Eric Gryba

{{Infobox ice hockey player

| name = Eric Gryba

| image = Eric Gryba - Ottawa Senators.jpg

| image_size = 230px

| caption = Gryba with the Ottawa Senators in 2013

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1988|4|14}}

| birth_place = Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 4

| weight_lb = 228

| position = Defence

| shoots = Right

| league =

| team =

| prospect_team =

| prospect_league =

| played_for = Ottawa Senators
Edmonton Oilers
New Jersey Devils

| draft = 68th overall

| draft_year = 2006

| draft_team = Ottawa Senators

| career_start = 2010

| career_end = 2019

}}

Eric David Gryba (born April 14, 1988) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey defenceman. Gryba was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round, 68th overall, of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

=Ottawa Senators=

Gryba was selected in the third round, 68th overall by the Ottawa Senators during the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. Prior to turning professional, Gryba attended Boston University, where he played four seasons of NCAA Division I ice hockey in the Hockey East conference with the Terriers ice hockey team, winning an NCAA title with the team. During the 2009–10 NCAA season, he tied the school record for most penalty minutes served.{{cite web|title=ERIC GRYBA|url=http://goterriers.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=1042|website=goterriers.com|accessdate=March 25, 2018}}

On March 31, 2010, the Ottawa Senators signed Gryba to a two-year, entry-level contract.{{cite web| url = http://senators.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=523448 | title = Senators sign Eric Gryba to entry-level contract | publisher = Ottawa Senators | date = 2010-03-31 | accessdate = 2010-03-31}} On February 16, 2013, he made his NHL debut, playing for Ottawa in Toronto against the Toronto Maple Leafs.{{cite web|title=OTTAWA SENATORS DEFENCEMAN ERIC GRYBA EARNS PRAISE IN HIS NHL DEBUT|url=http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/ottawa-senators-defenceman-eric-gryba-earns-praise-in-his-nhl-debut|website=thehockeynews.com|accessdate=March 26, 2018|date=February 16, 2013}}

Gryba earned his first career NHL point, an assist, against the New York Islanders on February 19, 2013, and scored his first career NHL goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 23, 2013.{{cite news|last1=Macgregor|first1=Roy|title=Senators capitalize as Lightning go out like lambs|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/senators-capitalize-as-lightning-go-out-like-lambs/article10259413/|accessdate=March 26, 2018|newspaper=The Globe and Mail|date=March 23, 2013}}

On May 2, 2013, in his first Stanley Cup playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens, Gryba delivered a questionable, open-ice hit to Canadiens' forward Lars Eller as Eller received a pass from Raphael Diaz. The hit caused Eller's face to strike the ice, leaving him bleeding and motionless on the ice and later carried off via stretcher. Though there was some question as to whether or not the hit was illegal,FRASER: TAKING A LOOK AT THE GRYBA ON ELLER HIT https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=422303 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505190708/http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=422303 |date=2013-05-05 }}{{cite web| title = Senators' Eric Gryba's hit on Canadiens' Lars Eller was clean | url = http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Playoffs/Ottawa/2013/05/02/20789421.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130628044911/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Playoffs/Ottawa/2013/05/02/20789421.html | url-status = usurped | archive-date = June 28, 2013 | publisher = Canoe.ca | date = 2013-05-02 | accessdate = 2013-05-02}} Gryba was subsequently suspended for two games when the NHL deemed that Eller's head had been the principal point of contact.{{cite web|title=Senators' Eric Gryba suspended 2 games for Eller hit|url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/senators-eric-gryba-suspended-2-games-for-eller-hit-1.1333169|website=cbc.ca|accessdate=March 26, 2018|date=May 3, 2013}}

On June 26, 2014, Gryba signed a two-year contract extension with the Senators, valued at $2.5 million.{{cite web| title = Eric Gryba inks two-year deal with Ottawa Senators | url = http://www.ottawasun.com/2014/06/26/eric-gryba-inks-two-year-deal-with-ottawa-senators | publisher = Ottawa Sun | date = 2014-06-26}}

=Edmonton Oilers=

On June 27, 2015, on the second day of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Gryba was traded by the Senators to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Travis Ewanyk and the 107th pick in the fourth round (Christian Wolanin).{{cite web| url = http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/eric-gryba-trade-edmonton-oilers-ottawa-senators-draft-pick-travis-ewanyk/ | title = Senators trade defenseman Eric Gryba to Edmonton | publisher = Sportsnet.ca | date = 2015-06-27 | accessdate = 2015-06-27}}

After appearing in 53 games for the club, the Oilers chose not to re-sign Gryba, making him an unrestricted free agent. However, Gryba signed a one-year, two-way contract on October 12, 2016, after attending the team's camp on a professional tryout.{{cite web|title=Oilers Sign Gryba|url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/oilers-sign-gryba/c-282581482|website=NHL.com|accessdate=October 15, 2016|date=October 12, 2016}} On December 31, 2017, Gryba cleared waivers and was assigned to the Oilers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors.{{cite web|last1=Wescott|first1=Chris|title=BLOG: Gryba clears waivers|url=https://www.nhl.com/oilers/news/blog-gryba-clears-waivers/c-294521906|website=NHL.com|accessdate=January 3, 2018|date=December 31, 2017}}

On June 21, 2018, the Oilers placed Gryba on unconditional waivers for the purpose of a buyout.{{cite web |title=Oilers D Gryba placed on waivers for buyout |url=https://www.tsn.ca/oilers-d-gryba-placed-on-waivers-1.1119296 |website=TSN.ca |date=21 June 2018 |accessdate=22 June 2018}}

