Michael Grabner

Michael René Grabner (born October 5, 1987 in Villach, Austria) is an Austrian professional ice hockey player who is with the New York Islanders, a team in the National Hockey League (NHL). Grabner plays right wing for the Islanders, a team he first joined in 2010 after being with the Vancouver Canucks, who selected him in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Before that, Grabner played for EC VSV, a team from Austria who play in the Austrian Hockey League, and the Manitoba Moose, who play in the American Hockey League. As well as those teams, Grabner played for the Spokane Chiefs, a junior team with the Western Hockey League. He is a fast skater who has a quick shot. His first game with the Canucks was on October 14, 2009, and scored his first goal with them on October 21. He was traded to the Florida Panthers, along with Steve Bernier and a first round draft pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, on June 25, 2010 for Keith Ballard and Victor Oreskovich. When the Panthers tried to send Grabner to their AHL team, the Islanders claimed his rights.