TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Gratton's Future Is Uncertain

ADVERTISEMENT

By ERIK ERLENDSSON eerlendsson@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

BUFFALO, N.Y. - Veteran C Chris Gratton cleared waivers on Tuesday and was assigned to Tampa Bay's American Hockey League affiliate. Whether he'll report this week is unknown.

The 33-year-old, the No. 3 overall pick by Tampa Bay in 1993, is to have a discussion with Lightning general manager Brian Lawton today to discuss options for Gratton's immediate future.

"I spoke to him about things Tuesday, and he just wants another day to think things over," Lawton said. "We'll chat again today and discuss some things."

Should Gratton, who made the jump from juniors to the NHL as a teenager and never spent a day in the minor leagues, not report, he could be suspended by the team, which would carry with it accrued fines for as long as he doesn't report.

Gratton, who signed a one-year contract worth $1.25 million, could go down to Norfolk and showcase himself in an attempt to garner attention from another team that might want to trade for a veteran player. Or, he could go down and wait for the Lightning to place him on re-entry waivers, which means a claiming team would be responsible for half of his remaining salary; Tampa Bay would be responsible for the other half.

With the pending return of C Jeff Halpern and LW Matt Pettinger, plus the recent play of rookies Paul Szczechura, Radek Smolenak and Steve Downie, Gratton didn't appear to fit into the team's plans going forward.

"It's a tough salary fit in today's salary-cap world," Lawton said. "He's a fourth-line guy, only with a couple of points and the club is not doing all that well."

Gratton has two assists in 18 games this season and ranks as one of the face-off leaders in the league, but he hasn't played since Nov. 18 after suffering from what is believed to be tendinitis in his knee.

MORE ASSIGNMENTS: Radim Vrbata also cleared waivers on Tuesday, two days after requesting a release from his contract to return to his native Czech Republic. The team assigned him to BK Mlada Boleslav in the Czech Extraliga.

Vrbata was signed to a three-year contract worth $9 million over the summer but had only three goals on the season after scoring 27 last year with Phoenix. He is eligible to return to the team next season.

In addition, Tampa Bay assigned rookie G Riku Helenius to Mississippi of the East Coast Hockey League. The Lightning's first-round pick in 2006 started the season with Tampa Bay's ECHL affiliate in Augusta, Ga., before the team folded last week. Mississippi was Tampa Bay's ECHL affiliate last season.

NUTS AND BOLTS: Tampa Bay held practice in Boston on Tuesday on the campus of Boston University, alma mater of associate head coach Mike Sullivan. ... LW Ryan Malone, who has missed the past two games with an upper-body injury, came out for practice dressed in a red (injured) jersey but left early. ... Line combinations during practice remained the same from Monday: Vinny Lecavalier centering Vinny Prospal and Marty St. Louis; Steven Stamkos between Jussi Jokinen and Mark Recchi; Szczechura with Smolenak and Downie; Ryan Craig centering Adam Hall and Evgeny Artyukhin. ... D Steven Eminger has logged more than 20 minutes of ice time in 11 consecutive games.

Erik Erlendsson

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT