Brian McGratton TOI

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Stay Golden

Disappointed Grats did not stand up for players getting knocked around by Scott but especially Burns when he cross checked Johnny to the ice.
This was Grats time to show why he is here and he did nothing about it. He didn't even confront Burns.
Johnny and Byron were getting slashed all game and Grats made no attempt to settle things down.

This is why he's not needed. Except for John Scott... no one out there is going to bother with him.

And I'm glad I'm not he's a problem about his role, but let's not get carried away here. If he was causing issues, they'd just send him down to the minors for him to never be heard from again.

[ricardodw]

It is not in McGratton's nature to play the role to keep him in the line up.

He needs to hit someone -- anyone every shift. He has to make other team come to him.

Doesn't comply with his code.

[Bownesian]

He looked slow and awkward anytime he touched the puck last night. Nothing against the guy but I hope he's on his way down to Addy when the next winger gets healthy.

[Southside]

McGrattan drew in last night because John Scott was dressed for the Sharks. McGrattan really had to demonstrate why he is on the roster, but he didn't.

[Fire]

Originally Posted by Bownesian

He looked slow and awkward anytime he touched the puck last night. Nothing against the guy but I hope he's on his way down to Addy when the next winger gets healthy.

I would be shocked if McGrattan ever gets waived. It just doesn't make much sense. I am a bit surprised that Sven hasn't already been sent down. Maybe he will get in the line-up over Bollig until Raymond comes back.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Southside

McGrattan drew in last night because John Scott was dressed for the Sharks. McGrattan really had to demonstrate why he is on the roster, but he didn't.

This is really because he couldn't. Both his and Scott's place on the roster and on the ice perfectly underscored how obsolete the NHL "enforcer" has now become. Aside from Scott's assist courtesy of a rather fortuitous bounce, both players were not so noticeable or effective that they warranted the ice time they received. In tight games especially, they have no role—this is why fighters seldom dress, and why there are virtually no "staged" fights in the playoffs. Some say McGrattan should have done a better job of responding to hits and slashes to some of the Flames' skilled players, but as pointed out, the opportunity risk would only hurt the Flames. Thank god McGrattan is smart enough to recognise as much.

He is a great guy, and I have nothing but respect for what he has overcome to be a NHL player. I would be open to the Flames keeping him in the organisation in some capacity, so long as he serves some useful function beyond being merely a player's mascot or dressing room inspiration. Btimbit mentioned that he was hoping to work in the NHL's substance abuse program, which I think would be an excellent place for him—I'm not sure how that would work out for his future with the Flames though.

Could he be a coach? Who knows? I think I would have a problem with him moving into this role straight from the roster: there have to be hundreds—probably thousands—of people who have worked the better part of their adult lives for opportunities to coach professional hockey. I have to think that as great a guy as he is, he is probably not skilled or experienced enough at this point to stand behind a NHL bench.

Strength and conditioning? Maybe. Again, this is one of those skills that people work an entire lifetime to perfect, and which usually comes with years of education and apprenticeship. Is McGrattan skilled and experienced enough to guide professional athletes in the sorts of high-performance fine tuning that is essential at the top level? Perhaps. But again, who knows?

[Hanna Sniper]

Textcritic writing McGrattan's role off, big surprise. Someone that doesn't understand the role declaring it's no longer relevant

McGrattan does exactly what Hartley needs him to do and when Hartley needs him to do it... Some sad examples some fans make up and things he needed to resond to is laughable because if he did respond the same fans would be crying because this or that.... fact is no matter how he responds it'll be in the wrong and why he shouldn't be in the lineup. Thankfully nothing they say matters

[ForeverFlameFan]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

Textcritic writing McGrattan's role off, big surprise. Someone that doesn't understand the role declaring it's no longer relevant

McGrattan does exactly what Hartley needs him to do and when Hartley needs him to do it... Some sad examples some fans make up and things he needed to resond to is laughable because if he did respond the same fans would be crying because this or that.... fact is no matter how he responds it'll be in the wrong and why he shouldn't be in the lineup. Thankfully nothing they say matters

Why can't you respect his opinion? I don't necessarily agree on his view on fighting, but it's a little childish to call out someone for what they think.

[crapshoot]

It would be so great if McGrattan could actually play. His attitude and prescence combined with a decent hockey player would be dynamite.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

Textcritic writing McGrattan's role off, big surprise. Someone that doesn't understand the role declaring it's no longer relevant.

In what way have I failed to "understand the role"? I am operating on the premise that McGrattan's on ice role is to intimidate, patrol, and fight when necessary. Am I wrong? If so, please clear up the confusion for me.

