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Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins Discussion

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Pretty damn good effort for a 3-2 SO win!

Lines:

Snively - Danielson - Watson
Doucet - Dries - Lombardi
Gettinger - Becher - Hanas
Bantle - Seger - Johannes

Wallinder - Tuomisto
Knyzhov - Rafferty
Buium - Didier

Cossa


Danielson: A
• Nice shot for the shootout winner! Repeat of his shootout goal last week

Assist - faceoff win bounces off the ref's skate right to Watson who lasers it top right corner

Getting in on the forecheck and throwing the body and forcing defensemen into pressure, gaining possession himself at times

Late 1st period his back check prevented a scoring chance from the slot on Cossa. Got his stick on the Admiral's stick without taking a penalty. Later that shift GR was changing and he fumbled the puck inside the blueline so Milwaukee went in and Cossa had to make a save and cover it up

Offensive zone entries he's dropping the puck off to a trailing winger and then disrupts the defender's stick in front of him

Failed clear resulted in some zone pressure against but nothing major as they went the other way and had some zone time themselves, couple chances

Spinning chance in front in OT stopped


Cossa: B+
• 16 saves on 18 shots not indicative of his play being poor or anything. Did his job and played well enough

1st goal it was a great shot by De Leo. Watson didn't clear the zone and De Leo got to walk right in with Snively behind him but with a lackluster backcheck

2nd goal was a double screened point shot on the PP. I don't think he saw it judging by his late glove reaction

Nice stretched out toe save to wait out and stop the Admiral player cutting across the goal trying to go top shelf

Really active in playing the puck today lmao he must've been bored


Lombardi: A
• Assist - picked up the puck of Doucet's awesome forecheck deep in the corner and then made a slick pass to Dries in the slot and he goes bar down!

Doucet (playing great lately) entered the zone, dropped to Lombardi who had a head of steam, strong on his edges beats the D and cut across the crease for a neat backhand attempt

Hanas had a great chance as Lombardi protected the puck flat footed and fed him in the high slot

Finally! Initially Lombardi was listed as LW but he played RW during the 1st period and then switched to LW the rest of the game. I like this development a lot and hope he stays on one of the wings, preferably the LW. Playing wing maximizes his strengths - speed in transition and opportunistic offensive plays that result from his quickness and puck hounding


Wallinder: A-
• Engaged body and stick on the PK quite well and neutralizing plays as a result. Reading the zone entry well and cutting off the puck carrier

Stepped into a huge slap shot from the top of the left circle and it looked like Murray got a piece of it somehow

Puck control and puck movement behind his net was pretty good. He at one point took the puck on his own and carried all the way into a controlled OZ entry after shifting between two Admirals in the NZ then distributed right on Bantle's tape for what was a low danger shot

Displayed quick heads up counter-transition pass back into the zone as GR applies more pressure

Chasing play behind his net juuuuust a bit but he's aggressive with the body and his stick. Competing well in that regard and I'm pleased to see

Inconsistent breakout passes missing the tape. Also inconsistent at handling passes inside the offensive blueline and fumbles the puck. Needs to keep working on that because he's lost the zone more than a handful of times not under duress that I can remember


Buium: A-
• Displaying his well rounded puck moving capabilities

Getting off some point shots on goal on the PP with traffic in front


Tuomisto: B+
• Inconsistent decision making and accuracy on breakout passes. Sometimes looks good for both, sometimes only one

Defensive gaps against the rush were good


Becher: A-
• Finding soft spots around the offensive zone where his teammate finds him and he's get a crack on goal multiple times this game

Defensive play once again great due to anticipation and decision making with the puck if he gains possession

Really utilizing that hidden speed today again
 
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KEVIN ALLEN WITH SOME GRIFF NOTES
detroithockeynow.com

Different Griffins Prospects Emerging for Red Wings

Among Grand Rapids Griffins coach Dan Watson’s many skills is knowing how to reboot his system. That’s an essential talent for an American Hockey League coach whose roster regularly moves through a revolving door because of NHL team call-ups. “Ultimately, it’s important to have a good farm...
detroithockeynow.com detroithockeynow.com
 
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Griffins @ Ice Hogs, 3/15

Rockford was brutally undisciplined tonight, Griffins had Three separate 5 on 3 PPs and they really cranked the Hogs all night. Great game

