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

Maybe he was mismanaged last year, but it's entirely possible that he was a complete pain in the a$$ with his attitude in previous years leading up to the buyout. Everyone praised his heart and effort and giving up the body to make a play, but me thinks the coach and GM got tired of shaking their heads while he consistently put himself in perilous, unnecessary danger. I watched him play his entire tenure in Toronto, and on numerous occasions i found myself saying out loud "pass the (frank)ing puck or your going to get dummied". I thought, and still think, he has great skill, but no brains. IMHO.

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...
- gosensgoeh

If Ottawa signed Grabovski, it would be to play behind Spezza and Turris. But, yes, he could move up in the event of injury. I am a big fan of Turris, Zibanejad and Pageau. I like Smith but I think he is better value as part of a strong package to acquire another top 6 skater.

I do not believe Ottawa should pay big bucks to continue Spezza beyond the existing two years of his deal. Ottawa is building a serious Cup contender. Like Spezza a lot. But, he does not fit within the age and salary profile of a future contending team.

yes but Grabo would be an upgrade..maybe give those 2 AHLer's someone to look up to!!!!
- Garnie

Not a TO or a NJ fan...

...but Henrique and Zajac are better then any Center that has played in TO for about a decade.

Anyone willing to bet he signs with a team not listed on this blog?

Not a TO or a NJ fan...

...but Henrique and Zajac are better then any Center that has played in TO for about a decade.
- JLO961

Kadri says hi

"I expect more as the day goes on, but I also wouldn't be shocked to see Grabovski ink with the Caps, but not until the Caps make a trade I am told. Also the Flames are rumored to have jumped in on Grabovski...

more to come.."

This was Ek on the 31st, now on the 5th he pulls four new teams out of the hat.

Maybe he was mismanaged last year, but it's entirely possible that he was a complete pain in the a$$ with his attitude in previous years leading up to the buyout. Everyone praised his heart and effort and giving up the body to make a play, but me thinks the coach and GM got tired of shaking their heads while he consistently put himself in perilous, unnecessary danger. I watched him play his entire tenure in Toronto, and on numerous occasions i found myself saying out loud "pass the (frank)ing puck or your going to get dummied". I thought, and still think, he has great skill, but no brains. IMHO.
- LakesideBlues

then why would he have been signed to a 5-year extension one year ago??
Grabovski is a good, useful player. yeah, he was overpaid at 5.5 but how many contracts in the NHL do you look at and say "yeah, that's good value." not many.

i think it'd be great to see him go to Ottawa for a year or two.

Fist
- Pat MaGroin

Stop being a 5 year old retard!

then why would he have been signed to a 5-year extension one year ago??
Grabovski is a good, useful player. yeah, he was overpaid at 5.5 but how many contracts in the NHL do you look at and say "yeah, that's good value." not many.

i think it'd be great to see him go to Ottawa for a year or two.
- DoubleDown

I think ott would make alot of sense for him, put him back into a very offensive type role and i think he will succeed again.

I think ott would make alot of sense for him, put him back into a very offensive type role and i think he will succeed again.
- digitalbath

plus im pretty sure he wants to rape and murder Randy Carlyle and Dave Nonis.

plus im pretty sure he wants to rape and murder Randy Carlyle and Dave Nonis.
- DoubleDown

Fist
- Pat MaGroin

Who cares...I hate all the dinks so proud of themselves for posting first on a site that's 90%wrong on every post....get a life.... lmfao

"I expect more as the day goes on, but I also wouldn't be shocked to see Grabovski ink with the Caps, but not until the Caps make a trade I am told. Also the Flames are rumored to have jumped in on Grabovski...

more to come.."

This was Ek on the 31st, now on the 5th he pulls four new teams out of the hat.

- anthj99

He is over 90% wrong..anytime ek is right is when he quotes something from TSN or Dregger..He was on the fan 590 (outa Toronto) and they mocked him to his face real bad, and laughed him off the phone.. True story..I reminded EK of that on twitter so he banned me..LOL

He's played really one whole season.so what are you going against? I sure saw him torch your defense for two goals last season in one game. Worry about your holes cause we all know the flyers have plenty of it
- devils2929

If by torched Philly's defence you mean torched Bryz... but who hasn't? Good one though, that really stung. Calling Henrique a #2 center is like calling Couturier a #2 center... not yet bud. (Oh, and if Couturier got top line mins with Kovy, he would have put up more points than Henrique did!)

Kadri says hi
- Zezel

Nice,, I think kadri is atleast as good as Zajac..maybe better in a yr or two

He is over 90% wrong..anytime ek is right is when he quotes something from TSN or Dregger..He was on the fan 590 (outa Toronto) and they mocked him to his face real bad, and laughed him off the phone.. True story..I reminded EK of that on twitter so he banned me..LOL
- dadichronic

http://blogs.edmontonjour.../01/02/great-work-eklund/

Grabbo in an offensive roll with some decent wingers will likely re-establish his credibility as a great offensive center. I thought the whole Bozak/Grabbo thing was lose/lose anyways. Either way you aren't getting a true #1 center.

He is over 90% wrong..anytime ek is right is when he quotes something from TSN or Dregger..He was on the fan 590 (outa Toronto) and they mocked him to his face real bad, and laughed him off the phone.. True story..I reminded EK of that on twitter so he banned me..LOL
- dadichronic

you rip on him... but your here, putting money in his pocket, If you dont like what hes selling, then dont buy it.

Personally im only here for the forums and hockey banter, thinking everything he posts must be fact is just stupid.

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

No way the 'canes break up one of the best even strength lines in E.Staal, Semin, Tlusty

Garbo would be our 3rd line cente or they would try to convert him to wing.

then why would he have been signed to a 5-year extension one year ago??
Grabovski is a good, useful player. yeah, he was overpaid at 5.5 but how many contracts in the NHL do you look at and say "yeah, that's good value." not many.

i think it'd be great to see him go to Ottawa for a year or two.
- DoubleDown

Um, maybe Burke told his staff to suck it up and deal with it ? But Brian Burke doesn't seem like that kind of guy does he.

David Krejci, Thomas Plekanec, John Tavares, Martin St. Louis. I could go on, and on, and on. Practically, if not every team in the league has one or more players showing their worth it. Grabo didn't.

I think it'd be great to see Grabo back with the Habs for a few years yes ?