It looks like there will be another bully harassing the campers at Camp Claude this year. The Bruins have invited former Ottawa Senators and Calgary Flames bruiser Brian McGratton to this year's training camp on a tryout basis.
The 29-year-old native of Hamilton, Ontario has racked up 395 PIMs in 182 career NHL games. His PIMs far outweigh his points as the 6'4", 235 lb right wing has only recorded 14 points (3-11-14) in his NHL career. He appeared in 34 games for the Calgary Flames last season, posting 86 PIMs and 4 points (1-3-4).
I'm not sure if McGrattan has a shot to make the Bruins big league roster. Shawn Thornton seems to have the role of enforcer pretty well secured, but if McGrattan ends up playing in Providence, Jeremy Reich and McGrattan could form one of the most lethal line combos in minor league hockey since the Hanson brothers laced 'em up and put on the foil for the Charlestown Chiefs. If nothing else, inviting McGrattan to training camp will provide for some entertaining exhibition games because we all know that the best thing about exhibition hockey is you are almost guaranteed to see fights. Every year there is at least a few tough guys who are looking to show the coaching staff what they can do with their gloves off. The bloody thirsty neanderthal hockey fan in me applauds this move.