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Mikhail Grabovski News & Rumors

Scrappy Mikhail Grabovski wins Maple Leafs' praise by unanimous decision
March 19
Toronto Star
 
"The most telling part of coach Randy Carlyle's tenure is that the Maple Leafs tend to end their games with fewer players than they begin with. Various Leafs haven't been able to finish due to a broken nose, separated shoulder or broken finger, reflecting Carlyle's physical approach. The latest, Mikhail Grabovski of all people, got not one but two game misconducts on Saturday night for fighting Ottawa's Chris Neil. Grabovski may be the team's most valuable forward at this point in the season, not the kind of guy you'd want to play without for half a game. But Carlyle didn't mind at all that Grabovski stuck up for rookie Carter Ashton after Neil jabbed at him."
Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski signs five-year contract extension
March 6
Toronto Star
 
"Maple Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski has signed a five-year contract extension with the club. Financial teams haven't been released but previous reports had suggested it would take a contract of between $4 and $5 million per season to keep the 28-year-old player in a Toronto uniform beyond this season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and could have left the team without the Leafs receiving anything in return."
The Un-Five-Million-Dollar Man
March 1
Toronto Star
 columnist Damien Cox
"Cudda. Wudda. Shudda. Two more losses have piled up since Leafs GM Brian Burke proclaimed that on trade deadline day he could have added four first round draft picks for players on his current roster. In addition to the club's own first rounder, that would have made it five picks in the top 30 this June, a position of terrific possibility and flexibility. Burke declined all of those offers, choosing the now over the future. For those who hope to see the Leafs return to post-season play sometime before global warming turns Toronto into Tahiti, perhaps it was the correct choice. One of those first rounders, its quite clear, could have been had for centre Mikhail Grabovski, who is in the"
Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke gives vote of confidence to Reimer, Schenn and Grabovski
February 28
Toronto Star
 
"Maple Leafs goalie James Reimer never lost confidence in himself. It appears as if GM Brian Burke also believes in his young goalie. On Monday, Burke said he "flat-out" declined a trade for Reimer. "He's the real deal," Burke said at a news conference at the Air Canada Centre following the trade deadline. That he didn't send Reimer, 23, packing along with defenceman Luke Schenn, 22, and centre Mikhail Grabovski, 28, is also being seen as a huge vote of confidence in the Leaf dressing room as the team tries to move forward."
Grabo doesn't want to go
February 22
Toronto Sun
 
"With the NHL trade deadline fast approaching, you have to figure some Maple Leafs are getting a little antsy — especially those whose names keep popping up as possible trade bait. You could count speedy centre Mikhail Grabovski among them. What makes Grabovski's situation a little more tenuous than, say, defenceman Luke Schenn's, is that he can be an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Schenn, meanwhile, signed a new deal before the start of the season. UFAs have contracts that expire this summer and, without a contract extension, they are free to sign with any team they choose on July 1. That makes current teams a little more likely to deal them, to make sure they get some compensation"
Grabovski in a sticky situation
February 18
Toronto Sun
 
"Mikhail Grabovski is rattled. He's obviously had enough. He's tried to stay composed, but it's simply too much to take. Yes, frustration has finally set in for the Maple Leafs' talented second-line centre. All this trade talk must have gotten to him, right? Surely he must have seen the report that the Leafs have an offer on the table for him that would net Toronto a prospect and a second-round draft pick. "Nope," he said. "Haven't heard it. Don't think about it. Don't listen to the radio or read the papers. "I'm a Toronto Maple Leaf now. I play for the Leafs and I want to keep playing for the Leafs. That's all I'm thinking about." If the scuttlebutt isn't bugging him, then what has him so"
Leafs center 'sad' about Pronger
February 10
Courier-Post
 
"Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski felt terrible the moment his swinging stick clipped Flyers captain Chris Pronger in an Oct. 24 game at the Wells Fargo Center. He feels worse now. Grabovski heard what originally was thought to be a scary right-eye injury has turned into prolonged concussion symptoms that ended Pronger's season and has his career in jeopardy. "It's accident," Grabovski said from the Leafs dressing room Thursday following a morning skate that preceded his first game against the Flyers since Pronger's injury — a 4-3 Toronto loss. "I have so many shots in my face, too. A hundred percent, I didn't do it on purpose. I'm really kind of sad because (Pronger's) such a"
Grabovski's agent in town
February 2
Toronto Sun
 
"Gary Greenstin, the California-based agent for Mikhail Grabovski, is in town — and it's not to mark Groundhog Day. Amid heightened speculation of what the Maple Leafs will do with Grabovski, their red-hot impending unrestricted free agent centre, Greenstin could be here to talk about the same kind of extension the Leafs gave defenceman John-Michael Liles last week. Greenstin met the Leafs twice in Calgary during the world junior tournament. Asked if the visit with his clients (he also represents winger Nikolai Kulemin) would include a talk with general manager Brian Burke, Greenstin chose his words carefully. "You'll see," Greenstin said. "I usually don't make comments during negotiations."
Reality check: Rick Nash in Maple Leafs' trade rumour of the day
February 1
Toronto Star
 
"Rick Nash is heading to Toronto as part of a six-player deal with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Okay. Now we have your undivided attention. As of Tuesday, that proposal is just a rumour, one of many swirling around the Internet involving the Maple Leafs. That rumour took on a life of its own after AM 640 hockey analyst Bill Watters tweeted it on Monday as something to watch as the Feb. 27 trade deadline approached, with the proviso that it was "one to smoke on" and "not inhale." In the rumoured deal, forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Nazem Kadri, along with defencemen Luke Schenn and Mike Komisarek would be heading to the Blue Jackets. Also coming to Toronto with Nash, 27, would be forward"
Leafs stalked by trade rumours
January 31
Toronto Sun
 
"In one corner of the Maple Leafs dressing room on Monday afternoon, Mikhail Grabovski was addressing trade rumours. In another corner, Clarke MacArthur had just stopped doing the same. Nearly a month has to pass before the NHL's trade deadline comes on Feb. 27, but with the all-star break finished, speculation will start to thicken in earnest. The issue is a little more pressing for Grabovski, who is due to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He's not involved in serious contract talks with general manager Brian Burke, but Grabovski shrugged off the idea that he could be moved as part of a package, given Burke's desire to add another centre. But Grabovski knows nothing is guaranteed."
Mikhail Grabovski wins NHL star of the week honours
January 30
Toronto Star
 
"With trade rumours swirling, Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski picked a pretty good week to increase his value. The speedy forward scored a league-leading five points (a goal and 4 assists) and his efforts earned him the NHL's first star of the week, the league announced Monday. The Leafs won back-to-back games against the New York Islanders to remain in the thick of the playoff battle in the East. Toronto plays the Penguins in Pittsburgh on Tuesday and back at the Air Canada Centre on Wednesday."
Leafs GM Brian Burke says club 'not close' to trading Mikhail Grabovski
January 26
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski's name has come up in trade talk quite a bit recently as the Feb. 27 trade deadline approaches. Leafs GM Brian Burke has heard those rumours, but Tuesday night in Long Island, where his club won 4-3 in overtime to pull into in a three-way tie for seventh place, Burke was downplaying talk of moving the unrestricted free agent. "We're not even close to that. That will be a factor, whether a guy is unrestricted or not, but I accept unrestricted guys, too, if they can help us get to where we want to get," Burke said."
Grabovski makes quick exit for special delivery
December 6
Toronto Star
 
"Maple Leafs centre Mikhai Grabovski left the team on Monday night to fly home to Toronto for the birth of his second child. His girlfriend went into labour prior to Monday's game against the New York Rangers."
Grabovski douses Habs
October 23
Toronto Sun
 