Drink every time Bob Kaser calls the wrong player's name. Now you've blacked out and the 2nd intermission hasn't even happened yet. Called the Rockford goalie "Kevin Weekes" a few times. He eventually figured out it's Mitchell Weeks

Lines:

Snively - Danielson - Watson
Doucet - Dries - Lombardi
Gettinger - Becher - Hanas
Bantle - Seger - Johannes

Wallinder - Tuomisto
Buium - Rafferty
Viro - Knyzhov

Bednar


Danielson: A+
• PERFECT snipe top corner on the PP wheeling down from the top left circle. Love his shot choice there, as I thought he was gonna try to find a pass option. I tell you, he learns fast and the shooting/scoring has been prominent lately

On the PK he picked up a pass going right to a Hog in the slot and cleared it out

Came off the bench and fired a one timed shot in the right slot and Weeks made a nice pad save

He had another identical chance a bit later during a 4 on 4 and labeled one low short-side but Weeks gloves it

Orchestrated a near-flawless breakout sequence by catching a difficult pass up the right boards in the NZ and chips past a pressuring D, and then lays a perfect saucer pass to Johannes who just taps it off the post


Lombardi: A+
• PP assist - great Griffins puck movement and he executed a cross ice pass to Watson during a 5 on 3, made no mistake

Took a play off the boards cutting into the middle and dishes to Doucet who shot it off the post

The Hogs lost him on the far post as Doucet's rebound went right to Lombardi wide open net and he missed, didn't quite get all of it

Early 2nd his line had sustained zone time, and a few chances created off some crafty desperation passes he made

Nice give and go play with Doucet who sauced it right in front to him streaking in and just goes over his stick

Keep him on LW, it's where he belongs and is showing the most legit potential from


Wallinder: B+
• Again showing some slight inconsistency, but the good notably outweighed the bad

Quick and physical when battling along the boards. Using his size well over the past while

Good keeps inside the offensive blueline and trying to make effective plays from theml

Knocked a dump in out of mid air and then started transition from it. Thought that was pretty sick

Had all day to clear the puck off a PK faceoff win and made a weak attempt that the Hogs player picked off inside the line and they almost scored immediately after. Later that shift he had the puck on the boards in his zone where it still looked like he was mentally lapsing and barely flubbed it to Rafferty who eventually clears the zone


Buium: A
• Goal! Cleans up the rebound at the end of the 5 on 3

Swift breakout passing

Cutting plays off at his blueline


Tuomisto: B-
• He tends to occasionally get lazy and not move his feet battling along the boards and takes penalties as a result. Needs to continue competing and moving his feet there

Mid-3rd GR was in the OZ and with a delayed penalty on Rockford he tried to walk the line with obvious pressure in front of him and it got handily picked off. Had it not been delayed, Savoie was off to the races... But then he goes on this fake breakaway anyway and shoots the puck into the empty net, thus getting called for unsportsmanlike. Tries to argue it lmao it turned into a 5 on 3 just like that. Griffins score 24 seconds into said PP


Becher: B+
• Assist on the Danielson PP goal, nice saucer pass on his tape

Quiet game for him, not super noticeable but still played solid and did his job defensively
 
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Our Lady Peace said:
Griffins @ Ice Hogs, 3/15

Rockford was brutally undisciplined tonight, Griffins had Three separate 5 on 3 PPs and they really cranked the Hogs all night. Great game

Drink every time Bob Kaser calls the wrong player's name. Now you've blacked out and the 2nd intermission hasn't even happened yet. Called the Rockford goalie "Kevin Weekes" a few times. He eventually figured out it's Mitchell Weeks

Lines:

Snively - Danielson - Watson
Doucet - Dries - Lombardi
Gettinger - Becher - Hanas
Bantle - Seger - Johannes

Wallinder - Tuomisto
Buium - Rafferty
Viro - Knyzhov

Bednar


Danielson: A+
• PERFECT snipe top corner on the PP wheeling down from the top left circle. Love his shot choice there, as I thought he was gonna try to find a pass option. I tell you, he learns fast and the shooting/scoring has been prominent lately

On the PK he picked up a pass going right to a Hog in the slot and cleared it out

Came off the bench and fired a one timed shot in the right slot and Weeks made a nice pad save

He had another identical chance a bit later during a 4 on 4 and labeled one low short-side but Weeks gloves it

Orchestrated a near-flawless breakout sequence by catching a difficult pass up the right boards in the NZ and chips past a pressuring D, and then lays a perfect saucer pass to Johannes who just taps it off the post


