Interesting points but you've missed my point. I'm not saying that PIM's are in and of themselves a desirable stat. I'm saying that most big or even bigish forwards who succeed in the NHL take their fair share of them as part of doing business in a physical game. I'm not taling about Tom Wilson type players, I'm talking about everyone from the #1 pick on down.

Lets look at last years draft class of forwards:

Yakupov took 71 PIMs in his first year of junior and followed that up with 30 in his 2nd shortened season and had 33 in the KHL this year. That shows a bit of sandpaper!

Galy took 52 PIMs in his first year of junior and had 22 in junior so far this season. That once again shows a bit of sandpaper.

Forsberg took 33 PIM's in his 11-12 season. Kids got a bit of grit

Faksa took 47 in his first year of junior.

The first comparable I find for Grigs is Teravainen.....5'10" 185....make of that what you will but for me it's a red flag. Who knows maybe he's the next RNH...oh wait even he had 51 in his last year of Junior (although he's mostly managed to stay out of the bin in the NHL). Keep going through the 2011 draft class and you'll find Hubs, Landeskog, Strome, etc....it's still hard to find anyone who has taken anywhere near as few penalties as Grigs. Maybe he's some sort of brilliant saint on the ice but I don't like big players who don't bring a more physical element to the NHL because I'm always doubtful they can succeed.