Ducks Sign Brian McGrattan

[Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by grits207

I'd be surprised if he plays a single game in the NHL this year but it obviously never hurts to have a guy like McGrattan in the minors in case Parros gets hurt or something.

Can't see him and Parros playing at the same time. He won't see the NHL so long as Parros can play. But at least the guy now has a job and at least the possibility of playing in the bigs. Good for him. Any chance the 'Ducks move Parros?

[JeanLaRose]

McG would have been a great fit for what Pittsburgh is supposedly "looking" for, but I'm glad he's playing somewhere at least.. I always thought a healthy McGrattan was top 3 in the league and more than capable of handling anyone out there..he's right up there with Godard as my favorite "no show, all go" fighters

[sinbin]

The Ducks only have 8 NHL vet forwards under contract right now. 9 counting McGrattan. Sexton [RFA] is not in the picture yet
Perry, Getzlaf, Ryan, McMillan, Koivu, Blake, Parros, Jacques, McGrattan
AHL Gordon, Holland, Palmieri, Beleskey ,Bonino, Maroon, Kennedy, Schofield, Deschamps, Brittain, Macenauer.

I know he was signed for Syracuse but he is a Duck until they sign some players and make some cuts in October.

[Captain Crunch28]

I'm sure they'll have his hopes up. He'll last all preseason, and be one of the very last cuts.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by sinbin

The Ducks only have 8 NHL vet forwards under contract right now. 9 counting McGrattan. Sexton [RFA] is not in the picture yet
Perry, Getzlaf, Ryan, McMillan, Koivu, Blake, Parros, Jacques, McGrattan
AHL Gordon, Holland, Palmieri, Beleskey ,Bonino, Maroon, Kennedy, Schofield, Deschamps, Brittain, Macenauer.

I know he was signed for Syracuse but he is a Duck until they sign some players and make some cuts in October.

Yeah we are still waiting to see if the Ducks add any more forward depth.

Beleskey has a one-way contract so add him to the NHL list. Sexton might get a one-way contract, but I hope not.

Unless they make some signings (4th line center, 3rd line center or wing) some kids like Bonino and Smith-Pelly will make the team.

Also Emerson Etem will likely get the 9 game look before being returned to juniors.

As of right now I think either McGrattan makes the team or Jacques does, not both.

I'm also assuming Selanne signs.

Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry
Blake-Koivu-Selanne
Beleskey-McMillan-Smith Pelly
Jacques-Bonino-Parros
Etem,Sexton

Visnovsky-Lydman
Beauchemin-Sbisa
Fowler-Foster
Brookbank

Hiller
Ellis

[sinbin]

Originally Posted by McDonald19

Yeah we are still waiting to see if the Ducks add any more forward depth.

Beleskey has a one-way contract so add him to the NHL list. Sexton might get a one-way contract, but I hope not.

Unless they make some signings (4th line center, 3rd line center or wing) some kids like Bonino and Smith-Pelly will make the team.

Also Emerson Etem will likely get the 9 game look before being returned to juniors.

As of right now I think either McGrattan makes the team or Jacques does, not both.

I'm also assuming Selanne signs.

Ryan-Getzlaf-Perry
Blake-Koivu-Selanne
Beleskey-McMillan-Smith Pelly
Jacques-Bonino-Parros
Etem,Sexton

Visnovsky-Lydman
Beauchemin-Sbisa
Fowler-Foster
Brookbank

Hiller
Ellis

Having seen all 5 of them play I would say that Holland is far better than Sexton, Beleskey, McMillian and Bonino. Wait until you see this kid in camp.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by The Woodsman

In Ottawa, he used to be the last guy off the ice, just stood out there after everyone had left with a bucket of pucks and fired laser wristers top shelf one after another. Believe it or not he has good hands and a hard shot.

Well if any team in the NHL is willing to give him a shot it's the Ducks ironically, who already have a full-time enforcer.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by sinbin

Having seen all 5 of them play I would say that Holland is far better than Sexton, Beleskey, McMillian and Bonino. Wait until you see this kid in camp.

We are excited about him, but I'd like him to have 1 full AHL season as a #1 center and then 12-13 season he can be the Ducks #2 center when Koivu becomes a UFA.

