Gratton now?

[P.J Stock]

Heres the Best line....
And while checking out Gratton, who would fill a support role, Sather is at the same time pitching hard for Vincent Lecavalier, and also checking out the availability of Paul Kariya, Jeff Friesen, Pavel Bure and Teemu Selanne.



December 1, 2001 -- Add Chris Gratton to the list of players the Rangers have interest in acquiring.
Sources have told The Post that Gratton, the 26-year-old Buffalo center whose career has all but been in a holding pattern since he left Tampa Bay the first time during the summer of 1997, has told management that he would welcome a trade.

While it is not known if the Sabres intend to accommodate Gratton, who has slid to fourth-line duties while earning $2 million, we've learned that Glen Sather would be only too happy to help fulfill his wishes by bringing him to New York.

"Definite interest," reported one knowledgeable source.

The Rangers, who meet the Canadiens in Montreal tonight, would be willing to send Manny Malhotra to the Sabres, and perhaps a defenseman as well. There is, however, no guarantee that Buffalo GM Darcy Regier would be interested in that type of offer, though it is true that the Sabres simply cannot afford such an expensive fourth-liner. Gratton, who has three goals and five assists thus far, skated with pugilists Eric Boulton and Rob Ray at home against the Rangers on Tuesday. Suffice to say, he did not accomplish much.

At 6-4 and 225 pounds, Gratton would fit in perfectly with this new Ranger push for brawn down the middle that will be in evidence over the summer when the team attempts to sign Bobby Holik as an unrestricted free agent.

And while checking out Gratton, who would fill a support role, Sather is at the same time pitching hard for Vincent Lecavalier, and also checking out the availability of Paul Kariya, Jeff Friesen, Pavel Bure and Teemu Selanne.

Kariya, we're told, is not available, with the sources reporting the Mighty Ducks now about to pull off a deal that will send Washington's Adam Oates to Anaheim to act as Kariya's center.

[wingwop]

Dude are you kidding me? Who aren't they trying to acuire? If they got all the guys they were after; they'd be the only team in the league.