=New Jersey Devils=

On July 1, 2018, the opening day of free agency, Gryba was signed by the New Jersey Devils on a one-year, two-way $700,000 contract.{{cite web| url = https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/devils-sign-defenseman-eric-gryba-to-a-one-year-two-way-contract/c-299374386 | title = Devils sign defenseman Eric Gryba to one-year, two-way contract | publisher = New Jersey Devils | date = 2018-07-01 | accessdate = 2018-07-01}}

On September 22, 2019, Gryba announced his retirement on his Twitter, after being released from his professional tryout with the Calgary Flames.{{cite web |title=Gryba retires after seven seasons in NHL |url=https://www.nhl.com/news/eric-gryba-retires-from-nhl/c-309396580 |website=NHL.com |accessdate=September 30, 2019 |date=September 22, 2019}}

Personal life

Gryba's father Shawn is a retired teacher, and his mother Catherine was an executive for the City of Saskatoon. Gryba attended St. Joseph High School. He became engaged to Cate Eckhardt in August 2015{{cite tweet |user=grybes02 |number=637428475805040645 |date=August 28, 2015 |title=Well she said yes! So excited!}} and the two married in the summer of 2016.{{cite news|last1=Matheson|first1=Jim|title=Oilers defenceman Eric Gryba shaves beard for charity|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/sports/hockey/nhl/edmonton-oilers/oilers-defenceman-eric-gryba-shaves-beard-for-charity|accessdate=March 26, 2018|newspaper=Edmonton Journal|date=February 16, 2017}} Gryba is also an avid hunter and fisherman who co-owns a company called Capital Waterfowling, and has a TV show called Grilling With Gryba.

Career statistics

border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="text-align:center; width:60em"
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Regular season ! rowspan="99" bgcolor="#ffffff" \| ! colspan="5" \| Playoffs
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! Season ! Team ! League ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM ! GP ! G ! A ! Pts ! PIM
2003–04 \| Saskatoon Contacts AAA \| SMHL \| 39 \| 1 \| 10 \| 11 \| 89 \| 10 \| 4 \| 8 \| 12 \| 20
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2004–05 \| Saskatoon Contacts AAA \| SMHL \| 32 \| 11 \| 29 \| 40 \| 83 \| 11 \| 5 \| 7 \| 12 \| 22
2004–05 \| Melfort Mustangs \| SJHL \| 2 \| 0 \| 0 \| 0 \| 4 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2005–06 \| Green Bay Gamblers \| USHL \| 56 \| 3 \| 12 \| 15 \| 205 \| 3 \| 1 \| 1 \| 2 \| 27
2006–07 \| Boston University \| HE \| 38 \| 1 \| 3 \| 4 \| 76 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2007–08 \| Boston University \| HE \| 32 \| 1 \| 1 \| 2 \| 54 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
2008–09 \| Boston University \| HE \| 45 \| 0 \| 6 \| 6 \| 106 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2009–10 \| Boston University \| HE \| 38 \| 4 \| 6 \| 10 \| 118 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
2009–10 \| Binghamton Senators \| AHL \| 6 \| 1 \| 0 \| 1 \| 2 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2010–11 \| Binghamton Senators \| AHL \| 66 \| 3 \| 4 \| 7 \| 133 \| 10 \| 0 \| 1 \| 1 \| 26
2011–12 \| Binghamton Senators \| AHL \| 73 \| 5 \| 15 \| 20 \| 95 \| — \| — \| — \| — \| —
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2012–13	Binghamton Senators	AHL \| 38	5	6	11	75 \| —	—	—	—	—
2012–13	Ottawa Senators	NHL \| 33	2	4	6	26 \| 4	0	0	0	17
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2013–14	Ottawa Senators	NHL \| 57	2	9	11	64 \| —	—	—	—	—
2014–15	Ottawa Senators	NHL \| 75	0	12	12	97 \| 6	0	0	0	14
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2015–16	Edmonton Oilers	NHL \| 53	1	5	6	75 \| —	—	—	—	—
2016–17	Edmonton Oilers	NHL \| 40	2	4	6	65 \| 3	0	0	0	4
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2017–18	Edmonton Oilers	NHL \| 21	0	2	2	31 \| —	—	—	—	—
2017–18	Bakersfield Condors	AHL \| 24	0	0	0	27 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2018–19	Binghamton Devils	AHL \| 47	2	5	7	96 \| —	—	—	—	—
2018–19	New Jersey Devils	NHL \| 10	0	0	0	10 \| —	—	—	—	—
bgcolor="#f0f0f0" \| 2019–20	Kindersley Senior Clippers	SWHL \| 7	4	6	10	8 \| 3	0	0	0	6
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| AHL totals ! 254 !! 16 !! 30 !! 46 !! 428 ! 10 !! 0 !! 1 !! 1 !! 26
bgcolor="#e0e0e0" ! colspan="3" \| NHL totals ! 289 !! 7 !! 36 !! 43 !! 368 ! 13 !! 0 !! 0 !! 0 !! 35

Awards and honours

class="wikitable"

! Award

! Year

Telus Cup Top Defenceman

| 2005

|{{cite web| url = http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/8221/la_id/1.htm | title = 2005 Telus Cup Award Winners Announced | publisher = Hockey Canada | date = 2011-01-02 | accessdate = 2011-01-02}}