Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins Discussion

[Voodoo Glow Skulls]

Knuble moving on

Anyone know what "New Adventures" he's after?

 

[SantosHalper]

Anyone know what "New Adventures" he's after?

Mike Knuble at eliteprospects.com
He's been coaching Fox Motors 15U & 16U teams as well, so maybe he goes there for a full time job. But new adventures sounds non-hockey related.

Video coach Eric Junge is the only coach who remains from the previous regime. GR gets a brand new coaching staff then, i would image that Matt Bollinger from Toledo follows Watson. Bollinger has worked in Toledo since 2014, first under Lalonde and then Watson.

Watson + Bollinger + 2 other assistant coaches + goalie coach + Junge.

 

[jaster]

Anyone know what "New Adventures" he's after?

I heard he's building a submersible.

 

[Henkka]

JEREMIE BIAKABUTUKA SIGNS ATO WITH GRIFFINS​

April 8, 2023
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed defenseman Jeremie Biakabutuka (bee-OCK-ah-buh-TOO-kuh) to an amateur tryout.

Biakabutuka joins the Griffins after posting a career-high 42 points (17-25—42) in 56 regular-season games with the Charlottetown Islanders in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). A year ago, the 21-year-old reached the QMJHL finals with Charlottetown and accumulated four assists in 15 playoff appearances.

The 6-foot-4 defenseman suited up for 266 contests in the QMJHL from 2018-23, totaling 40 goals, 78 assists and 199 penalty minutes. Biakabutuka, a Longueuil, Quebec native, was invited to the 2022 Detroit Red Wings training camp in Traverse City, Mich., skating in one NHL preseason game on Sept. 28, 2022 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

How was he on his 3 AHL games?

 

[lhsgolf19]

 

[Henkka]

Stephane Julien had quite interesting playing career at Europe.

Then, quite long coachin/management career at QMJHL Sherbrooke.

And finally had some success:

• 2019-2020
  • QMJHL Coach of the Year (Ron Lapointe Trophy)
• 2022-2023
  • Hlinka Gretzky Cup Gold Medal
  • QMJHL Coach of the Year (Ron Lapointe Trophy)
  • QMJHL General Manager of the Year (Maurice Filion Trophy)
  • U20 WJC Gold Medal

 

[NickH8]

Love it. Julien has had some success in Sherbrooke and its cool to see Lashoff behind the bench.

 

[Frk It]

What an endorsement for Lashoff to get hired directly as an AHL assistant coach.

 

[SoupNazi]

Great to see Lashoff get hired like that.

 

[SantosHalper]

The Hoff!!! Welcome back! Funny thing, i was killing time earlier today and i was trying to find connections what Watson has with different coaches. Andy Delmore popped up, he was a assistant coach in Toledo for 4 years under Watson and a former Griffin. And i thought maybe him, but no it was the Hoff, Mr. Griffin himself.

Julien is a great hire, 2 x coach of a year within 4 years! And a GM of the year, U20 gold and Hlinka cup gold. How in the hell we managed to get this guy as ASSISTANT coach?

 

[Kingpin794]

The Hoff!!! Welcome back! Funny thing, i was killing time earlier today and i was trying to find connections what Watson has with different coaches. Andy Delmore popped up, he was a assistant coach in Toledo for 4 years under Watson and a former Griffin. And i thought maybe him, but no it was the Hoff, Mr. Griffin himself.

Julien is a great hire, 2 x coach of a year within 4 years! And a GM of the year, U20 gold and Hlinka cup gold. How in the hell we managed to get this guy as ASSISTANT coach?

Lash get to learn from Julien which should be great for the beginning of his career behind the bench.

 

[GrGriffins]

Anyone know what "New Adventures" he's after?

I believe his oldest son will be a freshman at Norte Dame and he will be playing hockey there.

How was he on his 3 AHL games?

He did OK. Held his own. Will see what happens to some of these players if the Griffins decided to keep him or not.

 

[SantosHalper]

GR is shaping up nicely.

Lombardi - Kasper - Mazur
Söderblom - Czarnik - Luff
Hirose - L'Esperance - Hanas
Gettinger - Doucet - Shine
Spezia, Sawchuk

Wallinder - Rafferty
Johansson - Newpower
McIsaac - Tuomisto
Viro - Biakabutuka
Sebrango

Lyon
Cossa

 

[norrisnick]

GR is shaping up nicely.

