If you are just going to take guesses at where he will end up, here are mine: Buffalo, Dallas, Florida and Minnesota. We will see who's right

It would be a huge turn around if he signs with the Ducks. Bob Murray was asked specifically about Grabovski at a STH event and Murray told us he doesn't want to play out west and it would cost extra to sign him in Anaheim. It might have been a negotiating ploy but still I don't know how comfortable I'd feel with him on the team if he really didn't want to play here in the first place. Not to mention his diva bashing of Carlyle whom Murray still likes.

Hit there quota for primadonna Russian Ballet prancers are they?
- Artyukhin76

If only Grabovski was Russian

No way Ottawa signs Grabo for our 3rd line Center
- Erik6Karlsson5

I actually think there is an Ottawa option that could include Grabovski. He and MacArther are 2/3 of an ideal 3rd line that can drive puck possession, kill penalties and move up to take 2nd or 1st line shifts when needed, injuries, etc.

If Ottawa signs Grabovski for reasonable money (about $3m), they would be in a position to put together a very strong package to acquire another top 6 player.

Grabovski and MacArther playing together in the Ottawa puck possession game is very appealing.

I actually think there is an Ottawa option that could include Grabovski. He and MacArther are 2/3 of an ideal 3rd line that can drive puck possession, kill penalties and move up to take 2nd or 1st line shifts when needed, injuries, etc.

If Ottawa signs Grabovski for reasonable money (about $3m), they would be in a position to put together a very strong package to acquire another top 6 player.

Grabovski and MacArther playing together in the Ottawa puck possession game is very appealing.
- spatso

This sounds like a Leaf fan trying to stick it to the Sens by saying two ex-Leafs would be a good fit there . In all seriousness though, I can't see Grabo signing for $3 mil when he could make at least double in the KHL.

I'm guessing Carolina, the Staal's can play on the top line.

This sounds like a Leaf fan trying to stick it to the Sens by saying two ex-Leafs would be a good fit there . In all seriousness though, I can't see Grabo signing for $3 mil when he could make at least double in the KHL.
- nated81

No I am a life time Leaf fan who also really likes the Sens. I think a Grabovski. MacArther line with either Condra or Greening would be one of the best third lines in the NHL.

I believe Grabovski stays in the NHL and signs in the $3.0 to $3.5m range.

So if we have to trade Franson, what do you guys think is a fair return?

Grabbo is a suck,. Unless he plays the position he wants with the players he wants, he turns into a suck & u won't notice him. He really is like a bratty disobediant child. Trust me, being a Leaf fan, I've watched him for 4 seasons. If NJ signs him, eventually the NJ fans will grow to dislike him. He won't be a difference maker.
- GCHonda

There is a difference between what you described and being completely mismanaged like he was last year. Yeah ranting to the media wasn't smart and immature, but he had a point.

I'm guessing Carolina, the Staal's can play on the top line.
- BetterCallSaul

Ok, Staal's play on the 1st line together, would that mean Skinner is bumped to the 3rd line if they decide to sign Grabo? That wouldn't do much for Skinner's development. Grabo doesn't want to be a 3rd or 4th line center so I can't see him signing with the Canes.

Ok, Staal's play on the 1st line together, would that mean Skinner is bumped to the 3rd line if they decide to sign Grabo? That wouldn't do much for Skinner's development. Grabo doesn't want to be a 3rd or 4th line center so I can't see him signing with the Canes.
- nated81

I am pretty sure Skinner plays wing on the Canes.

So if we have to trade Franson, what do you guys think is a fair return?
- BetterCallSaul

If the Leafs have to trade Franson, key words being HAVE TO, they won't get a fair return. If they really need the cap space they should have just bought out Liles during this latest buy out period but they chose not to. But if you really want a fair return for Franson, I'd say something along the lines of a project prospect and a 4th, maybe just a 2nd. Something like that, mind you I'm just an armchair GM

I am pretty sure Skinner plays wing on the Canes.
- BetterCallSaul

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=116085
Not according to this as well as CapGeek.
I see nhl.com has him listed as a LW though, so....

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=116085
Not according to this as well as CapGeek.
I see nhl.com has him listed as a LW though, so....
- nated81

He can play both but he plays LW on the Canes. But still, with Lindholm taken so high and both Staals, I don't see room for Grabo unless its just a 1 year deal while Lindholm develops in the AHL or Sweden.

I actually think there is an Ottawa option that could include Grabovski. He and MacArther are 2/3 of an ideal 3rd line that can drive puck possession, kill penalties and move up to take 2nd or 1st line shifts when needed, injuries, etc.

