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Goodbye, Gremlin: Islanders trade Grabner to Toronto for five prospects

Speeding to Toronto.

The Michael Grabner conundrum has been answered, with the Islanders trading the speedy forward to Toronto for a bushel of prospects.

We've seen this day coming for a while, whether it was because of decreased ice time, an injury-wrecked season, an expiring contract, an overstuffed depth chart, active trade pursuits or the burden of having two guys with very similar sounding nicknames. Still, it stings seeing a useful, versatile and, above all else, exciting player being moved.

Grabner was one of Garth Snow's waiver wire magic acts. Snow plucked Grabner from the Panthers (who has acquired him from Vancouver) and after a month or so, watched him go on a 34-goal tear and end up a Calder Trophy finalist.