Can Arseniy Gritsyuk EXCEED Expectations & Score 30 Goals For The Devils? (Ft. Jersey Joe)

Can Arseniy Gritsyuk EXCEED Expectations & Score 30 Goals For The Devils? (Ft. Jersey Joe)

Uh, Jersey Joe is joining me on today’s episode and he has a bit of a hot take. Uh, Jersey Joe, you want to share to the audience what you’re gonna say? Well, everyone, I will say this. Arseni Grit, 35 goals and 60 points. Oh boy, we have a lot to break down in today’s episode of Blocked on Devils. Buckle up, everybody. You’re Locked on Devils, your daily podcast on the New Jersey Devils, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. Hi, this is Bryce Salvo and you’re Locked on Devils with Trey Matthews. Scores. Oh, Steven, nailed it. Got the shot. The Devils win the Stanley Cup. All righty. Now, what is up New Jersey? Welcome back to the Locked On Devils podcast here at the Locked On Network. I’m your host, College Hockey Club play announcer, Del Ryer Pucks Pitchforks, and also part-time credential MIA member, Trey Matthews, back on my show for the first time in nearly two months, if you could believe it. It is my colleague over at Pucks and Pitchforks, Joseph Stanislaw, aka Jersey Joe. It’s been a minute, Joe. Wouldn’t you say? Uh, it’s been about almost two months. I mean, Tempest Fugate, as they say in Latin, time flies, especially when you’re having fun during the dog days of summer. I mean, since it’s dog days of summer, I mean, isn’t preeason coming in? No, I’m not talking about football season. I am talking about NHL hockey coming back. Yep. Uh, preseason will begin in late September. So that means we are right around the corner for practice training camp. I remember talking with Jimmy Dow Jr. in a recent episode. He’s going to be participating in the prospects challenge for New Jersey. Looking forward to it. Everything is about is about to get back in full swing. But before we get into all that, just uh a a warning, Jersey Joe will be back on this show in the notsodistant future because we got to get him back on here a couple more times before he makes his long awaited trip to Europe in early October. Jersey Joe, I was in Italy for a couple of weeks, so I hope you enjoy what Europe’s got to offer. Well, I mean, um I will be flying into uh Venice on my way to take a bus to uh Croatia and I’ll be on a bike and boat tour uh on the Istrian coast of uh Croatia uh just right before uh hockey season kicks in. And I know you’re not really missing too much of the hockey season when it kicks off, but you I get to be back in time for the meat of it. So, um, with that being said, um, just trying to enjoy the last bits of local summer. So, that being said, I mean, um, let’s let’s drop the puck, as Neil would say. All right. Yep. Let’s drop the puck. Let’s get right into it. Jersey Joe, how you feeling? Late August, like we said, everything is about to come into fruition in the notsodistant future. Luke Hughes still needs a new contract, but I think similar to Dawson Mercer, it will get worked out shortly before training camp, right? and Luke Hughes is an RFA. So, at this point in the season, you don’t want it to linger in to uh preseason where the pract you you do need to have a few practices under your belt, but you don’t want it to turn into what um a forward like when uh William Knander did back when he was uh a younger man in Toronto and it started to like overtake his preseason ritual and he held out for too long and then it kind of ate into his uh progression. that season or two. And then um I remember uh what was it uh Hockey Central, they were talking about how it really hurt him at the time uh to to wait out as long to get a uh extension. Um I don’t want that to ever happen with Luke. However, I do believe the two will come to uh fruition. And I was talking to our guy uh Jimmy saying one year is not going to happen. three to six or seven years will happen. So what did I do? I used uh AFP analytics on co-pilot. Um thank you Microsoft. Um I just wanted to run like a model with the new upcoming CBA for next year for incentives. So with that being said, um you’re looking at half of the money being upfront. So that’s um you look at it being 8 million per season. That’d be four million upfront and then it’s like uh 4 million in uh schedule A and B uh contracting. So like all those bonuses and whatnot. Um you take it, it’s kind of prorated. So matter of fact, I explain it even further in the in the new article with Nick Volano editing it right now. So hopefully by the time this video is up, it is published. Before we continue with today’s episode alongside Jersey Joe, let me tell you guys about game time. 