Detroit Red Wings: Summer Starts much too early in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids Griffins had two opportunities to put away the Chicago Wolves once at home and then again on the road, but they failed to do so.  The Detroit Red Wings affiliate can now join them on the links.

The Detroit Red Wings started their summer early, now the Grand Rapids Griffins for the second straight year will also begin their offseason workouts sooner than anticipated.  The Griffins had a couple of opportunities to beat out the Chicago Wolves during their first round best three out of five series but were unable to get the job done.

The Griffins won game three after the two teams split the first pair of games in Chicago putting Grand Rapids into the driver’s seat. Game three was merely insane; it was a blood bath that had one player stretchered off the ice.  The game concluded with 144 penalty minutes accumulated throughout the evening.

After the dust settled, the Griffins had to play game four without one of their top penalty killers Dominic Turgeon.  The Wolves were able to convert on the power-play twice while scoring three unanswered goals.  Grand Rapids went 0-3 on the power-play during game four.  They were able to get a third-period goal from Turner Elson to cut the lead to one, but the Wolves buried a pair of empty-net goals to send the series back to Chicago for a winner take all Sunday afternoon matchup.

Game five wouldn’t be the best effort from the Grand Rapids Griffins team who is full of potential future Detroit Red Wings.  The Chicago Wolves scored four unanswered goals, leaving Grand Rapids in their dust.  The Griffins were unable to catch up; it’s another season the team will start it’s offseason program much earlier than expected.

In an article published on Mlive.com written by Peter J Wallner, Ben Simon reflects on game five;

"“Are we disappointed? Yes,” said Griffins coach Ben Simon. “I think some guys, from Day 1 to the end of the year, absolutely improved and (it was a) good experience for them to play playoff hockey. I think there’s an empty feeling in that room. I think we had more tonight. Just wasn’t meant to be.”“They got a taste but you always want more,” Simon said of the young players. “The five games they got will obviously be beneficial for their long-term careers but it’s disappointing they didn’t get more. It’s a different dog, a different game so I just hope they take something away from it and grow from it.”"

The team ended the regular season with a nine-game losing streak as they fell down the ladder in the Central Divison. That forced a highly competitive third round type playoff matchup in the first.  Some people would say, well “you’ve gotta beat them some time so it might as well be early.”  That might be true, but it’s unfortunate for the young Detroit Red Wings prospects who are unable to enjoy a long playoff run.

NOTES: Detroit Red Wings top prospect Filip Zadina recorded three points throughout the entire series.  All his production came during game three.  He’s been a streaky scorer all season long; the Wolves were undoubtedly targeting him, hitting him every opportunity they had.

He played well, but he’s yet to be able to take over a game on a nightly basis at the AHL level.   Detroit Red Wings fans won’t like to hear this, but he might need to start next season again in Grand Rapids proving he can excel at that level before becoming a top-six forward in Detroit.  Matt Puempel and Turner Elson led the way statistically; both players recorded 4 points in the series.