Player's Profile
Picture Courtesy of www.ushl.com
- Name: Eric Gryba
- Position: D
- Shoots: Right
- Height: 6-3
- Weight: 215 lbs
- Birthdate: 1988-04-14
- Eligible for Draft: 2006
- Drafted: 2006
- Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Acquired: 3rd round (68th overall), 2006
- Playing In: Pro
Eric Gryba
Prospect Grade: 6.5 C (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: HF Staff
History
2003-04: Gryba was selected by the Portland Winter Hawks in the 2003 WHL Bantam Draft with the 23rd overall pick. However, Gryba decided to continue to go the college route and played Midget AAA hockey with the Saskatoon Contacts. Gryba scored 1 goal and 10 assists in 39 regular season games for Saskatoon, which took the regular season title. The Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League playoffs saw Gryba explode for 4 goals and 8 assists in 10 games. Although the Contacts lost the SMAAAHL championship to the Tisdale Trojans, Gryba led the league in defense playoff scoring and fourth in overall scoring. Considering how strongly he finished the season, the Contacts named Gryba their Most Improved Player.
2004-05: Gryba picked up where he left off in the 2004 playoffs and scored 11 goals and 29 assists in 32 games. He led the SMAAAHL in defense scoring despite missing 12 games. The Contacts won the SMAAAHL championship in 2005, and Gryba led the way with 5 goals, 7 assists, and his physical presence on the blueline. Gryba again led the SMAAHL in defense playoff scoring and was 10th in overall scoring. The Contacts named Gryba their Top Defenseman, and the SMAAHL did the same. The Contacts advanced to the Canadian National Midget Championships in Gatineau and won the TELUS Cup. In the process, Gryba was named the National Defensive Player of the Year.
2005-06: Gryba gained residency in British Columbia during the summer in order to play for the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. However, Hockey Canada did not allow the inter-branch transfer, so Gryba left Canada to play for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. In early December Gryba committed to Boston University for the 2006-07 season. Central Scouting and the USHL coaches selected Gryba to play in the USHL Top Prospects/All-Star Game in Sioux City Feb. 8. After skating in 56 regular season games, Gryba led the USHL in penalty minutes with 205. He also managed to score 3 goals and 12 assists. Green Bay was swept in three games in the USHL Playoffs, but Gryba led the Gambers in scoring with a goal and an assist, stepping up after top Green Bay defenseman Jeremy Dehner was injured in Game 1 of the series.
2006-07: Gryba’s rookie season with Boston University (H-East) resulted in four points (1g+3a) through 38 games. He tallied 76 penalty minutes as a freshman, good enough to lead the team.
Read HF's interview with Eric Gryba.
2007-08: This marked the defenseman’s second season with Boston University (H-East), a 32 game campaign that resulted in a goal and two points. An MCL injury sidelined him for several games this season, but he still managed to lead the team in penalty minutes with 54.
2008-09: A junior at Boston University (H-East), Gryba registered six assists and a career-high 106 penalty minutes through 45 games. He was a factor in BU’s H-East Championship title as well as its NCAA title.
2009-10: Finished his senior year with BU with 4 goals, 6 assists, and 118 PIM in 38 games. At the end of his collegiate season, Gryba signed an entry-level deal with the Sens and made 6 regular season appearances where he posted 1 goal.
2010-11: Gryba provided toughness on the defense corps for Binghamton in his first pro season - finishing second on the Senators' AHL affiliate with 133 PMs. He had a +7 plus/minus in 66 games for Binghamton and scored 3 goals with 4 assists. Gryba missed time late in the season and in the playoffs due to a high ankle sprain. In ten playoff games for Calder Cup champion Binghamton he was +3 with 26 PMs and had 1 assist.
Watch this HF video of Eric Gryba from the 2011 Leafs Prospect Tournament.
Talent Analysis
At 6’4, 215 pounds, Gryba can utterly destroy opponents with hits. Gryba did not lay down Scott Stevens-caliber hits every night, but every now and again he used his size and timed a hit just right to stand up an opponent at the blueline, while skating backwards, with earth shattering force. That said, Gryba still must improve his skating. He needs more acceleration backwards and could use more strength in his legs to generate a more powerful stride forward. Along with a bit more power, Gryba needs quicker feet for better agility and better acceleration.
Offensively, Gryba has a hard point shot and he makes a good outlet pass and can be difficult to stop when he gets his momentum going carrying the puck.
Defensively, Gryba has good defensive awareness and is a tremendous competitor, sometimes to his detriment. Gryba led the USHL in penalty minutes not because he’s a dirty player (he’s not), but because he does not back down from a challenge, and all sorts of players challenged Gryba to a fight in 2005-06. Most USHL teams would trade a fourth line forward off the ice for five in exchange for Gryba off for five.
Future
Gryba is a defenseman who should develop a lot under Jack Parker at Boston University. The college game will force him to become quicker but will also allow him to focus on what he truly wants to focus on, skill. The primary reason Gryba did not go the major junior route was to concentrate on skill over physical play. Gryba’s sheer determination to reach his goal, shown in moving to British Columbia and then to the USHL when he wasn’t allowed to transfer, shows he’ll do whatever it takes. If he becomes a more explosive player, improves his footspeed, and adjusts from playing the long minutes he played at a pace in midgets, he has the tools to become a solid fourth or fifth NHL defenseman.
Stats
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Profile Last Updated: November, 1st 2011
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