15th year left wing Josh Gratton(7) started the 2017/2018 season in France Ligue Magnus skating for Epinal scoring more than a point-per-game (13 goals, 10 assists in 21) before deciding to explore some better hockey with HC Nove Zamky of Tipsport liga.
The feisty forward has been playing overseas since 2010 but did return for a single campaign in 2014/2015 with Manchester Monarchs that resulted in a 2nd AHL Calder Cup Championship.
He has mostly spent time in the KHL with a couple teams but also had one year in Liiga and small stints in Denmark, Russia’s tier 2 league VHL and a similar run in Czech2.
At 35 years old, he must be thinking it’s almost time look back on what has been a good, long run for the undrafted veteran of 86 NHL games.
Josh Gratton(13) Manchester Monarchs
Undrafted 12th year left wing Josh Gratton(13) spent the last four seasons playing mostly in the KHL with Barys Astana and Vityaz Podolsk. He only skated in 11 games last season.
Seeing only limited action in his last two seasons was possibly the impetus for him to return to North American pro hockey to see if at 32-years old he could earn himself a contract.
Invited to Manchester Monarchs‘ training camp, he proved himself worthy and was given a pto to start the 2014/2015 season.
13 games into the season he has one assist, a +1 rating, 36 penalty minutes and quickly accrued 6 fighting majors.
The 6’2″ 215 lbs. tough guy has skated in 247 AHL games scoring a modest 35 goals and 39 assists with an eye-popping 936 pims and dropped the gloves 102 times.
He’s also appeared in 86 NHL games for Arizona Coyotes and two stints with Philadelphia Flyers.
He won a Calder Cup Championship with Philadelphia Phantoms in the lockout year 2004/2005.
It remains to be seen whether or not he’s given an spc for this season but regardless, he’s making his presence felt.