Surprise! Lightning re-signs Gratton

Wasn't it just a few weeks ago, ownership was talking about how center Chris Gratton was not in its plans? Well, something changed because Tampa Bay re-signed him to a one-year deal worth $1.25-million.

From the team's announcement:

“We are extremely excited to have Chris back in the fold for next season,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said.  “He is a true professional that fits in perfectly with our plan to be a tough team to play against.  We look forward to having a healthy Chris Gratton on the ice next season.”

Gratton, a 6-foot-4, 221-pound native of Brantford, Ontario, played in 60 games with the Lightning last season.  He recorded 10 goals, 21 points, one power-play goal and one game-winning goal while battling a hip injury.  He returned to the Tampa Bay line-up for the first time since the 1999-00 season last year and ranked second on the team in face-off percentage, winning 337 of 618 draws taken (54.5 percent).  The Lightning posted a 6-1-1 record when Gratton scored a goal as he scored five of his 10 goals with the game tied.

The 33-year-old has played in 464 career games during three stints with Tampa Bay, recording 98 goals, 159 assists and 257 points.  Gratton ranks seventh on the franchise list in games played, goals, assists and points.

The 15-year NHL veteran has played in 1,068 career games with Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Buffalo, Phoenix, Colorado and Florida.  He has 214 career goals and 565 points with 1,626 penalty minutes.  During his career, Gratton has recorded seven seasons with 15 goals or more and 12 seasons with 10 goals or more.  He also put together 10 seasons with 30 points or more.  He has played in 40 career playoff games, recording eight goals and 15 points during his career.  He made his first Stanley Cup Playoff appearance with Tampa Bay in 1996 and recorded two points.

Gratton, the Lightning’s first-round choice, third overall, at the 1993 Entry Draft, served as Tampa Bay’s captain during the 1999-00 season.  In 1997 he signed with Philadelphia as a free agent after four seasons with the Lightning.  He played 108 games with the Flyers before being re-acquired by Tampa Bay with Mike Sillinger in exchange for Daymond Langkow and Mikael Renberg on December 12, 1998.  The Lightning then traded him to Buffalo during the 1999-00 season with a second-round pick in the 2001 Entry Draft in exchange for Wayne Primeau, Brian Holzinger, Cory Sarich and a third-round pick in 2000.  Following the trade he went on to play with the Coyotes, Avalanche and Panthers before being re-acquired by Tampa Bay from Florida on June 13, 2007.

Comments

[Mike13]

I'm not going to waste time looking for the clip Leo. Everybody here knows that all athletes truly believe that they will bounce back. Otherwise, they hang up the skates and ride off into the sunset.

I am not saying that Kolzig will bounce back. All I'm saying is that he's not approaching it like he's the backup and therefore, Smith needs to elevate his game to show us that he IS the #1.

If he does not show that he is the clear cut guy before the first week of October, then I foresee the two Goalies being platooned until 1 of them steps up. It is not a foreign concept. Lots of teams do it. Toronto, Detroit, Edmonton, San Jose (before they traded away Toskala), etc. They've all done it too.

The new owners want to win now, and clearly do not want to risk Smith not being the knight in shining armor that they/we/I hope he is.

[JB]

These owners need to quit talking to the press so much. It is ruining their credbility. Can anyone say "flip-flop"?

[léo]

Mike,
My dear friend,
I want you to find me a clip. Take your time. I'll give you a month.
I want you to find me a clip of a goalie who DIDN'T say he would bounce back after a miserable season. Any clip. Any year. Any team. Any guy.
Find me a clip where the guy says, "Whoa, after the bad year I had, I just DON'T see myself bouncing back from this. I still wanna play, but I think I'm gonna be just as terrible this coming year as I was last year. So...yeah, you've been warned: watch me SUCK this year too." C'mon, Mikey.
Of course Ollie said that. Theo said that too. And Raycroft. And Lalime. And Jim Carey. That don't necessarily mean we gotta swallow it hook, line and sinker.
I TOTALLY respect Ollie. I think Ollie showed me more talent than The Man Huey (sensibly the same type) in the NHL. Y'all KNOW I love The Man Huey! I can be real, Mike. I can be real as a sunuvagun.
In their Prime, Ollie would top the list, Ramo, Huey, Smith, Theo, himself.
But now? Putting him num1 would be a mistake. Let him play, fersure. Heck, split it half'n'half.
But name Smith your num1.
Or you lose face.
Yo.

