Avalanche forward Mikhail Grigorenko avoided a salary arbitration hearing Friday in Toronto by agreeing to terms with Colorado on a one-year, $1.3 million contract Wednesday. The 22-year-old will nearly double his salary of last season ($675,000) and prove he is worth a long-term contract in his second season with the Avs.
Grigorenko was obtained from Buffalo in June 2015, along with defenseman Nikita Zadorov, forward prospect J.T. Compher and a 2015 second-round draft pick (forward A.J. Greer), in a trade that sent forwards Ryan O’Reilly and Jamie McGinn to the Sabres. Grigorenko had 27 points (six goals) in 74 games for the Avs last season.