Granberg was once considered a top defensive prospect for the Maple Leafs, an example of a European scouting system that was going to find steals in lower rounds. Granberg was a fourth-rounder who played eight games for the Maple Leafs.
He was recovering from a torn achilles tendon and the Leafs thought they could sneak him through waivers, that no team would want a player who hadn't played since spring, but they were wrong.
They took the risk, though, because Granberg's a stay-at-home type defenceman, and Leafs coach Mike Babcock has no time for those. As he's said, why would a defenceman want to stay in his own end?
Babcock prefers swift skaters and fast puck movers and Granberg didn't fit that bill.
Granberg is probably ready to play in the NHL. Nashville is probably the team that best appreciates his skill sets, even if he is the ninth defenceman on their roster.
OUT WITH THE YOUNG
The Leafs? Well, they're finished with another prospect from the previous regime. Gone in very short order: Andrew MacWilliam, Greg McKegg, Brad Ross, David Broll, Tom Nilsson, Tyler Biggs, Carter Verheaghe and Matt Finn.
Part of it, sure, is any new regime's distaste for anything that could make the old regime look good. They'd never say it, but it's a time-honoured tradition in pro sports.
But more to the point, teams have a small window in which to measure players. Given teams can only have 50 players under contract playing pro (those in junior don't count), calls have to be made usually by the time a player is 22.