Marc-André Gragnani

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Marc-André Gragnani
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Gragnani during a Canucks' practice in 2012
Born (1987-03-11) March 11, 1987 (age 37)
L'Île-Bizard, QC, CAN
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb)
Position Defence
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
New Jersey Devils
Buffalo Sabres
Vancouver Canucks
Carolina Hurricanes
HC Lev Praha
SC Bern
National team  Canada
NHL Draft 87th overall, 2005
Buffalo Sabres
Playing career 2007–present
Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing  Canada
IIHF World U18 Championship
Silver medal – second place 2005 Czech Republic

Marc-André Gragnani (born March 11, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 87th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. After completing his four-year Quebec Major Junior Hockey League career with the PEI Rocket, Gragnani began his professional career within the Sabres organization in 2007–08. He spent four-and-a-half seasons playing between the Sabres and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Portland Pirates, before being traded to the Vancouver Canucks in February 2012. He played only half a season with Vancouver before signing with Carolina as a free agent. On July 3rd, 2015, Gragnani signed a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils.

Playing career

He played junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) for P.E.I. Rocket and his minor hockey for the Dauphins de Deux-Rives. He was drafted in the third round, 87th overall, of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres and signed a professional contract with the Sabres in June 2007.

Although originally drafted as a defenceman, Gragnani shifted to the left wing position during his first professional season.[1] He made his NHL debut on February 23, 2008, for the Sabres.

In April 2009, he established a new record for Portland defencemen with 51 points in the regular season. He also set the Portland franchise record for assists by a defenceman in a single season with 42. In 2011, he broke both of his own records, by registering 48 assists and 60 points, in a single season, as a defenceman.

Gragnani was called up to the parent Buffalo Sabres in March 2011. His first NHL goal was a game-winning overtime goal in a game against the Carolina Hurricanes on April 3, 2011. Gragnani signed a two-year contract extension with the Sabres in the 2011 offseason.

After making the Sabres lineup for the first time out of training camp and earning a regular roster spot to begin the 2011–12 season, he was made a consistent healthy scratch by February 2012. At the NHL trade deadline, on February 27, he was traded along with forward Zack Kassian to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Cody Hodgson and defenceman Alexander Sulzer. By that point in the season, Gragnani had played only once in the Sabres' previous month of games. Joining Vancouver, he was made a healthy scratch for the team's first game following the trade before making his Canucks debut on March 1,[2] a 2–0 win against the St. Louis Blues.[3] He finished the year playing in 14 games for Vancouver and did not appear in the playoffs.[4]

At season's end Gragnani did not play in enough games to earn unrestricted free agent status and would remain a restricted free agent if he was tendered a qualifying offer. With no intention of re-singing Gragnani the Canucks unsuccessfully attempted to trade him at the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. Unable to move Gragnani Vancouver chose not to give him a qualifying offer.[4] As an unrestricted free agent Gragnani signed a one-year two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.[5]

On May 22, 2013, he signed a two-year contract in the Kontinental Hockey League with HC Lev Praha of the Czech Republic.[6] In the 2013–14 season, Gragnani scored just 9 points in 42 games, however helped the club reach the Gagarin Cup finals in the post-season.

With the Bankruptcy of Lev Praha leading to the club folding, Gragnani settled the remaining year of his contract to become a free agent.[7] On July 10, 2014, Gragnani moved to the Swiss National League A, signing a one-year deal with SC Bern.[8]

On July 3, 2015, after two seasons abroad, Gragnani returned to the NHL in signing as a free agent to a one-year, two-way contract with the New Jersey Devils.[9]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2003–04 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 61 2 13 15 42 11 0 0 0 4
2004–05 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 68 10 29 39 48
2005–06 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 62 16 55 71 75 6 1 4 5 14
2006–07 P.E.I. Rocket QMJHL 65 22 46 68 58 7 5 8 13 4
2007–08 Rochester Americans AHL 78 14 38 52 38
2007–08 Buffalo Sabres NHL 2 0 0 0 4
2008–09 Portland Pirates AHL 76 9 42 51 59 5 0 2 2 4
2008–09 Buffalo Sabres NHL 4 0 0 0 2
2009–10 Portland Pirates AHL 66 12 31 43 37 4 0 2 2 0
2010–11 Portland Pirates AHL 63 12 48 60 51
2010–11 Buffalo Sabres NHL 9 1 2 3 2 7 1 6 7 4
2011–12 Buffalo Sabres NHL 44 1 11 12 20
2011–12 Vancouver Canucks NHL 14 1 2 3 6
2012–13 Charlotte Checkers AHL 42 3 25 28 29
2012–13 Carolina Hurricanes NHL 1 0 0 0 0
2013–14 HC Lev Praha KHL 42 2 7 9 43 22 0 4 4 0
2014–15 SC Bern NLA 49 8 29 37 18 11 1 4 5 0
NHL totals 74 3 15 18 34 7 1 6 7 4

International

Medal record
Representing  Canada
Ice hockey
IIHF U18 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2005 České Budějovice
Year Team Event Result   GP G A Pts PIM
2005 Canada WJC18 2nd 6 0 3 3 0
2011 Canada WC 5th 6 1 1 2 2
Junior totals 6 0 3 3 0
Senior totals 6 1 1 2 2

Awards and honours

Award Year
AHL
First All-Star Team 2011 [10]
Eddie Shore Award 2011 [11]

References

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External links