Michael Grabner

[Islanderfan17]

Mark my words, let this guy go to a coach who actually likes him and watch us let out a big sigh as he starts potting 20+ goal seasons again. Cappy is a moron.

 

[boredmale]

Mark my words, let this guy go to a coach who actually likes him and watch us let out a big sigh as he starts potting 20+ goal seasons again. Cappy is a moron.

It's not really a stretch to think he can get 20+ goals, he was on pace for 19.3 last year

 

[YearlyLottery]

Mark my words, let this guy go to a coach who actually likes him and watch us let out a big sigh as he starts potting 20+ goal seasons again. Cappy is a moron.

Would not be surprised but he has to prove to the team he can stay healthy again. He was never healthy enough to be a mainstay in the lineup.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

It's not really a stretch to think he can get 20+ goals, he was on pace for 19.3 last year

That .3 goal would have come in handy in that one game against Pittsburgh.

 

[YearlyLottery]

That .3 goal would have come in handy in that one game against Pittsburgh.

It is ok to laugh now.

 

[CREW99AW]

Mark my words, let this guy go to a coach who actually likes him and watch us let out a big sigh as he starts potting 20+ goal seasons again. Cappy is a moron.

I am not a Cappy fan. I wanted him replaced this off season, but I place most of the blame for Grabner's back to back disappointing seasons, on Grabner's inability to stay healthy.

I would not be surprised if Grabner were a salary dump in camp or early in the season, then went on to have a productive season for his new team. The news that the rebuilding Leafs wanted him is not a big surprise. He is on a one yr deal now. If he can stay healthy and produce, they could flip him at the trade deadline for picks/prospects.

 

[rikker]

i love what he brings, and i am happy to see that he has rounded out his game, by becoming a valuable PK'er.

i am on the fence about him. would probably tell him that he is back at the 'show me' stage. would be tempted to see how he would do on the 4th line, in place of Clutterbuck. would add a whole different element to that line. with PK duties.

 

[seafoam]

I think if he can prove he's healthy in training camp and the preseason, he will be traded for a pick (likely to Toronto).

We've heard from two sources now (Staple & Grabner himself via Austrian newspaper) that the Maple Leafs had serious interest in Grabner around the time of the draft. For a team with zero budget constraints, it makes sense that they would be willing to take a chance on a player due a lot of money, but with one of a kind speed, and then potentially flip him at the deadline for a better return.

 

[scott99]

I think if he can prove he's healthy in training camp and the preseason, he will be traded for a pick (likely to Toronto).

We've heard from two sources now (Staple & Grabner himself via Austrian newspaper) that the Maple Leafs had serious interest in Grabner around the time of the draft. For a team with zero budget constraints, it makes sense that they would be willing to take a chance on a player due a lot of money, but with one of a kind speed, and then potentially flip him at the deadline for a better return.

If healthy, I would not trade Grabner unless Petrov beats him out in camp. He gives us speed on the penalty kill, and averages 20+ goals per season.

 

[seafoam]

If healthy, I would not trade Grabner unless Petrov beats him out in camp. He gives us speed on the penalty kill, and averages 20+ goals per season.

I would not be mad at all if Grabner finished out his contract as Islander. He's a great guy (from what we've seen on social media), and I do still like him a lot as a player, even with his flaws. Depth is great to have, and a big contract year from Grabner would be a win/win for both him and the Islanders.

 

[LeapOnOver]

I would not be mad at all if Grabner finished out his contract as Islander. He's a great guy (from what we've seen on social media), and I do still like him a lot as a player, even with his flaws. Depth is great to have, and a big contract year from Grabner would be a win/win for both him and the Islanders.

+1 to this...

 

[PK Cronin]

I think we're in a win-win situation with Grabner.

If he is moved for a pick, we get a little flexibility come the deadline. If he's not moved, we have a very good extra forward on our roster, and we're not desperate to clear cap space so who cares that he costs a lot of real money and has a moderate cap hit.

I'd feel comfortable if someone goes down and Grabner steps in. We know what he is and what he can/can't do. We could do a lot worse than him if he isn't moved.

If Petrov proves to be better in the early going, there's no reason to keep Grabner though (if we can help it). If not, we're deep, very deep offensively.