Lombardi: A+
• PP assist - great Griffins puck movement and he executed a cross ice pass to Watson during a 5 on 3, made no mistake

Took a play off the boards cutting into the middle and dishes to Doucet who shot it off the post

The Hogs lost him on the far post as Doucet's rebound went right to Lombardi wide open net and he missed, didn't quite get all of it

Early 2nd his line had sustained zone time, and a few chances created off some crafty desperation passes he made

Nice give and go play with Doucet who sauced it right in front to him streaking in and just goes over his stick

Keep him on LW, it's where he belongs and is showing the most legit potential from


Wallinder: B+
• Again showing some slight inconsistency, but the good notably outweighed the bad

Quick and physical when battling along the boards. Using his size well over the past while

Good keeps inside the offensive blueline and trying to make effective plays from theml

Knocked a dump in out of mid air and then started transition from it. Thought that was pretty sick

Had all day to clear the puck off a PK faceoff win and made a weak attempt that the Hogs player picked off inside the line and they almost scored immediately after. Later that shift he had the puck on the boards in his zone where it still looked like he was mentally lapsing and barely flubbed it to Rafferty who eventually clears the zone


Buium: A
• Goal! Cleans up the rebound at the end of the 5 on 3

Swift breakout passing

Cutting plays off at his blueline


Tuomisto: B-
• He tends to occasionally get lazy and not move his feet battling along the boards and takes penalties as a result. Needs to continue competing and moving his feet there

Mid-3rd GR was in the OZ and with a delayed penalty on Rockford he tried to walk the line with obvious pressure in front of him and it got handily picked off. Had it not been delayed, Savoie was off to the races... But then he goes on this fake breakaway anyway and shoots the puck into the empty net, thus getting called for unsportsmanlike. Tries to argue it lmao it turned into a 5 on 3 just like that. Griffins score 24 seconds into said PP


Becher: B+
• Assist on the Danielson PP goal, nice saucer pass on his tape

Quiet game for him, not super noticeable but still played solid and did his job defensively
Click to expand...
Thx for all the great intel as always!

Which one of Buium, Tuomisto, Wallinder is the closest to pro ready in your mind?
 
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Winged Wheel Willy said:
Thx for all the great intel as always!

Which one of Buium, Tuomisto, Wallinder is the closest to pro ready in your mind?
Click to expand...
Ahh honestly it's tough because I'm probably quite strict about their flaws and they all have parts of them that would get exposed if they made the jump today, but Tuomisto probably closest I suppose

Mental lapses and consistency play a big factor and Tuomisto/Wallinder have trouble semi-regularly. Buium is closing in fast. He just needs to continue engaging physically and getting faster
 
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Our Lady Peace said:
Ahh honestly it's tough because I'm probably quite strict about their flaws and they all have parts of them that would get exposed if they made the jump today, but Tuomisto probably closest I suppose

Mental lapses and consistency play a big factor and Tuomisto/Wallinder have trouble semi-regularly. Buium is closing in fast. He just needs to continue engaging physically and getting faster
Click to expand...
In your eyes much improvement has Buium made throughout the year? I have a FloSports subscription but only catch the occasional Griffins game, I have my own opinions on the guys but your opinions are probably much more accurate. Being the youngest of the 3 and a 1st year pro while the other two are 4th year pros it would be logical to expect Buium to have the most room to grow. I see a solid young player with a decent set of tools and a toolbox to put them in, he just needs a little time. As the self appointed president of the Buium fan club, I fully expect him to become the Griffins bona fide #1 at some point next season.
 
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cjm502 said:
In your eyes much improvement has Buium made throughout the year? I have a FloSports subscription but only catch the occasional Griffins game, I have my own opinions on the guys but your opinions are probably much more accurate. Being the youngest of the 3 and a 1st year pro while the other two are 4th year pros it would be logical to expect Buium to have the most room to grow. I see a solid young player with a decent set of tools and a toolbox to put them in, he just needs a little time. As the self appointed president of the Buium fan club, I fully expect him to become the Griffins bona fide #1 at some point next season.
Click to expand...
He's made steady improvements all year and as mid-January came around he kicked it up a notch. While I think his game stood out more during a January/February stretch than it does now, he has maintained a very solid level of play and has picked up his first two pro goals recently

