[News] Brian McGrattan clears waivers

[Ozy_Flame]

Just to clarify, what exactly "return to form" are we talking about? PPG of 0.5?

[killer_carlson]

Call him and let him play vs Toronto.

[Gaudfather]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Gratts, Raymond and Stajan. Was there something in the water 9 months ago?

Hudler as well - his wife just gave birth a couple of months ago. And since then Huds has been scoring at a better clip.

[Drury18]

Smid would be in this timeframe as well if his wife went full term.

Pretty sure the prospects were conspiring to be sure they got a shot in the NHL or something.

[trublmaker]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Gratts, Raymond and Stajan. Was there something in the water 9 months ago?

not in the water but in the air, I'm thinking legs.

[sureLoss]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/18...an-an-enforcer

Brian McGrattan is back in Calgary.

No, not with the Flames.

He has actually been skating with the WHL's Hitmen.

He's here because his wife is due to give birth to their first child at month's end and a false labour scare last week prompted the early return.

It's a welcome respite from the swirling emotions that come from being a 33-year-old fighter whose demotion to the Adirondack Flames two months back stemmed from the fact the NHL no longer needs his kind.

Quick to point out the American Hockey League is still packed with pugilists, McGrattan now ironically mirrors the NHL's mindset, saying he wants nothing to do with the art that earned him a decade of NHL employment.

Oh sure, he has every intention of playing in the NHL next year. But he wants to do that by showing he can keep up with the speed of today's game and be more than just a nuclear deterrent.

"Fighting doesn't interest me right now," McGrattan said when asked how many fights he's been in in the minors.

"It's tough sitting out every night and getting bag-skated every day. You question, 'what am I doing?' Down there, it was a little tough at first -- it's not the situation I'm wanting. But on the playing side, it's been good because I've been playing a lot. I've been up and down and around my entire career so that's nothing new. But it has been kind of stressful having a pregnant wife and being so far away."

So when Michelle thought her water broke last week, and there was the very real fear he'd miss the birth of his son, McGrattan called Flames GM Brad Treliving.

"I talked to Brad, and he said, 'it's a family-first organization and we'll get you on the first flight out,'" said McGrattan, who rooms with another Flames cast-off, Devin Setoguchi.

"I'm staying until he's born, and after that I'm going to hang around three or four days and then finish the season off. I'm just going to play well and put myself in the best position to have a chance next year."

Good to see that he plans on playing again next year, but whether he gets an NHL job is probably unlikely.

A recovering alcoholic who takes great pride in six years of sobriety, McGrattan said he'll look into taking some online courses this summer with an eye on eventually becoming a mentor and counsellor with the NHLPA, which helped him through some tough times.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/03/18...an-an-enforcer






Good to see that he plans on playing again next year, but whether he gets an NHL job is probably unlikely.

I am not a fan of fighting in the league, but I can't help but he a fan of McGrattan. I really hope the Flames keep him around to help with players transition to professional hockey and money.

Also big ups to the Flames, a family first organization is why I want to support.

[Locke]

What a guy. Props to Treliving too. Pays for the airfare.

[AcGold]

He needs to be a substance abuse counselor. There's probably not a single other person in the world more qualified to help out other NHL'ers in that regard. He's faced about as hard of a hardship as most hockey players will face and he has a positive attitude. With his life I'm surprised he's able to be so positive and dedicated.

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by AcGold

He needs to be a substance abuse counselor. There's probably not a single other person in the world more qualified to help out other NHL'ers in that regard. He's faced about as hard of a hardship as most hockey players will face and he has a positive attitude. With his life I'm surprised he's able to be so positive and dedicated.

He's said that he's been working on a diploma in that area. I selfishly want him to take a job with the Flames when he's done playing but whatever he does on or off the ice, I've got his back 110%.

[JohnnyT]

Originally Posted by AcGold

He needs to be a substance abuse counselor. There's probably not a single other person in the world more qualified to help out other NHL'ers in that regard. He's faced about as hard of a hardship as most hockey players will face and he has a positive attitude. With his life I'm surprised he's able to be so positive and dedicated.

Would love for him to take a role in the Flames front office as some form of player adviser as well as working for the NHLPA on substance abuse counseling and out reach. Great face and personality to be around the kids and in the community

[442scotty]

Awesome guy! I wish him nothing but the best