Could Triston Grant Be the Next Joel Ward?

By Buddy Oakes

The Nashville Predators have announced that Triston Grant has made the trip to Nashville. He will be on stand-by should Joel Ward be unable to play in tonight's opener against the Colorado Avalanche.

With all the promising young players in Milwaukee, why would Triston Grant be the one to board the plane to Nashville?

Cal O'Reilly, who played well last season, could have been called up to face his little brother Ryan, who is a rookie for the Avalanche.  John Glennon asked Barry Trotz about that scenario of brother versus brother,  and with a classic Trotzy quote he replied, "I can’t write your story for you." [http://blogs.tennessean.com/predators/2009/10/07/preds-limp-into-opener/]

Triston Grant is a 25-year-old fifth year pro who has eight NHL games under his belt, with the Flyers from the 2007-08 season. With his six foot one, 220 pound frame, Grant has been well into triple digits penalty minutes each season of his career. He is not afraid to drop the gloves.

One of the last cuts in the pre-season, it was easy to assume that Grant was there as a just-in-case. Remember, Jordin Tootoo and Wade Belak were gimpy, and not ready "to go" if the need arose in the final two exhibition games.

But, I don't think that was the only reason. After the last pre-season home game, I asked Barry Trotz if any of the young players had stood out. Trotz mentioned Hornqvist, who had filled in for Steve Sullivan on the second line and scored a goal.

Then Trotz specifically pointed to Triston Grant and said, "As far as the young guys on the fence, there was no one that is really separating themselves from each other, they are all sort of in a pack. I thought Triston Grant was really good and I don't see anyone else that was outstanding other than Hornqvist."

At other times, Trotz has pointed to Grant as a player who is "responsible" and not afraid to go to the "hard places." Those are key terms that Trotz uses when he really likes the work ethic of a player, and the type of player who fits into a prototype "Nashville Predator" brand of team player.

Given a choice, when looking for a third or fourth line player, Barry Trotz will go with the hard worker, who leaves it all on the ice, over a more skilled player who never finds his way to the "hard places." That is the very reason that Joel Ward seemingly came out of nowhere last pre-season, and was given the opportunity to become a Nashville Predator.

Could it happen for Triston Grant? If he continues to find the "hard places" then you never know.