He's now tied Tuomisto in goals and has two less assists for a total of 22 points. Buium has been more of a shooting threat recently too, especially on the PP where got his first. Tuomisto has a booming shot but isn't really a shooting threat and not used as such

Buium will get PK time next season too so we'll see how he takes on added responsibility for a full season there. If Tuomisto and Wallinder don't clean up their errors, and I know Detroit's management is very aware of those things at this stage of development, Buium may surpass them and be on the call up list sooner rather than later. Also looking forward to how Anton Johansson comes in and looks compared to the rest of the three
 
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Our Lady Peace said:
He's made steady improvements all year and as mid-January came around he kicked it up a notch. While I think his game stood out more during a January/February stretch than it does now, he has maintained a very solid level of play and has picked up his first two pro goals recently

He's now tied Tuomisto in goals and has two less assists for a total of 22 points. Buium has been more of a shooting threat recently too, especially on the PP where got his first. Tuomisto has a booming shot but isn't really a shooting threat and not used as such

Buium will get PK time next season too so we'll see how he takes on added responsibility for a full season there. If Tuomisto and Wallinder don't clean up their errors, and I know Detroit's management is very aware of those things at this stage of development, Buium may surpass them and be on the call up list sooner rather than later. Also looking forward to how Anton Johansson comes in and looks compared to the rest of the three
Click to expand...

Our Lady Peace thank you for all you do with these game by game reviews it is much appreciated.
I know it is a decent amount of work but can you give us a season prospect review once GR is done.
I would love to hear it and I am sure a lot of other people would as well. I'm thinking like an overall ranking, what they need to improve, how close they are to the NHL etc. Since you watch every GR game pretty much no one is more qualified to do this.
 
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Go Wings said:
Our Lady Peace thank you for all you do with these game by game reviews it is much appreciated.
I know it is a decent amount of work but can you give us a season prospect review once GR is done.
I would love to hear it and I am sure a lot of other people would as well. I'm thinking like an overall ranking, what they need to improve, how close they are to the NHL etc. Since you watch every GR game pretty much no one is more qualified to do this.
Click to expand...
You're very welcome! Thank for you the high praise too. It's fun being involved on this board rather than the main boards so why not contribute something useful to all you folks here!

I've never committed to watching AHL hockey but the Griffins broadcasts are actually fun. I'd love to experience the vibes at Van Andel Arena if I ever go there. Too bad all our best young players will be in Detroit by then lol

And you can bet on a season-end review! Been definitely planning this and I'll try to get creative and very detailed with it as well :thumbu:
 
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Griffins vs Ice Hogs, 3/21

Well a young defense that's still in the developing stages shows it's warts unfortunately. Griffins had the game controlled in the 1st but the 2nd period is where momentum shifted. They still had lots of good chances but the lapses are costly

They had an entire forward lineup of left handed shooters aside from Danielson lol. Tbh when they run 11 forwards, I like 3 centers rather than 3 wingers on one side

Lines:

Snively - Danielson - Hanas
Lombardi - Dries - Doucet
Gettinger - Becher - Seger
Bantle ---------------- Johannes

Wallinder - Tuomisto
Knyzhov - Johansson
Buium - Didier
Viro

Cossa


Danielson: A
• No A+ only because he didn't end up on the scoresheet. What a game, looking primed to come up big in the playoffs for this team

Catching difficult passes in stride through the NZ and using soft hands with quick, coordinated edgework he evades the defender and then makes the play

Under pressure in the OZ with little room to make a play, he cut back off the boards, quickly pre-scans and backhands a pass to Johannes in the high slot who gets off a good shot going wide

Mid-3rd shift he was all over the OZ with the puck, flying around and also in support of the puck creating more offense where he fired a long cross-ice pass to Hanas in front but he decided to pass and not shoot. Awesome vision and playmaking by Danielson

Defensive puck support top notch as per usual. Gains possession from this like taking candy from a baby. This kid gets the puck on his stick a lot, every game... and I mean that. He's getting more dangerous with making something happen with it. Some time at NHL speed and situated with top 6 wingers will bring out something Kasper-esque in this guy sooner rather than later


Cossa: B
• 4 goals is 4 goals, but he didn't really get much help. He made quite a few important saves and didn't look bad by any means

1st goal Hog split the D and then dangled Cossa pretty good

2nd goal AnJo overcommitted and Doucet was beat so Hayes walks in alone and beats Cossa

3rd goal one-timer on the PP from AA. It was a bad change by GR where Rockford had a 4 on 2 there

