[Trade] Brian McGrattan to the Flames for Joe Piskula. McGrattan assigned to Heat

[_Q_]

My prediction is Feaster's war on centres continues. Look forward to seeing Stajan get traded for a pick to make room for McGrattan.

[Enoch Root]

8 d-men here. Breen and Carson are both ahead of Piskula (maybe others, not sure) so at best, he is/was 11th on the depth charts. Then factor in that Wotherspoon and Ramage are on their way (if they can sign Ramage). He was never going to be a Flame and he costs us absolutely nothing - just giving away a dead contract.

Meanwhile, we all know what McGratton is, and it is something that we don't have. I don't want McGratton in the lineup every night - that is a waste of a body most of the time. But it is nice to know that he is there for the times that you do feel that you need what he brings.

The organization is better today after this trade. It's marginal, and it isn't going to launch the Flames into the playoffs or anything, but it is a good trade for the organization as they moved a piece they have no use for and got a piece that they don't have.

[Gary83]

Maybe Jackman is getting traded?

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

i really think guys who can play who aren't afraid to mix it up in the post whistle scrums and drop em once in a while is much more the new nhl "toughness" element required by all teams.

Curious why mcgrattan was considered a better alternative than Volpatti (who was claimed off waivers by the caps just now).

The Flames wanted someone to take a contract back.

[FAN]

Originally Posted by Hesla

At least it is a contract for a contract.

A two-way contract for a one-way one though.

[moon]

Originally Posted by Chingas

A trade for McGrattan gets the Moon seal of approval? That in itself is more perplexing than the trade.

Seal of approval might be a little strong but hard to be mad or care that much about trading a guy who will never play for the Flames for a guy that will likely play a total of 120 minutes for the team.

I would have seen a deal like this for McCormick but who knows if that was a possibility and at least Mcgrattan is an upgrade on Aliu.

[kyuss275]

I rather the flames had claimed Volpatti then gone out and traded for McGrattan. I understand the # of contracts had a big thing to do with McGrattan , but they could have made it worked.

McGrattan will bring no toughness to this team if he is in the pressbox regularly.

[Vulcan]

as Iginla has said about having an enforcer, we grow 6".

[calumniate]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I rather the flames had claimed Volpatti then gone out and traded for McGrattan. I understand the # of contracts had a big thing to do with McGrattan , but they could have made it worked.

McGrattan will bring no toughness to this team if he is in the pressbox regularly.

Yeah but our roster is full. This was an AHL trade instead of a claim. I don't mind it.

edit - apparently I don't know what I'm talking about

[North East Goon]

Meh, a fight now and then might actually keep me awake during the Flames game's.

[North East Goon]

Originally Posted by Vulcan

as Iginla has said about having an enforcer, we grow 6".

A big breasted hottie can do the same behind the bench.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Like I said in another thread, everytime I've seen him play this season (twice in Abby), he just looks like he's going with the flow of the game. Doesn't do much. Doesn't even really engage with anyone for a fight or anything. He does still play the "bowling ball" style of game though, especially in the corners.

Piskula was a good blue collar defensive defenseman with the Heat. That just means it's time for Brady Lamb to step up huge. It also means more playing time for Mike Matczak and Drew Mackenzie.

I look forward to seeing what McGrattan can do with the Heat. Maybe this trade will have given him some new life.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by JayP

This article (by a former AHLer) is very relevant: http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2013/0...-of-sandpaper/

Man is it hard cheering for an organization stuck in the 80's. Playing McGrattan 3 minutes a night isn't going to change team toughness. It will, however, drag our mediocre fourth line down even further.

Imagine this - we could easily be fielding a 4th line of McGrattan-Begin-Aliu this weekend. There can't be a worse line in the NHL than that.

Is it really stuck in the 80s? The Kings won the Stanley Cup and had Westgarth, against the Devils who had Jansen and Boulton. Conference finalists - Rangers - Prust/Rupp/Bickel, Coyotes - Bisonette.

He's a 4th line plugger who can at least fill some type of roll.

[Fischy13]

Originally Posted by FAN

A two-way contract for a one-way one though.

If I'm not mistaken, the only affect of a one-way vs a two-way, a one way they have one salary no matter where they play. It doesn't affect being exposed to waivers. With the new CBA rules, anything over 900K is on your cap anyways. So I don't understand the detriment of a 1 way vs a 2 way that I see posted quite often on these boards. Piskula was 525K and McGrattan is 600K, not a big deal IMO.

[Pierre "Monster" McGuire]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

8 d-men here. Breen and Carson are both ahead of Piskula (maybe others, not sure) so at best, he is/was 11th on the depth charts. Then factor in that Wotherspoon and Ramage are on their way (if they can sign Ramage). He was never going to be a Flame and he costs us absolutely nothing - just giving away a dead contract.

Meanwhile, we all know what McGratton is, and it is something that we don't have. I don't want McGratton in the lineup every night - that is a waste of a body most of the time. But it is nice to know that he is there for the times that you do feel that you need what he brings.

The organization is better today after this trade. It's marginal, and it isn't going to launch the Flames into the playoffs or anything, but it is a good trade for the organization as they moved a piece they have no use for and got a piece that they don't have.

Bravo. Excellent post. Can't argue with any of those points.

[calgARI]

Originally Posted by PeteMoss

Is it really stuck in the 80s? The Kings won the Stanley Cup and had Westgarth, against the Devils who had Jansen and Boulton. Conference finalists - Rangers - Prust/Rupp/Bickel, Coyotes - Bisonette.

He's a 4th line plugger who can at least fill some type of roll.

Westgarth played in 0 playoff games.

[bubbsy]

exactly.

There are a lot of things clicking for the leafs early this year, but Orr/Mclaren have definitely part of the equation for success thus far.

[Phanuthier]

I guess this is the week of bringing back former players!

I don't think this move will do anything to improve team toughness TBQH... its a minor transaction that won't amount to anything.

Next?

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Westgarth played in 0 playoff games.

McGratton will play 0 playoff games too! Heck.. he'll be at home when the playoffs start.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by calgARI

Westgarth played in 0 playoff games.

Only because he missed most of the season due to injury.