Ducks Re-Sign Brian McGrattan to One-Year Deal

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have re-signed left wing Brian McGrattan to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will pay him $600,000 at the NHL level and $105,000 at the AHL level. He was acquired by the Ducks this past February from the Boston Bruins along with Sean Zimmerman in exchange for David Laliberte and Stefan Chaput. In 59 games with Providence and Syracuse of the AHL, McGrattan had 10 goals and five assists for 15 points and 153 penalty minutes. This is an okay signing for the Ducks, as McGrattan plays with tons of grit and toughness and is a tough fighter who will always stick up for his teammates. However, he tends to take bad penalties as a result of his physical style of play and doesn't have a lot of offensive upside. He will probably spend a lot of time in the minors next season, and if he sees any time with the Ducks, it will likely be on the fourth line.

Ducks Acquire McGrattan, Zimmerman from Bruins for Laliberte, Chaput

The Anaheim Ducks announced late Sunday evening that they have acquired right wing Brian McGrattan and defenseman Sean Zimmerman from the Boston Bruins in exchange for right wing David Laliberte and center Stefan Chaput. All four players will be free agents this summer. In 39 games this season with Providence of the AHL, McGrattan has five points and 97 penalty minutes. Zimmerman, who the Bruins acquired from the Florida Panthers this past December, has four points in 30 games with Providence and Rochester of the AHL. Laliberte, who was acquired by the Ducks from the Philadelphia Flyers this past November, has 18 points and 52 penalty minutes in 48 games with Adirondack and Syracuse of the AHL. Chaput, who was acquired by the Ducks from the Carolina Hurricanes this past November, has 10 points in 47 games this season with Charlotte and Syracuse of the AHL. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as all four players will likely play out the rest of the season in the minors. Laliberte does have some upside, so he could end up being a good acquisition for the Bruins, whereas Chaput will just bring offensive depth for Providence. For the Ducks, McGrattan and Zimmerman will bring lots of grit and toughness at their respected positions in Syracuse.

Bruins Sign Brian McGrattan to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed right wing Brian McGrattan to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. He attended the Bruins' training camp on a tryout basis. In 34 games last season with the Calgary Flames, he had one goal and three assists for four points and 86 penalty minutes. He was a healthy scratch for much of the 2009-10 season. This is really just a depth signing for Boston, as McGrattan will likely be assigned to Providence of the AHL. However, if he does play any games with the Bruins this season, he will bring lots of grit, toughness, and physical play to the forward lines.

Flames Sign Tough-Guy Forward McGrattan to One-Year Deal

The Calgary Flames added some toughness to their line-up last weekend by signing right wing Brian McGrattan to a one-year contract worth $550,000. McGrattan played in only five games last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, scoring no points and 22 penalty minutes. He missed considerable time last season after entering the NHL’s substance abuse program. In 148 career games with the Coyotes and Ottawa Senators, he has two goals and eight assists for 10 points and 309 penalty minutes. McGrattan is one of the toughest forwards in the league today and brings lots of toughness and physicality to the Flames, but I don’t think this is such a wise signing for the team. McGrattan has no offensive upside whatsoever and he takes lots of bad penalties. The Flames have plenty of other physical forwards who are more skillful than McGrattan who can also stick up for their teammates. As a result, he could end up spending most of next season in the minors.