Ottawa Senators forward Chris Neil has made plenty of enemies over the years on the ice with his in-your-face style of play. It appears that you can add a former teammate to that list.
Former Ottawa Senators' enforcer Brian McGrattan, who now plays for the Boston Bruins was not impressed by Neil's antics during Saturday night's game between the Senators and Bruins and was not shy about sharing his oppinions.
With Boston cruising to a 4-0 victory, Neil engaged non-fighter Dennis Seidenberg in a late period tilt. Neil connected with a punch, opening a cut over Seidenberg's left eye. Both players received fighting majors on the play while Neil received an additional two minutes for roughing.
"I heard about it," McGrattan told Boston.com. "That's typical Chris Neil. I had to protect that guy for three years when I was there. He'd do that and I'd have to fight all his battles for him the next time we'd play a team after he'd do something stupid like that. It doesn't surprise me."
Neil and McGrattan were teammates in Ottawa from the 2005-06 season until the 2007-08 season. The following season McGrattan would sign with the Phoenix Coyotes as a free agent. He would then play 34 games for the Calgary Flames in the 2009-10 season before signing a one-year deal with the Bruins in October. McGrattan told Boston.com that Neil's actions were nothing new.
"That's the way he does it," McGrattan told Boston.com. "He'll do something where he knows he'll get kicked out of the game and won't have to come back and fight anybody. I've been around him long enough to know he does that. Then I'm the one who usually has to fight his battles the next time. It's typical."
