So many smart offensive plays. He's got the ability to produce based solely on his smarts. He's not big or fast but he has such great hockey sense. I don't like him at RW but he'll adjust and do just fine. I do like Grabo on the wing and always wondered why the Leafs never tried him there. Remove some defensive responsibility and play to his strengths - makes too much sense. I'm shocked Capuano is trying it!
excellent post iLandHer
I was shocked when the Leafs bought out Grabovski even though I thought he made too much money (at that time, anyway). I wasn't a huge Grabovski fan because I hated him as a centre, he's a puck hog with tunnel vision that seemed difficult to play with, like Sergei Berezin used to be.
He seemed really energized tonight, he seems thinner and in better shape (he had real jump) and has seemed to smile all the time, even in pre-season. He came across as an angry, frustrated Leaf in the last two years there (and I can see why, with his comments on Nonis and Carlyle (probably Wilson too))
But he's a real talented offensive player who works really hard and he'll do really well on Long Island. He'll have a talented supporting cast playing with players like Strome, Nelson, Nielsen, Grabner and Bailey/Kulemin who complement his game. He only played 12 minutes tonight though, and he was noticeable, especially in the second half of the game.
As an aside. I really think the Leafs should tank for McDavid this year. Really go for it, like the Pens with Mario Lemieux years ago. Even Eichel (if they miss McDavid) along with Nylander, Rielly, Percy would transform that Leafs team in a few years, if they can keep Bernier happy through a re-build. But this is for another thread, another time, another board.
They won but Cizikas should be in the 8-10min range . Alot of the weird ice time may be due to 3rd period being a"play it out" type of period last night.
