Dave Nonis grabbed Grabner in the first round of Saturday's National Hockey League draft.
Vancouver Canucks made right-winger Michael Grabner from the Spokane Chiefs the 14th choice overall. Grabner, from Villach, Austria, scored 36 goals and added 14 assists in 67 Western Hockey League games last season.
"My game is to score goals and drive to the net," he said. "That's all I do."
He'll be at Canucks' training camp in September. Beyond that, look for him to make occasional visits to the Pacific Coliseum when Chiefs play the Vancouver Giants.
"The game has changed, even in the last 12 months and is not going to go back," Nonis said. "Foot speed is as important as ever. Michael is the type of player who, when he sees an opening, can easily go through it."
Canucks also took Swedish defenseman Daniel Rahimi (82nd), Russian forward Sergei Shirokov (163rd), Slovakian forward Juraj Simek (167th) and Prince George Cougars' right winger Evan Fuller (197th). Canucks were able to pick Shirokov after gaining the pick in Friday's blockbuster deal with the Florida Panthers.
Vancouver Giants' left-winger Milan Lucic was surprised to go 50th overall to the Boston Bruins.
"I didn't know they were this interested," said Lucic. "I was ranked to go in the third round."
Lucic said he plans to spend the summer improving his foot speed.