"For the Maple Leafs, this was the ideal fire drill. And Mikhail Grabovski brought the hose. Losing goaltender James Reimer in the midst of a hyper-intense Saturday night against the Canadiens at the Bell Centre was a test of their early-season gains and they survived a shaky relief perforamnce by Jonas Gustavsson for a 5-4 overtime win. Grabovski, a severely disliked ex-Hab, spun out of the corner to beat Carey Price after a late tying goal by Nikolai Kulemin. Reimer suffered either a head injury or upper body contortion in two collisions early in the game and Gustavsson was parachuted in to start the second period. This night was a demolition derby of goalies, with Price getting his share"
Grabovski lifts Leafs in overtime
October 23
Toronto Star
 
"James Reimer went down, Jonas Gustavsson came in and the Toronto Maple Leafs rallied to a late rescue. And thanks to Mikhail Grabovski's OT winner, the Leafs earned a 5-4 victory and Gustavsson got his first win since Jan. 6. Leafs Nation seemed to come to a stop when Reimer didn't come out for the second period. Word after the game was that he'd suffered a whiplash-like injury and should be okay, according to coach Ron Wilson. His removal was more precautionary. "He could have finished the game, but this early in the season we didn't want to risk it," said Wilson. With calls for Jacques Martin's firing echoing through Montreal because of the Habs' slowest start in 16 years, two"
Chara hit made Grabovski a better player
September 3
Toronto Star
 
"While many of his Maple Leaf teammates have been working out at the MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke for the past three weeks, centre Mikhail Grabovski and last season's linemate Nicolai Kulemin have been skating and training hard in sunny California with several other NHL players. Grabovski, 27, had some interesting things to say to Russian reporter Dmitry Chesnokov in a recent interview for Yahoo Sports. He doesn't have very good memories of Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara from last year but getting his bell rung last season by the bruising rearguard probably made him a better player. "I think he has made me faster, he made me pay more attention to hits, to be more manoeuvrable," Grabovski"
Leafs' Grabovski admits he may have had concussion after hits
September 3
TSN.ca
 
"Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski missed only one game last season and it appears that he was lucky not to miss more as the forward admits he may have suffered a concussion after being hit by Zdeno Chara in a game against Boston on Feb. 15. In an interview with Dmitry Chesnokov from Yahoo! Sports this week, Grabovski spoke about the injury. "Well, I think I had a mild concussion," he told Chesnokov. "But I recovered pretty quickly. And now I am feeling absolutely fine." At the time of the incident, the Maple Leafs stated that Grabovski did not suffer a concussion after twice being hit into the end boards by Chara in a game Toronto won 4-3."
Driven Grabovski eats, breathes and dreams hockey
April 5
Toronto Sun
 columnist Steve Simmons
"The maturation of Mikhail Grabovski, hockey player savant, has been a stunning development of this Maple Leafs season gone right and wrong. Grabovski wakes up and thinks hockey. He eats breakfast and thinks hockey. He goes home and thinks hockey. And in between, just about all he thinks about is hockey. "To get to this level, all players are competitive," said Keith Acton, the Leafs assistant coach. "But Mikhail is driven. He's the kind of kid who is consumed by hockey. He's the kind of young man when he leaves the rink he's all about hockey and when he's here he watches video of his last game or video or of good players like (Sidney) Crosby or (Henrik) Zetterberg to see what he can learn"
Grabovski extends Leafs' bad run on penalty shots
March 6
Toronto Sun
 
"The first penalty shot ever taken by the Leafs at home back in 1934 was against Chicago and was a dud by Charlie Conacher. Some 77 years later, Mikhail Grabovski knows the feeling. The rare call in these days of the shootout was made in Saturday night's game against the Blackhawks and a goal would've pulled the Leafs to within two with a chunk of the third period to remaining. But rookie Hawks netminder Corey Crawford extended a leg and foiled Grabovski's fancy deke. Grabovski had braked at the blue paint and tried a one-handed tuck, but was rejected."
Grabovski looking good
February 17
Toronto Sun
 
