Get Back Grabbo

A team looking for center depth should have no intentions of letting their best pivot take off for free agency. He is tied for 10th in goals with David Backes and Brad Richards with 16 goals a piece. He is on pace for 62 points and 32 goals and is only getting hotter as the season goes on. He had 29 goals/29 assists for 58 points last year.

He only makes 2.9 this season and is due for a big raise. A comparable to him is Tomas Plekanec who is making 20 million over 4 years after posting similar stats to Mikhail. Grabovski brings a stronger defensive side to the game and is arguably only going to get better. Although his line mates have struggled this year, he has still performed up to expectations as this teams #2 center. Last year Plekanec had 57 points to Grabbos 58 although Plekanec has posted 69 and 70 point seasons, he is a year older and has more experience in the NHL. Both are going to score 20 goals each year for a few more seasons. 288 games for Grabovski and 519 for Plekanec. The best is yet to come from the Belarusian.

A deal giving Grabbo 4 years at 4.75 a year would be a contract I think both the Leafs and Crosbovski can settle on. He would hold down the second line center position and provide solid secondary scoring along with his keen 2 way play. Seems as though Mikhail is one of Rotten Ron's favorites. A nice option in the future for Grabbo is going to be Kadri who is learning the Wing position and they would compliment each other quite well. It would produce some silky smooth plays.



Mikhail and Nik Kulemin have to find their chemistry again or Kulemin may become expendable. Which is sad to say as he(kulemin) was arguably our best forward a year ago. Although keeping him is more likely, Burke won't want to sell on him so soon. He has a new role on the penalty kill which he has excelled in. Kulemin's restricted status ends this season but a similar contract to Grabbos previous 3 year 8.7 million dollar contract(2.9 mill/year) seems reasonable. The other man who does seem to be on his way out is Clarke Macarthur, he hasn't been the same thus far but his goal totals are still there. His trade value is decent even though his point totals have fallen and he has been very inconsistent. With young forwards like Kadri, Frattin and Colborne in the wings, it seems as though Mac might be shipped out of town. Also with Colby Armstrong coming back soon and recently signed John-Michael Liles, it seems a trade may be looming sending a D-man and maybe Clarke Mac out.

A roster without Mac wouldn't be to drastic of a change:

Lupul-Bozak-Kessel
Kadri-Grabovski-Kulemin
Lombardi-Connolly-Armstrong
Crabb-Steckel-Brown

Schenn-Phaneuf
Gardiner-Franson
Komisarek-Gunnarson

Gus
Reimer

This team is still very young and learning, going forward with core players locked up is how you sustain success. Burke has built a strong foundation, now it is time to keep them together going forward and add pieces going forward. Who knows how large the trade is going to be coming up but it seems as though a trade is imminent at this point looking at where the roster sits.