4th goal as Kaser said, looked like an innocent play but Sanford went upstairs short side. Great shot, but Cossa probably should have had that. Seems he wasn't expecting it


Lombardi: A
• Just like Danielson, A grade only because he didn't end up on the scoresheet. Can't say he couldn't have had a couple points tonight... Unlucky teammates hitting posts and crossbars. Excellent steal near the boards and feeds Doucet who once again fires it off the post. Again in period 2, senses Doucet's half-wall pressure and jumps on the loose puck to feed Dries who rings it off the bar, hits a Hog D, then rolls through the crease past the OTHER post. Jesus lol

Dude has been let loose as a winger in regards to hounding around loose pucks or intelligently intercepting them. He had a chance mid-2nd, spins around inside the blueline keeping control of the puck and then fires a toe drag shot just wide

He was holding onto the puck, weaving around, and then fires a hard pass to the net through traffic that Snively tipped onto Commesso and I'm not sure he even saw it

After taking a breakout chip pass from Danielson, Ammo was 1 on 1 and displayed sick hands and deceptive edges to go through the Hogs D and then took a spinning shot that just missed the net

Good puck support to his D and creating NZ transition from it. Hustling back and getting the puck away from danger


Wallinder: B+
• Competing hard for pucks on the boards

Displaying heads up moves when holding the puck and evading a forechecker. Making a play, or holding it safe and letting his mates get reset

Rush defense on display again

Something I haven't mentioned about him is his ability to block shots on the PK. Pretty good there

Yikes, late 3rd he went for a risky rush with a rolling puck, lost it in the NZ and Rockford goes in for a 2 on 1 where Cossa comes up with a big glove save. Bumped him down from A- to B+ for that


Buium: B-
• Giveaway off a errant short distance NZ pass where he had time and space

First goal his foot speed was clearly not quick enough and the Hogs player blew between him and Didier to dangle out Cossa and open the scoring

Needs to get quicker feet. He's getting burned by fast players to pucks and some will out battle him despite his 6'3 210lb size advantage on most players. Tries to use his hands to get around and it's working less consistently than he seems to think. Works enough at this level, not at the NHL level

There were solids parts of this game in terms of escapability from pressure and out-battling player using body position. Won't take that away from him. Just needs to regain consistency


Tuomisto: A
• One of his better games than he's had of late. They're gonna need him and his "veteran" presence in relation to the now very young blueline

Good pressure in the NZ to eliminate plays before more Hogs can gather up ice in support

Was getting the puck deep, and getting on net when he had the chances to

Was quick, decisive, and accurate making plays with the puck getting it up ice


Becher: B+
• Puck battle inside his blueline on the boards, and sees he can't really gain possession so he just chips it out and Rockford has to re-gather themselves

Creating space for himself and making plays

Really appreciate his ability to get dirty along the boards now too. He does not shy away and is sneaky getting the puck sometimes there

Idk if I've said this before but he kinds reminds me of (obviously) a very, very poor man's Datsyuk... His posture, the way he picks pucks off players, his hands/feet when he stick handles, the way he makes little skill plays all around the ice. It's funny. If he has a fraction of that potential we'd be laughing all the way to the bank


Johansson: C+
• C+ grade because of the goal against and a couple other aggressiveness errors. Honestly, pretty impressive first AHL game watching his poise, skating, and passing capabilities. Despite the bad parts, which I'll start with below, he looks like a potential bottom-half NHL defenseman for sure

2nd Hogs goal he overcommitted against the attacking Hogs forward and got beat inside where only Doucet who was back defending. So the Hog fed to his teammate Cates already beating Doucet and then all alone he goes backhand past Cossa's glove

Late 3rd he tried to send a long pass up the middle but it got picked off inside his zone and thankfully GR neutralized that play and Cossa stopped it

The good? Lots to like about him for sure

He started the Griffins only goal by stepping into the puck in the NZ turning play back into the OZ and ends with with the 3rd assist on the Johannes redirect goal in front

I like the routes he takes, and he has his head up lots

Good reads on not overcommitting in the OZ

Hard, crisp passes up ice on the tape for the most part, couple were just a slight pinch off the mark. Love the ideas though and he will start to see the small ice more as he plays down the stretch

Sensing pressure ahead of time in high danger areas and closing in to stop any materialization of danger. In front of his net he's tying up his man and getting to that puck first. He's also getting his stick on the ice and tapping a loose puck to a teammate and then turning himself into a support option for breakout