[Gunslinger]

Correct me if I'm wrong.....but was'nt Emery in goal for the Ducks last year in the playoffs? Maybe I'm just being cynical but the Mexican drug cartels are rubbing their hands at this news. Or was that just mean?

[sinbin]

Originally Posted by Gunslinger

Correct me if I'm wrong.....but was'nt Emery in goal for the Ducks last year in the playoffs? Maybe I'm just being cynical but the Mexican drug cartels are rubbing their hands at this news. Or was that just mean?

I think all three of those guys learned a lesson in life. I don't think Emery will be signed by the Ducks they have 7 goalies under contract.

[Stevens Lindros]

Interesting...

The Anaheim Ducks’ acquisition of right winger Brian McGrattan has left many bystanders questioning the motives behind Ducks GM– Bob Murray’s– decision. McGrattan was signed to a one-year contract this past Thursday, July 7th, bringing with him a recorded 395 penalty minutes (PIM) in 182 career NHL games. And while the physicality of the 6’4” enforcer seems to fall in line with the already established Ducks’ physical reputation, the question of whether McGrattan will take to the ice as an NHL player still looms ahead.

So, what stands in McGrattan’s way? Anaheim Ducks enforcer George Parros.

Parros is the same build as McGrattan, fills the same on-ice role as McGrattan, and has fought McGrattan quite a few times in his NHL career. McGrattan, who has been drafted and traded between NHL teams (Kings, Senators, Coyotes, Flames, and Bruins) has had fist-to-fist altercations with Parros in nearly every NHL club he’s played with.

But now these two players are forced to stand in line with one another and put the past in the past. This, of course, will be easy to do if the Ducks have a successful season and if, and that’s a big if, Brian McGrattan is given NHL time.

Speculation as to what Ducks’ GM Bob Murray’s motives were for signing McGrattan are still left unanswered. Many see the addition of McGrattan as a sort of safety net for the Ducks if they were to lose Parros due to injury in the 2011-2012 season. Parros is no stranger to injuries, he sustained a notable hand injury that left him out of the lineup for ten days in 2010 in addition to incurring head injuries and an eye injury through the course of his career.

But perhaps there’s something else brewing in the Ducks locker room these days. If you’ll remember, back in 2007 when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup they had a fourth line with Shawn Thornton, Ryan Shannon, and George Parros. That’s right, two enforcers. So, if it ‘aint broke don’t fix it, right?

Unfortunately for Ducks’ head coach Randy Carlyle, the old adage might have proven correct. Because once Thronton became an unrestricted free agent following the 2007 Stanley Cup win, he signed with the Bruins the following season. Suddenly the Ducks became a team with one enforcer and have yet to clinch another Stanley Cup.

Of course, pointing the finger at the absence of a second enforcer as being the only reason for the Ducks having unsuccessful playoff runs isn’t too convincing. But maybe the addition of McGrattan will fulfill one more piece to the puzzle that will make the Ducks a playoff power-house again.

In the end, McGrattan’s place in his new team will be determined come the start of the NHL season. Whether he’s placed back in the AHL or is given a shot in the NHL lineup has as much to do with him as it does with Randy Carlyle.

http://thehockeywriters.com/brian-mc...r-a-contender/

[McDonald19]

Amusing article, but McGrattan was signed to protect the kids on the AHL team.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by McDonald19

Amusing article, but McGrattan was signed to protect the kids on the AHL team.

Probably, but never say never.

[rondo]

Little off course but I have a question...Someone stated in a thread somewhere that McGrattan was not liked by his teammates in Calgary. Can anyone confirm that? Not saying it is 'nt true but it sounds logical because his on ice performance the year he was their was outstanding as he moved right back into the top 3 imo...I was and I still am interested to know why Calgary would not resign him and opted for Ivanans..

[Stevens Lindros]

I heard that as well, it was well known, and he had shoulder problems that kept him from playing games after January. However he was well-liked in Ottawa so that may or may not be an isolated incident, and even if it isn't he'd be wise to "smarten up" at this point in his career.

Also I know Jacques isn't a center but can you imagine a

McGrattan-Jacques-Parros 4th line?

And can anyone make a photoshop of McGrattan in a Ducks Jersey?