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

McGrattan does exactly what Hartley needs him to do and when Hartley needs him to do it...

Is this McGrattan's "role"? Do you not see some serious limitations in his skill set that prevent him from doing everything that Hartley needs done? If Hartley needs a goal, I am assuming that he is not tapping McGrattan for this task; if he needs to shut down the opposing team in the defensive zone, I expect that again McGrattan is not a part of that solution. Again, please correct me if I have missed something.

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

Some sad examples some fans make up and things he needed to resond to is laughable because if he did respond the same fans would be crying because this or that...

If you actually read my post, you would have seen that I actually confirmed McGrattan's intelligence and good decision making in the SJ game:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Some say McGrattan should have done a better job of responding to hits and slashes to some of the Flames' skilled players, but as pointed out, the opportunity risk would only hurt the Flames. Thank god McGrattan is smart enough to recognise as much.

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

...fact is no matter how he responds it'll be in the wrong and why he shouldn't be in the lineup. Thankfully nothing they say matters

Wrong. I have no problem whatsoever with how McGrattan responded on Saturday night. What I do have a problem with—and what I believe absolutely should keep him out of the lineup—is his skill and speed. He is not good enough to play in the NHL. From this I conclude that he should not be playing games in the NHL. It is really just as simple as that.

[Tinordi]

Seems like a nice guy, but he's not even close to an NHL quality player which is reflected by his ice time.

[Enoch Root]

Part of it is style of play.

With the Flames' 5 man rush, high tempo game, McGrattan's physical, zone to zone style of play sticks out somewhat.

To a lesser extent, the same can be said of Bollig - not a bad player, but he's having trouble adapting his game to their style. Engelland as well (though he is adjusting).

It will be interesting to see how the Flames evolve: if Treliving wants a more truculent team and continues to add guys to play that style, does Hartley adapt, or does he get replaced? Conversely, if Hartley's style is accepted by management, do we see them start to look for more guys that can bring some size but still play their style? Guys like Ferland. It seems to me that if they are going to continue to play the style they are playing now, that guys like McGrattan and Bollig need to be replaced with Ferland/Glencross types.

[GioforPM]

The biggest problem I see is that, by sitting so much, McGrattan's limited hockey skills get even more rusty. He had a pretty decent season last year in a non-fighting sense. I didn't see him as a liability. This year, he has not been a factor in the games at all.

Bollig has less of an excuse, and, as people may have noticed, I find him to be a negative on the ice. Constantly behind the play. It's like he thinks more of his own skills than what they really are and it gets him into trouble.

I started out a huge Engelland detractor, but he's gotten much better at playing effectively within himself.

[Hanna Sniper]

Originally Posted by ForeverFlameFan

Why can't you respect his opinion? I don't necessarily agree on his view on fighting, but it's a little childish to call out someone for what they think.

So calling me out is any less childish, could you just as easily respect my opinion

He's made his views of fighting and he's perfectly in the right to have those views and express those views. To say I don't respect them would be ignorant for you to assume because I actually enjoy reading them. But as I stated someone that doesn't believe in the role isn't really the person that couldt speak for it's relevancy

Are you at all surprised at all on Textcritic views on McGrattan's role? I'm not nor should anyone else that reads his post in regards... Nothing childish on not respecting his views,

[Hanna Sniper]

Textcritic - Thats a lot of quotes from a small post, too bad my post went over your head and in turn you thinking breaking down line by line will now make it something other then what it was.

[Jay Random]

Originally Posted by Hanna Sniper

Textcritic - Thats a lot of quotes from a small post, too bad my post went over your head and in turn you thinking breaking down line by line will now make it something other then what it was.

You’re not familiar with the technique of fisking, are you?

[Lanny_McDonald]

Originally Posted by Jay Random

You’re not familiar with the technique of fisking, are you?

Hey, watch it! This is a family site. Keep your sexual predilections to yourself!

[Tacopuck]

All I want is McGrattan to dress for one of the last home games of the season, beat the snot out of someone (For this last fight, I dont care if its staged) and give one final McGrattan Salute off into retirement.

This would be the most fitting tribute to the end of Goons in hockey.

[ToraToraTora]

Originally Posted by taxbuster

That would be an excellent choice. I seem to remember someone talking about how players would come up to him on ice and seek him out for a conversation about their substance issues after the game. He seems to have a LOT of respect from other guys.

There was something the hockey news about how that was his plan after his playing career is over. I think it was working with the NHL or NHLPA. Help young guys avoid the problems he struggled with as a young player.

[ForeverFlameFan]

double post.