Chiefs right wing Grabner prepares for early call in draft

There have only been three Spokane Chiefs players drafted in the first round of the National Hockey League entry draft.

But if you believe the experts, Michael Grabner may become the fourth on Saturday in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Grabner, Spokane’s talented right wing, is ranked by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau (CSB) as the 15th-best North American skater. He is one of three Chiefs to appear in the CSB’s final rankings.

Also on the NHL radar are: Kevin Armstrong (eighth, goalies), and defenseman Matt McCue (78th, N.A. skaters). Armstrong is projected to be taken in the third or fourth round. McCue will likely be a mid- to late-round pick in the seven-round draft.

Grabner will be in attendance at GM Place when his name is called. He’ll be joined by his agent, his billets, his girlfriend, and at least one teammate – housemate/linemate Adam Hobson.

“It’s going to be awesome,” Grabner said upon arriving in Vancouver on Thursday. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all my life. I don’t care if I go in the first round, the second round, or the third. It all gets me closer to playing in the NHL.”

Grabner is projected as a late first-round pick. One mock draft has him going with the 23rd pick to Washington, while another puts him in the 30th (and final) spot of the first round to St. Louis. Grabner’s up-tempo style of play is well-suited to the league’s more wide-open style created by recent rules changes.

Grabner improved immensely over the past season on the ice and became a team leader in the locker room.

Grabner paid close attention to whatever advice NHL scouts gave him during visits to the Arena. It’s that work ethic, along with his quickness and ability to “turn the corner” and finish plays that have several NHL teams interested in the 6-foot-1, 178-pound left-hander from Austria.

Grabner had interviews with 23 teams at the NHL combine in early June and has five more follow-up meetings scheduled for today with interested teams.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Grabner. “Anything could happen. We don’t have any idea.”

While Grabner has high expectations for the draft, Armstrong is more laid back and ready for whatever develops. He came to Spokane from Saskatoon late in the season as part of a six-player trade.

“I’ve heard a bunch of different things,” Armstrong said. “I’d just be happy to get drafted. It doesn’t matter what round.”

Armstrong has been at home in Winnipeg, Ontario, since season’s end, finishing out his secondary schooling and hanging out with friends. He also practiced against reserve members of the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose right after the Chiefs’ season.

“I haven’t really skated much (since March),” Armstrong admitted. “But I’ve been working out every day (before school).”

Armstrong is seen as an athletic goalie with good size (6-1, 180) and solid positioning. What may prepare him best for the process, though, is his come-what-may approach to life.

“There’s obviously a lot of things coming up, around the road,” he said. “I’m just kind of sitting back, waiting to see what happens.”

“The draft will be televised live on OLN, beginning at 3 p.m.