Grabovski played for the Leafs in five seasons from 2008-2013, appearing in 347 total games in the blue and white.
In a nostalgic nod to his days with the Toronto Maple Leafs, former forward Mikhail Grabovski delighted fans on Friday by unveiling his two favorite linemates from his tenure with the team. Grabovski, who donned the blue and white for five seasons from 2008 to 2013, took to social media to share his picks in a uniquely creative way.
Though he forged memorable partnerships with several teammates throughout his NHL career, two players stood out as his favorites: Nikolay Kulemin and Clarke MacArthur.
Posted on the platform ‘X’, Grabovski participated in a trend that involved pouring cream into coffee to reveal the words on the glasses. As the cream swirled and settled, it revealed the names “Kuli” and “Clarky” etched on the glass.
The German forward scored 91 goals paired with 119 assists in regular and postseason action throughout his five seasons in Toronto. Highlighted by a 29-goal season in 2010-11, Grabovski is well-remembered for his crafty playstyle – turning into a solid player while in Toronto. The trio of Kulemin-Grabovski-MacArthur became main contributors to the team’s offensive efforts, even helping lift Toronto to their first postseason berth in 2012-13 since the 2003-04 season.
MacArthur and Kulemin were staples to Grabovski on each wing. MacArthur played in Toronto for three seasons from 2010-2013 appearing in 200 total games while tallying 128 points (51G, 77A). Kulemin, who was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2006, was with the club for six seasons stretching across 2008-2014 – appearing in 428 games and totaling 196 points (84G, 112A).
This isn’t the first we have heard of Grabovski’s love for his former teammates, either. He recently launched a hockey training business in the Greater Toronto Area this summer called ‘Nitro Hockey’, where Kulemin is one of the coaches – even teasing a possible appearance of MacArthur as well.
"You guys gonna love this. There's special guest for you. Nikolay Kulemin," Grabovski says in the video posted to ‘X’.
"Wait a minute," he adds. "Clarky (Clarke MacArthur), where are you?"
Grabovski has become rather involved on social media over the past year, but the video posted Friday quickly gained traction among Leafs fans, sparking a wave of fond memories about the team's past. Many fans took to the comments to share their favorite moments and highlight reels from the Grabovski-Kulemin-MacArthur line, reminiscing on the trio’s contributions to the team during a transitional period in the franchise's history.
For fans, it’s safe to say the blast from the past was a delightful trip down memory lane.
