Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Williams, Flyers Alumni and More

Good Morning Bill and Thanks for all your great work!!

Where is Chris Gratton these days?

Cronin the barbarian. He was a terrible dman. Pat Murray another over hyped prospect at the time with Craig Fisher.

Bill Meltzer: Quick Hits: Williams, Flyers Alumni and More
- bmeltzer

I’m not fully informed but I’d think there is a serious chance the Coyotes may relocate, am I off base here? Wonder where it would be, Quebec.

Cronin the barbarian. He was a terrible dman. Pat Murray another over hyped prospect at the time with Craig Fisher.
- hello it's me 2050

Not sure why Murray busted at the NHL level. Had all the tools to be a good NHL player but it didn't click for whatever reason. Excellent collegiate player and good minor leaguer.

I’m not fully informed but I’d think there is a serious chance the Coyotes may relocate, am I off base here? Wonder where it would be, Quebec.
- ClaudeFather

Sounds more like they will stay in Arizona but perhaps move to Tempe.

Owners meddling is not always the best thing, but when Snider stepped in and forced us to give up players instead of picks, that ended up as a home run.

Had he not done that we would not have drafted Gagne.

Not sure why Murray busted at the NHL level. Had all the tools to be a good NHL player but it didn't click for whatever reason. Excellent collegiate player and good minor leaguer.
- bmeltzer

I liked fisher thought he would stick.

Owners meddling is not always the best thing, but when Snider stepped in and forced us to give up players instead of picks, that ended up as a home run.

Had he not done that we would not have drafted Gagne.
- Joe Nardone

The Flyers would have been better off focusing on an upgrade in goal or adding another top 4 defenseman. They didn't need Gratton.

The Flyers would have been better off focusing on an upgrade in goal or adding another top 4 defenseman. They didn't need Gratton.
- bmeltzer

agree. That being said i liked that deal. Just didnt pan out. Should have left him at center.

Jalen Hurts seen dancing on the field 45 minutes before the game last night only to miss the game due to a stomach ache. Nice QB you have there!

The Flyers would have been better off focusing on an upgrade in goal or adding another top 4 defenseman. They didn't need Gratton.
- bmeltzer

Agreed! Gratton was overkill and never was a fit in Philly. Would like to see the Coyotes move to Quebec City, but Bettman wants them to stay in Arizona for some odd reason. Went to a couple Flyers games in Quebec City in the early 1990's and it was a great atmosphere and the building was full. They would support a team much better than the Zona folks do, but Bettman wants to keep those sunbelt teams for some reason.

Chris Gratton - wow, that did not work out well at all

"With an increased focus on larger, more impactful events and uses of the city-owned arena, the city of Glendale has chosen to not renew the operating agreement for the Arizona Coyotes beyond the coming 2021-22 season," a statement from the city reads.

ouch

https://www.espn.com/nhl/...rena-lease-2021-22-season

Good Morning Bill and Thanks for all your great work!!

Where is Chris Gratton these days?
- bsw31usa

Still laughing his way to the bank for the ridiculous contract the Flyers gave him. He was a complete bust.

Chris Gratton - wow, that did not work out well at all
- Scoob

Josh Gratton worked out better.

agree. That being said i liked that deal. Just didnt pan out. Should have left him at center.
- hello it's me 2050

The Gratton acquisition pissed off Brind'Amour (who was the one who initially had to move to LW in top 6 or 3rd line center, depending on which part of the season is being discussed). Later, Nielson moved Gratton to LW. It just didn't work out.

Stats Inc. used to publish a Hockey Book each season. What I remember from that is that Gratton's 1997-98 overall stats were OK at first glance but he had a big fat zero for the season in the "clutch goals" stat category as they defined it, and his home/road splits were alarming (he was a non-factor on the road). Then he only scored a single goal -- late in a blowout win-- the next year as a LW before he was sent back to Tampa.

Another reason why it was a bad trade: it forced Zubrus up to a RW1 role he wasn't ready to play full time. With Renberg gone, the third spot on the top line became a revolving door.

Gratton's best stretch of the 1997-98 season came when LeClair was taken off Lindros' line for seven weeks and put with Gratton.

Agreed! Gratton was overkill and never was a fit in Philly. Would like to see the Coyotes move to Quebec City, but Bettman wants them to stay in Arizona for some odd reason. Went to a couple Flyers games in Quebec City in the early 1990's and it was a great atmosphere and the building was full. They would support a team much better than the Zona folks do, but Bettman wants to keep those sunbelt teams for some reason.
- Phillywhiteout

Television.

The Gratton acquisition pissed off Brind'Amour (who was the one who initially had to move to LW in top 6 or 3rd line center, depending on which part of the season is being discussed). Later, Nielson moved Gratton to LW. It just didn't work out.

Stats Inc. used to publish a Hockey Book each season. What I remember from that is that Gratton's 1997-98 overall stats were OK at first glance but he had a big fat zero for the season in the "clutch goals" stat category as they defined it, and his home/road splits were alarming (he was a non-factor on the road). Then he only scored a single goal -- late in a blowout win-- the next year as a LW before he was sent back to Tampa.

Another reason why it was a bad trade: it forced Zubrus up to a RW1 role he wasn't ready to play full time. With Renberg gone, the third spot on the top line became a revolving door.

Gratton's best stretch of the 1997-98 season came when LeClair was taken off Lindros' line for seven weeks and put with Gratton.
- bmeltzer

didnt realize that with the clutch goal stuff.

Television.
- MJL

Yeah Arizona is such a tv draw. They kill it ratings wise.

Loved the way
The Rat Linesman played the game!

Yeah Arizona is such a tv draw. They kill it ratings wise.
- hello it's me 2050

The only other NHL-quality arena in AZ is where the Suns play. The Suns and Coyotes don't play well together. There's not enough time to get another arena approved and built by next season. Buh-bye 'yotes. Too bad. I was looking forward to the rebuild (again).

Sounds more like they will stay in Arizona but perhaps move to Tempe.
- bmeltzer

How many times does this franchise need to fail in Arizona before the NHL realizes that it’s just a bad fit?

With guys like Matthews coming from the AZ area you think the sport would grow a little. Isn't Coots from AZ?