If Ottawa signs Grabovski for reasonable money (about $3m), they would be in a position to put together a very strong package to acquire another top 6 player.

Grabovski and MacArther playing together in the Ottawa puck possession game is very appealing.
- spatso

I can see Ottawa signing Grabovski IF IF IF they think Spezza might re-injure his back again.

The first line will have Spezza and Ryan to begin the season. The second line will have Turris and MacArthur, the third line will probably have Zibanejad and Condra, and the fourth line Smith and Neil. That leaves Michalek, Greening, Conacher, and possibly Grabovski.

Michalek is a decent first line LW, but a very good second line RW for Turris and MacArthur. Greening would be an okay experiment on the first line LW, but makes an above average third line LW. Conacher can also be experimented on the first line, but would make a feisty addition to Smith and Neil. If Grabovski can play first line LW, and be available if a center is injured, then he is a possible Senator addition.

If Spezza is injured;

Michalek-Turris-Ryan
MacArthur-Grabovski-Stone
Greening-Zibanejad-Condra
Conacher-Smith-Neil

or swap Turris and Grabovski, depending on how they are playing at the time.

Will it happen, doubtful, this is an Eklund rumor afterall...

No way Ottawa signs Grabo for our 3rd line Center
- Erik6Karlsson5

I'm no real Grabs fan...but do Ottawa fans really think Turris is better than him?

Yikes.

I'm no real Grabs fan...but do Ottawa fans really think Turris is better than him?

Yikes.
- djamon

It would be a waste. He's not worth it for Ottawa, and I don't see him fitting well with a coach like Maclean. I'm surprised Washington isn't interested, I think he'd be a great fit there. Wouldn't be surprised if a cellar dwelling team signed him at around 1 year 4-5m and tried to flip him at the deadline (what Dallas I'd with Jagr)

Someone will take him eventually. I think this has more to do with price at this point.

It would be a waste. He's not worth it for Ottawa, and I don't see him fitting well with a coach like Maclean. I'm surprised Washington isn't interested, I think he'd be a great fit there. Wouldn't be surprised if a cellar dwelling team signed him at around 1 year 4-5m and tried to flip him at the deadline (what Dallas I'd with Jagr)

Someone will take him eventually. I think this has more to do with price at this point.
- TheLeafsInsider

I agree re: Washington. But I think MacLean is a good fit for him, he seems less of a control freak than Carlyle to me.

But don't under-estimate the effect his little tantrum may have had on other GM's. We're the second team he's left on bad terms.

There is a difference between what you described and being completely mismanaged like he was last year. Yeah ranting to the media wasn't smart and immature, but he had a point.
- rmdevil313

Not really, he was the third best option in the team at Center, didn't earn any better (he failed to ever mesh with Kessel for whatever reason). However I disagree with the other guy that NJ fans would not like him.

Statistcally yes he was bad last season. However in that Boston series he took a beating and kept getting up. Man he took some hits, and he'd still go out there and showed good effort all around even if it didn't lead to success.

He is pretty bad defensively, but he will at least give effort. NJ for. 1 year 4.5m and flipping him at the deadline or resigning him wouldn't be a bad move if you ask me.

Ottawa just signed their 7th centre with NHL experience

Grabovski is the answer to a question that the Senators are NOT asking

Not really, he was the third best option in the team at Center, didn't earn any better (he failed to ever mesh with Kessel for whatever reason). However I disagree with the other guy that NJ fans would not like him.

Statistcally yes he was bad last season. However in that Boston series he took a beating and kept getting up. Man he took some hits, and he'd still go out there and showed good effort all around even if it didn't lead to success.

He is pretty bad defensively, but he will at least give effort. NJ for. 1 year 4.5m and flipping him at the deadline or resigning him wouldn't be a bad move if you ask me.
- TheLeafsInsider

He wasn't your third best option though. He played some of the toughest minutes on your roster and for someone who isn't a top notch defensive player, he did pretty good with them.

http://theleafsnation.com...te-in-shinny-hockey-terms

I am not the kind of person that thinks advanced stats are the end of all arguments, but that link shows how mismanaged he was.

He wasn't your third best option though. He played some of the toughest minutes on your roster and for someone who isn't a top notch defensive player, he did pretty good with them.

http://theleafsnation.com...te-in-shinny-hockey-terms

I am not the kind of person that thinks advanced stats are the end of all arguments, but that link shows how mismanaged he was.
- rmdevil313

He cannot mesh with Kessel though. This is not a Bozak versus Grabovski debate. Kadri was far and away the best Center in terms of production, an you didn't not want to mess with his role. So it was really a matter of Grabovski and Kessel playing together, and for all their years together it just didn't work.