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Swipe, tap, ticket, go download Game Time today. Okay, let’s get back to today’s discussion alongside Jersey Joe. Take it away. Yeah, it pro uh my episodes go up uh 6:15 Eastern time all day every day. That’s what we do over here at Locked on Devils, your team every day. Here’s what I’ve always compared Luke Hughes’s contract to or what it potentially could be. I think it would fall in lines to Brock Faber’s contract when he signed an eight-year $68 million contract extension with the Wild last off season. So, that’s what I’m I’m predicting Luke Hughes’s contract to fall in the ballpark of that type of money. I’ve also talked about it at Nauseium on this show. Luke Hughes cannot be resigned shortterm because that’s going to put the Devils in a very uncomfortable position because if you extend him short term, let’s just say you give him a bridge deal two to three years, then he’ll become an unrestricted free agent. And as a result, you’re going to have to cough up more money than you would like because there’s going to be all sorts of sharks smelling blood in the water looking to feast on the inside the shark tank, if you know what I mean. Little Right. And it’s not And it’s not the Shark Tank when you’re going on with Kevin Oolir or Mark Cuban. No, no, no. This I’m just messing with you, everybody. You’re you’re still going up against billionaires, but sports billionaires who want to pay Luke Hughes a lot of money because he has he he potentially could become one of the best offensiveminded defenseman in Devil’s history. I’ve talked about it on social media. Now, I’m going to ask you this. We talked about it briefly before the recording. Do you think Luke Hughes could someday match or surpass Scott Neermmeer, who is often regarded as the best offensive defenseman in Devils history? Keep in mind, Nethermire does have a few cups. Yes. Some with de some with the Devils, one with the with the D with the Ducks. So, he’s he he has a lot of pedigree, but do you think Luke could reach that someday? Absolutely. I see it um when I was with the puck authority uh during his draft year. So I ended up taking a break years ago um from uh when I started uh first se first couple seasons of pucks and pitchforks and I just tried and doing more of a scouting route and more of a prospect route at the time. Uh Luke Hughes was the most intriguing player in his draft class and I’m looking at him. I’m watching video. I’m going, he looks a lot like Quinn, but he looks a hell of a lot more like a Scott Nethermire. And I’m like, should I be thinking that? And I’m thinking to myself, he’s got the fluidity, he’s got the long legs, he’s agile, he’s fast, he’s very cerebral, he’s very smart. Uh, he creates a lot of scoring opportunities. not just a quarterback, he can also shoot on net. Um, no, it’s not out of the question. I see him one day under uh this new uh defensive coach in Brad Shaw, who I’ve been talking a hell a lot about of you. You see, you’ve seen in the past couple articles there is going to be a pattern where Brad Shaw becomes the special coach that will make him that player. Why is that? Brad Shaw, even when he was in freaking Flyerville in in Philadelphia, he was able to get guys like Jamie Dale to play in a more cohesive system, playing a really strong and supportive uh game. you support the other Dman on your side on your off wing maybe and then you support the forwards in front and you try and pitch in and don’t over pinch but you jump in when you can and you help collapse the opposing defenders. So when you do the right things, Luke Hughes can certainly pop in at the right times and quarterback. Not only that, maybe score a couple of beautiful goals. And mind you, maybe the power play under Brad Shaw, those two to five power play goals a season might be 25% more than you actually think. And to add on to that, Brad Shaw was with Columbus for a few seasons. He was uh a part of John Tordella’s staff and he was there for the beginning of Zack Ruinsk’s career who was a finalist for the Norris not too long ago. He he was actually favored to to win it at some point but nonetheless he was a finalist and he impressed a lot of people. I think Luke Hughes under Brad Shaw, we could see a similar trajectory as we saw with Zack Rowinsky in Columbus. So, I wholeheartedly get what you’re saying, which is Brad Shaw can certainly elevate Luke Hughes’s game. I know a lot of people were confused about the coaching changes, but Sheldon Keefe, he wants his guys behind the bench. No more other guys from the Lindy Ruff and Travis Green era. This is Sheldon Keith staff. He trusts Brad Shaw. And given the success that we saw with Zack Rowinsky out in Columbus, he’s been one of their few bright spots in recent years. I think people could definitely be excited for Luke Hugh’s development and Bradshaw learning under John Tortoella, not just in Columbus, but Philadelphia as well. I I think he’s a nononsense type of guy and he expects the very best from his players because Sheldon Keefe talked about working under John Tortoella at at one point. I think I think Sheldon Keefe was a player with the Lightning when Tortoella was still