Points to ponder - by Kristin Hallett

[StrykerSteve]

http://flames.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=719585

Good read, worth a few mins of your time.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Love it! Thanks for posting.

[ben voyonsdonc]

I know it is unorthodox but McGrattan might just deserve to wear a letter.

[ForeverFlameFan]

A day prior to the final game of the 2013-14 season, the players arrived at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The gear was nowhere to be found and likely backed up in traffic. Now, pre-practice/pre-game time is for each player to prepare himself — everything from taping sticks to limbs. The equipment guys unload and set up the gear. It’s a well-oiled machine and everyone has a job to do. When the bags finally arrived, Flames staff started unloading. It was an overwhelming sight and quickly became evident practice would not begin on time. Cue Chris Butler.

Butler didn’t holler for the rest of the team to follow him to the loading dock. He simply started hauling whatever cumbersome item he could unload. He definitely didn’t plan on anyone watching (but remember, media lurks!). Soon enough, the entire team was lined up at the cargo bus passing bags in an assembly line. Game 82 and still checked in. Butler exemplifies again and again his silent, unsung leadership. A true defenseman on and off the ice; hard work on the back end and behind the scenes. No glory.

I want Chris Butler.

[ComixZone]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I want Chris Butler.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by ComixZone

I want as much guys on our team that provide leadership like that. Besides, Butler was getting used to our system.

[saXon]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I want Chris Butler.

If I had a luggage shipping business, I'd want Chris Butler too.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I want Chris Butler.

I guess he is kinda dreamy.

[Scornfire]

It's always nice hearing these kinds of things about the players. Not terribly surprised at the Backlund mention, I've noticed him at several charities over the years and he always seemed like the kind of guy who was really grateful for what he has in life.

One of my favorite encounters involved him at our tent during stampede, was a pretty busy time of day and the lineup for the tills were absurdly long. He had seemingly appeared out of nowhere with very little fan faire (mostly tourists in the store, so they probably didn't recognize him) and was waiting patiently in line to buy a shirt. One of my co-workers came up to me and asked me if it was backlund, I affirmed his assumption and he got a little star struck, asked me if I had any of my jerseys in the trailer that we should get signed... unfortunately, I did not, oh well. At any rate, the kid I'm working with is running around trying to find something to get signed by Backs while I'm offering to ring him up in the back room so he can be on with his day (he declined for the record, and stood in line for a good 10-15 minutes). Probably 5 minutes later my co-worker comes out of the back room with a god damn foil gum wrapper, and go figure, Backlund signs the stupid thing, hahaha

[Tyler]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

I want Chris Butler.

On what? The training staff?

[AcGold]

Mcgrattan's "put me in coach" for the shootouts had me laughing.

[Galakanokis]

I remember watching the Flames unloading the gear but didn't think much of it, just said isn't that the rookies job to Stajan with Johnny standing behind him. They had a little assembly line going on.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by AcGold

Mcgrattan's "put me in coach" for the shootouts had me laughing.

"Are we de-icing"? Had me roaring for some odd reason. That one was good too. I could totally see Hartley putting McGrattan up for a shootout in the early in the year once or something, and if McGrattan was given a flaming A, I bet his production goes up 50%.

[Gaskal]

Brian McGrattan should retire a Flame.

[The Swedish Flame]

I want McGrattan to be my friend.

[Aarongavey]

It is nice to see these kind of stories, I wonder what previous teams were like during the country club era and weak leadership core, I bet there were some doozies during that time period.

[Alberta_Beef]

The stuff about Butler being a quiet leader is exactly why it would be good to keep him around. That is exactly the blue collar mentality that has this team working so hard.

[dying4acup]

It's hard not to fall completely in love with THIS team and ALL of its players. Especially when I expect to see 6-10 pieces shuffled before they play their next meaningful game.

[irrevocable]

Fantastic read, thank you StrykerSteve for posting it--may have missed it without.

[JD]

I enjoyed the piece. But with regards to the Ortio and Granlund skating out for a lonely lap pregame, isn't that a common prank teams do to rookies? I think Kristin may be misinterpreting that one... I guess context is everything. She was closer to it than any of us.