Didn't really have a choice. And I am not a supporter of advanced statistics at all. Especially when people say "take away luck" or "take away injuries", well last I checked there is no way to determine how much luck a team wil have, or how many injuries they will sustain. I see that these are different types of statistics, but that's just my overall view of them.

I'm not really interested in what those stastics say, he had Kuli as a linemate and Bozak had Kessel. That alone compensates for the defensive differences between their lines.

He cannot mesh with Kessel though. This is not a Bozak versus Grabovski debate. Kadri was far and away the best Center in terms of production, an you didn't not want to mess with his role. So it was really a matter of Grabovski and Kessel playing together, and for all their years together it just didn't work.

Didn't really have a choice. And I am not a supporter of advanced statistics at all. Especially when people say "take away luck" or "take away injuries", well last I checked there is no way to determine how much luck a team wil have, or how many injuries they will sustain. I see that these are different types of statistics, but that's just my overall view of them.

I'm not really interested in what those stastics say, he had Kuli as a linemate and Bozak had Kessel. That alone compensates for the defensive differences between their lines.
- TheLeafsInsider

Its been proven that Bozak also brings down Kessel. Grabo has played maybe 3% of his shifts with Kessel over the past 3 years. Not nearly enough of a sample to say he couldn't mesh. Bozak has never really brought out the best in Kessel, he simply won faceoffs and before this past season Grabo meshed really well with MacArthur and Kuli so why mess with that. As I said, he was mismanaged. There were many calls for Bozak to be removed from the top line mid season. The Bozak Kessel pairing was one of convenience, not a proven, working relationship.

I don't really know what you mean by your last part either. Do you think Kuli is better than Kessel or something?

And as much as you don't care about what these statistics say, you can't argue that Grabo was playing the hardest minutes of any center on the leafs. He was playing against the best competition and startin most of his shifts in the defensive zone.

Its been proven that Bozak also brings down Kessel. Grabo has played maybe 3% of his shifts with Kessel over the past 3 years. Not nearly enough of a sample to say he couldn't mesh. Bozak has never really brought out the best in Kessel, he simply won faceoffs and before this past season Grabo meshed really well with MacArthur and Kuli so why mess with that. As I said, he was mismanaged. There were many calls for Bozak to be removed from the top line mid season. The Bozak Kessel pairing was one of convenience, not a proven, working relationship.

I don't really know what you mean by your last part either. Do you think Kuli is better than Kessel or something?

And as much as you don't care about what these statistics say, you can't argue that Grabo was playing the hardest minutes of any center on the leafs. He was playing against the best competition and startin most of his shifts in the defensive zone.
- rmdevil313

No I said Kuli is the far better defensive player in comparison with Kessel. Kessel is a liability even if he is getting better in that aspect. And people say he weighted down Kessel I disagree, he stays out of his way is how I see it. Only one person can have the puck at a time and I think when Kessel is on the ice it's better him then his center man.

And yes I understand the sample size is small but obviously there's a reason Carlyle chose Bozak over Grabovski, maybe it is attitude or something that has to do with him as a person, I would not doubt it. Maybe he believes as I do Bozak is a fine compliment to Kessel because he knows when to simply get out of the way. Sort of like Burrows with the Sedins with Kessel and Lupul, he is the clear 3rd option. To a lesser extent with JVR.

My point here is maybe it is just better to have someone who can accept their role than someone who cannot.

No I said Kuli is the far better defensive player in comparison with Kessel. Kessel is a liability even if he is getting better in that aspect. And people say he weighted down Kessel I disagree, he stays out of his way is how I see it. Only one person can have the puck at a time and I think when Kessel is on the ice it's better him then his center man.

And yes I understand the sample size is small but obviously there's a reason Carlyle chose Bozak over Grabovski, maybe it is attitude or something that has to do with him as a person, I would not doubt it. Maybe he believes as I do Bozak is a fine compliment to Kessel because he knows when to simply get out of the way. Sort of like Burrows with the Sedins with Kessel and Lupul, he is the clear 3rd option. To a lesser extent with JVR.

My point here is maybe it is just better to have someone who can accept their role than someone who cannot.
- TheLeafsInsider

Kulemin wasn't near as effective in possession as Grabo. Of all the leafs forwards that logged tough minutes Grabo was the only positive possession player. Its very possible Carlyle made a mistake in evaluating Grabo and Bozak. It is a lot easier to accept a role that benefits you greatly such as bozaks than one that is detrimental like Grabos. We'll never know what would have happened had grabo been on the first line and bozak on the third. But the fact still stands that an underwhelming defensive forward in grabo was given the toughest minutes on the team. That is mismanagement in my opinion.