General question on the trade:
First of all, we acquired an experienced player who has one-year remaining on his contract who brings a tremendous amount of speed to the lineup. Certainly you’ve seen him enough at the Island. It also allows us, with the number of contracts that went back, to do other things at the right time.
What kind of things?
You never know. We were pretty tight on contracts. We don’t know what might come available. It gives you the opportunity to do just the reverse, should that come about, of what we did today, depending on the availability. You always want to have the availability to do anything and everything. We’ve spent a lot of time internally – I certainly didn’t know a lot of the players here. I’ve said that earlier, as far as where our prospects were and what we felt and who we’ve got in different situations. This is the result of it.
You had 49 contracts. What does this bring you down to right now?
It’s five contracts going [out] and one back. There’s four contracts.
What is Grabner going to bring to the team?
Exceptional speed. There is no question that he is one of the top penalty killers in the League. He pushes other people and he pushes the defence back. We’re looking forward to getting him here.
Is goal scoring going to be a concern for this team?
As I said earlier, I haven’t seen enough or know enough about who we are right now. I think every one of the players – there’s a fresh start. I think that’s the most important thing. Hopefully people will come to the forefront that we aren’t even aware of. I like what I see, I like the way the players are, I like their interaction. There seems to be a tremendous, right now, relief in them that we’re going forward and nothing in the [past] is really there.
A lot of guys are getting chances here they might have gotten elsewhere?
I can’t answer that when you say, “chances elsewhere.” I don’t know what elsewhere means. I’m talking about the players we have here right now, with the excitement to get going and not really think about anything that’s transpired in the past. They’re just looking forward. I know Mike and I are not even thinking about what happened here before. That’s what’s great about it.
Mike is saying he’s giving everyone a clean slate.
Absolutely, without question. I think the best word is that there’s no preconceived notions. I think that anybody that does have preconceived notions when they don’t know or haven’t seen them enough is making a mistake.
Is Grabner a guy you would’ve seen a lot in New York with New Jersey in the division?
Too much. His speed pushed the defencemen back. He’s the type of player where what he has, you can’t teach.
Given the names that went the other way, the Marlies are going to be an interesting scenario. A few of those guys were going to figure prominently this season with them.
No question, but right now we have to look at what’s best for the organization. I’m sure that there will be other players getting that opportunity and making the most of it.