there. I know Tortoella won a Stanley Cup with the Lightning back in 2004. Sheldon Keefe was not on that roster, but I think he was around the organization at around that time period. Could be off, but either way, let me check. It says yes, Sheldon Keefe played under John Tordella during his NHL career, specifically Tampa Bay. Played a total of 93 of his 125 NHL games while under John Torella’s coaching. That was per ww.cb. cbc.ca. Yeah. So, there we go. And I remember Sheldon Keefe was asked about it during his introductory press conference with the Devils. He talked about some of the things he learned from um Tordella. Now, I don’t know I don’t remember the specifics, but it was all positive. I know people give Tordella a bad rep, but he really does care about his players. He cares about his staff. Yeah, he could be a bit of a hard ass, but he comes from it comes from a good place. And Sheldon Keefe spoke fondly of him and I think Brad Shaw would also speak fondly of him if and when giving given the chance. So I’m excited to see how that relationship develops, not just for um Luke Hughes, but other young defenseman like Sheimon Nez, Sheamus Casey, maybe Ethan Edwards. It’s going to be a bit of a battle out of training camp. Who’s going to replace Jonathan Kovich for a time being? I re I really think the way Shimon Nez proved himself in the playoffs, he’s no slouch. And you know what? He’s got he’s got a bug up his rear. And I like when a player has a bug up the rear. You know why? It makes them compete better. It makes them want to play better. It makes them want to show the fans, hey, look, I got something to prove. And you know what? With a new defensive coach comes newer expectations and better standards. And when you have those better standards, a guy like Netsz is more defensive minded, yes, but he can still chip in pucks on net and yield really good points that become crucial points. and maybe someone of Dawson Mercer is right up against the net and potentially chips one in um right off a rebound and that’s a proven important two points where the Devils get against the Maple Leafs against a team that’s coached by another hard butt in um uh Birub and the Devils get that important two points to cushion them from Carolina and another maybe two to four points away from uh maybe the Capitals. I mean, you need to build your points bank early on. Yeah. I mean, look, the the playoffs I’m not really too concerned about. I think the Devils will be in the playoffs, barring anything catastrophic happening. I would give it a 90% chance given how weak the Metro is and obviously with the amount of Metro games that the Devils will participate in. I think they’ll be just fine, but don’t fall into too many trap games because that’s what got him in trouble a couple seasons ago. All right, let’s shift gears. Let’s talk about a prospect that you have been talking about for years on my show on your platforms. That is Arcini Gritzio. Uh, a few days ago I did an episode reacting to hot takes and you left a comment saying arei gritsuk 35 points as your hot take. I’m going to be honest with you, Joe, that’s not really a hot take. I think a lot of people anticipate for him to have anywhere from 35 to 40 points. I talked about it with Ace over at Running with the Devils, but give me your thoughts on Gritzio and why was that considered a hot take? So, like for me, I’d like to undershoot. I like to look at different various models. I do use AI just to back it up, but like I like to compare other players from Russia with other calibers, and I still think he’s going to hit a minimum of 22 goals. 35 is that perfect high number where it’s not 44, it’s not 50, it’s not 70. It’s right there. It’s not too high, it’s not too low, but like for a rookie still that’s coming out of Russia learning the NHL size rink, that is a fair high expectation for a hot take. So, I don’t and I haven’t seen a Devil’s rookie score that many goals in years. So, I think in double standards, it’s a hot take. So, do you mean 35 goals or 35 points? 35 goals. Oh, you said 35 goals. I said 35 goals. Wait, 35 goals. And I do see him hitting around 65 points. Whoa. Whoa. Okay, now that’s a hot take that you’re asking you’re asking him who’s most likely going to be on the third line alongside Dawson Mercer. You’re you’re asking him a a first year player to eclipse 30 plus goals. Yeah. Well, here’s my thing. He’s not just going to be on the third line. He’s also going to play on the second line at times and then get power play time. Well, the thing is he’s not going to be on the top power play unit. And even if he does get power play time, it’s going to be like with the second unit or no power play time at all. You never know what Sheldon Keefe might throw out there. But look at someone like Teimo Meyer. It Meyer was on the second power play unit a good chunk of the year before Jack Hughes got hurt and he couldn’t really capitalize