He's not doing bad down there. He's still on the 2nd PP unit, he plays a regular shift (10-ish minutes lets say. There isn't official numbers so I kinda have to go off of best guesstimate) and the expectation of Huska is that he is to play as a regular player and not be a goon. Huska was extremely clear about this in a couple interviews, he is not here to fight, he is here to play and he expects the same out of him as he does all other players. He's to develop his game so that he can go back up to Calgary.
Grats and Gillies played together on Wednesday and had a great little give and go passing play to create a scoring chance and same game he went breaking in down the wing and created a good scoring chance for himself. He's yet to find the back of the net, but he's getting into plays. He has the one assist from the first game, and that's all point wise. I think he's sitting at 8 SOG in 4 games, and had 4 in one against Rochester, so he's shooting, he's in there. And he's played with some of our speedsters like Poirier and Baertschi as well as our little grinders like Tousignant and Hathaway. He's been thrown out there in all situations just like they do with the prospects. From what I'm seeing, he's being treated no different then a 20 year old there in terms of ice time and opportunities.
One weakness in his game which is noticeable is his speed and positioning once the play speeds up. If he's controlling the speed, he's fine. If a guy like Poirier or Wolf or Agostino was controlling the speed, he put them offside quite often because he either isn't quick enough or he's not aware of where he is on the ice. He pushes forward to try to get a step up on them to keep up and goes offside. However, I think this is easily explained by the fact he usually plays minutes with slower guys and was a face-puncher. I'm not sure the last time in his career where he was expected to make scoring plays like Huska is demanding of him.
He did get his first fight on Wednesday, took on Bickel of the Wild. Perhaps went a little too much on it as he got himself a 10 minute misconduct for continuing the altercation. Bickel stood no chance, basically one punch and he was already down.
Overall, he seems to be doing well in Adirondack. Huska had some huge praise for him saying he was a great presence in the locker room, teaching the kids about what it's like in the NHL and playing the big brother role. Him and Yonkman have taken the kids under their wing and just throwing all the hockey and life lessons they can at them to get them ready for their careers.
These are the kinds of guys that the organization should find roles for after they retire (if they want one). My bet is that McGrattan takes up a coaching role somewhere
I get all the logical arguments against fighting, including in respect of the current state of the game. And honestly, I'm not sure of my view on keeping an enforcer on the roster.
But goddamn... as a fan I sure did/do love having arguably the best heavyweight, undeniably honourable fighter like McGrattan on our team. When called upon, no one is better and it feels damned good knowing that asset is available.
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He posted something on twitter saying he was getting featured in a ESPN 30 for 30. Anyone else know any other details?
The 30 for 30 series was about outstanding events and rivalries in sports over a 30 year period. Pretty sure he was making a joke about his own goal scoring abilities.
The 30 for 30 series was about outstanding events and rivalries in sports over a 30 year period. Pretty sure he was making a joke about his own goal scoring abilities.
Hmm, I thought it was legit and thought they could do a solid piece on him with what he has been through in his personal life, on the ice and the class act he is today.
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The 30 for 30 series was about outstanding events and rivalries in sports over a 30 year period. Pretty sure he was making a joke about his own goal scoring abilities.
They've continued producing 30 for 30 documentaries well past the original 30.
They also have done a bunch of 30 for 30 online shorts, like the one on Clint Malarchuk a couple of years ago. I could see them doing a short about McGrattan, or maybe Tootoo, with interviews with McGrattan.
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