Lombardi - Kasper - Mazur
Söderblom - Czarnik - Luff
Hirose - L'Esperance - Hanas
Spezia - Doucet - Shine
Sawchuk

Wallinder - Rafferty
Johansson - Newpower
McIsaac - Tuomisto
Viro - Biakabutuka
Sebrango

Lyon Reimer
Cossa

I gotchu

 

[SantosHalper]

I gotchu

You are going to get disappointed, tie still goes to the veteran. Reimer actually might be there

 

[norrisnick]

You are going to get disappointed, tie still goes to the veteran.

What veterans do we have that can even manage a tie?

 

[SantosHalper]

What veterans do we have that can even manage a tie?

Kubalik, Raymond, Ras, Perron, Berggren, Sprong, Kostin, Fabbri takes a spot from Mazur and Söderblom.

Yzerman acquires a center at some point of the night and 4th line minutes ain't meaningful enough for Kasper.

Injuries are only way for Kasper and Mazur to make it in the roster. Söderblom might make it but the big man has top-6 potential, imo top-6 role in GR is better than 12/13 F in Detroit. If Söderblom can't reach his ceiling, then we will see him in 12 F role for several years.

 

[RRhoads]

Kubalik, Raymond, Ras, Perron, Berggren, Sprong, Kostin, Fabbri takes a spot from Mazur and Söderblom.

Yzerman acquires a center at some point of the night and 4th line minutes ain't meaningful enough for Kasper.

Injuries are only way for Kasper and Mazur to make it in the roster. Söderblom might make it but the big man has top-6 potential, imo top-6 role in GR is better than 12/13 F in Detroit. If Söderblom can't reach his ceiling, then we will see him in 12 F role for several years.

I think Kasper can play up and down the line up with his style. I think he would be decent on the fourth line.

 

[SantosHalper]

I think Kasper can play up and down the line up with his style. I think he would be decent on the fourth line.

Yeah he could easily play in that role but we want him to be top-6 center. 1 year in GR as 1 line center, 1 PP unit center and 1st PK center would be better and it would prepare Kasper better for big role.

 

[norrisnick]

Yeah he could easily play in that role but we want him to be top-6 center. 1 year in GR as 1 line center, 1 PP unit center and 1st PK center would be better and it would prepare Kasper better for big role.

But that's not going to be his role so long as Larkin is around, unless he outplays Larkin. And if he has the juice to outplay Larkin, he's wasted in GR.

 

[SantosHalper]

But that's not going to be his role so long as Larkin is around, unless he outplays Larkin. And if he has the juice to outplay Larkin, he's wasted in GR.

That role in GR prepares Kasper to play behind Larkin better, than a 4th line center role without any special teams time. And injuries happen, someone has to be ready replace Larkin when he get's injured. 1 year in GR doesn't hurt Kasper at all.

 

[norrisnick]

That role in GR prepares Kasper to play behind Larkin better, than a 4th line center role without any special teams time. And injuries happen, someone has to be ready replace Larkin when he get's injured. 1 year in GR doesn't hurt Kasper at all.

It doesn't help him either. I really despise the AHL as a development league. Berggren got concussed on a cheapshot his first game down there last fall. Too many talentless hacks trying to make a name for themselves.

 

[SantosHalper]

It doesn't help him either. I really despise the AHL as a development league.

It does help him, otherwise there is no point to have such system. There is borderline Pejorative Slurs in NHL too, looking to hurt people.

 

[SantosHalper]

GR is shaping up nicely.

Lombardi - Kasper - Mazur
Söderblom - Czarnik - Luff
Hirose - L'Esperance - Hanas
Gettinger - Doucet - Shine
Spezia, Sawchuk

Wallinder - Rafferty
Johansson - Newpower
McIsaac - Didier
Viro - Tuomisto
Sebrango - Biakabutuka

Lyon
Cossa

GR signed defenseman Josiah Didier, looks like Lashoff's replacement.
Josiah Didier at eliteprospects.com

Deep roster for Watson, i would believe that GR signs couple NCAA kids as depth.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

It does help him, otherwise there is no point to have such system. There is borderline Pejorative Slurs in NHL too, looking to hurt people.

Not nearly as many. ECHL and AHL are the only true pro leagues left that have a lot of goons left.

I’ll give GR a chance this year because of the new coaching staff but I hope that team picks up some enforcers. I don’t want to read about any ‘undisclosed injuries’ to our prospects from dirty plays this season.