Brian McGratton TOI

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by puckedoff

Yeah please get the spelling right. It is quite impressive what he has done with Monohan.

I'd give him 6 mins per game (3 shifts / period).

[Hugh Jahrmes]

Everyone doubting our need for Grats will eat their words when we are down a goal late and need a booming howie from the (our) blue line.

That said, would be awesome if the organization had a little chat with him and tried slotting him into the supporting cast somehow. Awesome guy.

[Lanny'sDaMan]

Originally Posted by the2bears

[StrykerSteve]

Originally Posted by the2bears

That's the joke.

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Originally Posted by AC

It's a person's name. Specifically, a Calgary Flames player and this is a fan forum devoted to the Calgary Flames.

It just shouldn't happen. McGrattan gets it the worst too.

Joe Colbourne says hi.

To answer the question, if McGrattan does play I'm totally fine with anything up to 6 minutes. Anything more than that is not a good allocation of ice time.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Yanda

How much Ice Time would you be willing to play Brian McGrattan if we needed him to play every night?

0 or 1 second (depending on whether dress = play).

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

That's the joke.

Well, I wasn't sure

[Calgary4LIfe]

I personally have never minded McGrattan being dressed. 3-5 minutes a night. 7 tops for those 'rough games', though those are fairly rare.

I have always thought that guys who are just having great games should get rewarded with some extra minutes while McGrattan sits, and that would probably end up being against other 4th lines anyways. Hartley gets to upgrade the 4th line for matchups now and then, and throws out McGrattan 4 or 5 shifts a game to increase the physicality now and then.

The biggest downside to me is when a forward gets hurt, and you start having to play a few guys too often, but I think you should still be able to manage ice-time decently still.

[bluck]

Mcgratton is good for 5 mins, I'd rather see players like Monohon, Bartshi, Gudreau, joorys, and granlond get the extra minutes though

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by Yanda

How much Ice Time would you be willing to play Brian McGrattan if we needed him to play every night?

I'll be happy with anything over 8 minutes

[waner]

0 mins

Play with 11 forwards if you can't get a healthy body up from Adirondack or play Diaz up front.

McGrattan is brutal out there and doesn't deter a single person from playing rough, dirty or affect the opponents game in away but positive for them.

May be a great guy in the dressing room but if you are trying to win games there is no reason to have him play a minute.

And I love fighting in hockey and hope it stays in the game.

[Goriders]

I'd rather have a guy with a little more skill filling Brian's role.There's not a lot of fighting going on in the league this year. And overall the team's a lot tougher this year than last year. Don't really need him riding shotgun as much.

It would be cool to see Wolf come up for a game or two.

I think Seto and McGrattan are in trouble when we get healthy.

[krynski]

Originally Posted by StrykerSteve

That's the joker.

fyp

[stemit14]

Wanted to bump this thread cause there is a great interview with Grats on fan960 right now. He's talking about how he works as hard as he can every practice cause he knows doing that will help make the team better. Every battle drill with gio in the corners helps the team and he's happy to help the team in any way he can. And he's always ready to contribute when he gets the chance. What a leader that guy is. Love having him with this group no matter what. Hope he stays even if he doesn't get ice time cause that's such a great attitude for a veteran to put on the kids. Also his trials and tribulations give him such a perspective on life. There really are no passengers on this team even if they aren't playing every game. So proud of this group.

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by stemit14

Wanted to bump this thread cause there is a great interview with Grats on fan960 right now. He's talking about how he works as hard as he can every practice cause he knows doing that will help make the team better. Every battle drill with gio in the corners helps the team and he's happy to help the team in any way he can. And he's always ready to contribute when he gets the chance. What a leader that guy is. Love having him with this group no matter what. Hope he stays even if he doesn't get ice time cause that's such a great attitude for a veteran to put on the kids. Also his trials and tribulations give him such a perspective on life. There really are no passengers on this team even if they aren't playing every game. So proud of this group.

In my opinion, he is one of the reasons that none of our players feel entitled to a roster spot. You have to earn one of those 12 spots. I'm glad he is aware of not playing as much as he used to, he's truly a great and humble leader.

[Stay Golden]

Grats is handling this roster situation with total class. He is a great team mate and locker room guy. That is why he is still up and not on waivers.

[GioforPM]

If Gratts got waived you might see the Oilers take him. That would be bad.

[smoothessence]

Was at the Avs-Flames game last night a little early and went down for warmup and saw McGrattan warming up with the team as thought he were slated to play.

The interview on the fan and things like seeing him in the warmup and his interaction with the team shows everybody outside of the organization that the concept of 'earned not given' is something that doesn't manifest itself as something as simple as playing on the top lines or getting ice time.

You take a player like at 10 times outta 10 (especially for the league minimum) if he will contribute to the type of culture which is trying to be cultivated.

As for TOI goes. He actually has pretty good hands and is a decently responsible player. 5 minutes a game wouldn't ever be a problem if we didn't have guys like Jooris, Grandlund, and Ferland playing so well and who would probably benefit more developmentally from receiving that time instead.

Great questions/situations to be able to discuss these days in Flames land I'll say.

[Brewmaster]

Will McGratton at least get to fight anyone this season? Even in the games he is in, nobody seems to want to go near him.

[thymebalm]

McGrattan is an important part of the Flames chemistry, despite the fact that he doesn't dress for games.

At some point the Flames are going to have to free up that roster spot, and make Grats asst. strength and conditioning coach or something so he's always around the gym, but I think they need to honour his contract this season.

If roster squeeze becomes an issue, you look to move Bollig or you waive him instead. Grats brings more to the squad than him without even needing to lace 'em up.