15th year veteran right wing Brian McGrattan(16) leaves North American pro hockey for the first time joining Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL for 2016/2017 after tying a career high AHL mark of 9 goals in a season that he set twice as a rookie and sophomore skater.
His 17 points for San Diego Gulls, while under contract with Anaheim Ducks, was also a third best but he also managed 144 in penalty minutes and 96 shots on net were probably the most he ever recorded.
The burly forward didn’t skate a single NHL game but has fielded a big league contract for 10 straight seasons.
For the just turned 35-year old this could be a last twirl around the ice in completely different surroundings but he could also do pretty well and find a nice temporary home in the new land.
Brian McGrattan(22) Anaheim Ducks
For his 14th pro season Brian McGrattan(22) signed a one-year two-way deal with Anaheim Ducks and could find himself playing a decent amount of NHL for the first time in a couple of campaigns to protect all the players in that deep pool of talent in California.
He’ll turn 34-years old before the new season starts.
The huge force, who’s obviously in great shape and last had 11 fights playing for Calgary Flames in 2013/2014, just keeps on ticking.
Original story below 3/15-15:
Calgary Flames‘ 13th year right wing Brian McGrattan(22) was reassigned to the minors for the first time in a couple of seasons, joining affiliate Adirondack Flames .
He last played six games on a conditioning loan with Milwaukee Admirals while under contract to Nashville Predators but returned to Calgary (he spent 2009/2010 with the team) via trade.
The larger than life 6’4″ 240 lbs. rugged forward skated only 8 games (no points) with the parent club and was listed as a healthy scratch all too often, so the parent club ultimately decided it was best to see if some more ice time could get him back into the lineup on what had become a much speedier squad.
In 2013/2014, he achieved career highs for games played (76), goals (4) and assists (4) while keeping the peace on ice.
The big man was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 4th round pick in the 1999 draft (#104 overall) but first signed with Ottawa Senators, who he spent his first six seasons with, scoring his first NHL goal.
After a trade to then Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes, he bounced around from team-to-team on one-year deals and even spent the full 2010/2011 with a pair of farm clubs.
A veteran of 278 AHL games he has the record for the most penalty minutes and fighting majors in one season (2004/2005) with Binghamton Senators, when he drop the mitts 39 times and recorded 551 minutes in the sin bin.
The 33-year old enforcer has skated in 317 big league contests but is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
He may either decide to take his game overseas for a year as he’s yet to explore the landscape outside of North America or hang up those skates and continue to help players with substance abuse problems, an issue of close importance to him.
Brian McGrattan(38) Anaheim Ducks
Mammoth-sized (6’4″ 235 lbs) 10th year vet, Brian McGrattan(38) signed a one-year, two-way deal to stay in the Anaheim Ducks‘ system after he was traded late last season by Boston in what amounted to a 4-player minor league swap.
He had played mostly in the NHL for the prior five seasons but last year failed to catch on with a club in the big league. The Ducks already have a guy named George Parros to do their dirty work, so he’ll likely find most, if not all of his playing time with their AHL affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
Wade Redden(6) & Brian McGrattan(11)
In the meeting before the Whale Bowl this Saturday in East Hartford, a couple of ex-NHLers in the AHL face off circle, Wade Redden(6) and Brian McGrattan(11).
In what was the most improbable occurrence, McGrattan actually scored a penalty shot goal, the only P-Bruins tally of the afternoon in the 4-1 loss to the Whale.