Mikhail Grabovski Signs Five-Year Extension With Toronto
 

Brian Burke, President and General Manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced Tuesday that the hockey club has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with forward Mikhail Grabovski.

"We are extremely pleased to have Mikhail under contract for the next five seasons,” said Burke. “His speed and skill are valuable commodities and fit perfectly with our style of play. He leads by example and his work ethic speaks for itself."

Grabovski, 28, has registered 45 points (20 goals, 25 assists), a plus-seven (+7) rating and 18 penalty minutes in 59 games with the Maple Leafs this season. The 5-11, 183-pound centreman currently ranks first on Toronto in plus/minus and third in goals and points in 2011-12, and he was named the NHL’s First Star of the Week for the period ending January 30.

The native of Minsk, Belarus has appeared in 304 career NHL games with Montreal (2006-07 to 2007-08) and Toronto (2008-09 to present), registering 82 goals, 113 assists, 195 points and 188 penalty minutes. The Leafs acquired Grabovski on July 3, 2008 from the Canadiens in exchange for the rights to Greg Pateryn and Toronto’s second round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft. He was originally selected by Montreal in the fifth round, 150th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

I'll be interested to see how much it's for. Love his work ethic but wouldn't want to pay too much for a guy who'll never be more than a second line center.

Between him, Connolly, and Bozak, he SHOULD be the #1. I don't know why they've never tried it. But I'm glad he stayed instead of going for nothing. Hard to believe we got him off waivers from Montreal.

Wasn't waivers, was for Greg Pateryn and a 2010 second rounder old buddy.

Canadians traded the pick to Chicago for Robert Lang.

My guess is 5 year 25 million.

5 years, $5.5M per....

Too much, god damn you Ruutu

Yeah blame it on the market,And wait till Price gets his new contract FCM will hang himself im sure.

Pateryn is no grabo but apparantley developping into a solid d man.

I've heard the same with regards to Pateryn. Let's hope he keeps progressing. The other two Habs defense prospects I like are Dietz and Ellis. Both seem like good steady, tough defensemen.

Grabovski is a Habs killer now, disappointed to see he signed with the Leafs. I find it hard to believe he's worth 5.5 but he's a good hockey player and the effort is there. Overpayment but a good asset.

Giving long-term contracts to players who hail from countries that were once part of the Soviet Union is always risky. Seems like all too often, once they get paid, their compete level drops significantly.

I hope so we don't have to hear any more of his stupid posts about Habs

hahahaha!!

yeah we are looking pretty bleak this year but down the road I think the Habs will be ok.

Burke must have figured he better hold on to Grabo because it is near impossible to get a 1st line center thru trades now a days. He at least is a solid 2nd line center who plays hard and has a good skill set. Couldn't afford to let him go for nothing or a draft pick that would take years to develop. It is a little more than i thought they would go for in years and cash but not a crazy overpayment. I thought 4 years 5 mil.