Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins, 2024 - 2025 Season

[wingsfannn919191]

It's all relative. While a guy like Debrincat may not seem great off the puck, he's a helluva lot better than he was when he was 19. It's simply development. Lombardi is going through it the same as any other player. Daily, the coaches are working with him to get better in all facets of the game. Including off puck.

I'm just saying that for small guys, it's more difficult to get to a point where you're good enough at the small things to survive in the NHL. Because, again, if you can't reach a minimum threshold for the small things, it doesn't matter if you have the potential for 50 points, you aren't going to make it in the NHL. Pro hockey outside the NHL is littered with players with enough talent to play in the NHL, they just didn't do all the little things right. It's part of what goes into that phrase you always hear about young players "learning how to be a pro." It's part of what goes into the reality that the jump to the NHL is the most difficult of any jump from league to league in hockey. The margins for error are razor thin.

Again, I'm good with playing these kids more in GR, and I'm not looking for them to have their offense stifled. On the contrary, I'd like to see them all round out their games well enough to give themselves the opportunity to let that offense shine in the show.

It's all good that debrincat was ahead of lombardi at 19 but if hes not a good 2 way guy and doesn't back check etc... doesn't matter if lombardi one day gets to the same position as debrincat and is capable of putting up offensive numbers

Anyways he just turned 21 a few months ago and is off to a hot start feed him more minutes and let him work on his overall game on the go. Loved soderblom as a prospect but I'm more excited with lombardi right now if he can put up huge numbers as a 21 year old in the ahl

Soderblom has 0 pts as a soon to be 24 year old I think? I'd be giving danielson a ton of ice time and well to get his offensive game going. Guys with more upside .... anyways we'll see what happens but we both agree we want the young kids to have a bigger role

 

[Winger98]

eh, almost there.

 

[jaster]

If you listen to him talk, he seems like a really smart guy. (At least I got this impression from every interview I have heard him in so far) I am pretty sure he understands all of this and will continue to improve on it.

Yeah, I have no reason to doubt that Lombardi is fully aware of what he needs to work on and is working on it. Seems like a good kid.

 

[jaster]

It's all good that debrincat was ahead of lombardi at 19 but if hes not a good 2 way guy and doesn't back check etc... doesn't matter if lombardi one day gets to the same position as debrincat and is capable of putting up offensive numbers

Anyways he just turned 21 a few months ago and is off to a hot start feed him more minutes and let him work on his overall game on the go. Loved soderblom as a prospect but I'm more excited with lombardi right now if he can put up huge numbers as a 21 year old in the ahl

Soderblom has 0 pts as a soon to be 24 year old I think? I'd be giving danielson a ton of ice time and well to get his offensive game going. Guys with more upside .... anyways we'll see what happens but we both agree we want the young kids to have a bigger role

Not sure why I was thinking Lombardi is 19 lol. I just meant to say that Debrincat is better at the little things today than he was at the same age Lombardi is now. And the same should be true of Lombardi if he makes it.

Gotta believe Soderblom is not long for NA. He's an RFA after this season and will not surprise me if he heads back to Sweden, though I'd guess he gets maybe another year. Still, the door's closing pretty quick.

The most exciting thing with prospects for me is when mid-level guys take a big development leap and become high-level prospects. Hopefully we're seeing a breakout that is sustainable with Lombardi.

 

[jaster]

eh, almost there.

What are we talking about?

 

[lilidk]

Not sure why I was thinking Lombardi is 19 lol. I just meant to say that Debrincat is better at the little things today than he was at the same age Lombardi is now. And the same should be true of Lombardi if he makes it.

Gotta believe Soderblom is not long for NA. He's an RFA after this season and will not surprise me if he heads back to Sweden, though I'd guess he gets maybe another year. Still, the door's closing pretty quick.

The most exciting thing with prospects for me is when mid-level guys take a big development leap and become high-level prospects. Hopefully we're seeing a breakout that is sustainable with Lombardi.

I don't believe Elmer could compete now with Veleno, Motte and and Fischer for spot in NHL, hope he stays extra in GR

 

[wingsfannn919191]

Not sure why I was thinking Lombardi is 19 lol. I just meant to say that Debrincat is better at the little things today than he was at the same age Lombardi is now. And the same should be true of Lombardi if he makes it.

Gotta believe Soderblom is not long for NA. He's an RFA after this season and will not surprise me if he heads back to Sweden, though I'd guess he gets maybe another year. Still, the door's closing pretty quick.

The most exciting thing with prospects for me is when mid-level guys take a big development leap and become high-level prospects. Hopefully we're seeing a breakout that is sustainable with Lombardi.

Probably in denial on soderblom but I think he'd produce better with better players in the nhl. I think we need to see him like 5-6 games this year on the top 9 before we write him off but if he doesn't produce by years end and show he can be a player he'll probably be included in some package deal somewhere

If this team will ever win again and we'll need guys in the 2nd rounds and later to finally show up again .

Wallinder,buium,augustine,buchelnikov, Lombardi, kiiskinen, plante etc... some of these guys have to show up

Also wouldnt hurt to try and land some 19-23 yr old kids who might be had and havent worked out elsewhere. (Broberg seems to be paying off)

I don't believe Elmer could compete now with Veleno, Motte and and Fischer for spot in NHL, hope he stays extra in GR

Be pointless to have soderblom on the 4th hes not a grinder. We get injuries on the top 9 I'd call him for a few games

 

[HoweFan]

All this debating about the merits of Lombardi is giving me a headache. I think I’m just going to enjoy him as he developes.

