Grigorenko makes opening day roster

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The Buffalo Sabres open the season this Sunday, and 18-year old Mikhail Grigorenko will be on the roster.

Nathan Gerbe and Cody McCormick will start the season in Injured Reserve to get the roster down to 23 for Sunday's opener against the Flyers.

Grigorenko has been playing center on a line with Steve Ott and Ville Leino throughout training camp this week. He can play five games in the regular season before the Sabres have to make a decision whether to keep him on the roster or send him back to juniors.

"That size and skill level is hard to match," said Ott. "You look at big Russian guys like Malkin or Kovalev back in the day. Those are huge NHL players... If Grigo can be a quarter of that, he's going to be a heck of a player."

The Sabres also announced today, Adam Pardy, Kevin Porter, and Nick Tarnasky all cleared waivers. All three will be sent to Rochester in the AHL.

Buffalo opens the season this Sunday at home against Philadelphia at 12:30pm. The complete opening day roster is included below.

Forwards

Tyler Ennis

Matt Ellis

Marcus Foligno

Nathan Gerbe (IR)

Mikhail Grigorenko

Jochen Hecht

Cody Hodgson

Patrick Kaleta

Ville Leino

Cody McCormick (IR)

Steve Ott

Jason Pominville

John Scott

Drew Stafford

Thomas Vanek

Defensemen

TJ Brennan

Christian Ehrhoff

Jordan Leopold

Tyler Myers

Robyn Regehr

Andrej Sekera

Alexander Sulzer

Mike Weber

Goaltenders

Jhonas Enroth

Ryan Miller