Chris Gratton

Christopher A. Gratton (born July 5, 1975) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player who last played with the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is the cousin of Josh Gratton, who had also briefly played in the NHL as a member of the Philadelphia Flyers and the Phoenix Coyotes.

Gratton's own father only coached him for one season when he was really young.

Junior Hockey

Gratton played his minor hockey in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario, playing for such programs as the Brantford Nodrofsky Steelers (the same program Wayne Gretzky played in many years earlier) and the Brantford CKPC Knights. As a 15-year-old, he played one season with the Jr B Brantford Classics.

In 1991, Gratton was selected third overall in the OHL Priority Selection by the Kingston Frontenacs. After his rookie year in the OHL, Gratton received the Emms Family Award as rookie of the year. In 1993, he was selected third overall in the NHL Draft by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Tampa Bay Lightning

Gratton made his NHL debut for the Lightning on October 6, 1993, against the New Jersey Devils. He recorded his first career point (a powerplay assist on a Bob Beers goal) in his second game against the New York Rangers the next night. He scored his first career goal against Robb Stauber of the Los Angeles Kings in a 4–3 Lightning loss on October 20, 1993

Philadelphia Flyers

In 1997, Gratton signed with the Philadelphia Flyers as a free agent after four seasons with the Lightning, earning a $9 million signing bonus. In 1997–98, Gratton matched his career-high of 62 points and recorded a career-best plus/minus rating of +11. Gratton was traded back to Tampa Bay the next season.

Second Stint with Lightning

Gratton served as Tampa Bay's captain during the 1999–2000 season until his trade in March, 2000, when Tampa Bay traded Gratton to the Buffalo Sabres.

Buffalo Sabres

Gratton would play for the Sabres from March 2000 until March 2003, when the Sabres traded him to the Phoenix Coyotes for Daniel Briere. One year later on March 9, 2004, Phoenix traded Gratton (along with Ossi Väänänen and a second-round draft pick, ultimately used to select Paul Stastny) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Derek Morris and Keith Ballard.

Florida Panthers

After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, Gratton signed a one-year contract with the Florida Panthers. Gratton signed a two-year contract extension with the Panthers in March 2006. He was traded back to the Tampa Bay Lightning again on June 13, 2007, in exchange for a second-round draft pick (used to select Jacob Markström).

Return to Tampa Bay Lightning

During the 2007–08 season, Gratton scored 21 points in 60 games before tearing the acetabular labrum in his left hip which required season-ending surgery. Gratton re-signed with the Lightning for the 2008–09 season but was waived in December and was assigned to Tampa Bay's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals.

Columbus Blue Jackets

Gratton was claimed off of re-entry waivers on February 21, 2009, by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played in six games for Columbus, recording an assist, before retiring in 2009.

Gratton lives in Ancaster, Ontario and has one son, Zachary, who plays hockey, and three daughters. He has coached his son in minor hockey, first in house league in Ancaster, then for AA and eventually with the Hamilton AAA Jr. Bulldogs' bantam team.

Gratton is co-owner of the Florida Jr. Blades Organization (in the 29-team Empire Junior Hockey League).

Regular season and playoffs

International