Grabovski Bought Out

[caver]

Sure. As of today. But if he signs elsewhere for 2 million or more he gets a raise. And that is very likely.

He'd actually have to sign at close to $4M to earn more this season than he would have before the buyout.

This season, yes. Total money, no.

 

[bustaheims]

This season, yes. Total money, no.

Well, that's debatable. He'd have to recoup a little over $7M on top of what he may have gotten paid otherwise over the course of his career to come out ahead.

 

[Kessel Run]

Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid UGH UGH UGH

 

[Beowulf]

Like others have said this is a short sighted move if it's only to grossly overpay for Clarkson, Bozak or Weiss.

They hardly ever got a chance to play together.  There's only a small sample size, but check out the graph of Grabovski playing alongside Kessel and the shots-for vs shots-against when they're on together - versus when they're not, and compared with other duos: http://theleafsnation.com/2013/6/20/mythbusters-tyler-bozak-edition?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

It's likely too small of a sample to make any long-term projections, but it's enough to say that it couldn't be a case of not clicking.  They got chances together when on the ice.

Well said. I was among those that wished they would've gotten a stint together at some point in the last 2 seasons. Oh well.

I like Grabbo, and usually like his play, but to me - he had a weak playoff series.  He had little impact on scoring, and his defence was non-existent.

He had an underwhelming playoffs, I just hope such a small sample size wasn't the reason he was given the boot.

 

[cabber24]

Bye bye to a bad contract. I feel it is just that simple.

 

[cw]

Don't . He just got a raise.

Only if he signs a contract that more than makes up for the difference between his actual salary and the amount he'll get each year for the next 8 years because of the buyout. This isn't a lump sum payment. He gets 2/3 of the value of his current contract paid out over twice the remaining length. As things stand right now, he actually took a pretty steep pay cut.

Annually, short term, maybe. But over his career, he kind of won the lottery. Anything over $1.79 mil (the buyout difference per year) per season over the next four years and he's ahead. And I can't imagine him signing for less than $3 mil per year - he'll probably get close to $4 or more.

 

[iwas11in67]

If this was last year we could have overpaid for Suter and Parise.

 

[Kin]

I've never felt Grabovski likes to do it himself, if anything I thought when the line with Kulemin-MacArthur was so good they were all dishing the puck to one another effectively.  And besides, Kessel has shown himself to be a great passer as well as shooter.

I guess I'm on an island to myself, because I saw Grabbo as a selfish player. I'm not saying that he never passed, but he often neglected the pass in favour of the shot, even at a poor angle.

I get that you don't like this move, but you may want to wait and see what Nonis does in the next little while. It's not even that I dislike Grabbo, I liked him under Wilson, but not so much under Carlyle and one of them isn't the coach anymore.

I don't think that selfish is the right word exactly but he was definitely a puck on the stick, looking for his shot first kind of player. The reason he didn't work particularly well with Kessel, I think, is because they were both like that. Neither guy brought a lot on defense, neither guy was great at winning puck battles or causing a havoc down low. Neither guy tended to score a lot of goals by means of putting themselves into great positions for passes.

Good players, and because they were both good at advancing the puck I'm not surprised if some advanced stats look at them as an effective duo, but there's a reason that two different coaches didn't want to use them together and it's not because they weren't smart enough to look up behindthenet.ca.

 

[Zee]

This "get out of jail free card" of buying out a salary without it affecting the cap makes this summer really interesting.  Nonis realized that Grabovski wasn't a large piece of the Carlyle team so he had to be moved.  Apparently the Leafs tried to trade him and retain part of the salary and there were no teams willing to trade.  Nonis wants to put his own stamp on the team, and this buyout will be remembered for a while regardless of how it works out.  If the Leafs improve significantly he'll be seen as a genius for this move.  If the Leafs stink and Grabovski lights it up somewhere else he'll be run out of town.

 

[iwas11in67]

Just read Grabo is getting married tomorrow.  Feel bad for the guy.  :-\

Don't . He just got a raise.

I bet he ends up in Detroit.

...or Anaheim

 

[Kin]

@jonasTSN1050

Grabovski had 52 goals and 109 points in two seasons prior to 2013. Bozak had 33 and 79. Hard to argue Grabovski isn't the better player.

So, basically, if you ignore Grabovski's career worst year and focus on two good ones, whereas you ignore one of Bozak's good years and include his career worst year Grabovski has better stats?

