Veteran AHL'er Grant looking forward to hopefully another lengthy playoff run with Griffins

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Published on Monday, March 3, 2014

By: Lanny Stewart

myWestman.ca

Neepawa's Triston Grant has had a professional hockey career spanning nine years and more than 500 career games in the American Hockey League.

The 30-year-old forward, who had a cup of coffee in the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers -- the very team that drafted him in 2004 -- playing eight games in the show during the 2006-2007 season and three more games with the Nashville Predators in 2009-2010, has made a name for himself in the AHL over the years, carving out a role as a physical left winger who can score a few goals as well as drop the gloves when the situation calls for it.

"I'm creeping up on 600 [AHL games] next season," says Grant. "Every game is a blessing and I'm pretty fortunate to be able to pay my bills just playing hockey. I don't even remember thinking how long I was going to play when I signed my first contract and everything, but I feel pretty good now. 

"If I were to say that I was going to play another nine years, I don't know about that [laughing], but I have enjoyed my career up to this point and it's been a lot of fun."

Grant currently finds himself as a member of the AHL's Grand Rapids Griffins, a team that is looking to win its second consecutive Calder Cup crown. Grant chipped in with two goals and four points, along with 26 penalty minutes during the Griffins' playoff run a year ago, helping the Grand Rapids franchise -- the AHL farm team of the Detroit Red Wings -- win their first ever championship title in franchise history.

The Griffins currently sit in first place in what has become a tightly-contested Western Conference with as many as five teams within three points of each other for top spot.

"At the beginning of the season, we were probably around 10-12 points ahead of Chicago [Wolves] and now they're maybe two or three points behind us," he said. "It makes things interesting going down to the wire here."

The Red Wings have dipped into their minor league affiliate for players more often than usual this season due to injuries with the NHL club this season. The roster shuffling has meant different linemates from time to time for Grant this year.

"It's all about being a professional and everything," he said. "You can't think about it too much. It's kind of hard to get in a groove, but it is what it is right now. But when it comes right down to it, the more games I play, the more I seem to play better. I just have to go out and play my game and let things happen."

With more than a month to go in the regular season, Grant has already surpassed his point total from a year ago, with four goals and 14 points, compared to only 10 points last season.

"I think my play has definitely gotten better throughout the season. I've shown in the past that I can score goals and make plays and just be a reliable forward.

"I think I'm now more of an all-around player than I was five or six years ago," he continued. "I skate better than I ever have and my puck skills are really good as well. But I'm not getting paid to do that, I'm getting paid to go out and be a physical player and be a good leader on and off the ice."

Since his first season in the AHL -- which was in 2005-2006 with the Philadelphia Phantoms -- the feisty forward has accumulated well over 2,000 penalty minutes while playing with five different clubs in the league. However, Grant says this season is different than in years past, and that the conference he plays in is much different compared to the east when it comes to fighting.

"I think in the west, it's just a different style of game," he said. "Most teams out east have two or three designated tough guys and everything. We have a couple guys here too, but I really think it's a different game here. It's a little more skilled when it comes to depth in the lineup and everything. I don't know why it's like that."

Grant says the different style of play in the west has not affected how he prepares for games, night in and night out.

"I've never been worried about that. My skill set is pretty good for what I do. I've shown in the past that I can score goals and make plays and everything and just be a reliable forward," he said. "I think I'm now more of an all-around player than I was five or six years ago. I skate better than I ever have and my puck skills are really good as well. But I'm not getting paid to do that, I'm getting paid to go out and be a physical player and be a good leader on and off the ice."

Prior to joining the Griffins, Grant helped the Oklahoma City Barons to a regular season Western Conference title in 2011-2012. His best statistical season in the AHL came in 2009-2010 when he had 12 goals and 25 points in 74 regular season games with the Milwaukee Admirals.

Grant is also a former member of the MJHL's Neepawa Natives.

To stay up-to-date on Grant and the Griffins, this year, click here.

Photos: Triston Grant (top); Grant with the Calder Cup championship trophy last season (bottom).

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