Music: {allcanada} FLAMES' CLAIM THRILLS MCGRATTAN

Friday, March 1, 2013

{allcanada} FLAMES' CLAIM THRILLS MCGRATTAN

The Calgary Herald indicates that while on the phone from Music City, Brian McGrattan was thrilled to find out he had been reacquired by the Flames.

"I'm excited," he said. "I can't believe it, actually. Of all the places I've played, I maybe enjoyed Calgary the most. So to be coming back ...

"Calgary would have been my No. 1 choice if I could've picked. I always wanted to play there again. I like the city, the organization. It's been tough here. I played the first two games, sat out 10, then they gave me the option of playing in the minors and right away I said 'Yeah, sure. I just want to play.' "

Although initially assigned to AHL Abbotsford on a numbers issue, expect to see him in Calgary by the time the team returns home to face the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday.

"Grats," said Flames' special assistant GM Craig Conroy, "knows his job. And he's good at it. He also enjoys it. And not many guys can say that. I would not enjoy it myself, but he does. If there is a problem, he'll be there. Miikka's coming back and if there's ever an issue with anyone going near him, hey, Grats knows when enough's enough.

"And this takes some pressure of (Tim Jackman). Jacks is a middleweight. He'll fight anybody, any size, but that's not fair, in my opinion. You want Jacks to be physical, hard on the forecheck and if something arises ... But he shouldn't have to be tangling with those heavyweights all the time.

"Grats brings a real presence. And he's a chirper on the bench, which I like. He's got some great one-liners. For instance, he definitely enjoys going after the Sedins. He's always like 'I may be on the bench now, but you'd better hope the score doesn't get oughta hand, 'cause if it does, I'm out there and then you've got problems."

"Bob wants us to be tougher.

"Well, this is tough. Very tough."