Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins, 2024 - 2025 Season

[Our Lady Peace]

Skating is not his strength, but it is also disingenuous to suggest that every 6'5" defensemen in the NHL does, or needs to skate like Ed does. Tuo's skating issues are largely about explosiveness and power at this point. From a technical perspective his skating his more than fine. At his age it is fair to question whether he has the room to acquire any more explosiveness but he doesn't need to be elite to be considered an NHL prospect.

I never suggested every 6'5 defenseman needs elite skating ability. Tuomisto simply doesn't see the ice at an NHL pace. So with the tools he currently possesses, which are still fairly solid, I'm suggesting he would need something like his skating to stand out greatly

I don't consider him a player that will be of any use to Detroit's future. That doesn't mean he isn't an NHL prospect nor does it mean he no longer has room to grow. To me, he's not noteworthy. I would be happily proven wrong FWIW

Fact of the matter is, he turned 24 yesterday, is an RFA this year, and may or may not get re-signed. If he does, he will be in behind a bit of a RHD log jam as ASP comes over

 

[Coach Reggie Dunlop]

I never suggested every 6'5 defenseman needs elite skating ability. Tuomisto simply doesn't see the ice at an NHL pace. So with the tools he currently possesses, which are still fairly solid, I'm suggesting he would need something like his skating to stand out greatly

I don't consider him a player that will be of any use to Detroit's future. That doesn't mean he isn't an NHL prospect nor does it mean he no longer has room to grow. To me, he's not noteworthy. I would be happily proven wrong FWIW

Fact of the matter is, he turned 24 yesterday, is an RFA this year, and may or may not get re-signed. If he does, he will be in behind a bit of a RHD log jam as ASP comes over

Theoretically if tuomisto becomes an NHLer he’s not behind any sort of logjam. ASP will be on the second pair and he would be bottom pair.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Also with Soderblom being called up, this is quite likely as well the time that Mazur returns to action

Andrew Rinaldi seems to think that it will be Thursday vs Manitoba that Mazur is back

If he isn't, the Griffins have a 6'8 sized hole to fill at LW

 

[OldnotDeadWings]

Four of this year's D could be gone in 14 months (2026 TDL) or sooner. The only things blocking Tuomisto are his own limitations and whether management thinks he can work through them or fits into team plans. Considering what Mo costs and what even management hopes it will cost to lock up Ed soon and ASP eventually, there is plenty of roster room for a homegrown big defensive D who can play in his own end and stay cheap for 7-8 years. Maybe even two of them That's what they've allocated a lot of draft resources into finding.