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Garth McLennan

sports editor

\ N ye you look back at the alumni of the
2006 NHL entry draft class, more than
a few names jump out immediately as
guys who have gone on to make a strong impact
in the NHL with their respective clubs. Jonathan
Toews is the captain and heart and soul of the
Chicago Blackhawks. Jordan Staal played a
leading role with the Pittsburgh Penguins during
their march to the Stanley Cup last year. Nicklas
Backstrom has become one of the best set-up men
in hockey and Peter Mueller has emerged as a
legitimate sniper after moving from Phoenix to
Colorado. Then there’s Michael Grabner.

The Canucks drafted the former Spokane Chief
with the 14" overall selection in the first round, and
from all accounts, it looked like a steal. Grabner, an
Austrian native, had lit up the WHL with a limited
supporting cast in Spokane during several injury-
depleted campaigns. Sure, he came with the label
of being slightly difficult to coach, but he obviously
possessed a number of offensive gifts that not every
player was blessed with.

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After graduating from the Chiefs, Grabner
progressed to the Manitoba Moose, Vancouver’s
top AHL affiliate. After a solid, but not spectacular,
2007-08 season, Grabner appeared poised to make
the Canucks opening night roster last year, but
for the second straight training camp, he was cut.
He returned to the Moose, scored 30 goals and
showed up to camp at the beginning of this season
in phenomenal shape, but was overshadowed
by rookie import Sergei Shirokov (who if you'll
recall, flamed out quickly and is now playing for
Manitoba) and was again sent back to the farm.

Once again, contrary to expectation, Grabner
sucked it up, didn’t complain and played strong
hockey in the minors.

His break came back at the end of October
when the injury-plagued Canucks called him up
and he was placed on a scoring line with Ryan
Kesler and Mason Raymond. They displayed
instant chemistry and Grabner posted five points in
nine games while also showing the flash and speed
he was known for when he was drafted three and a
half years ago.

Then, it all came crashing down when Grabner
was shelved for three months with a broken ankle
which he sustained during a pre-game soccer
warm-up. After he healed up, the Canucks were
healthy again and Grabner was sent back to the
minors. Again, he took it in stride and has scored

 

15 goals in 38 games, which earned him a recent
ticket back to the NHL after Mikael Samuelsson
went down with a shoulder injury.

Since being re-called, Grabner, who is back on
a line with Kesler and Raymond, has yet to score,
but he’s been generating so many scoring chances
since his return that he’s bound to start putting the
puck in the net sooner or later. Against Edmonton
last week, Grabner was sensational, setting up
Raymond on a beautiful goal and buzzing around
the net all night long.

It is unclear what the future holds in store for
Grabner when Samuelsson returns and the playoffs
roll around, but if he can keep up his current level
of play, he’ll make it very difficult for coach Alain
Vigneault to send him down again.

Regardless of what transpires in the remainder
of this season, it appears a virtual lock that Grabner
will join the big club on a permanent basis next
year. The salary cap-strapped Canucks, who are due
to lose as many as three or four forwards minimum
due to financial constrictions this summer, will
have to rely on rookies like Grabner, Cody
Hodgson and Jordan Schroeder, all of whom are on
relatively cheap entry-level contracts, to provide a
measure of offense and stability for the Canucks.

Right now, Grabner has a golden opportunity
to cement that status.