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

[MissTeeks]

Wes Gilbertson ‏@SUNGilbertson
#Flames acquisition Brian McGrattan: “I just can't wait to get (to Calgary). It's my favourite place I've played.”

[RaitisIvanans41]

Raitis Ivanans approves.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Having a goon on the fourth line has always meant that Iginla will get the extra minutes, not guys on the third line that can't handle it.

It is what it has always meant. Jarome gets double shifted.

Iginla shouldn't be playing any more minutes than he already is at this stage in his career.

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by RaitisIvanans41

Raitis Ivanans approves.

The worst enforcer the Flames have ever had supports the 2nd worst enforcer the Flames have ever had. Great.

I cannot stand goons. I'm sick and tired of Flames' retreads. The combination is unbelieveable.

If the Flames brass insists on having a goon, why not try someone else... like Kassian from Minnesota (although I think he's a UFA in 2014).

[vektor]

Remember the Macdonald trade, and how people thought it was a ridiculous move. Look how that turned out, not everything turns out badly always. I for one welcome any change on this team, I hope Mcgrattan comes in, gets in a few fights and then manages to get a point or two and he replaces Jackman.

[Erick Estrada]

Jay Feaster is starting to lose my support.

[Badgers Nose]

I liked him when he was here. He fought, but was not a liability. Not sure why all the hate for the guy. Unless the hate is directed at the move, in which case I totally agree.

It was dumb to let him go in the first place, and there should be bigger priorities than this move right now.

[JayP]

Originally Posted by transplant99

He was averaging more than that the last 2 years elsewhere but now he somehow wont be able to on a team where there is a lack of guys in his role?
And even if he only plays 3-5 minutes...so what? That just gives the skilled guys more time....right?

Are our skilled guys capable of handling the extra icetime on a nightly basis?

Originally Posted by transplant99

Hmm...well he has somehow duped multiple coaches into believeing he can play in the NHL without hurting their team then. And Im not sure what you mean he is not NHL caliber, he is in the NHL and has been for years. Is he a skilled guy who will put up offense? No, but that's not his role either so Im not sure where the issue is.

Why does he bounce around the league then? If having an enforcer and a nuclear deterrent is so valuable then how does a guy who provides that AND is as good as any other 4th liner in the league not an NHL regular (he has a combined 32 NHL games since in the past two seasons plus this year)? He gets jobs because he fights. When he's not fighting and is actually playing hockey, you could find 3+ lines of forwards on each AHL team that are more effective in those limited minutes.

I see...so the extra minutes that regularly go to 1st and 2nd line players on every other club in the league will somehow now, and only in Calgary, be meted out to the 3rd line? Ok then.

Well, considering there's not much difference between our top three lines this year, does it matter? And for a team void of top end forward talent, do we have the option to give out more ice time to our 1st/2nd line guys?

Yeah...uhh...no. Just because a guy like McGrattan is on the bench does not mean other teams wont be aware of him. You do something to a Flame player while he is on the bench, you can be assured next time you are out on the ice he will be addressing it. Its pretty simple stuff and has been around the game for decades.

Ever hear of this thing called the instigator rule? It isn't the 80's anymore. What has been around for decades might not be relevant in the modern NHL (shocking revelation - I know).

Either way, like I said it's really only relevant if a 4th liner does something. If it's a quality hockey player is stirring up trouble against the Flames, I guarantee the opposition would love for the Flames to match up McGrattan against him so he can act like a pylon and get scored on or "address it" by taking a penalty. If the other guy isn't willing to fight McGrattan, what can he do without putting us down a man? Threaten him?

[tvp2003]

Has Hartley ever coached McGratton? Just curious.

[Badgers Nose]

Originally Posted by Clever_Iggy

The worst enforcer the Flames have ever had supports the 2nd worst enforcer the Flames have ever had. Great.

I cannot stand goons. I'm sick and tired of Flames' retreads. The combination is unbelieveable.

If the Flames brass insists on having a goon, why not try someone else... like Kassian from Minnesota (although I think he's a UFA in 2014).

I think the asking price would be higher than Piskula.

Flames are working form a position of extreme weakness.

No depth people to trade, because depth players are key parts of this 2013 team. Can't trade picks and prospects, because those are rare. And you can not trade the core because they are old and expensive.

Icy on the cake is the alleged involvement of ownership in significant trades.

