The Toronto Maple Leafs, parent club of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, have acquired forward Mikhail Grabovski from the Montreal Canadiens, parent club of the AHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, in exchange for the rights to defenseman Greg Pateryn and Toronto’s second-round draft pick in 2010.
A native of Potsdam, Germany, Grabovski skated in 12 games with Hamilton last season, posting 20 points (8-12-20) and six penalty minutes and was selected as the Rbk/AHL Player of the Week for the period ending Feb. 17. Grabovski also set a Bulldogs franchise record when he was named first star in five consecutive games from Feb. 15-20.
Grabovski also played 24 games for Montreal in 2007-08 and registered nine points (3-6-9) and eight penalty minutes.
In 78 career regular-season AHL games, Grabovski has picked up 74 points (25-49-74) and 40 penalty minutes. In the 2007 Calder Cup Playoffs, Grabovski helped the Bulldogs capture their first AHL championship by chipping in with 11 points (4-7-11) and 21 penalty minutes in 20 games.
A 2004 draft pick by Montreal, Grabovski also played 24 games for the Canadiens in 2007-08 and registered nine points (3-6-9) and eight penalty minutes.
In 27 career regular season NHL games, Grabovski has accumulated nine points (three goals, six assists) and eight penalty minutes.
Pateryn, 18, was selected by Toronto in the fifth round (128th overall), in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. In 2007-2008, his first season in the United States Hockey League, the 6-2, 212-pound defenseman led all Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets defensemen with 27 points (3-24-27) and finished first on the team with 145 penalty minutes in 60 games.
The native of Royal Oak, Michigan native was also named to the Eastern Division Team in the USHL Prospects / All-Star Game and received USHL Defensive Player of The Week honors in March.
Pateryn will join the University of Michigan for the 2008-09 season.