[PD]

This team sure wont wait wait until the trade deadline to evaluate
Mr. 3-11 Boltlifetime.
He is anything but the annointed one, that would be crazy and despite what others have said Smith is being shopped,(as a backup).

Worst D and goaltending in the SE. Much work to be done with apologies to the cheerleaders.

[Don in St. Pete]

Mike, I'm sure that Olie was promised the opportunity to compete for the #1 job and their will likely some serious competetion. What I mentioned about is what I believe and various reprts have jead me to believe is that this is what ownership would like to see happen. I agree though first off the job needs to be won and it could be Ramo.

[Mike13]

Well. I guess we disagree. That's fine. I understand what you guys are saying. But I disagree that he was brought in here to be the occassional backup guy.

You guys have obviously not watched/read any of Olie's interviews where he talks about the fact that he feels that he had a down year and will bounce back with his new beginning in Tampa. He's certainly not approaching it as though the job is Smitty's.

Only time will tell.

[Don in St. Pete]

Leo is dead balls on! Olie is there to mentor and to step in for a few games if Smitty tweaks a muscle. We are looking to build, not do what we've done the past 3 seasons. Ramo goes to Norfolk so he can play every day, not ride the pine in Tampa. If by the trade deadline Smith hasn't proven he's a #1 and Ramo is blocking everything in sight, then you have a decision to make. If Olie was the answer we'd have signed him for 2 years or more.

[Boltflasher]

The Smith trade rumour was just that..a rumour. The Bolts are not going to trade a goalie until they are sure that position is solved...no way to know till we play the season...

[Steve R]

leo, well said.

I think Olie is 38 though.

[léo]

Ok, that's fine, Mike.
Buy ole Ollie ain't "solid" anymore; he's 62 years old!
I'm not doubting his spirit at all; I'm sure it's very willing. But he's 62 years old. Let the man rest. Let the man "teach" what he has learned to Smithy, the num1 goalie you so desperately needed and sacrificed num19 for.
I believe you that Smith has not impressed. But neither did Ollie impress in Washy-town, and though their D ain't all that, it's slightly better than yours. Which means that Ollie will have a more trying time here than in CapperCity...where he lost his job...cuz he's on the downhill...full speed. Ollie will have a BETTER year this year, Mike? Great goalie. GREAT goalie. But now, he's 62 years old.
Do NOT make a 62 year old guy your num1 goalie.
Yo.

[Mike13]

I don't necessary disagree that TB will lose of face if Smith is not the #1. I'm not sure if it is "a lot of face" though. I'm just saying that he didn't WOW anyone down here last year. Obviously he was a part of the package we got in return for Richards (& Holmqvist). But it was a package deal. In my mind, where TB has lost a lot of face is:
(1) Trading away the 2nd round pick that we got in that deal + getting ready to send Jokinen packing + Smith not being the clear cut #1; and
(2) Trading Boyle after implying that they weren't going to.

Again, there's no way, in my book, that Smith is the clear cut #1 guy. Its a shame for sure. But if he was, then there's no need for such a solid guy like Olie. We should have just left Ramo as the backup.

Smith is good, maybe even very good. But he needs to be a whole lot better if he is going to claim that #1 role.

[léo]

Mikey! C'mon!
If that's how you see it, turn your glasses the other way around.
I'm not saying YOU'RE wrong; I'm saying THAT IDEA is wrong.
Smith is your guy. Kolzig is the mentor. You traded Brad Richards for "a very active num2"??? No. You traded Brad Richards to acquire a solid num1 goalie, the bane-position in TB's recent history.
Whether Smith is an ACTUAL num1 or not is beside the point. If you put Smith at num2, then what was the trade for? If Smith is not your num1...
You lose A LOT of face.
Think about it,
If Ollie wasn't such a hot-head, such a prima donna (perfectly acceptable, I'm just sayin'), he would've inevitably come to the conclusion that he would have had more ice-time with THEO than with Smith. He shoulda stayed in Washy-town, hockey-wise.
He's in TB because of his PRIDE... and because Kouliwood is buyin' everythin' in sight.
I'm sure they promised Ollie X-number of games, but if Smith is not your clear-cut num1?
You lose a lot of face.
Yo.

[Hockey Chic]

Okay for all you nay sayers it is nice to see OK do something like keep Grats.

