Coyotes preparing to buyout veteran forward
The Arizona Coyotes have placed veteran forward Michael Grabner on waivers today for the purpose of a buyout. Grabner had one year remaining on his current contract and was set to make $3.775 million this coming season. The buyout will cost the Coyotes, $833,333 against the cap in 2020-21, and $1,258,333 against the cap in 2021-22. Grabner will now become an unrestricted free agent on October 9th.
Arizona Coyotes general manager Bill Armstrong released a statement this afternoon regarding the buyout Michael Grabner.
A statement from GM Bill Armstrong regarding Michael Grabner: pic.twitter.com/hgWg3iuQgd— Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) October 3, 2020
Grabner, 32, was drafted in the first round, 14th overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2006 NHL entry draft. During his career, he has played for the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and the Arizona Coyotes.
In 640 regular season games, he has put up 276 points (175 G, 101 A), 110 penalty minutes and is a +18. In 40 career playoff games, Grabner has 15 points (9 G, 6 A), 8 penalty minutes and is a +9.
Internationally, Grabner has represented Austria on multiple occasions, most recently during qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics, where in three games he put up 1 goal, 0 penalty minutes and was a -6. He also participated at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In 4 games, he had 6 points (5 G, 1 A), 0 penalty minutes and was a -2. He was tied for the tournament lead in goals with 5, along with USA forward Phil Kessel.
Grabner could be an interesting pick up for many teams looking to add some speed. He won't be flashy offensively, but his speed, and strong play on the penalty kill should intrigue some teams, and it's likely he will come at a relatively low cost, somewhere around $1 million per season.
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Roope Hintz | - | 4 | 4 | |
| Ross Colton | 2 | 1 | 3 | |
| Logan Stankoven | 2 | - | 2 | |
| Jason Robertson | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sam Steel | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Mika Zibanejad | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Thomas Harley | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Oliver Kylington | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Will Cuylle | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jonathan Drouin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jack Drury | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Matt Duchene | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Warren Foegele | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Vinnie Hinostroza | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Wyatt Johnston | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Matthew Knies | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Trevor Moore | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Valeri Nichushkin | 1 | - | 1 | |
| William Nylander | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Complete stats | ||||
| STANDINGS 2024-2025 | ||||||
TOP 10 | GP | W | L | OL | PTS | |
Jets | 60 | 42 | 15 | 3 | 87 | |
Capitals | 59 | 38 | 13 | 8 | 84 | |
Stars | 59 | 38 | 19 | 2 | 78 | |
Maple Leafs | 59 | 37 | 20 | 2 | 76 | |
Golden Knights | 59 | 35 | 18 | 6 | 76 | |
Panthers | 60 | 36 | 21 | 3 | 75 | |
Lightning | 58 | 34 | 20 | 4 | 72 | |
Hurricanes | 59 | 34 | 21 | 4 | 72 | |
Oilers | 59 | 34 | 21 | 4 | 72 | |
Wild | 60 | 34 | 22 | 4 | 72 | |
| Conference | Cumulative | ||||||