Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins, 2024 - 2025 Season

[RED WINGS STOMP]

Woof. Any idea when Lombardi gets back? They could really use that guy right now.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

The Griffins have to find a way to shake things up. They've been struggling to score for a while now. They get plenty of shots, but zero finish.

 

[lilidk]

Wonder if Kasper , Soderblom and someone else could play for GR during four nations tournament

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I had to leave just over halfway through the 2nd period, so I won't grade anyone but I'll offer my insights. I wrote a lot in that short time lol

3rd straight shutout loss. Matt Murray owns the Griffins this season though... The Griffins are insanely undisciplined. Some really lazy penalties out there. Then they will get PPs and do virtually nothing with them. If you struggle to score at 5v5 and on the PP, maybe don't spend so much time on the PK every game. Also, stack your damn 1st line and put Mazur on it already!!!


Danielson:
• Not PKing tonight. Had notably more jump in his game and honestly I think the kid has been looking extremely tired shouldering an all-situations 1C load for 2+ months. AllStar break gave him some rest. I've noticed that Lombardi went down over halfway through Danielson's 14-point/16-game stretch and since then, they've relied heavily on Nate to play not only his defensive game but to carry the offense

Took a stupid, lazy holding penalty 200 feet from his net on the PP after losing a puck battle. Didn't result in a goal against thankfully

He had a shift at the start of the 2nd after his penalty where him and Mazur had 30 seconds together. Danielson knew and he looked determined and as they entered, Mazur got a stick to the face below the goal line, no penalty, and it killed the play

Him and the boys had a heck of a PP where he was all over the place and had like 4 chances to score, no idea how that line didn't convert on that PP mid-2nd period

Great shift around 6:30 left in the 1st. Good job passing, attacking lanes, forechecking, and got into the slot for a grade-A chance that got deflected at the last second

There was a shift at the end of the 1st where Snively fed Danielson and he entered the zone, cut to the middle but played for a drop pass to Snively. Snively didn't read it and was 2 steps behind so the Admirals D swarmed that puck and went the other way. These are plays I've been talking about where mostly it's his LW that's just not thinking the game well enough and are a step or two behind the play. Danielson has done really well in transition but it's why I've been banging on the table for a smarter Mazur or Dries to play LW if Watson were to continue on the 1st line. They want Dries as #2C since Lombardi is still out, but Becher honestly has been playing quite nicely and another promotion would be awesome for him to #2C. I get it though, he just got bumped to #3C for his play last month so no need to rush the kid, he doesn't have his man strength yet


Cossa:
• I mean, what can you do when your team doesn't score goals?


Mazur:
• Had a good tail end of a PK shift. I think it's a waste not to play him with Danielson on the top line at this point


Wallinder:
• Back on PP1. I don't like it as he gets pressured by Milwaukee and he doesn't have good hands in tight space to make quick plays at the line. More accurately and in general, I would say his hands and feet and not coordinated well enough to make plays in tight space under duress. Buium is much much better at this. WW also defers to his partner a lot of games if he's under pressure rather than make a shifty play to open up space for himself

This is where I am lost on him. If he's not a shifty player like a Buium (despite only being 1 inch taller) that's fine, but WW seems to only thrive carrying the puck out of his zone, playing on the rush, and in open space (he's very confident in 3 on 3 OT). He's not a world beater defensively but it's his decision making and strength that leave me very concerned he has an NHL future at all

I don't mean to be fixatively critical, I just find him an intriguing yet polarizing prospect. We all want him to succeed so if he needs another year to show growth in his defensive play and add strength then that's okay too


Buium:
• I wish he was line 1 LD. He could do so well with Danielson. I get it though, no need to throw him too far ahead as he's having a great season as it is doing his thing

He is so damn nifty keeping the puck at the line. Made a sick spin move to chip the puck to himself to keep in. Can take an extra stride to create space for himself and has the hands and vision to make high-percentage plays from it

He showed excellent patience to feed Watson for a chance right in front and Murray absolutely stole that on a huge glove save


Tuomisto:
• Solid play. Except on the 1st goal him and Wallinder struggled to get a clean break out after defending almost the whole shift. Went back in the zone, they got caught chasing, and Admirals made them pay on Cossa's doorstep. He also had 7 shots tonight


Becher:
• Very good forechecking first shift, lots of zone time and good reads by him. Defensive puck support, breakouts all looking continually noticeable. His IQ and skill from junior are catching up the AHL pace and I'm happily pleased it's taken him 30 games. Hope it keeps up

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

At least they scored some goals tonight.

 

[Our Lady Peace]

I am furious with Danielson taking that stupid penalty before the faceoff of the 5 min major PP they were just given

 

[RED WINGS STOMP]

Griffs taking on water, another L tonight. Bad day for the org.