I know most are still peeowed about the DFB trade but maybe that is what had to be done. I like the arm chair quarterbacks or hockey coaches that we all claim to be but I would not want to be in Oren or Barries shoes.

Any idea what is up with the VP of operations Lawton and the crazy hockey hair? I love it maybe he can give the mullet some clues....

Anyway another crazy week in the TBL house. I cannot imagine how much fun training camp is going to be to watch...Should be quite interesting with all those forwards out there. Can you imagine the locker room. Holly heck that should be a hoot...

Needless to say it has been busy and fun and tedious at time to keep track of but I am still looking forward to the season.

Off the subject leave everyone off the side of the building it is a bad omen for anyone..

Go Bolts!!!

[Melanie]

I want Roy!!!

[Mike13]

Steve,

I can't imagine that the Bolts are going to carry 3 G's on our roster past training camp, or at the latest, the pre-season. I see Kolzig as the starter and Smith as the very active backup. But who knows? Maybe it will be more like a platoon until it becomes obvious who the starter should be (Kolzig or Smith).

Ramo does not need to clear waivers in order to be sent to AHL Norfolk, which is where I believe he will end up. They are clearly looking to win at the AHL level as well, building a lot of depth down there with folks like Bochenski. Having him in net gives them a chance to be a much stronger team. And it gives him more time to develop.

I do not forsee the Lighting trading Smith for help on Defense. I do see them trading some of our forwards for draft picks, prospects, or D.

[Don in St. Pete]

Steve, I can't begin to claim " I Know " what the plan is, but bantered about that they'll go to camp with the 3 goalies and let them battle it out for the #1 spot. I think the expectation is that Smith will win the #1 job and that Olie will be his backup and that Ramo will play every day at Norfolk as the #1 there. All this is supposition, but this is what we've been lead to believe.

[Steve R]

Question for leo or Don or whoever knows the answer:

Are you guys going to carry 3 goalies on your roster? If no, does Ramo have to clear waivers to go to Norfolk? If no to 3, do you see Smith getting traded (for D)? If yes to 3, how is the playing time distributed?

[Hull]

Signing Grats is another good move by the Bolts. I'd simply warn those bloggers who react so quickly (and emotionally) to every move OK Hockey makes to try to see the big picture and give them a chance. Feaster alluded to the fact in his resignation statement that OK Hockey had a plan they began to initiate after the trade deadline last year. While not all of their moves have worked out to perfection (Rolston) and they may be slightly in love with themselves (check out the intro to the Bolts website), talk around the NHL (especially out of hockey-crazy Canada) suggests that the big winners this off-season are the Lightning and Oilers (mostly due to aggressive new ownership in both cities).

Grats is a great faceoff guy (something the Bolts sucked at last year) and will probably center the 4th line until Halpern is back in the fold. Grats becomes insurance in case the injury bug hits the Bolts. Also, a quick comment for those thinking Roy and Tarnasky will be back...Tampa is now laden with big, bruising forwards who can actually produce points...Roy is still a Group 3 UFA and I'd be surprised if Nasty makes the team. As a fan, I love these boys, but "times they are a' changing." Halfway through the 08-09 season we'll probably be saying "Roy...wasn't he a goalie?"

[Another Joe]

Welcome to sports where things change and Gm's and owners say one thing and do another. Whats the problem??? They do it in football, baseball, and probably basketball(which i dont watch). I wouldnt put it out in the public exactly who i wanted to keep and who i didnt.

[Twinebulge]

Decent move, but the only "surprise" was that it took so long.

While I lack the man-crush for Gratton shared by many here (due to his being a disappointment with every team he's played on, leaving you wondering what it'd be like if he ever played up to his potential, and his penchant for taking really stupid, unnecessary, ill-timed penalties)...he does bring the previously mentioned face-off skills, willingness to battle in front, play with pain and defend his teammates, which operate in his favor. Skates fairly well for a big man too, unafraid of extreme contact and never gives up on a play esp. in his own zone - defensive accountability a plus in my book. Overall a necessary pickup with Halpern out for God knows how long. Most likely Grats takes a regular shift on the 3rd line. But if Craig centers the 3rd, you got the Crunch Line of Tarno, R2 and Grats - nasty

...or would that be the "Nec" Line (Nick, Evgeni and Chris) :)

[HockeyHockey]

I'm so happy to have Gratton back. The team needs a guy like him. He's got heart and talent. Honestly, I think he'd make a good captain. Welcome back Grats!

