Brian McGrattan Brian McGrattan ( born September 2 , 1981 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing with the Nashville Predators of the National Hockey League ( NHL ) . Playing career . McGrattan is an enforcer who built a solid reputation for himself , particularly during the American Hockey League ' s 2004 – 05 season when he established an all - time league record for penalty minutes in a single season ( 551 ) . Infamous minor league enforcer Brandon Sugadn , who fought McGrattan several times , referred to him as " the toughest guy in the league . " During his junior hockey career he played for six teams in the OHL between 1997 and 2002 . He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the fourth round ( 104th overall ) of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft but never played for the team . On June 2 , 2003 , he was signed as a free agent by the Ottawa Senators . Ottawa Senators . McGrattan played his first NHL game with the Ottawa Senators in a 3 - 2 shootout win at Toronto on Oct . 5 , 2005 . He scored his first goal against all - star goaltender Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils and his second versus the Atlanta Thrashers . McGrattan truly arrived as an NHL enforcer during a game with the Senators against the Maple Leafs on October 29 , 2005 . In a fight , he defeated Toronto ' s Tie Domi , then one of the league ' s top fighters , and Domi was forced to leave the game with a facial injury . He was a healthy scratch for much of the 2006 – 07 and 2007 – 08 seasons with Ottawa , dressing mainly to replace injured teammates or to provide a physical presence in the lineup . In 2007 – 08 he played in 38 of 82 regular season games , being a healthy scratch for much of the campaign and entire playoffs . He has yet to see action in an NHL playoff game . McGrattan was involved in a much publicized fight with then teammate Ray Emery during a Senators ' practice in January 2008 , an event which may have hastened both players ' departures from Ottawa . Interestingly , both are close friends off the ice . Phoenix Coyotes . On June 25 , 2008 , McGrattan was traded by Ottawa to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for a 5th round draft pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft . The Coyotes later signed him to a one year contract . Coyotes GM Don Maloney told The Canadian Press " I ' m excited about it ( acquiring McGrattan ) . I think he ' ll fit in well with our group . " McGrattan ultimately saw action in only 5 games with Phoenix , registering no points and collecting 22 penalty minutes . On December 13 , 2008 , the National Hockey League Players ' Association and the National Hockey League announced that McGrattan had voluntarily entered Stage # 1 of the NHL and the NHLPA ' s Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program . No further details were announced . Calgary Flames . On July 11 , 2009 , McGrattan signed as a free agent with the NHL ' s Calgary Flames . During his one season in Calgary , he played in 34 of his team ' s 82 regular season games , being a healthy scratch for much of the season . On October 16 , 2009 , against the Vancouver Canucks , McGrattan recorded his first career Gordie Howe hat trick enroute to a 5 - 3 Flames win . Boston , Anaheim , and Nashville . McGrattan agreed to a one - year ddddl with the Boston Bruins on October 9 , 2010 , the dl was finalized upon the Bruins ' return from Prague , Czech Republic . Assigned to Boston ’ s AHL affiliate , the Providence Bruins , McGrattan was later traded by the Bruins along with Sean Zimmerman to the Anaheim Ducks for David Laliberte and Stefan Chaput on February 27 , 2011 . On July 7 , 2011 , McGrattan signed a one - year contract with the Anaheim Ducks . On October 11 , the team placed McGrattan on waivers . He was claimed off waivers by the Nashville Predators .