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Grabovski interview with Puck Daddy

CarltonTheBear

CarltonTheBear

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Puck Daddy just posted a rather lengthy interview with Grabovski. He talks about a number of subjects including his goals for next season, his offseason training, his time in Montreal, his next contract, Phil Kessel, and Dion Phaneuf. He also revealed that he may have sustained a minor concussion in that game where Chara nailed him twice behind the net.

Here are some highlights:

In my opinion we simply haven't had enough time to play together as one team, and not for one year but longer, like two-three years, so that the players develop chemistry, so that a foundation is created, so that lines get established and consistent. It's difficult to achieve the result when there are so many changes when it comes to players.
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He [Ron Wilson] told me to carry on the way I play. He told me we should have at least two scoring lines. We continue to be one of those scoring lines. We now need another line that will support us in scoring, to be the same type of the line we were last season.
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We [Grabs and Kulemin] are trying to come up with something. And not only when we skate. Even when we are not practicing we are trying to come up with different plays we could pull during the season.
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He [Burke] is a man of principles and if you give it your all on the ice, if you follow the game plan, like if you have to play physical and you do, then you play. I am happy he found some qualities in me that he likes and I am playing. It's not about European or North American.
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I think he [Kessel] is a leader. He is a player who has to bring the result. And sometimes unfortunately the media puts a lot of pressure on him, but he is still playing the leading role on the team. He is the player of the highest class. I think with a player like him we should get the results we are looking for this year.... But I am certain that this year will be a much better year for him than the one before.
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I really like our captain Dion Phaneuf. He is the real captain I can really hear in the locker room. I really like him as a captain. That's why I will only agree to be his assistant in Toronto. I listen to him and think 'Could I be the same captain in the locker room?' I don't think I could.'
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You can read the full interview here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/blog/puck_daddy/post/Puck-Daddy-chats-with-Mikhail-Grabovski-about-Ma?urn=nhl-wp11688
 
Really great interview. I wonder if they cleaned up his English - I don't think we imagined him being able to express his thoughts this well.

A number of people are making an issue of his saying that he got a mild concussion from the hit from Chara. As usual the Leafs are being criticized - and nothing about the play (and player) that gave him the 'concussion' in the first place.
 
Sweet goodness, when will "Burke doesn't like European players" die the richly deserved death it should? I like Grabo's answer of not actually being European and all but still.
 
Saint Nik said:
Sweet goodness, when will "Burke doesn't like European players" die the richly deserved death it should? I like Grabo's answer of not actually being European and all but still.
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You could even take a step back and say he doesn't like finesse guys but I don't even think its fair to say that he doesn't like pure finesse guys. I think Burke wants to have a big and brash team to wear opposing players down, but he wouldn't say no to any type of hockey player from any background if he felt that their addition would help the team.
 
Bender said:
You could even take a step back and say he doesn't like finesse guys but I don't even think its fair to say that he doesn't like pure finesse guys.
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It isn't because then you'd have to ignore guys like Naslund, Selanne, Kessel and so on. His biggest draft day move was to take the Sedins, his biggest FA signing was Niedermayer.

People, including the author of that interview, have taken a couple of stupid quotes from Burke's first press conference here and twisted them into something basically unrecognizable.
 
His answer to the first question regarding team development and chemistry was note perfect. His 'team first' answer when questioned about ice time was again, perfect.

Noting that Colorado was a favourite due to Forsberg was interesting but including Foote and Drury is also a real NHL answer.

Thanking Bob Gainey, nice.

"There is no easy money"... awesome.

Citing Bozak as a darkhorse of sorts is interesting, I think he has the tools as well and with a bit of experience could be a pretty good player.

All in all that was one of the best reads this summer, thanks for posting.


 
Great interview! Grabs has become one of my favorite Leafs. Here's hoping that this season will be even better than the last.
 
Ive always liked Grabs and I hope we keep him. Other than trading up for Schenn, I believe it was one of Fletcher's best moves on his second stint as GM...

He seems to just get it...
 
he was far and away my favourite Leaf of last year. Hustled on both sides of the rink. I just love his never give up attitude.
 
I really like our captain Dion Phaneuf. He is the real captain I can really hear in the locker room. I really like him as a captain. That's why I will only agree to be his assistant in Toronto. I listen to him and think 'Could I be the same captain in the locker room?' I don't think I could.'
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Will Grobovski be a full-time alternate this season?  I think that he earned it last season, being our most consistent player.  He wore it after Kaberle was traded, I think, but so too did Armstrong (I think) for a while, and Schenn.  I doubt they'll strip Komisarek of his A, so there is only one to go around.  I never liked having all three letters on defencemen, so I hope Grobovski gets it.
 
His drop from 27 points in 37 games to 32 points in 82 was significant.  Perhaps key was teams knew his play was to dish it off to Kessel.  One trick pony.  Or maybe his endurance to play a full schedule with lots of ice-time wasn't there?  Despite the age, this is only season #3 for him.  Maybe he hits this season better prepared?
 
moon111 said:
I found his mentioning Bozak's potential as most intriguing.
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I think he is sticking up for a teammate whose -29/paltry assist level has gotten him pretty rightfully blasted as a 1st-line center.
 
princedpw said:
moon111 said:
I found his mentioning Bozak's potential as most intriguing.
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I think he is sticking up for a teammate whose -29/paltry assist level has gotten him pretty rightfully blasted as a 1st-line center.
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I also think Bozak comes up big this yr.

I wonder if we will see Bozak, Army and Kadri on a line that could be very intresting.
 
princedpw said:
moon111 said:
I found his mentioning Bozak's potential as most intriguing.
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I think he is sticking up for a teammate whose -29/paltry assist level has gotten him pretty rightfully blasted as a 1st-line center.
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Rightfully blasted perhaps, but not for being a no.1 centre.
 
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