[tundo]

Can't ever have too much depth at the center position, especially someone good at faceoffs and a good veteran leadership. Good signing by the Bolts.

This is one of the deepest crop of forwards I have ever seen for a NHL team. If the defense can hold it down and we get some decent goaltending, look out.

[Kipp]

why are you guys so down on Jokinen? Crap guys we didn't even have him for half a season and I thought he did good for a guy who didn't know our system at all.

[Marv]

Good comments Don in St. Pete. Grats has always played hard and will protect our guys if needed.
If he can keep his temper in check, he will also contribute a ton more to the team.
Glad your here Grats, you have been one of my favorites since you first came to the Bolts.
Marv

[Bobby]

Oh, okay. I got scared there for a minute. But, that makes a lot of sense.

[Don in St. Pete]

Bobby, No, NO, NO! I had heard from several sources that they had talked to Grats ( as a veteran, married guy with a home in the area, and a great mentor ) about Stamkos staying with grat's family this season, or until he knew he was on the squad and could buy a condo, etc...Just another example if true, why Grats is the consumate team guy.

[Don in St. Pete]

Goalman, You have to understand that it's not always all about the G&A though Grats can hold his own. He played with a torn hip muscle from november through febuary and never a complaint or an excuse. he is a warrior and if you step on the ice with Grats you KNOW your back is covered and you won't be jumped or cheap-shotted without retaliation. This is a huge part of the game now with the instigator rule and less enforcers around the league but more troublemakers. When you add Grats to the mix of Roberts, Malone, Hall, Craig, O'Brien and Lecavalier you have some measure of protection on every line and people will not be running our goalie like they were at the end of last season or our star forwards as they were routinely doing to V4 and Marty after Roy was benched and Gratton and Craig out with injuries. The new ownership group are doing what the said the would do in making us a much harder team to play against. In my opinion with are a defenseman with an attitude away from being a threat in the east. I hope they can make it happen and I am confident they are working on it.

[Bobby]

Wait, Don, are you saying that you heard Stamkos might not make the team?

[Goalman]

Hey Don,
You must be very easily pleased. Chris has been a nice player at times ,but certainly not up there with Vinny4,Marty,Dave A, Brian Bradley. Habby. Need I name more.I still think that all these signings are posturing in order to trade for a tough D-man(too bad we didn't get Jason Smith). Mathieu Schneider is still availble,I'm told,but may be too long in the tooth. And if things really get nasty in Miami,Boumeister?

[Don in St. Pete]

NtMM, I agree, and based upon what was said by the owners reagrding Arty and by Melrose regarding the type of players he wanted on his squad, I figured it was a lock that Grats would be resigned as he epitomizes what they were raving about. Yet, when the DC blog post came out I was ready to throw in the towel and had basically given up hope of them resigning Grats, in spite of hearing that Stamkos might be staying with his family. Best news in the past week in my opinion ( except maybe the Feaster resignation ).

[Not the Marlboro Man]

Correction, he didn't say that he wouldn't sign, he said that he most likely would sign now because of the other forwards who signed and the limited Cap space. Tell the story right!

Wasn't the St. Pete Times the ONLY source to report the Lightning would NOT resign Chris Gratton? No wonder a headline like "Surprise! Lightning re-signs Gratton." Most of us are not that "surprised."

[Don in St. Pete]

Flasher, NtMM and TJ, I can wait to see Ovechkin line up against Artyukhin! Grats is huge, as much as I love V4, you now have righthanded and lefthanded faceoffs guys that are excellent in Halpern and Grats. Remeber during the cup run ho Andy and Tails dominated. If we can get close then every FO becomes important. GO BOLTS! Now trade the spare 3rd line and the extra 4th liner for a mean and nasty defenseman!

[TJ]

One of the smarter moves by OK Hockey in this crazy free agent season... Glad you're back Grats! I look forward to seeing a healthy Chris Gratton on the ice for the Lightning this season. Welcome back big guy!

[Not the Marlboro Man]

I'm glad to see this one...now the checking line is set and will be devestating. Grats, R2 and Tarnasty!
I'm glad for us and feel sorry for other lines that have to face this line through-out the season. Its going to be a steam-roller. Add Adam hall in there occasionally and this makes for some bad ju-ju for the rest of the league. The South Eastern division will definitely face a much more talented as well as physical team.
Where are you at now Cap freaks? Put this in your pipe and smoke it! Give me another cold one! Play some more Mettalica!!!!Go Bolts!!!!

