Manitoba Moose

An unplanned break notwithstanding, Michael Grabner is as hungry as he's ever been.

That feeling is only natural, considering the 2006 first-round pick (14th overall) of the Vancouver Canucks waited more than three years to get his first taste of the NHL.

While some might be tempted to wonder why a freak ankle injury (while playing soccer as part of pre-game warmups on Nov. 1) derailed his season, Grabner is focusing on getting his game back in order as he returns to the Manitoba Moose lineup.

"My heel got caught and it rolled over," said Grabner, who was in the lineup against the Abbotsford Heat last night at the MTS Centre. "It could have happened on the ice or on a shot, it was just a fluke injury and I have to get over it.

"I have to work my way back up."

You might be surprised to hear Grabner isn't planning to abandon the soccer playing prior to games.

"I'm pretty sure every team does that," said Grabner. "It's my routine. Maybe not for the next couple of weeks. I'll get back to it. It's a good warm-up that gets the feet going and gives you a good sweat."

After a long-term injury to Daniel Sedin, Grabner was summoned to the left coast on Oct. 14.

The move was thought to be temporary, but following a bit of a nervous start Grabner settled in nicely and showed how far he's progressed since turning pro, flourishing on a line with fellow speed demons Mason Raymond and Ryan Kesler.

'A lot of fun'

"We all try to score off the rush and push the D-men back. We had good chemistry right off the start and that helped," said Grabner, who had 30 goals and 48 points for the Moose last season and added 10 goals and 17 points in 20 Calder Cup playoff games.

"I showed myself and the coaches that I could play at that level. It was a lot of fun. I was nervous in the first game, but after that you see it as any other guy. I got more comfortable. Once you adjust, it gets easier the more games and more minutes you play."

Grabner saved his first NHL goal for a special occasion as many of his Moose teammates were in attendance at the United Centre on Oct. 21 for the game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

"That was great. It was nice to score down there," said Grabner. "It was pretty special. I couldn't have imagined it better. It was a good moment."

Although Grabner has broken his arm (when he was 15 and playing in Austria) and collarbone (when he was 17 and in his first Western Hockey League season with the Spokane Chiefs), this is the longest he's been sidelined by an injury.

However, Grabner is confident a return to form won't take too long, which was music to the ears of Moose head coach Scott Arniel, who understands the benefits of having someone like Grabner in the lineup.

"He'll add speed, scoring touch. He knows how to play at this level," said Arniel. "The one thing about Grabs, where he differs from other people, is that skating is his best attribute.

"It's more about timing for him and getting himself battle ready."