Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th year defenseman Alex Grant(47) is having a career year with affiliate Springfield Falcons scoring a career high 11 goals, 29 assists for 40 points in 66 AHL games and an eye-popping 171 shots on net.
He gets rewarded with his first big league game in a couple seasons skating 22 shifts for 14:08 of total ice including :35 on the penalty kill and power play.
The big d-man was also accessed a five minute fighting major, had 2 shots and 1 hit.
He’s only appeared in three total games. His debut coming late in 2013 with Anaheim Ducks and he scored his first NHL goal. Then on the next night he would tally his second.
Almost oddly enough though, that was his only taste of the show as he would get traded to Ottawa Senators at the deadline, dispatched to the minors and even signed to a one-year extension but no given another chance to prove his game.
Maybe it’s all just starting to pull together for the 27-year old but we’re perplexed as to why no one has taken a chance on this very sizable 6’4″ blue liner with an absolute bomb of a shot from the point.
Signed only through the end of the season, it’ tough to predict whether he stays or he heads to like an SHL for his next step.
Alex Grant(20) Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#114 overall) defenseman Alex Grant(20) re-signs his qualifying offer to return for another season in the team’s prospect system.
He had an amazing 2011/2012 setting career highs in games played, goals, assists, points and penalty minutes (61-10-27-37-73) with their AHL affiliate WBS Penguins after a disastrous 2nd year, when he shattered his wrist and suffered whiplash in a rookie tournament leading up to training camp pretty much shelving the entire campaign.
The blue liner has sizable presence standing at 6’3″ 190 lbs. and could definitely add some bulk to his frame, making him tougher to play against.
At 23-years old, he looks to be developing pretty much on schedule. He started his pro career in the ECHL with Wheeling Nailers and has played in 71 games in double A, including 17 on their way to the Kelly Cup Eastern Conference Finals.