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Grabovski ‘excited’ to play against Toronto tonight

Washington Capitals v Calgary Flames

CALGARY, AB - OCTOBER 26: Mikhail Grabovski #84 of the Washington Capitals skates against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on October 26, 2013 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)

Derek Leung

After five seasons with the franchise, Mikhail Grabovski could not have left the Toronto Maple Leafs on much worse terms.

The team decided to buy out his contract and Grabovski responded by delivering a profanity-filled rant against Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle. Grabovski criticized his former bench boss for not giving him enough playing time and called him a "[expletive] idiot.”

He’s actually averaging almost exactly the same amount of ice time with the Washington Capitals as he did in his final season in Toronto, but the results have been different. Through 23 games, the 29-year-old forward has seven goals and 19 points in 23 games.

“I think it’s been a good move for me here,” Grabovski told the Washington Post. “Of course I felt terrible when they buy out my contract, but right now I feel excellent because [the Capitals] give me liberties, so I can play my hockey and my style of hockey. You enjoy to play when people trust you and they give you a chance to play.”

Grabovski will play in Toronto tonight for the first time since the buyout. He’s excited about the game and thinks the fact that the Maple Leafs are his opponents will provide him with some extra motivation.

The Capitals could certainly use that tonight as they look to get back on track after two rough losses to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Montreal Canadiens.

Carlyle, when reminded that Mikhail Grabovski had some unflattering things to say upon his exit, interrupts, “No [expletive].”

— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) November 23, 2013

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