much on the man advantage. Now, here’s a here’s a funnier take. I have Teimo Meyer on the right wing. I have Nico centering on a power play. Then I have Gritzuk on the left wing on power play two. So that would leave three headed monster for teams to try and think about covering one of those three forwards. Now just try that. You got Simone De Mets or Brett Peshy on the right side on defense. Then you add in potentially Luke Hughes on the left side or Jonas Dollar. You’re asking to chip pucks on net and you’re going to have guys who are less likely to pass but more so shoot. I would expect Teimo Meyer to be the body up front on a power play and I believe the Devils will do just fine under Jeremy Colatin once again. But with a guy like Gritic adding scoring depth, I think it is gonna happen more frequently. Okay, so just for reference, just just full disclosure, Nico Heir scored 35 goals last year and he’s one of the top players on the Devils. He’s the glue. He’s the captain of the organization. He scored 35 goals last year. So, you’re expecting Arseni Gritzio to just come in. I think he’s going to be special, don’t get me wrong, but have 35 goals. It’s not far-fetched. Jersey Joe, I say this with love. I say this with respect, it is farfetched. 35 goals his first year. And you and with those types of numbers, he’ll be in the running for the Calder. Yeah. And you know what? He wouldn’t be the only guy to do that in NHL history from a rookie standard. Okay, but Jersey Joe I just just I’m gonna push back on that a little bit. The the most goals that he scored in the KHL, albeit it’s a different league was 19 and that was during the 2023 2024 season. the most goals that he scored ever at the at the professional level was when he was in the MHL in which he had 28 goals, but that was during the 2019 2020 season. So, we’re talking about before COVID essentially. I believe under the way we have Jeremy Colton and Sheldon Keefe style, he would do a much better job than let’s say under Lindy Ruff and the other past coaches. I I see him doing his magic more. Plus, you have a lot of other options being up front and being screens. And the Devils sorely need a guy who can snipe. And he’s a good shooter. And they need to take him onto that wing. And he’s got a really one hell of a one-timer, too. Not just a really good wrister and a snapper, but a really good one-time. I don’t doubt that he’s going to be a good player. I I I think he definitely could do a lot of special things, but I I think you have to keep your expectations somewhat moderate because that’s a lot to ask out of him. And and if he’s able to do that, then Devil’s got depth scoring and they need to resign him ASAP to a lengthy extension. But at minimum, he’s going to hit 22 goals. Okay. Minimum, you say 22 goals. Minimum 22. Highest 35. Highest 35. So somewhere in that ballpark. 22 to 35. Yep. Because I don’t see him slacking off like a Tatar. I’ll tell you that. That’s it’s just the way I’m looking at him. Like I I want to shoot for a bit of the moon, but I’m not shooting for the bottom. Well, I I think Gritziac will be a great player, but my thing is like um I I really hope Tom Fitzgerald is right in his assessment because I think here’s what the front office is banking on. Gritzio to have a impactful year. So that way uh the the Devils have depth scoring because they’ve been struggling to fill the void that was left by Tyler DeFoley a few seasons ago and he’s a really good skater. I look I don’t doubt that he’s going to be a good player. I I think he definitely has a bright future. I’ve said it on this show. But my thing is like 30 plus goals I just don’t know. I I personally don’t see it. I could be wrong. I could be wrong. And we’re just going to have to wait and see. My thing is like he’ll be a on the third line for the most part. Yes, he’ll play second line minutes. I I I’m struggling to see if if he’ll get top power play time unless he really shows out. I have expectations for Gritzio, but I I don’t really know. I wouldn’t be surprised if a guy like him goes up big time against the New York Rangers in those three games and I wouldn’t be surprised if he really takes off on the Flyers, especially um they have that goalie Kolasov because they definitely need someone who knows some of those other Russian goalies and those Bellar Russian goalies that played in the uh KHL And you need someone who’s familiar with those guys, especially going up against a Shuriken and a Sorroken and the Islanders. But here’s the other thing. You will have someone who has a potential to cut down those uh New Jersey Devils getting shut out by half maybe. So think about see think about those games last year the Devils could have won and got a much better playoff spot. Um, yeah. I mean, look, I think Ritzio, I have I have decent expectations for him. I think if he doesn’t get 35 goals, he’ll get 35 points. 