Feaster must have been pretty desperate to get back into the NHL to accept this mission.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by JayP

Are our skilled guys capable of handling the extra icetime on a nightly basis?



Why does he bounce around the league then? If having an enforcer and a nuclear deterrent is so valuable then how does a guy who provides that AND is as good as any other 4th liner in the league not an NHL regular (he has a combined 32 NHL games since in the past two seasons plus this year)? He gets jobs because he fights. When he's not fighting and is actually playing hockey, you could find 3+ lines of forwards on each AHL team that are more effective in those limited minutes.



Well, considering there's not much difference between our top three lines this year, does it matter? And for a team void of top end forward talent, do we have the option to give out more ice time to our 1st/2nd line guys?



Ever hear of this thing called the instigator rule? It isn't the 80's anymore. What has been around for decades might not be relevant in the modern NHL (shocking revelation - I know).

Either way, like I said it's really only relevant if a 4th liner does something. If it's a quality hockey player is stirring up trouble against the Flames, I guarantee the opposition would love for the Flames to match up McGrattan against him so he can act like a pylon and get scored on or "address it" by taking a penalty. If the other guy isn't willing to fight McGrattan, what can he do without putting us down a man? Threaten him?

Don't you get it? He's so valuable it took Joe Piskula to pry him out of Nashville.

[Burner]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Jay Feaster is starting to lose my support.

He is probably ok with that..... just saying

[blankall]

Originally Posted by JayP

What team doesn't have scoring "threats" down the line-up like that? We have decent depth, but we're by no means unusual in having players with some offensive skill on the 3rd line.

All of Tanguay, Iginla, Glencross, Hudler, Stempniak, Cervenka, Stajan, and Cammalleri are playing at or above a .5ppg pace.

That's 8 forwards. An no, most teams do not have 8 forwards at that pace. To put that in perspective: Vancouver has 4 (including Kesler), Pitts has 5, Boston has 6, Chicago has 4, etc...

The Flames are missing top end talent to step up, but in terms of scoring depth, we are near the top of the league.

[Ruttiger]

Originally Posted by Enoch Root

As a Flames fan, I support the Oilers' steadfast refusal to ever do anything to try and improve their roster

And everybody is happy - nothing appears to be changing on either end.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by JayP

Either way, like I said it's really only relevant if a 4th liner does something. If it's a quality hockey player is stirring up trouble against the Flames, I guarantee the opposition would love for the Flames to match up McGrattan against him so he can act like a pylon and get scored on or "address it" by taking a penalty. If the other guy isn't willing to fight McGrattan, what can he do without putting us down a man? Threaten him?

McGrattan has a career +/- of -1.

[Flame On]

Of course we all want team toughness. But the perennial problem with this team is buy-in, commitment, emotional attachment...call it what you will. They don't get team anything let alone toughness.
Our keeper gets run a couple of times, no response. The team is small and gets pushed around.
If McGrattan gets in a few fights every now and then and allows the team to strut around a bit more, it boosts the emotional buy-in, within a game and when the team skates with emotion it can be pretty damn good.
McGrattan isn't a bad addition in this light, but what they really need is a Ville Nieminen or Steve Ott, mixing it up and getting everyone riled up. When both the teams are riled up to the same degree, often I think, the Flames come out on top.
My two.

[RaitisIvanans41]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Jay Feaster is starting to lose my support.

For making a hockey move and not wanting his team to be pillow-soft?

[Clever_Iggy]

Originally Posted by Badgers Nose

I think the asking price would be higher than Piskula.

I don't know. Kassian hasn't played a game with the Wild this season and, IIRC, has asked to be traded. I suppose I understand not wanting him here with another year on his contract, but a terrible enforcer retread is just.... bleh.

When I saw McGratton on waivers, a CP poster said "maybe we should pick him up". I laughed for a second at the preposterousness of such a suggestion and then quickly stopped and hoped the Flames wouldn't seriously consider it.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Don't you get it? He's so valuable it took Joe Piskula to pry him out of Nashville.

No one said he was "valuable"...only that he fills a role that this team had no one in....on top of which, if it turns out he isnt needed to fill said role, they move him to Abby and there is no change to...anything.

It's funny to see the hysterics over something SO minor.

[you got PHANUEFED]

Added toughness this team needs but McGratton is not the right guy.