Hours after being waived by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Mikhail Grabovski took aim at former coach Randy Carlyle.
Grabovski's harsh words for Carlyle came after the club bought out the final four years of his contract. Grabovski signed a five-year, $27.5 million contract in March.
Grabovski, who had just 16 points in 48 games in final season in Toronto, pointed his anger directly at Carlyle in an interview with TSN.ca.
"I play in the [expletive] Russian KHL, I make lots of [expletive] points and what's going to happen? He make me [expletive] play on the fourth line and he put me in the playoffs on the fourth line and third line again," Grabovski said. "Yeah, I don't score goals. I need to work more about that. I know that. But if you feel support from your coach [you'll find success]. I don't feel any support from this [expletive] idiot."
Under former coach Ron Wilson, Grabovski was a productive player, collecting 23 goals and 51 points in 2011-12. However, he never took to Carlyle after Wilson was fired in March 2012.
"Wilson [expletive] pushed me same hard as this," Grabovski said, "but don't be an [expletive] with me. If you don't like something tell [expletive] right away, don't put me on the bench, healthy scratch [me] or something. Don't put me on a [expletive] third line and then [expletive] play me six minutes in a game."
Grabovski was one of five players placed on waivers Thursday.
A person familiar with the moves told the AP that New Jersey goalie Johan Hedberg, Colorado defenseman Greg Zanon, Nashville defenseman Hal Gill and Edmonton center Eric Belanger were also placed on unconditional waivers and are eligible to have their contracts bought out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the NHL doesn't announce the moves.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
