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.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

One of the HockeytownWest Podcast guys was saying a couple weekends ago against Manitoba, Danielson played over 25 minutes in one of the games in that series. And that stat came straight from Coach Watson's mouth

He's been shouldering a really heavy workload, but lately they'd freed him up a bit. Being treated like, and thriving as an all-situations #1C. How many 20 year olds are doing that in the AHL?

The development arc is steep with this one

 

[Rzombo4 prez]

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

I am not going to try to sell you on him. You are one of the few around here that actually takes the time to consistently watch the Griffins. That said, I personally have always liked his first pass. The plays may seems simple, but he delivers it hard and on-time (I can't explain it technically but my money says it has something to do with the spin of the puck off his stick...like a heavy pass (as opposed to a heavy shot). I have never had any issues with his decision making with the puck at any level. I have much more concern about Wallinder with the puck than Tuo.

My issues with Tuo relate to how his skating impacts small things you need to do well as a defensemen. How big of a gap do you play, how easily can you pinch without getting phuced, how quickly can you retrieve pucks in the defensive zone (this last one is big). Size and reach is always nice, but you still need to move your feet at some point. If you always play off of the puck carrier because you are afraid to get burned, you aren't going to make it. I think the Wings have a lot of time for him because massive, right-handed defensemen are always nice to have (especially with above average puck skills). The problem is that the further you get along with age, the harder it is to get better.

At the end of the day though they are all in the AHL (or destined for it) because at least one thing is off (temporarily or permanently). Wallinder with Tuo's passing and shot is an NHL defensemen. Cleveland with Tuo's puck skills is an NHL defensemen. Aljo with Wallinder's or Tuo's size is a really, really good NHL defensemen. Tuo with Wallinder's or Cleveland's skating is an NHLer of some capacity. Buium with Wallinder's skating is a good NHL defensemen. Sadly they aren't Mr. Potato Head.

 

[Oddbob]

I dunno if I would go that far. Same draft, Johansson didn't get a call up until this year and now he's in the top 4 and looking like he belongs. He might not be a high end guy but he has less pro experience than Johansson and might just take a little more time

Tuo has never been hyped by management like Aljo.

 

[SirloinUB]

Which Dmen are getting the PP reps in Grand Rapids?

 

[lhsgolf19]

Boom

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

Cool, now do Lombardi.

 

[izlez]

Boom

 

[SantosHalper]

Great!
Mazur - Danielson - Watson
Snively - Dries - Shine
Hanas - Doucet - Gettinger
Rychlovsky - Seger - Becher
Johannes

I believe someone said that Lombardi will be back not long after Mazur, so week or two?
Mazur - Danielson - Watson
Snively - Lombardi - Shine
Doucet - Dries - Gettinger
Hanas - Seger - Becher
Rychlovsky, Johannes

 

[Our Lady Peace]

Which Dmen are getting the PP reps in Grand Rapids?

For about I wanna say like the last 6-7 games it's been only Buium on PP1 and then Wallinder + Tuomisto on PP2

 

[HoweFan]

Mazur is actually playing!!! I wonder if they will disclose his injury now