DERP, YOU STUPID NONIS!

 

[Redleaf]

This "get out of jail free card" of buying out a salary without it affecting the cap makes this summer really interesting.  Nonis realized that Grabovski wasn't a large piece of the Carlyle team so he had to be moved.  Apparently the Leafs tried to trade him and retain part of the salary and there were no teams willing to trade.  Nonis wants to put his own stamp on the team, and this buyout will be remembered for a while regardless of how it works out.  If the Leafs improve significantly he'll be seen as a genius for this move.  If the Leafs stink and Grabovski lights it up somewhere else he'll be run out of town.

Such as life for an NHL GM I suppose. I think Nonis is a pretty capable GM. I see something pretty significant coming to Toronto tomorrow that should make us forget about Grabbo by next season. At least, that's my hope....

 

[caver]

This "get out of jail free card" of buying out a salary without it affecting the cap makes this summer really interesting.  Nonis realized that Grabovski wasn't a large piece of the Carlyle team so he had to be moved.  Apparently the Leafs tried to trade him and retain part of the salary and there were no teams willing to trade.  Nonis wants to put his own stamp on the team, and this buyout will be remembered for a while regardless of how it works out.  If the Leafs improve significantly he'll be seen as a genius for this move.  If the Leafs stink and Grabovski lights it up somewhere else he'll be run out of town.

Such as life for an NHL GM I suppose. I think Nonis is a pretty capable GM. I see something pretty significant coming to Toronto tomorrow that should make us forget about Grabbo by next season. At least, that's my hope....

Attaboy RedLeaf !!

 

[Stickytape]

I go out to lunch and come back to find 8 pages of "Grabovski Bought Out".  WTF.

Waiting for the other skate to drop....

 

[AvroArrow]

I go out to lunch and come back to find 8 pages of "Grabovski Bought Out".  WTF.

Waiting for the other skate to drop....

Leave again!  Maybe we'll find out who we're getting.

 

[Stebro]

hmm, can't say that I like losing Grabbo, I just hope that this doesn't mean that Bozak gets a crazy contract...

 

[BlueWhiteBlood]

I don't think that selfish is the right word exactly but he was definitely a puck on the stick, looking for his shot first kind of player. The reason he didn't work particularly well with Kessel, I think, is because they were both like that. Neither guy brought a lot on defense, neither guy was great at winning puck battles or causing a havoc down low. Neither guy tended to score a lot of goals by means of putting themselves into great positions for passes.

Yes, I agree selfish wasn't the right terminology and I agree with your overall points. The difference is that Kessel will bury those plays and Grabbo's percentage compared with Kessel's is probably a significant difference.

Good players, and because they were both good at advancing the puck I'm not surprised if some advanced stats look at them as an effective duo, but there's a reason that two different coaches didn't want to use them together and it's not because they weren't smart enough to look up behindthenet.ca.

Yes and I thought (by watching them on the ice together) they just weren't showing the kind of chemistry that Grabbo did with Kulemin and McArthur, when that line was clicking.

Kessel is our gem and in the end, whatever keeps Kessel here and scoring like he is, has to be priority for Nonis. But I have a feeling we're getting another center in Toronto. If we aren't, I'll start the petition to oust Nonis myself.

 

[Stickytape]

I go out to lunch and come back to find 8 pages of "Grabovski Bought Out".  WTF.

Waiting for the other skate to drop....

Leave again!  Maybe we'll find out who we're getting.

Okay.. I mean, I can't say no to a second lunch.  But if I come back and find out they just traded for Luongo or something.....

 

[Bullfrog]

I might have bought out Liles before Grabbo ... or Liles & Grabbo and buried Komisarek for one more year in the AHL.

I had warmed up to Grabbo.

If they turn around and give his $5.5 to Bozak, I'll puke.

I'll hold your bucket.

 

[Zee]

@jonasTSN1050

Grabovski had 52 goals and 109 points in two seasons prior to 2013. Bozak had 33 and 79. Hard to argue Grabovski isn't the better player.

So, basically, if you ignore Grabovski's career worst year and focus on two good ones, whereas you ignore one of Bozak's good years and include his career worst year Grabovski has better stats?

DERP, YOU STUPID NONIS!

I don't know why some in the media are making this a Bozak vs. Grabovski debate.  There's no guarantee this buyout was to only sign Bozak.  This buyout has all to do with the money Grabovski was being paid and his role on the team.