LONG ISLAND, N.Y. — Sitting in the visitors' locker room of Nassau Coliseum — where his NHL journey truly began — Michael Grabner is wearing a smile, an expression that's turned into his permanent resting face.
His eyes shift as he speaks, his right pupil still dilated from an injury that had the potential to cut his career short, as he recalls his road to professional hockey that started as a kid back in Villach, Austria.
"My mom signed me up when I was five, most of my buddies were playing, school friends and they started a little earlier than me . . . I just liked being around my friends and never really got away from it," Grabner told Sporting News.
Growing up, he moved up the ranks quickly, playing beyond his years for his local team. Suiting up with Villacher in the Austrian Jr. league, Grabner saw his skillset increase, and in 23 games during the 2003-04 campaign, he racked up 32 goals and 39 points. His coach was from Canada, and seeing his potential, encouraged him to pick up and head to North America en route of the ultimate prize: an NHL career.
MORE: Coyotes ready for the dog days to be over
One year later, he'd be on the road as he picked up and moved out to Washington State to play junior hockey with the WHL's Spokane Chiefs. He'd thrive there, not only meeting his wife during his tenure but also showcasing his 200-foot game and goal-scoring ability made him one of the league's highly-touted prospects and eventually the 14th overall selection for the Vancouver Canucks.
He'd failed to make the roster out of camp and returned to Spokane for one more season before making the transition to the AHL. He had a combined 52 goals over that two-year span before finally, his NHL voyage would truly begin. In 2009-10, he made the Canucks roster and finally started playing in the big leagues. But just as things were looking up, it all took a turn for the promising prospect.
Just a little over a month into his rookie season, he suffered a fractured ankle while playing soccer prior to puck drop, sidelining him for six weeks. He'd put up five goals and 11 points in his first 20 games, but again saw himself sent down to the minors. During the 2010 NHL Draft, Grabner was dealt to the Florida Panthers, but after a disappointing training camp, he was placed on waivers.
"It was getting close to, 'maybe I don't have it,' you know, you start questioning . . . I played and felt like, 'okay, I can play here' in Vancouver, then they traded me and I went back and it's like, 'Man, I'm starting all over again in the AHL,'" Grabner said. "Sometimes it just takes a little bit of luck obviously to get where you want to get."
And that luck — something Grabner mentions time and time again — led him to The Island, where he seemed to truly find his game. In his first season with New York, he scored 34 goals and 52 points, leading all Islanders skaters in those categories and making him one of the league's top rookies. He finished third in Calder voting and 20th in Selke voting, due to his poise and care with the puck.
"It helped me establish myself, get off to the right start and show people what I can do," Grabner said of that first season. "I think it helped me, why I'm still around today. It's still a long, long way to get from where you started to where you want to be."
He found stability and a home for a bit in Long Island, getting to rest a bit after he was awarded with a five-year extension. Grabner followed up with another 20-goal campaign and over his time with the Isles, he displayed outstanding play at both ends of the ice, showing that he could not only put up goals but also serve a key role on the backcheck and on the penalty kill, where he's also managed to produce offensively.
NHL PREDICTIONS: Who will hoist the Cup in 2020?
However, his numbers started to dwindle over time, and after finishing with just eight goals and 18 points in a limited 34-game season in 2014-15 — where he sustained a sports hernia in the preseason — he was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs entering the final year of his five-year deal he signed in 2011.
After that, he'd hit the free-agent market and play the next two seasons for New York before being traded to New Jersey and ultimately signing in Arizona in July. Being with three teams over the course of three seasons, as well as moving all the way to the Desert from the East Coast, may seem like enough to give someone whiplash.
On the contrary, the 32-year-old was familiar with the situation — and happy to do it.
"It kind of puts you in [this spot], and if it happens again, you kind of know what's happening," Grabner explained of being moved around. "It happened early when I was young. So first time I say, 'okay' and then like, once you sign with other teams, it's easy to get adjusted. Like, I didn't care. I played for great organizations in my career: Islanders, Rangers, Maple Leafs, here [with the Coyotes]. It's just been a great journey for me and enjoy every team I play on so far."
Joining Arizona, the winger appeared to find some sense of stability with his new club. Then, shortly into the season, adversity struck again.
In a Dec. 1 game against the St. Louis Blues, Grabner was skating for the puck when suddenly, Sammy Blais' stick caught him in the right eye.
Everything went black.
"I thought my eyeball was in the back of my head," Grabner recalled.
"Your first thoughts, like, 'Am I going to be blind? Am I going to get a glass eye?' It hurt so bad . . . you just knew something was wrong. Pain kicked in later after the shock wore off."
It took about three to four weeks for him to see again, and he said all he could do was wait it out and hope for the best. A year later, his pupil is no longer working or reacting to light, but it doesn't bother Grabner, who's grateful he can still play — and that's all that matters.
"It is what it is . . . if I'm more tired like during the day, if I don't get a good sleep like I feel like it's kind of messing things up and I notice it more. But once you're on the ice, you don't really think about it. You just kind of try to go out and play so it's more everyday stuff."
The former 30-goal scorer has settled down now in Arizona. Off the ice, he unwinds with Blacklist and Suits (now that Game of Thrones is over), while on the ice he plays the role of a top-6 forward, penalty killer with scoring prowess and a veteran presence.
Players to score three shorthanded goals in a five-game span since 2010-11:
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) March 13, 2019
Patrice Bergeron (March 5-12, 2019)
Michael Grabner (Oct. 27 - Nov. 8, 2018)
Antoine Vermette (Jan. 20-28, 2014)#NHLStats #BOSvsCBJ pic.twitter.com/nw2Ui42u31
In 12 games this season, he has three goals, including one shorthanded tally.
That's not the focus for the 10-year veteran, though. Right now, it looks like the Coyotes have a true chance of making it to the postseason, and that's Grabner's main concern moving forward: getting his name engraved on one of the most coveted trophies in professional sports.
"I don't really look at the personal stats anymore, not as close as I used to when you're younger. For me, it's more about trying to get the win," Grabner said. "Time's running out to win something, but it's getting closer and closer. So if I score seven goals and we win a Stanley Cup, I could care less."