Michael Grabner’s tough campaign looks like it’s about to get even tougher.
Grabner, the speedy Isles winger, appears to be a healthy scratch for tonight’s contest against Toronto, according to Newsday.
Update: He’s out, as per head coach Jack Capuano.
The 26-year-old Austrian -- who’s scored 70 goals in three seasons with the Isles -- has just two tallies through 19 games this year and is only averaging 14:35 TOI per game, his lowest since joining the team. He’s also missed a pair of games to suspension for an illegal check to the head of Carolina’s Nathan Gerbe and is currently mired in an awful slump, having failed to score a point in 12 games.
(What’s more, Grabner hasn’t found the back of the net in 18 straight. Both his goals this year came in a season-opening victory over the Devils.)
It’s unclear what the rest of New York’s roster moves will be. Doesn’t sound as though Thomas Vanek is ready to return from injury, and it’s possible Eric Boulton could draw in for Grabner.
UPDATE
Vanek is definitely out, according to Newsday, and Grabner didn’t even take regular line rushes with the team during the morning skate -- further suggesting he’ll be out of the lineup tonight.