 

[Pavels Dog]

Soderblom has 0 pts as a soon to be 24 year old I think? I'd be giving danielson a ton of ice time and well to get his offensive game going. Guys with more upside .... anyways we'll see what happens but we both agree we want the young kids to have a bigger role

Söderblom also leads the team in shots by a pretty wide margin and judging by reports and highlights has actually been playing really well.

 

[Henkka]

How is Wallinder doing?

 

[wingsfannn919191]

Söderblom also leads the team in shots by a pretty wide margin and judging by reports and highlights has actually been playing really well.

I seen some games and yes he has had some nice moments . Wasn't aware with the shots on goal stat but all of this wont matter if he continues to not produce

I would still like to see him come up at some point for 3-5 games on the 2nd or 3rd line and see what he can bring before we decide to move on from him or not next off season

 

[Electric Eric]

All this debating about the merits of Lombardi is giving me a headache. I think I’m just going to enjoy him as he developes.

I mean this with all sincerity, why even come here if you don't want to read peoples thoughts/debates on prospects?

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Without Mazur and MBN in Sweden, there isn't a huge difference in skill level between the best winger on the Griffins and the sixth best winger on the team. It's not like playing in the top six is a huge advantage over playing on the third line, or that the third line gets a lot less ES ice time than the second line.

With Kasper up it was obvious Lombardi would get more opportunity. It wasn't some suddenly smart decision to give him an extra couple minute of ice time, if that was in fact what happened. If Kasper is sent down Lombardi is just going to have to make the most of his opportunities, perhaps on the wing. Getting 30 ES points this season with average ice time of 15:00 is not a worse season than getting 35-40 ES points with 20:00 TOI. His hands aren't going to turn to cement and he won't lose a half-step in skating if he plays with slightly less talented linemates. On the other hand, contributing defensively on a line asked to play well defensively -- which is what Watson seems to want from all his lines anyway -- might do more for his NHL chances than proving he can score more if he plays more.

 

[Frk It]

ASP and Cossa - our two great prospects.

I like how you have amended this to two, now. Huge progress for us tbh

 

[HoweFan]

I mean this with all sincerity, why even come here if you don't want to read peoples thoughts/debates on prospects?

Post all you want. I love reading the comments on how everyone is doing in GR. My simple mind can only take so much and then I need a nap.

 

[lilidk]

Post all you want. I love reading the comments on how everyone is doing in GR. My simple mind can only take so much and then I need a nap.

Sounds like old man

 

[ShanahanMan]

I like how you have amended this to two, now. Huge progress for us tbh

Hey I’ll be the first to say I didn’t have much hope in Cossa but he’s finally starting to look solid.

 

[Henkka]

Hey I’ll be the first to say I didn’t have much hope in Cossa but he’s finally starting to look solid.

Will you mean that:

A) you didn't have much hope for him as prospect after the draft?

B) but his development has changed everything?

 

[Kingpin794]

Hey I’ll be the first to say I didn’t have much hope in Cossa but he’s finally starting to look solid.

Finally...like he's a 25 year old prospect. He hasn't even hit 22 yet. He's exactly where he should be at this point in his career. I hope he gets 3 or 4 games this season and by next he's the back up in Detroit.

 

[RRhoads]

About Cossa, it was never that he wasn't a solid prospect. It was that Wallstedt was a higher acclaimed prospect. They will probably both turn out great.

That said, Trey Augustine is a great goalie prospect also, and nobody should be surprised if he eclipses both of them.

It is such a great position to be in. I have been a fan of the Wings since the early 90s, and we have never had such a good goalie prospect as either of them. In the long run, we won't be able to keep both, but hopefully one of them can fetch a real good return.

 

[lilidk]

About Cossa, it was never that he wasn't a solid prospect. It was that Wallstedt was a higher acclaimed prospect. They will probably both turn out great.

That said, Trey Augustine is a great goalie prospect also, and nobody should be surprised if he eclipses both of them.

The was one on hockey prospect radio who said that Cossa is top 10 in that draft much higher than Wallstendt.

 

[RRhoads]

The was one on hockey prospect radio who said that Cossa is top 10 in that draft much higher than Wallstendt.

They will probably swap spots a few more times.

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

About Cossa, it was never that he wasn't a solid prospect. It was that Wallstedt was a higher acclaimed prospect. They will probably both turn out great.

That said, Trey Augustine is a great goalie prospect also, and nobody should be surprised if he eclipses both of them.

It is such a great position to be in. I have been a fan of the Wings since the early 90s, and we have never had such a good goalie prospect as either of them. In the long run, we won't be able to keep both, but hopefully one of them can fetch a real good return.

There’s no reason we can’t keep both if we play the cap right. Also neither have played an NHL game yet, so it’s all just speculation.

 

[RRhoads]

There’s no reason we can’t keep both if we play the cap right. Also neither have played an NHL game yet, so it’s all just speculation.

8.25M seems to be the going rate for near top goalies in the league now. If they both turn out to be that, we are certainly not keeping both. I don't expect either to sign 8 year deals after their ELCs.