"If Mikhail Grabovski really did suffer a concussion when he was crushed by Zdeno Chara on Tuesday night, he's a medical marvel. There was Grabovski on Wednesday night in Buffalo, playing against the Sabres as though nothing out of the ordinary occurred in Boston versus the Bruins 24 hours earlier. Whether Grabovski had a concussion was the topic of the day on Twitter and in other corners of the Internet, and given that the issue of headshots in the NHL has been in the news so much recently, it warranted the attention. The argument was made that after Grabovski was hit for the second time by Chara, it was clear he was woozy and had trouble getting back to the bench. Therefore, it sure"
Leafs take heat for giving Grabovski green light after hit
February 17
Toronto Star
 
"Winning goal or no winning goal, Mikhail Grabovski should not have been on the ice to score for that 4-3 win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, according to retired NHL star Keith Primeau. And going back out Wednesday night sends the wrong signal to kids, says Primeau, whose career was cut short by concussions. "Even though he may not be showing symptoms of a concussion, it's important in incidents like that to err on the side of caution," said Primeau, who now promotes concussion awareness at the youth hockey level through Play It Cool."
Grabovski shows how tough he is
February 16
Toronto Sun
 
"He is a hockey player and a tough one at that. But if this was the NFL, would Mikhail Grabovski have even been allowed to return and play the hero in the third period against the Bruins Tuesday night? Twice the Belarusian had his head crushed into the end boards by Boston defenceman Zdeno Chara and clearly felt the effects of each. Wobbly and dazed from the second one, Grabovski barely made it back to the bench where the TV cameras caught him coming back to earth with the help of smelling salts."
Kessel, Grabovski dazzle but trade talk steals the show
February 16
Toronto Star
 
"It was one of those historic moments when long-held truths simply vanish, like another Phil Kessel scoring drought. Yes, Tomas Kaberle may indeed waive his no-trade clause. And, yes, Kessel can indeed score against his former team. And score. Period. The Leafs upended the Bruins 4-3 in an admirable display of determination and strong goaltending Tuesday night. And Kessel not only scored his first goal in 15 games, he potted two, rattled another shot off the post and came close on several other occasions."
Grabovski line holds true
January 5
Toronto Sun
 
"As bad as the Leafs' record is so far, their problems would be worse if the line of Mikhail Grabovski between Nikolai Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur weren't holding three of the top five positions in team scoring. Grabovski had the lone goal in Toronto's 2-1 loss to Boston on Monday and has 12 points in his past 12 games. "They work hard, they're consistent, they have a little bit of chemistry," coach Ron Wilson said of the line. "I think Grabovski is really pushing the line right now with his speed. The other guys read off him. They didn't have their best game (Monday), but they're always at the top of the list for scoring chances when you add it up. (In the Boston game) maybe it was 15 or"
Baby first for Grabovski
December 31
Toronto Sun
 
"This was a pretty good reason for Mikhail Grabovski to turn his back on a potential seven-game scoring streak. As the Maple Leafs were battling the Columbus Blue Jackets at the Air Canada Centre, Grabovski was attending girlfriend Kate and the birth of daughter Lily, who made her arrival at a Toronto hospital around the start of the third period. "It's one thing you don't want to miss," said defenceman Francois Beauchemin, who was able to be present in Anaheim when his son and daughter were born during different hockey seasons. "My second was born on April 20 during the playoffs against San Jose and we had her between two games at home. It turned out pretty good." Grabovski had scored in"
Oh baby, Leafs have let GM down
December 31
Toronto Star
 columnist Rosie DiManno
"Mikhail Grabovski's girlfriend started the game in labour. His teammates simply played the game laboriously. If the Columbus Blue Jackets had any finish to write home about, the Maple Leafs would have been, oh, 4-in-the-hole after just 20 minutes of play Thursday evening at the Air Canada Centre, en route to their ultimate 3-2 defeat. First things first: Congratulations to the rookie dad and all, whose wee whelp came yowling into the world as an almost New Year's baby."
Leafs' Grabovski has a target on his back these days
December 29
Toronto Sun
 columnist Steve Buffery
"Mikhail Grabovski is learning that when you're playing inspired hockey, there's a big target on your back. Grabovski scored his 13th goal of the season on Tuesday night in the second period, on the power play, to tie the game against Carolina at 3-3, before the Hurricanes scored in the third to win it. The goal marked the sixth straight game when he has recorded at least a point and ninth out of his past 10 where he scored or earned an assist. He also hit the crossbar once, missed an open net (when the puck bounced erratically on the ice), was slew-footed by Patrick Dwyer just before he scored the winner and was cross-checked in the back in the dying seconds with the Leafs on a power play"
Grabovski not enough for Leafs
December 19
Toronto Sun
 