Skates hard to keep a difficult puck in the OZ along the boards, then gets it deep

To the point above, he sees a Hog is about to get loose with a bouncing puck and the beats them to the puck and pokes it into the corner, keeps his eye on it while battling a Hog and pokes it loose to Knyzhov he came in support and the Griffins exit zone

Displaying physical play and taking body position on the boards

Big one-timer shot from the point and Commesso had to fight it off and cover it up. Right off the next faceoff fires another big shot that Commesso gets a blocker on and the period ends

Heads up play by noticing the Hogs getting a line change in from a DZ faceoff win and AnJo gathers the puck near Cossa, turns and fires a hard, accurate pass to Snively all the way up ice at the offensive blueline. He kinda fumbled it though so Rockford tries to go back the other way and looking like an AHL veteran, he reads the loose pass cuts past three Hogs players and chips into the OZ where Snively then forechecks and the Griffins had brief zone time. Puck got back to AnJo but the camera angle made it hard to see if he fumbled shooting or it jumped over his stick
 
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Our Lady Peace said:
Griffins vs Ice Hogs, 3/21

Well a young defense that's still in the developing stages shows it's warts unfortunately. Griffins had the game controlled in the 1st but the 2nd period is where momentum shifted. They still had lots of good chances but the lapses are costly

They had an entire forward lineup of left handed shooters aside from Danielson lol. Tbh when they run 11 forwards, I like 3 centers rather than 3 wingers on one side

Lines:

Snively - Danielson - Hanas
Lombardi - Dries - Doucet
Gettinger - Becher - Seger
Bantle ---------------- Johannes

Wallinder - Tuomisto
Knyzhov - Johansson
Buium - Didier
Viro

Cossa


Danielson: A
• No A+ only because he didn't end up on the scoresheet. What a game, looking primed to come up big in the playoffs for this team

Catching difficult passes in stride through the NZ and using soft hands with quick, coordinated edgework he evades the defender and then makes the play

Under pressure in the OZ with little room to make a play, he cut back off the boards, quickly pre-scans and backhands a pass to Johannes in the high slot who gets off a good shot going wide

Mid-3rd shift he was all over the OZ with the puck, flying around and also in support of the puck creating more offense where he fired a long cross-ice pass to Hanas in front but he decided to pass and not shoot. Awesome vision and playmaking by Danielson

Defensive puck support top notch as per usual. Gains possession from this like taking candy from a baby. This kid gets the puck on his stick a lot, every game... and I mean that. He's getting more dangerous with making something happen with it. Some time at NHL speed and situated with top 6 wingers will bring out something Kasper-esque in this guy sooner rather than later


Cossa: B
• 4 goals is 4 goals, but he didn't really get much help. He made quite a few important saves and didn't look bad by any means

1st goal Hog split the D and then dangled Cossa pretty good

2nd goal AnJo overcommitted and Doucet was beat so Hayes walks in alone and beats Cossa

3rd goal one-timer on the PP from AA. It was a bad change by GR where Rockford had a 4 on 2 there

4th goal as Kaser said, looked like an innocent play but Sanford went upstairs short side. Great shot, but Cossa probably should have had that. Seems he wasn't expecting it


Lombardi: A
• Just like Danielson, A grade only because he didn't end up on the scoresheet. Can't say he couldn't have had a couple points tonight... Unlucky teammates hitting posts and crossbars. Excellent steal near the boards and feeds Doucet who once again fires it off the post. Again in period 2, senses Doucet's half-wall pressure and jumps on the loose puck to feed Dries who rings it off the bar, hits a Hog D, then rolls through the crease past the OTHER post. Jesus lol

Dude has been let loose as a winger in regards to hounding around loose pucks or intelligently intercepting them. He had a chance mid-2nd, spins around inside the blueline keeping control of the puck and then fires a toe drag shot just wide

He was holding onto the puck, weaving around, and then fires a hard pass to the net through traffic that Snively tipped onto Commesso and I'm not sure he even saw it

After taking a breakout chip pass from Danielson, Ammo was 1 on 1 and displayed sick hands and deceptive edges to go through the Hogs D and then took a spinning shot that just missed the net

Good puck support to his D and creating NZ transition from it. Hustling back and getting the puck away from danger


