Michael Grabner is a former professional ice hockey player who played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for over a decade. He was born on October 5, 1987, in Villach, Austria, and began his hockey career in his home country before moving to Canada to play in the Western Hockey League (WHL).
Grabner was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his NHL debut with the team in 2009. He played with the Canucks for two seasons before being traded to the Florida Panthers in 2010.
After a brief stint with the Panthers, Grabner was claimed off waivers by the New York Islanders in 2010. It was with the Islanders that Grabner had his most successful seasons, scoring 34 goals in his first year with the team and earning a nomination for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL's top rookie.
Grabner continued to play for the Islanders for several more seasons, but he was eventually traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015. He played just 21 games with the Leafs before being traded again, this time to the New Jersey Devils.
Grabner played for the Devils for one season before signing with the Arizona Coyotes in 2018. He played two seasons with the Coyotes before being placed on waivers and ultimately retiring from the NHL in 2020.
Throughout his career, Grabner was known for his speed and his ability to score goals. He finished his NHL career with 169 goals and 136 assists in 640 games played. He also represented Austria in several international tournaments, including the Winter Olympics and the World Championships.
Overall, Michael Grabner had a successful career in the NHL, playing for several different teams and earning a reputation as a skilled and speedy forward. While he may not have been a household name, he was a valuable player for the teams he played for and left a lasting impact on the sport of hockey.
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