"If you listen to coach Ron Wilson, Mikhail Grabovski was the best of the west. But who, in the end, was the best of the rest? Other than Clarke MacArthur and Nikolai Kulemin - Grabovski's standup linemates who continue to play well - the output of the Maple Leafs' offensive players continues to be, well, brutally offensive. During Toronto's annual swing through western Canada, Grabovski provided almost half of the Maple Leafs' goals, scoring three of the team's measly total of seven in the trek through Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. With a lack of support like that, is it any wonder the Leafs headed home late Saturday night with just two of a possible six points on this trip? "Grabo"
Grabovski shows his skill and quickness
December 15
Toronto Sun
 
"You get the impression that wherever he goes in his NHL career, Mikhail Grabovski will spend too much time driving his coaches crazy. The slick Leafs centre has always looked like he had the potential to be an elite NHL scorer thanks to his speed, shot and playmaking ability. On the other hand, his production can go missing for vast periods of futility. A nice finish to a Clarke MacArthur feed on Tuesday gave Grabovski nine goals in 30 games and four in his past five. And if he can just add some consistency, the Belarusian should easily top his career-best of 20 goals in a season."
Grabovski on assault lawsuit? No comment
September 22
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski believes the best way to deal with a lawsuit against him is to refrain from comment and focus on training camp. Grabovski was arrested — but not charged — after an incident during the Vancouver Olympics, and now faces a lawsuit filed by a Langley, B.C., couple who claim he assaulted and hospitalized a male plaintiff and punched a female plaintiff in the face. "I don't know what's going on, I don't know anything about it (potential lawsuit)," Grabovski said Tuesday as he practised with Leaf players not playing in the club's first pre-season game that night at the Air Canada Centre."
Leaf Grabovski sued by Habs fan, wife over alleged beating
September 21
Toronto Star
 
"A man who says he was wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey when he was punched in the face by Toronto Maple Leaf centre Mikhail Grabovski has filed a civil suit against the player. Dylan Richardson and his wife Brenna allege in the suit they were assaulted by Grabovski in a brawl in Vancouver during the 2010 Olympics. In the B.C. Supreme Court suit, filed Sept. 14, the Richardsons lay out a long list of injuries to Dylan."
Grabovski, Kessel shine at skate
September 19
Toronto Sun
 
"Mikhail Grabovski's grasp of English may still be a work in progress, but nothing was lost in the translation of his role on opening day of Maple Leafs training camp. Sent to work with a random collection of wingers, many of whom have next to no shot at making the roster, Grabovski stood out as one of the more impressive players as the team hit the MasterCard Centre ice for the first time on Saturday. One day and one Blue and White scrimmage doesn't atone for inconsistencies of the past, but it was a nice start - even if it took a perceived demotion to light a fire under the Belarusian. "I think (Grabovski) didn't like the way he played last year and he wants to bounce back," Leafs coach"
Welcome back, Grabovski
March 9
Toronto Sun
 
"When Mikhail Grabovski broke his wrist on Jan. 2, the Maple Leafs were a fairly veteran team with designs on a playoff spot and the forward positioned as a middle-of-the-pack scorer. He's set to return Tuesday against the Boston Bruins with the Leafs reduced by trades to the youngest club in the NHL, stuck in 29th place and him their third-highest scorer by default. So count the 26-year-old among those in dire need of a strong finish in the remaining 17 games. Grabovski also is trying to get back in general manager Brian Burke's good books after a scrape with the law in Vancouver during the Olympics, an alleged role in a street brawl. Burke did not mince words at the time about Grabovski"
Grabovski says arrest not a big deal
February 25
Toronto Sun
 
