Here today, gone today.

2602grabner1lw.jpg

Photograph by : Ward Perrin

ARTICLE TOOLS

• Printer friendly
• E-mail

Font:

• *
• *
• *
• *

Vancouver Canuck prospect Michael Grabner was barely finished doing a round of media interviews Thursday, talking excitedly about his call-up to the big club from Manitoba, when he was again packing his bags.

Grabner had been summoned to replace the injured Pavol Demitra, but when the Slovak veteran was able to practise fully Thursday, Grabner was no longer needed. Demitra will play Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning despite a broken left pinky finger.

Grabner did get to participate in the entire workout Thursday and pocketed about $4,500 US - his NHL salary for a single day - before heading to the airport, accompanied by fellow Moose call-up Alex Bolduc.

Bolduc went back as veteran Darcy Hordichuk is ready to return following the birth of his son Braden.

"Grabner is an offensive player and, if Pavol wasn't going to play, we wanted him to have an opportunity to play in a role where he could have success," Canucks head coach Alain Vigneault explained following practice. "We were thinking of playing him with Mats Sundin and Ryan Kesler, but Pavol is ready and Winnipeg has quite a few injuries. So we sent both those kids back."

Grabner, 21, was the Canucks' first-round pick in 2006 (14th overall) and is leading the Moose in goals with 21. He has never appeared in an NHL game.

"Hopefully I can get in a game but even if I get sent down, it was nice to get a taste of it," Grabner said, almost prophetically, before he was handed his plane ticket.

Vigneault admitted the Canucks didn't think Demitra would be ready for Friday's date with the Bolts. Demitra was slashed during the second period of Tuesday's 3-0 loss in Montreal - "I felt right away my pinky just blow up" - but finished the game.

"I had a good practice and I think I can play for sure," Demitra said. "The swelling is a little bit down and obviously I had a little bit of protection. The tip of the finger didn't come off but the bone was cracked a little bit and it was a little bit moved [displaced] and they had to put it back."

Demitra figures some freezing Friday to dull the pain will be all he needs.

"Obviously you're going to feel it for a couple of days and it's a little bit sensitive," he said. "There is a little bit of blood there, but it feels fine. I felt okay handling the puck in the practice."

The 34-year-old Slovak, who has 36 points in 47 games, is dealing with his third injury of the season. He suffered a cracked rib in October and missed 10 games. Then he had a groin strain in January and missed another three.

He insisted Thursday that importance of the games now, vs. two months ago, had no bearing on his playing through the current problem.

"I would have played no matter what time of the year," he said. "I tried it, I feel okay, I'm ready to go. You can really do nothing about it if somebody slashes you and you break the tip of your finger. That's something that happens in hockey. I think it's one of those injuries you can play with."

Notwithstanding Demitra's various health issues, Vigneault wants more consistency from the streaky Slovak. His RPM line with Sundin and Kesler has been spinning its wheels for the last three games.

"You think so?" chuckled Vigneault when asked if he'd like to see more consistency from Demitra. "Obviously he's got world-class skill and he's been an elite player in this league for quite a few years. Right now, we're not seeing that on a consistent basis and we need to see that on a consistent basis.

"So read between the lines and I'll let you figure that one out."

epap@vancouversun.com