Has Mikhail Grigorenko been loaned to Russia's World Junior Championship team?

In addition to their on-ice issues, the Buffalo Sabres have struggled to figure out what to do with young Russian-born forward Mikhail Grigorenko. 

Grigorenko, a promising offensive player and a first round pick of the Sabres at the 2012 NHL entry draft, has been a regular in the press box of late. A few weeks ago the NHL rejected the club's attempt to reassign the 19-year-old to the Rochester Americans of the AHL on a "conditioning loan". 

Because Grigorenko is still a junior aged player and was drafted out of the CHL, he cannot play in the AHL per the terms of the CHL-NHL transfer agreement. If Buffalo were to re-assign him to his major junior team (the Quebec Remparts) they would be unable to recall him for the balance of the season.

It's a tough situation for the club and the player, and a situation which has become even murkier on Wednesday night.

On Wednesday Grigorenko posted a status update to his facebook page that said: "Flying to RUSSIA on Sunday with my brother Zadorov!!!!)))))))))." That update would imply that Grigorenko has been loaned by the Sabres to the Russian U20 team for the World Junior Championships. It's a move that would make a lot of sense for both sides. 

For now, however, the Sabres are playing coy and refusing to confirm that Grigorenko has been loaned to the Russian U20 team. Also, Grigorenko wasn't on the list of Russia's "selection camp invites" as of yesterday according to Rempart beatwriter Benjamin Aubert.

Meanwhile Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports that, while nothing is official at the moment, the process of the Sabres loaning Grigorenko to the Russian U20 team is moving forward.

If Grigorenko does in fact join the Russian U20 team it would mark his third appearance at the World Junior Championship tournament. Grigorenko has previously won a silver and a bronze medal with Russia's U20 team at the tournament, and has managed 11 points in 13 WJC appearances.