"Mikhail Grabovski admits having some lingering pain in his surgically repaired left wrist. No, not from the handcuffs slapped on him by Vancouver police over the weekend. Grabovski was back practising with his Maple Leafs teammates at the MasterCard Centre Wednesday afternoon, his first full on-ice workout with the team since he broke the wrist Jan. 2 against the Calgary Flames at the Pengrowth Saddledome. There were more questions about his potential legal problems than his health woes when he met with the media afterward. Grabovski reportedly joined a small group of Belarusian fans in downtown Vancouver after their team lost to Swedes in the Olympic tournament Friday and eventually was"
Some advice for Leafs' Grabovski
February 25
Toronto Sun
 columnist Mike Zeisberger
"Memo to Mikhail Grabovski: Here's some helpful advice to avoid the lingering pain you say you still have in your surgically repaired left wrist. Having handcuffs slapped on you does not help the healing process. Not to mention your public image. To be fair, Grabovski, 26, has yet to be charged for the incident in which he was arrested Friday night after allegedly joining a small group of Belarusian fans in downtown Vancouver after their hockey team lost to Swedes in the Olympic tournament. Reports suggest fisticuffs were involved in the so-called Brouhaha in B.C., although it is important to remember that no charges have been laid. Police continue with their investigation. For his part,"
Pain equals gain for nearly recovered Grabovski
February 25
Toronto Star
 
"The pain Mikhail Grabovski felt in his wrist wasn't the result of being in handcuffs last Friday night in Vancouver. Wednesday's pain came from something much more welcome – his first workout with the Maple Leafs since suffering a broken left wrist on Jan. 2. "There's a little pain, but I feel good," Grabovski said, as the Leafs' non-Olympians returned to the ice after a 10-day break for the Vancouver Games."
Burke calls Grabovski `healthy' and `stupid'
February 23
Toronto Star
 
"It could be weeks before the Vancouver police conclude their investigation into an alleged street fight that landed Leafs forward Mikhail Grabovski in jail for a night here, according to Toronto general manager Brian Burke. In the interim, Grabovski is expected back on the ice when the Leafs resume practising on Wednesday. Burke said the centre did not injure himself further in the fracas. Grabovski, 26, was named to the Belarus roster but not able to play in the Olympics because of a broken wrist suffered on Jan. 2. Instead, he arrived in Vancouver with family and friends to cheer the team. "As far as I know, he's healthy. Stupid but healthy," Burke said."
No charges in Grabovski brawl
February 22
Toronto Sun
 
"Leafs centre Mikhail Grabovski's arrest after a street fight in Vancouver marks the latest offside in a sometimes controversial career. Sidelined for six weeks since Jan. 2 with a fractured wrist, the 5-foot-11, 181-pound centre was arrested and jailed early Saturday in downtown Vancouver during a reported drunken brawl. Grabovski, 26, was released almost seven hours later. Const. Lindsey Houghton, a spokesman for the Vancouver police force, said Sunday she could not confirm any identities. "That incident remains under investigation," she said in an email to QMI Agency, adding "there have been no criminal charges laid." Police ordered liquor stores shut early Saturday evening and reported"
Leafs' Mikhail Grabovski spends a night in jail
February 21
Toronto Star
 
"This isn't how the Maple Leafs hoped Mikhail Grabovski would be spending his Olympic break. The 26-year-old centre was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Saturday by Vancouver police and kept in jail overnight after allegedly being involved in a street altercation. Grabovski was apparently released to his parents at about 9 a.m. Saturday."
Leafs' John Mitchell back just in time
January 4
Toronto Star
 
