Grabner looks forward to playing against Jets tonight

By: Tim Campbell Posted: 12:45 PM CST Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2011

WINNIPEG -- Former Manitoba Moose sniper Michael Grabner was surprised to hear what’s been happening at the MTS Centre this season but said this morning that if fans decide to pick on him tonight, he’ll be ready for it.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 20/12/2011 (5353 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG — Former Manitoba Moose sniper Michael Grabner was surprised to hear what’s been happening at the MTS Centre this season but said this morning that if fans decide to pick on him tonight, he’ll be ready for it.

“Booing (visiting players)? Really?” Grabner said after this morning’s New York Islanders game-day skate. “I don’t know. I think that would motivate me. It’s part of the game. AHL is different than the NHL but they are trying to support their team, help out their team.

“It’s going to be fun.”

Jim McIsaac / Newsday / MCT Archives
Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders won't let it get to him if Jets fans choose to boo tonight. — Jim McIsaac / Newsday / MCT Archives Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders won't let it get to him if Jets fans choose to boo tonight.

The Islanders meet the Winnipeg Jets at 7:30 p.m. (TSN Jets, TSN 1290).

Grabner spent three seasons with the AHL’s Moose, playing 180 games and scoring 68 goals.

In addition, Grabner had 10 goals in 20 playoff games in the spring of 2009 when the Moose went to the Calder Cup final.

Late the next season, the Vancouver Canucks, who had drafted him in the first round of 2006, pulled him up for a late-season “tryout” before trading him at the draft to the Florida Panthers.

The Panthers tried to send Grabner to the AHL but the Islanders claimed him, and he then scored 34 goals in 76 games last season, actually getting his name into the Calder Trophy discussion late in the year.

Was the best thing for his career so far being traded by the Canucks?

WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
New York Islanders Assistant Coach Scott Allen directs team at practice Tuesday morning in the MTS Centre in preparation for a game Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets in the MTS Centre at 7:30 p.m. — WAYNE GLOWACKI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS New York Islanders Assistant Coach Scott Allen directs team at practice Tuesday morning in the MTS Centre in preparation for a game Tuesday night against the Winnipeg Jets in the MTS Centre at 7:30 p.m.

“Well, yeah,” said Grabner, who has nine goals in the first 29 games of this season. “If you look back at what happened, probably. I thought I was going to have a fresh start in Florida but that didn’t happen.

“Obviously I ended up here and it worked out good here and I’m happy to be part of this organization…. so I’d say yes.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca