.
Buffalo returned Grigorenko to his Quebec Major Junior Hockey League team during the season, before recalling him in April. Grigorenko then finished the year with the Sabres' AHL affiliate in Rochester.
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