"Leafs centre John Mitchell says he's ready to play, which is a good thing because the Leafs have lost two centres – Mikhail Grabovski and Wayne Primeau – to long-term injuries. Grabovski, whose participation for Belarus at the Winter Olympics is now in jeopardy, will be out six weeks due to a fractured wrist suffered early in the first period on Saturday against Calgary. The Winter Games begin mid-February, right around the time Grabovski's injury is expected to heal. Primeau is out two-to-four weeks after suffering a knee injury in the third period. "I should be playing on Tuesday against Florida," said Mitchell. "I've got to take the next few days to get ready.""
Grabovski breaks wrist, out for six weeks
January 4
Toronto Sun
 
"Mikhail Grabovski was looking forward to his first trip to the Olympics as part of Team Belarus. Wayne Primeau was starting to think the injury woes that had slowed his career were a thing of the past. That all changed over one night at the Calgary Saddledome when both Maple Leafs centres were injured in Saturday night's 3-1 loss to the Flames. Grabovski suffered a broken wrist on his second shift of the game when he collided with Calgary's Nigel Dawes and is expected to be out of the lineup for six weeks, which obviously puts his participation in the Vancouver Olympics in serious doubt. Primeau, who was hampered by an ankle injury during his previous two seasons in Calgary, suffered a"
Monster, Burke shake off heart scare
December 3
Toronto Star
 
"While the Maple Leafs have yet to release details of Jonas Gustavsson's latest heart exam, assurances that the rookie goalie is "fine" came from all quarters – his agent, his friends, his teammates, himself, and his general manager. "We believe Jonas's problem is minor and will be repaired," said GM Brian Burke in an email. The goalie told a Swedish paper he was back to "normal," and said the recurrence of a rapid heart beat – something he thought he'd had surgically repaired in September – came from excessive pressure by Montreal in the first period Tuesday night."
Grabovski gets punchy with Beauchemin
November 30
Toronto Star
 
"Mikhail Grabovski has lost his scoring punch but not his punch. For the second time as a Leaf, Grabovski took on one of his teammates in a fight during practice as he angrily went after defenceman Francois Beauchemin, landing one punch before veteran Jason Blake and assistant coach Tim Hunter broke up the tussle. The altercation happened as some players began stretching towards the end of Sunday's practice. Suddenly Grabovski grabbed Beauchemin's visor angrily, shook of his right glove and landed a short jab. "After (a) day off, everybody wants to play hard because tomorrow is a game; just practising hard," said Grabovski, who would not say what set him off. Beauchemin did not retaliate"
Leafs coach Wilson hits reset button on Grabovski
October 17
Toronto Star
 
"There will likely be two phases to the official "reset" button the Leafs pressed this week. The first was reflected in practice Friday when Wayne Primeau returned from a two-week layoff due to a shoulder injury to centre the fourth line. Jamal Mayers and Nik Kulemin appeared to be the odd-men out as both wingers wore maroon coloured jerseys in practice, which usually signifies healthy-scratch status for the next game. The second phase was more subtle. Coach Ron Wilson restored Matt Stajan and Nik Hagman to the lineup – both sat out Tuesday's loss to Colorado with a clear message to digest – and delivered another directive to Mikhail Grabovski. "I want him (Grabovski) to shoot more; he's"
Leafs start training camp with a smile
September 13
Toronto Star
 
"The Maple Leafs opened training camp yesterday with a smile – and some loud grunts and groans. The smiles were for the camera, with players having their pictures taken for use in game programs and on the scoreboard. The grunts and groans were for the physical testing – mainly the test where players must pedal a stationary bike as hard as they can for a minute to measure the maximum amount of oxygen they use per kilogram of body weight."
Grabovski sticks with Leafs
July 3
Toronto Sun
 
"The Maple Leafs signed centre Mikhail Grabovski to a three-year contract today. Grabovski, 25, played 78 games for Toronto last season, registering 48 points on 20 goals and 28 assists, along with 92 penalty minutes. In his first full NHL season, Grabovski ranked third among all league rookies in assists and points. He led the Leafs with a 16.1% shooting percentage, and was second on the team in penalty minutes and power play goals. He represented Belarus at the 2009 World Championships in Switzerland, averaging 27:23 of ice time and leading the team with three goals, six assists and nine points in seven games."