Anyone who hates this move simply doesn't like having an 'enforcer' on a team. McGrattan was very good in his role the season he was with the Flames.
So, the '3 minutes a game' - how does it affect a team? Wasted minutes? A liability?
An enforcer is a real liability if he has no skating ability. McGrattan is indeed 'borderline' at this.
An enforcer is a real liability if he is uncontrollable. McGrattan is NOT this at all. Remember Steve Ott trying to get McGrattan to take a bad penalty? Was even grabbing onto McGrattan's chin strap and tugging on it. Didn't take the bad penalty.
This team is DEFINITELY easy to play against physically. The Flames ARE the smallest team in the NHL, and sending out someone like Jackman to fight isn't really a deterrent at all - most teams have guys like Jackman, or tougher. Usually sending out Jackman would be considered "icing on the cake" for them.
McGrattan will give the Flames a little bit more swagger out there. "Run our goalie? Well, we will either send McGrattan out to knock the guy's teeth out, or perhaps we will send him out to run your goalie back, or go after your most skilled player."
Someone on the opposing team running around and taking stupid runs at our players? Send out McGrattan and have him talk to that guy. PL3 did an excellent job in 'settling down' Eager and Hordichuk that night when they were both running around trying to hit players through the boards.
Team is lacking some energy? Send out McGrattan and have a fight. You may not agree with fighting - especially the heavyweight fights - but it DOES give the players energy. I remember German Titov talking about how much he loves to see McCarthy fight. Jarome always wants a heavy on the team so he doesn't feel like he has to do it himself. There IS reason to have one out there.
Besides, does it hurt the team? As long as McGrattan is controlled well - doesn't take bad penalties - then it is fine. You throw someone else on that 4th line that is having a good night. Reward that player with more minutes. Also, it isn't just "playing 3 minutes a night". It is him being dressed, sitting on the bench, and intimidating other guys on the ice just being there - talking to them, warning them, etc. When they step over the line, he gets sent out. An enforcer does more than what it appears on the ice in his minutes - probably the only player on the bench that has somewhat of an impact out there, in my opinion.
If you hate enforcers, everything I wrote is just BS. If you like enforcers - or at least see their positive impact on a team IF USED AND CONTROLLED WELL, then you will agree. I would have also preferred a Prust or someone of his ilk, but those guys are not available for someone like Piskula - someone who only if the Flames were to experience a large rash of injuries would ever get to play again. McGrattan did his job fine the year he was in Calgary. I am sure he will know his role again, and be good at it this season - hopefully he hasn't slowed down too much. Hartley likes having this option apparently - wouldn't be surprised if it was him that requested it after blowing up in the media about his goalies getting run.
Nothing wrong with this move. If it doesn't work, then McGrattan just goes down to the Heat. Nobody on these forums is going to miss Piskula I would say. As long as the Flames don't have to give up futures for something like this, not much to complain about I think.
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