Christopher A. Gratton is a retired Canadian professional
ice hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
player who last played with the
Columbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
of the
National Hockey LeagueThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He the cousin of
Josh GrattonJosh Gratton is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who plays for Vityaz Chekhov of the Kontinental Hockey League...
, who had also briefly played in the NHL as a member of the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
and the
Atlanta ThrashersThe Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League on June 25, 1997, and became the league's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 NHL season...
.
Playing career
Gratton played his minor hockey in his hometown of
BrantfordBrantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
, playing for such programs as the Brantford Nodrofsky Steelers (same program
Wayne GretzkyWayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
played in many years earlier) and the Brantford CKPC Knights. As a 15-year-old, he played one season with the Jr B Brantford Classics.
In 1991, Gratton was selected third overall in the
OHLThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
Priority Selection by the
Kingston FrontenacsThe Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
. After his rookie year in the OHL, Gratton received the
Emms Family AwardThe Emms Family Award is presented annually to the top first year player in the Ontario Hockey League.The award was donated to the OHL by Leighton "Hap" Emms, former owner of franchises in Barrie, Niagara Falls and St...
as rookie of the year. In 1993, he was selected third overall in the
NHL DraftThe 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
by the
Tampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
.
In 1997 Gratton signed with the
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
as a free agent after four seasons with the Lightning, earning a $9 million signing bonus. In 1997–98, Gratton matched his career high of 62 points and recorded a career-best plus/minus rating of +11. Gratton was traded back to Tampa Bay the next season.
Gratton served as Tampa Bay's captain during the 1999–2000 NHL season until his trade in March, 2000, when Tampa Bay traded Gratton to the
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
. In March, 2003, Buffalo traded Gratton to the
Phoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
. One year later on March 9, 2004, Phoenix traded Gratton, along with
Ossi VaananenOssi Väänänen is a Finnish professional ice hockey defenseman currently playing for Jokerit of the Finnish SM-liiga, with whom he was won two silver medals as runner-up for the Kanada-malja in 2000 and 2005...
and a second round draft pick (
Paul StastnyPaul Stastny is an American professional ice hockey center, an alternate captain for the Colorado Avalanche of the National Hockey League . Of Slovak lineage, Stastny is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played for the Avalanche's predecessor, the Quebec Nordiques...
) in the
2005 NHL Entry DraftThe 2005 NHL Entry Draft was the 43rd NHL Entry Draft.As a lockout cancelled the games of the 2004–05 NHL season, the draft order was determined by lottery on July 22, 2005. Teams were assigned 1 to 3 balls based on their playoff appearances and first overall draft picks from the past three years...
to the
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
for Derek Morris and
Keith BallardKeith Ballard is an American professional ice hockey defenseman who is currently a member of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League . He played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for three seasons...
.
After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Gratton signed a one-year contract with the
Florida PanthersThe Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
. Gratton signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers in March, 2006. He was traded back to the Lightning again on June 13, 2007, in exchange for a second round draft pick (Florida selected
Jacob MarkströmJacob Markström is a Swedish professional ice hockey goaltender who is currently playing with the Florida Panthers in the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
with the draft pick).
During the 2007–08 season, Gratton scored 21 points in 60 games before tearing the
Acetabular labrumThe acetabular labrum is a ring of cartilage that surrounds the acetabulum ....
in his left hip which required season-ending surgery. Chris re-signed with the Lightning for the
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
season but was waived in December and was assigned to Tampa's American Hockey League affiliate, the
Norfolk AdmiralsThe Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.-History:...
.
Gratton was claimed off of re-entry waivers on February 21, 2009, by the
Columbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He played in six games for Columbus, recording an assist, before retiring in 2009.
Career statistics
{| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:75%"
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Regular season
! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" |
! colspan="5" | Playoffs
|- bgcolor="#e0e0e0"
!
SeasonIn an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
! Team
! League
! GP
!
GIn ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to...
!
AIn ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal...
!
PtsPoint in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one...
!
PIMA penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,...
! GP
! G
! A
! Pts
! PIM
1991–92 |
Kingston FrontenacsThe Kingston Frontenacs are a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey League, based in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. The team is coached by Todd Gill and Doug Gilmour is the General Manager. The Frontenacs play home games at the K-Rock Centre, which opened in 2008.Team history predates the OHA,...
|
OHLThe Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada....
|
62 |
27 |
39 |
66 |
37 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1992–93 |
Kingston Frontenacs |
OHL |
58 |
55 |
54 |
109 |
125 |
16 |
11 |
18 |
29 |
42 |
1993–94 |
Tampa Bay LightningThe Tampa Bay Lightning are a professional ice hockey team based in Tampa, Florida. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They have one Stanley Cup championship in their history, in 2003–04. They are often referred to as the...
|
NHLThe National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
|
84 |
13 |
29 |
42 |
123 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1994–95 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
46 |
7 |
20 |
27 |
89 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1995–96 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
82 |
17 |
21 |
38 |
105 |
6 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
27 |
1996–97 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
82 |
30 |
32 |
62 |
201 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1997–98 |
Philadelphia FlyersThe Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
NHL |
82 |
22 |
40 |
62 |
159 |
5 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
10 |
1998–99 |
Philadelphia Flyers |
NHL |
26 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
41 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1998–99 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
52 |
7 |
19 |
26 |
102 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1999–00 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
58 |
14 |
27 |
41 |
121 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
1999–00 |
Buffalo SabresThe Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
|
NHL |
14 |
1 |
7 |
8 |
15 |
5 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
4 |
2000–01 |
Buffalo Sabres |
NHL |
82 |
19 |
21 |
40 |
102 |
13 |
6 |
4 |
10 |
14 |
2001–02 |
Buffalo Sabres |
NHL |
82 |
15 |
24 |
39 |
75 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2002–03 |
Buffalo Sabres |
NHL |
66 |
15 |
29 |
44 |
86 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2002–03 |
Phoenix CoyotesThe Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
|
NHL |
14 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
21 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2003–04 |
Phoenix Coyotes |
NHL |
68 |
11 |
18 |
29 |
93 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2003–04 |
Colorado AvalancheThe Colorado Avalanche are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver, Colorado, United States. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Avalanche have won the Stanley Cup twice, in 1995–96 and 2000–01. The franchise...
|
NHL |
13 |
2 |
1 |
3 |
18 |
11 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
2005–06 |
Florida PanthersThe Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
|
NHL |
76 |
17 |
22 |
39 |
104 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2006–07 |
Florida Panthers |
NHL |
81 |
13 |
22 |
35 |
94 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2007–08 |
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
60 |
10 |
11 |
21 |
77 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2008–09The 2008–09 NHL season was the 92nd season of operation of the National Hockey League . It was the first season since prior to the 2004–05 lockout in which every team played each other at least once during the season, following three seasons where teams only played against two divisions in the...
|
Tampa Bay Lightning |
NHL |
18 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
10 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2008–09 The 2008–09 AHL season is the 73rd season of the American Hockey League. 29 teams each played 80 games in the regular season, which ran from October 8 until April 12.-Team and NHL affiliation changes:...
|
Norfolk Admirals The Norfolk Admirals are a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and are affiliated with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The Admirals play in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Norfolk Scope.-History:...
|
AHLThe American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
|
24 |
3 |
12 |
15 |
8 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
2008–09 |
Columbus Blue JacketsThe Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
|
NHL |
6 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
— |
— |
— |
— |
— |
|
NHL totals |
|
1,092 |
214 |
354 |
568 |
1,638 |
40 |
8 |
7 |
15 |
82 |
See also
- List of NHL players who have signed offer sheets
- List of NHL players with 1000 games played
External links