 

[slovakia18]

Grabner break the streak!!

 

[Sensinitis]

This might be a weird bump, but I was trying to find threads about Grabner because I was wondering what in the world happened to him.
I mean, at first I thought he just had an off/injury-plagued season or two but now he's rocking the grinder no-visor helmet and has 6 goals in 65 games, and is not being given legit minutes on one of teams where that shouldn't be so hard to earn if you have talent.
Anybody watching him this season? What's the difference between now and that 34 goal season?

 

[NYI13]

1-0 game, Grabner with the lone goal and he just iced the puck with 44.3 seconds left. Let's see how this plays out.

 

[PK Cronin]

This might be a weird bump, but I was trying to find threads about Grabner because I was wondering what in the world happened to him.
I mean, at first I thought he just had an off/injury-plagued season or two but now he's rocking the grinder no-visor helmet and has 6 goals in 65 games, and is not being given legit minutes on one of teams where that shouldn't be so hard to earn if you have talent.
Anybody watching him this season? What's the difference between now and that 34 goal season?

He was on an incredible hot streak.

 

[LeapOnOver]

This might be a weird bump, but I was trying to find threads about Grabner because I was wondering what in the world happened to him.
I mean, at first I thought he just had an off/injury-plagued season or two but now he's rocking the grinder no-visor helmet and has 6 goals in 65 games, and is not being given legit minutes on one of teams where that shouldn't be so hard to earn if you have talent.
Anybody watching him this season? What's the difference between now and that 34 goal season?

I think Grabner lost his speed after the surgery. I don't even think he's that quick anymore. Take away his speed and he's just a below average NHLer. His shot was okay but not very accurate. We all know he had hands of stone. The loss in speed due to hernia is evident and I don't think he'll ever have anything more than a bottom six role at this point.

 

[seafoam]

He has no clue what to do in the offensive zone if he's not going a hundred miles per hour.

 

[TheWhiteWhale30]

Mark my words, let this guy go to a coach who actually likes him and watch us let out a big sigh as he starts potting 20+ goal seasons again. Cappy is a moron.

Yeah about that lol jk...but he's done. Guess Cappy was right. Glad to see he's wearing an "A" right now in TOR. Hope thinks get better for him.

 

[Benedict Kovalchuk]

This might be a weird bump, but I was trying to find threads about Grabner because I was wondering what in the world happened to him.
I mean, at first I thought he just had an off/injury-plagued season or two but now he's rocking the grinder no-visor helmet and has 6 goals in 65 games, and is not being given legit minutes on one of teams where that shouldn't be so hard to earn if you have talent.
Anybody watching him this season? What's the difference between now and that 34 goal season?

- As mentioned, he was on an incredible hotstreak and before his injuries was hands down the fastest player in the league.
- After the hotstreak everyone in the league to keep an eye on him even if they couldn't keep up with him.
- The surgery killed his main asset, his speed.
- Even at the best of times the dude had next to zero chemistry with anybody.
- Kept getting injured in the last two seasons which prevented him from getting back in a groove.
- At the same time as him getting injured, the Isles forwards got real deep all of a sudden. Icetime and opportunities dried up.

 

[BillD]

Grabs might have lost the super speed he has but is still a faster than average skater even now, just not what he was.

His 34 goal season was a matter of a perfect storm of where his breakaways and everything else went in.

As someone said, he was then watched and marked very carefully.

But for purposes of reality, Grabner had several 20+ goal seasons, or the equivalent:

2011.............34 goals
2012.............20 goals
2013.............16 goals (in 45 games, equivalent to a pace of 29 goals)
2014.............12 goals (12 goals in 64 games, equivalent to 15 in 82)
2015..............8 goals (in 34 games, equivalent to 19 in 82).

Injury and shortened seasons caught up to him. Cappy never used him correctly or gave him much more than 14 minutes a game or those numbers he had could have been greater.
The league has gotten quicker, Grabs has lost something, and coaches do not trust his 200 foot game. He was one of the real good guys to ever play here, very fan friendly and great sense of humor.
He should be able to get a a contract going forward as a 4th line penalty killer specialist.