[Boltflasher]

I'm very glad to see Grats signed...may mean they are not sure about Halpern. Also, means they can't keep everyone so it should be an interesting summer and competitive training camp...I still wish they had signed Jason Smith, the perfect "C"...

[Don in St. Pete]

To echo the Turtle, Chris Gratton has also been my favorite Lightning Player of all time, the consumate team guy that would and has done everything in his power for his teammates and his team. Thanks OK for listening to the fans on this one an bring back Grats. Welcome back Grats! GO BOLTS!

[Sundance Kid]

Well said Turtle. Smart move by BOB - Barrie, Oren, Brian. Grats is a soldier.

[Oscar]

Out of a choice between Craig, Jokinen, and Ouelet, I'd keep UC. We've seen what Craig can do, and then he got hurt. Badly. Twice. Now, we're not so sure; and we've seen what Ouelet CAN'T do. He can't play with Brad Richards, or anybody else until Halpern comes to town and elicits a desperation from Mike, to retain a spot around here. Too weak, (especially around the boards) and not enough.

Jokinen is the one who didn't get a fair shake. We looked at his on-paper prospectus and he didn't wow the fantasy leaguer's around here, so off he goes. Bunk. Give him the equal chances that Ouelet squandered, he'll prove to be a keeper.

[Beau]

Actually, I only remember reading speculation that Gratton wouldn't be back. Maybe I missed it, but I don't remember reading that Chris wasn't in their plans. In fact, just the opposite. One of the first things I heard the new ownership talk about was having a crash line with Artyukhin, Gratton, and Tarnasky.

[Casper]

Oh, good gravy! (My favorite line from the “Big Guy” at WKRP in Cincinnati gets inserted here.)

The signing of #77 was a ‘thumbs down’ last year, but after watching him battle the demons with the eye and hip---not knowing about the hip, BTW, I was not too happy in the prospect of seeing the last of him. During the circus atmosphere nowadays, I welcome Grats home with arms open wide.

Don’t care how the lines look right now. The deck will get shuffled a lot before our usual November swoon, and I like 80% of the pieces to our puzzle.

[matt]

Craig, Jokiken and Oulett are as good as gone... Can't say I'm upset to see any of the 3 go.

[Nan]

These owners sound like people who can't make their minds up. First it is signing Boyle to a contract with a No trade clause and then trading him, then they say they are happy with who they have on defense and now they say they are not satisfied with it yet, then they say Gratton is out and now he is in. Man, I can't keep up with these guys. Will we be resigning Andre next? I lost count of how many forwards we have now! Welcome back Grats!

[Slapnuts]

Iv'e always liked Gratton. Good move by the Bolts...

[David (Clearwater, Fl)]

Has anyone taken to copying and pasting their comments from one article on to the next? It might not be a bad idea for some. Just devise one comment that says something like "I'm confused by the new owners signing this guy" and "why don't they sign a top defenseman?" Then you won't have to type it out everytime.

I thought Gratton played fairly well last season and i'm interested to see if he has what it takes to crack the top 4 lines out of the guys they've brought in thus far.

I'm hoping they do work something out to bringing in maybe one more first line defenseman, but I also keep reminding myself that it is still July and that they have plenty of time to do so.

SOOO i guess, when they say the player is part of thier plans we can expect them to get traded or released, buuut if they say the player is not part of thier plans we can count on them resigning. Wow, i guess we should just be happy Gratton is back.

[Another Joe]

Dont forget Halpern might be out till January.

[Voice of the Turtle]

1000 welcomes to Chris Gratton: an old-time type hockey player who brings desire and character to the ice whenever he suits up. This is the man to have at your side when contention on the ice gets hot and heavy. This is the guy who plays hurt and always drops his gloves to help a teammate. This is the guy who will take his unmovable stance in front of the net on the power play. This is the guy who gives 100% on every shift.

Chris Gratton has been my favorite player since he first stepped on Lightning ice as a kid.

feaster is starting to look like a genius. When can i stop asking WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING??

[David Dauman]

I think this is a good signing but IM SO CONFUSED! What does this mean to all the other players we just signed? I hope the Crash Line of Nasty, R2 and Grats plays together this year. This means that Craig centers the third line? What about Hall?

Maybe Andre will also be back, why not have 21 forwards?

What are the lines now (not even factoring in Halpern, who must now have bubonic plague if they signed yet another center).