35 to 40 points. And James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now said that’s solid middle four depth wi- which Gritzio I think could definitely provide. Look everyone, Gritsio is allin like so all in. And I know a lot of people are complaining saying that they’re not seeing Jack Hughes working out or posting his workout on social media. And I’m just like, uh, we really need the season to start because I think people are getting bored of talking points. But here’s a quote from Russian outlet RT that was actually originally sent to me by Jersey Joe some time back and now I’m finally getting to it and I find it incredible. This is a direct quote because Gritzuk is now divorced. He was married to a professional gymnast. He said, “I wanted to focus on hockey so badly. At some point, the family unfortunately faded into the background.” Once again, that’s a direct quote from Gritzuk translated to English. So, barring a complete bad translator, that’s what Gritzuk said, right? An interpreter for that. Um, I always tell people like, you know, he every hockey player is a human. They do have really great skills and talents, but at the end of the day, we’re all human beings, but we all have our own special gifts. So, Gruk is one hell of a hockey player. It’s just that maybe off ice, he’s struggling with a few things that he just can’t control right away, but he’s gonna try and make up for it. But I think, you know, focusing on his career now, he’ll be a-ok. Okay. But I can’t really speak for the guy. I wish I could, but you yours your yours truly. I was a child who lived through a family divorce. Before we continue with today’s episode, let me tell you guys something. We have an important request. Locked on wants to hear from you. We put together a survey to learn more about our listeners and make your favorite podcast even better. This is your chance to tell us what you like, what you don’t, and answer questions about our advertising. Go to lockedonpodcast.com/servey to get started. Everyone who completes a survey will be entered for a chance to win one of 10 $100 Amazon gift cards. Again, that’s lockedpodcast.com/servey. You can also find the link in the show notes. Thanks for helping us out and I hope you’re enjoying Locked on Devils. Okay, it’s time to close things out with Jersey Joe. Take it away. Once again, we’re definitely not going to speak on his home life or things like that cuz we don’t we we don’t know. But we just know that unfortunately it didn’t work out with his now ex-wife and he’s so focused on hockey that he even admitted that his family life sort of just faded into the background. Once again, right, his words, not ours. Not ours. But yeah, I think Gritzio is definitely definitely going to be a special player. All right, Jersey Joe, let’s wrap things up here. Um, we’ve talked about the off seasonason, we’ve talked about Luke Hughes, we’ve talked about Arseni Gritsuk. Anything else you want to throw out there? I really want people to focus more on what um the Devils could possibly do after they get Luke extended. Plus, you don’t know if Lenny Hamo during the season has a good start to his first season in the NHL or during camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets on that, you know, that little waiting list that Thomas Fitzgerald has with uh Udica now that they have a new staff I mentioned one or two episodes ago. I would I would like to see, you know, the Devils just changed a bit of their uh head of scouting a little bit. They move uh Mr. Royce up another step in overseeing more so development internationally and the Devils are always promoting within and I know this organization is also look to win now. Um I said to a buddy of mine the other day I said there’s a guy I wanted last year who I said on this show I want Ivan Barbashev. And here’s another thing. The Devil should explore a three-way trade with the Vegas Golden Knights and the Chicago Blackhawks. I believe to clear out for Marner that Barbashev should be having his contract taken on by Chicago and therefore the Devils give to Chicago that contract along with Vegas moving on from Barbashev and the double send in Palot and a couple other pieces like future Maybe they add in Topias Vin or Daniel Orlov just to sweeten it up and get a little something for a win now type move. I want someone who’s a bit of a grittier goalcorer, points getter guy, plus also someone that would help uh Gritzuk have more veteran leadership plus a body up front. Well, I’ve talked about Ivan Barbashev on this show before, and it it’s been a few years since we talked about Barbashev. This was around the time that the Devils were rumored to be in the running for team Omire. And obviously, that’s who the Devils landed because I think Barbashev was traded from the Blues to the Golden Knights that season. Just trying to remember off the top of my head. Um, so would Palco go to Vegas or Chicago? I would send Palot to Vegas because