Wallinder: B+
• Competing hard for pucks on the boards

Displaying heads up moves when holding the puck and evading a forechecker. Making a play, or holding it safe and letting his mates get reset

Rush defense on display again

Something I haven't mentioned about him is his ability to block shots on the PK. Pretty good there

Yikes, late 3rd he went for a risky rush with a rolling puck, lost it in the NZ and Rockford goes in for a 2 on 1 where Cossa comes up with a big glove save. Bumped him down from A- to B+ for that


Buium: B-
• Giveaway off a errant short distance NZ pass where he had time and space

First goal his foot speed was clearly not quick enough and the Hogs player blew between him and Didier to dangle out Cossa and open the scoring

Needs to get quicker feet. He's getting burned by fast players to pucks and some will out battle him despite his 6'3 210lb size advantage on most players. Tries to use his hands to get around and it's working less consistently than he seems to think. Works enough at this level, not at the NHL level

There were solids parts of this game in terms of escapability from pressure and out-battling player using body position. Won't take that away from him. Just needs to regain consistency


Tuomisto: A
• One of his better games than he's had of late. They're gonna need him and his "veteran" presence in relation to the now very young blueline

Good pressure in the NZ to eliminate plays before more Hogs can gather up ice in support

Was getting the puck deep, and getting on net when he had the chances to

Was quick, decisive, and accurate making plays with the puck getting it up ice


Becher: B+
• Puck battle inside his blueline on the boards, and sees he can't really gain possession so he just chips it out and Rockford has to re-gather themselves

Creating space for himself and making plays

Really appreciate his ability to get dirty along the boards now too. He does not shy away and is sneaky getting the puck sometimes there

Idk if I've said this before but he kinds reminds me of (obviously) a very, very poor man's Datsyuk... His posture, the way he picks pucks off players, his hands/feet when he stick handles, the way he makes little skill plays all around the ice. It's funny. If he has a fraction of that potential we'd be laughing all the way to the bank


Johansson: C+
• C+ grade because of the goal against and a couple other aggressiveness errors. Honestly, pretty impressive first AHL game watching his poise, skating, and passing capabilities. Despite the bad parts, which I'll start with below, he looks like a potential bottom-half NHL defenseman for sure

2nd Hogs goal he overcommitted against the attacking Hogs forward and got beat inside where only Doucet who was back defending. So the Hog fed to his teammate Cates already beating Doucet and then all alone he goes backhand past Cossa's glove

Late 3rd he tried to send a long pass up the middle but it got picked off inside his zone and thankfully GR neutralized that play and Cossa stopped it

The good? Lots to like about him for sure

He started the Griffins only goal by stepping into the puck in the NZ turning play back into the OZ and ends with with the 3rd assist on the Johannes redirect goal in front

I like the routes he takes, and he has his head up lots

Good reads on not overcommitting in the OZ

Hard, crisp passes up ice on the tape for the most part, couple were just a slight pinch off the mark. Love the ideas though and he will start to see the small ice more as he plays down the stretch

Sensing pressure ahead of time in high danger areas and closing in to stop any materialization of danger. In front of his net he's tying up his man and getting to that puck first. He's also getting his stick on the ice and tapping a loose puck to a teammate and then turning himself into a support option for breakout

Skates hard to keep a difficult puck in the OZ along the boards, then gets it deep

To the point above, he sees a Hog is about to get loose with a bouncing puck and the beats them to the puck and pokes it into the corner, keeps his eye on it while battling a Hog and pokes it loose to Knyzhov he came in support and the Griffins exit zone

Displaying physical play and taking body position on the boards

Big one-timer shot from the point and Commesso had to fight it off and cover it up. Right off the next faceoff fires another big shot that Commesso gets a blocker on and the period ends

Heads up play by noticing the Hogs getting a line change in from a DZ faceoff win and AnJo gathers the puck near Cossa, turns and fires a hard, accurate pass to Snively all the way up ice at the offensive blueline. He kinda fumbled it though so Rockford tries to go back the other way and looking like an AHL veteran, he reads the loose pass cuts past three Hogs players and chips into the OZ where Snively then forechecks and the Griffins had brief zone time. Puck got back to AnJo but the camera angle made it hard to see if he fumbled shooting or it jumped over his stick
Click to expand...
C+ but you’re glowing about Anjo. Is it cause he’s a shiny new toy? I’m messing with you but the way you wrote about him makes it seem not C+ worthy lol. Great write up as always.
 
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