Grant eager to bring his game to Calgary
Here’s a guy who, a couple of summers ago, spent nearly an hour reeling in a 400- pound sturgeon.
Who, immediately after turning pro in 2011, was thrust into the Binghamton Senators’ march to the Calder Cup championship.
Who, this past spring, had two front teeth accidentally kicked out by the Syracuse Crunch’s goalie. (“I was able to pick up my teeth, pick up my gloves, go get it quickly repaired.”) Who, a period later, returned to set up one goal and score another.
So he knows well how to respond to pressure. But Wednesday? Day 1 of the National Hockey League’s free- agency bonanza?
That had been truly an anxiety-heightening experience. That, above all else, rattled a guy.
“I under- estimated how stressful it would be — it came down to the wire,” Derek Grant said Thursday morning from his off- season home in Langley, B. C. “When you finally make your decision, it is a good feeling.
“Your first year of free agency, it is a little crazy because you feel it is that new start for you.”
Unhitched, Grant turned out to be an appealing commodity — 25 years old, six- foot- three, 215 pounds, can handle all three forward positions. Which meant Wednesday he needed to sift through a half- dozen serious suitors.
“A pretty crazy morning, obviously sorting everything out,” he said. “Back and forth on the phone with my agent. Different opportunities.”
He settled on the Calgary Flames’ pitch — a one- year ( two- way) deal that pays $ 700,000 at the NHL level, $ 250,000 in the American Hockey League. Pure relief. “It’s nice to know where you’re going. It kind of clears your head.”
Like most folks, Grant took note of the Flames’ direction. He was eager to become part of the program.
“The youth movement going on there — obviously, it’s a new start in Calgary that’s slowly picking up,” said the Abbotsford native, who scored 21 times for Binghamton last season. “I think it would be a fun place to be a part of. At this time of my career I can come in and, hopefully, help make an impact and, hopefully, make the team.
“There’s opportunity there. It’s a good team for that.”
After his first campaign with Langley of the BCHL, he was drafted in the fourth round in 2008 — a handful of picks after T. J. Brodie — by the Ottawa Senators. “Seems like forever ago.” The following season, Grant piled up 60 point in 35 games before departing for Michigan State University, where he proved to be a quick learner. He was the NCAA’s rookie of the month right off the bat — opening his collegiate career with a six- game point streak.
After his sophomore year — when he paced the school in scoring — he signed with the Senators.
In 2012- 13, he got into five NHL games, making his debut against the home- ice Toronto Maple Leafs (“Pretty cool experience”).
In 2013- 14, he got into 20 more games.
Then last season? Not a single call- up to Ottawa. Time to move on. “Obviously, my career has had its ups and had its downs,” Grant said. “I kind of hit a stalemate, being in the American league for the entire year. This year is a big opportunity.”
He aims to make himself visible at camp.
His new boss, Brad Treliving, would expect nothing less, even with his club’s glut of forwards.
“Going back even a year ago as we do our organizational assessments of each team, this was a player our scouts wanted to acquire,” the Flames general manager said. “A big body. He plays a real NHL pro- style game. Versatile. Plays the wing. Can play centre. Smart. Intelligent. He’s another guy — he’s coming here and he’s going to battle for an opportunity.”
Grant’s calling card is defensive know- how, something he honed in his four years in the Senators’ system.
“In junior and college, I was more of an offensive player,” he said. “When I came to pro, I was put into that ( defensive) role. I took it a liking to it. That’s something I really pride myself in now — being that shutdown guy, that shutdown centreman. There’s a lot of guys who don’t like doing it, but I found a love for it.
“I don’t try to do too many crazy things out there. Penalty killing. Faceoffs. I feel like I’m a pretty safe player to put on the ice. Not too much risk.”
C- NOTES: C Max Reinhart, traded Wednesday to the Nashville Predators, signed a one- year ( two- way) deal ($ 575,000/$ 80,000).