he wants to be on a playoff team, right? He does. I think Chicago would take on Chicago would take on the contracts of those two players from those two different playoff teams. Well, they’ve done it before like they did it last They would act as a broker. Yeah, they didn’t they do it last year? I think they did it with another team. I forgot. I forgot what they took on, but they were absorbing money, but you can check it on Cap Friendly later. I mean, not Cap Friendly, Puckipedia. Sorry. I know Cap Friendly is gone, but to me, it’s always Cap Friendly. Yeah. No, I get you. Um, feels so old. Yeah. I mean, I talked about the Sharks, I talked about the Ducks, I talked about the Blackhawks. Those are three teams that were in the midst of trying to reach the cap floor, not the cap ceiling, the cap floor. So, you know, they might have been willing to take on a few contracts to help sweeten it up. And I think that’s why the Ducks took on uh some of the Rangers mess if we’re being completely honest. Uh right, they they they took on a Krider, they took on Trouba. Right. Um, but the devil certainly can do that and I do expect like but I think I I do want to throw this out there. Palot does have trade protection and uh we were talked about with with our colleagues over at Pugs and Pitchforks in a group chat. I think Palot is making it a little difficult because he’s like look I’m not going to the Ducks. I’m not going to the Blackhawks. I’m not going to the Sharks. No disrespect to those teams or those franchises, but they’re not going to the playoffs this upcoming season. No. Um, I do like the Sharks prospect pool and their current roster is getting better on paper, but at the same token, if I was Andre Palott, I would say if you’re going to put me in a multi-team trade, make sure I go to the playoff team, not the team that is uh rebuilding or rebuilding to be middle of the pack. So, that means no Islanders. I I don’t think the Islanders would even help the Devils in that sort of aspect. But uh No More Lou, I will tell you that it’s a different is a different GM now with uh what was his name? U he’s he’s a former Canadians player. Matthew Dar. Okay, there we go. Yeah. Well, I mean, expect to see the Islanders with some beards this upcoming season. Not like cuz Lou said no beards during the regular season. playoffs, I’ll make an exception, but not during the regular season. Suit and tie every day. Uh remember talking to Keith uh Keith Concincaid about that and people have nothing but positive things to say about um Lou and what he’s done. Um Jersey Joe, we’ve talked about everything from Lou Hughes to Arcini Grizzio possibly getting 35 goals next season. Um, I I if he does that, if he does that, I I will be rather impressed and I might have to say uh he might be the future of the Devils. We’ll see. We’ll see what happens. Well, I may be crazy, but I’m not too crazy. But I still believe in a guy who can potentially pull off, but Gritic is one of the rare few I would ever pull that 35 goals on. So, but with the same thing said, like I do like to have fun during silly season, but like during the season, it’s all seriousness. Obviously, 82 games. We’ll see what he does during preseason as well. Um, like I said, we talked about everything. Um, thanks for doing this. Do you have any plugs you want to throw out there, social media or other things in the works? So, uh, to, uh, after, you know, with the Luke Hughes article going up, uh, soon to be, I plan on doing one for Shimon Mets for an upcoming contract year. I plan on doing, uh, one about how can the Devils move on from Andre Palot and what can they get for him. So, that’s just another aspect, you know, we were just talking about, but it’s really interesting to be realistic about playoff teams. Meanwhile, the buyer might say, “No, thank you.” Well, we’ll see what happens. Uh, season’s right around the corner. We’re definitely going to have you back on here in a few weeks before you leave for Europe. Um, Jersey Joe, once again, thank you for doing this. The pleasure is always mine. And like I do to to close out every episode, continue to stay safe. Have a wonderful day, New Jersey. Go Devils. I will catch you guys the next episode. Special thanks to Joe once again. Have a great day, everybody. Thank you, everybody.

Jersey Joe (Pucks and Pitchforks) joined me on today’s episode, and he has high expectations for Arseniy Gritsyuk. His hot take is that Gritsyuk will score over 30 goals for the New Jersey Devils this season. Naturally, he’s a highly praised rookie, but that’s an interesting perspective. He explained his reasoning during our discussion. We also discussed Luke Hughes’ contract and shared our thoughts on the offseason thus far.

Follow Jersey Joe on “X”: @jerseyjoe11_NJ

0:00 Luke Hughes’ contract

16:19 Can Arseniy Gritsyuk score 30-plus goals?!

28:23 Closing thoughts

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