10/17 - Last night I attended the Lightning/Coyote game, it was a great game, if you're a Lightning fan. The first period both teams played real well. During the second period the Coyotes broke down and the Lightning stepped it up. The game ended at 5-1.

10/13 - Another win for the Coyotes. This time beating the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim 2-0.

10/10 - The Coyotes opened their seson tonight with a win in Overtime. Chris Gratton had 4 PIMs in the first period. Daymond Langkow and David Tanabe scored for Phoenix.

9/21 - The Kings led 1-0 entering the third period but Chris Gratton scored six minutes in to tie it and Landon Wilson seven minutes later to give the Coyotes a 2-1 lead. Coyotes won on a power play goal later. Final score was 3-2. In other news if you want to view an article from AZCentral.com click here or to view it within this website click here.

From PhoenixCoytoes.com - HRDINA HITS THE ICE

Center Jan Hrdina, who will most likely play on the left wing this season, skated with the team for the first time on Saturday and had a jump in his step during the workout. Although Hrdina arrived in Phoenix on Thursday, his equipment was late in arriving to Arizona. Hrdina skated on a line with Chris Gratton and Branko Radivojevic during day two of training camp.

“It was a long summer and it was nice to be back on the ice skating with the team,” said Hrdina. “I enjoyed playing with Branko (Radivojevic) and Chris (Gratton) today and we seemed to play well together.”

Hrdina was acquired by the Coyotes on March 11, 2003 along with Francois Leroux from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Ramzi Abid, Dan Focht and Guillaume Lefebvre. Hrdina collected 0-4-4 totals in four games with Phoenix last season and he played on a line with Radivojevic late last year.

“Radivojevic is a good-young player and Gratton has good size and both posses a lot of skill,” said Hrdina. “Hopefully we can maintain playing well together and help the team win games once the season starts.”

The Hrdina, Radivojevic and Gratton trio combined for one goal during the scrimmage and seemed to be a line that the coaching staff can utilize as training camp progresses.

“Considering it was Hrdina’s first skate today, I thought he handled himself quite well,” said head coach Bob Francis. “There are times when you watch players and they seem to really enjoy playing with each other and it appears that Hrdina, Radivojevic and Gratton have that ingredient. Their style of play complements each other nicely with Branko being more of an up and down, straight-line type of player. They communicate well on the ice and hopefully they will continue to grow with each other.”

Hrdina had 14-25-39 totals in 57 games with the Penguins before the trade to Phoenix last season, including 11 power play goals. The 6-foot, 206-pound native of Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic is only 27-years-old and he is entering his sixth National Hockey League season.

“Hrdina is the type of player that as a coach you can pair up with many different teammates because he is a smart player, he is always in proper position and he creates offense,” said Francis.

9/14 - Training camp has opened for most NHL teams. including the Phoenix Coyotes. Chris Gratton is centering between Jan Hrdina and Branko Radivojevic at this time.

8/26 - Chris Gratton is Player of the Day on NHLPA.com, here is what they had to say:

Need To Know: The NHL’s second-highest all-time scoring native of Brantford, Ontario, Chris Gratton has been the trump card in the hand of the Lightning, Flyers, Sabres and Coyotes since he entered the league as an 18-year-old in 1993. Blessed with great size and strength on the draw, Chris is the first player opposing defencemen look for when his line steps on to the ice. After spending his first seven NHL seasons with the Lightning and Flyers, Chris was traded to the Sabres in March of 2000. A faceoff specialist, Chris finished second in the NHL last season in faceoff winning-percentage (58.6) playing in 80 games between Buffalo and Phoenix. In fact Chris has played in 770 of a possible 784 games since debuting in the NHL, a sign of his durability. Chris has won gold with Canada at both the World Junior and World Championship tournaments (1993 and 1997 respectively).

Recently: Chris signed a new contract with the Coyotes for 2003-04 yesterday. Chris leads all current Coyotes players in career games played.

Did You Know: Chris is the highest ever NHL Entry Draft selection out of Kingston (Ontario Hockey League), at third-overall in 1993.

NHLPA.com BIO: Chris Gratton was drafted third overall in the 1993 Entry Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning. That year, he made his NHL debut on October 6 against the Devils and scored his first goal on October 20 against the Kings. Chris played all 84 games that season as an 18-year old and scored 13 goals and 42 points. In 1995-96, he played all 82 games and scored 17 goals and 38 points as the Lightning made the playoffs for the first time in team history. In 1996-97, Chris led the Lightning with 62 points and 230 penalty minutes. His 30 goals ranked second on the team. On August 14, 1997, Chris signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers. In his first season with his new team, he scored 40 assists and 62 points. In 1998-99, Chris was traded back to the Tampa Bay Lightning. In 78 games between the two teams, he scored 34 points. In 1999-2000, Chris was traded on March 9 with a second-round draft pick to the Buffalo Sabres. In 72 games, he scored 49 points. In 2000-01, Chris co-led the Sabres with five game-winning goals as the team posted its highest win total (46) in 17 years. Chris recorded 40 points and 118 hits on the season. In 2001-02, Chris played all 82 games and scored 39 points. He co-led the team with five game-winning goals. In 2002-03, Chris was traded on March 11 to the Phoenix Coyotes for Daniel Brière. In 80 games between the two teams, he scored 45 points.

A Quote about the recent signing: "Chris brings size, experience, offense and ruggedness that every team covets at the center position," general manager Michael Barnett said. "In addition to his being one of the NHL's best faceoff men, we are also counting on Chris to bring us leadership."

Monday, August 25, 2003: Chris Gratton signed a one year deal with the Phoenix Coyotes. Last season he was second in the NHL in faceoff percentage and played only 14 games in Phoenix. In July he turned 28 years of age.

After a year or so layoff due to school/work, With Grattitude!! is back and ready to provide the latest information on this first class gentlemen. If you have any news that you would like to share, please send it my way. Keep checking back and hopefully it will remain updated. Thanks!