Whether it’s TSN’s Off-Season Game Plan or just another thread on the HF Boards, the consensus is that Mikhail Grabovski could be shipped out of town.  But why?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think he’s the greatest offensive stud or an answer to any position longterm, I don’t think he’s going to score 30 goals or dish 50 assists, I don’t think he has any shot at ever topping 60 points in a season.  I don’t really like his cap hit, his contract, his attitude or his ethic.  I don’t like his defense, his rushes or even his hair.  But put all those negatives aside, and Mikhail Grabovski is a guy who could be integral in helping the Maple Leafs reach the playoffs next season.  How?

Here’s how:

1. What he plays.

Grabovski’s played as a center during his entire tenure as a Maple Leaf and presumably the majority of his pro career.  The Leafs could really use a center with at least some offensive flair like Grabovski in the top six.

Also, if Nazem Kadri doesn’t make the team, than the Leafs don’t have to worry.  If they deem Kadri too small or realize that he really does need more work in a lower league, they can send him to the minors and not worry about their second-line center position because they’ll still have him on the roster.

2. What he could play.

Nazem Kadri’s  expected to crack the top six, and with Tyler Bozak a surefire lock to make the team next year, how do we fit Mikhail into the top-six?  Well, considering Grabovski has scored most of his goals closer to the boards than the center of the ice, considering he likes carrying the puck over the blueline on the rush and considering he’s a left-handed shot, Grabovski could fit nicely on the left wing.

3. There aren’t any better options.

Most of you seem to think the Leafs can just package Grabovski with Kaberle for Bobby Ryan or Brad Richards, or even trade Grabovski for Patrick Sharp flat because of so-called Chicago cap issues, but that isn’t so.  Then there’s the group that believes Grabovski could be traded for as little as a second round pick, which quite frankly is pretty realistic.  The only problem with that is it means the Leafs would have to go out and make a splash in the free agent market, and unless you guys want either the often-injured, below average Raffi Torres or the expensive sniper Ilya Kovalchuk, there’s nobody to be had.

4. He can put up 50 points a season.

Whether it’s on the wing or at center, Grabovski has proven to us one way or another that he can in fact put up at least 50 points a season when healthy.  With the Leafs forward group depleted since the you-know-what trades in January, Grabovski is the sort of guy you want around to help out with the scoring.

5.  No matter who it is, 50 points is 50 points.

If Kadri does make the big club next year, it would be unrealistic to expect him to top the totals Grabo’s posted in the past, at least in his rookie season.  Even if he did put up 50 points next year, he would only be doing what Grabovski would be doing for us if we had kept him, meaning the offense wouldn’t get any better than how it was last season.  On the other hand, if the Maple Leafs have both Nazem Kadri and Mikhail Grabovski on their team, and they both put up something around 50 points, the team will will have more offense than last year.  Keep the equation the same by changing the name on the back, or add to it by adding another offensive threat and keeping the other.  Your call, but I’ll take the latter.

6. His value can’t get any lower.

I do agree that unless Grabovski thrives as a winger then it would probably be better to trade him for someone whose better at the position, but we won’t know until we try.  Also, considering Grabovski didn’t have nearly the year he had in 08-09 due to both injuries and a bit of a sophomore slump, Mikhail would be a perfect showcase of “buy low, sell high” for other teams to strike on.

7. The cap hit.

You’re probably not going to get a guy who can put up 50 points a year with a cap hit any lower than 2.9, whether it’s via trade or via free agency.  At least for the time being, Grabovski’s as good as it gets in that department.  I know the Leafs are barely below the cap max, but Grabovski isn’t one of the players who should become a cap casualty, that dishonor should be reserved for Jeff Finger.

So, still think we should trade Mikhail Grabovski?  Yeah, me neither.  Let us know what you think in the comments.

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