Retired NHLer teases potential NHL comeback with the Maple Leafs
Mikhail Grabovski has put together a video with NHL strength and conditioning coach Matt Nicol, teasing a potential return with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
At 40 years-old, a comeback in the NHL is highly unlikely, but one former Leaf showed he has maintained his performance levels after running through a gauntlet of standard NHL tests with Ottawa Senators Health Director Matt Nichol.
Mikhail Grabovski posted a video to "X" yesterday showing him being put through the paces and doing surprisingly well since he retired in 2016.
Grabovski provided some commentary throughout the video and different drills.
"He took me through a bunch of tests. Here he was telling me how much better Kulie (Nikolay Kulemin) could have done with this one," he said at one point.
Grabo, as he is known by many, was also given some good news from Nichol when he told him that his scores reflected that of an average NHLer today.
"I didn't think it was going to go that good. The scores of the testing were really, really good. Now, I would say they were average, but, average for any current NHL player. Not for an old retired guy," Nichol told Grabovski.
Grabovski played 534 regular season games in the NHL with 340 of those games ina
Leaf jersey. In those 340 games, he had 91 goals and 208 points. Ending the video, Grabovski had a special message for current Leafs GM Brad Treliving.
"Brad Treliving, call me anytime."
Grabovski was universally liked in his time in Toronto, while not always being the most skilled, he was tenacious and could always be counted on to leave it all on the ice. Unfortunately, his time in Toronto was cut short as the Leafs bought out the remaining four years of a five-year contract he signed in 2012. He would go on to play with the New York Islanders and Washington Capitals before retiring.
https://x.com/OfficialGrabo/status/1790533226739437928
Previously on MapleLeafsDaily
POLL |
MAI 15 | 455 ANSWERS Retired NHLer teases potential NHL comeback with the Maple Leafs Do you think Mikhail Grabovski could still play in the NHL at 40 years old? |
Absolutely | 59 | 13 % |
No, I don't think so | 304 | 66.8 % |
He might have 1 more year at best | 92 | 20.2 % |
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