Mid-Season Grades for Red Wings Prospects in the AHL
The AHL mid-season is upon us with All-Star Weekend cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, 15 former Griffins currently playing in the Winter Olympics in China, and the NHL trade deadline just around the corner. It’s also a chance for me to take look at all of the Red Wings prospects currently playing for Grand Rapids (AHL).
In order to be considered a Red Wings prospect, the player must currently be playing with the Grand Rapids Griffins and have a two-way contract to play in the NHL with Detroit.
Goaltenders
Calvin Pickard
Contract Status: UFA after 2021-2022, NHL $800,000/AHL $250,000
Grade: B+
Calvin Pickard is currently playing in his 3rd season in Grand Rapids. At 29, Pickard is not really considered a prospect as much as he is the 3rd string goalie in Detroit, and recalled when Detroit is in need of a backup goaltender. In 29 games, Pickard has a record of 13-10-6, with a 2.55 GAA, and a .922 SV%. Pickard will be an UFA at the end of the season.
Victor Brattstrom
Contract Status: RFA after 2021-2022, NHL $817,500/AHL $70,000
Grade: D+
Victor Brattstrom is currently playing his first season in North America. Brattstrom is currently the backup goaltender for the Griffins. In 11 games, Brattstrom has a record of 3-6-3, with a 3.66 GAA, and an .884 SV%. Brattstrom will be a RFA at the end of the season.
Jared McIsaac (LD)
Contract Status: RFA after 2022-2023, NHL $764,167/AHL $70,000
Grade: B+
Jared McIsaac is currently in his 2nd partial season in Grand Rapids. McIsaac has continued to improve as the season has progressed. He is currently one of the top defense prospects in the Detroit system. In 39 games, McIsaac has scored four goals, 10 assists, 14 points, and a -5 rating. McIsaac has one year left on his entry-level contract with Detroit and can be a RFA at the end of next season.
Ryan Murphy (RD)
Contract Status: UFA after 2021-2022, NHL $800,000/AHL $300,000
Grade: B+
Ryan Murphy is currently playing in his 1st season in Grand Rapids. Last year’s winner of the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s top defenseman, continues to lead the Griffins defense in scoring. In 36 games, Murphy has scored seven goals, 11 assists, 18 points, and a -6 rating. Murphy will be an UFA at the end of the season.
Wyatt Newpower (RD)
Contract Status: RFA after 2022-2023, NHL $800,000/AHL $70,000
Grade: C+
Wyatt Newpower is currently in his 1st season in Grand Rapids. At 24, Newpower is a very good defensive prospect for the Red Wings. In 34 games, Newpower has scored three goals, five assists, eight points, and an even +/- rating. Newpower has one year left on his entry-level contract with Detroit and can be a RFA at the end of next season.
Dan Renouf (LD)
Contract Status: UFA after 2021-2022, NHL $850,000/AHL $325,000
Grade: C+
Dan Renouf is currently in his 1st season back with the Griffins after starting his professional career with Grand Rapids in 2016. In 28 games, Renouf has scored one goal, seven assists, eight points, and currently leads the Griffins with a +11 rating. Renouf will be an UFA at the end of the season.
Donovan Sebrango (LD)
Contract Status: RFA after 2023-2024, NHL $850,833/AHL $72,500
Grade: C+
Donovan Sebrango is currently in his 2nd season with the Griffins. Sebrango remains one of Detroit’s top defense prospects. In 34 games, Sebrango has scored one goal, five assists, six points, and a +5 rating. Sebrango has two years left on his entry-level contract with Detroit and can be a RFA at the end of his contract in 2024.
Brian Lashoff (LD)
Contract Status: UFA after 2021-2022, NHL $750,000/AHL $325,000
Grade: C
Brian Lashoff is currently in his 11th season in Grand Rapids and is currently the captain of the team. At 31, Lashoff is viewed as a mentor for the younger defense prospects on the Griffins. In 32 games, Lashoff has scored two goals, four assists, six points, and a +8 rating. Lashoff will be an UFA at the end of the season.
Luke Witkowski (D/RW)
Contract Status: UFA after 2022-2023, NHL $750,000/AHL $250,000
Grade: D+
Luke Witkowski is currently in his 1st season after his return to Grand Rapids. At 31, Witkowski is also viewed as a leader for the Griffins after he spent the previous two seasons as captain for Tampa Bay’s affiliate in Syracuse. In 30 games, Witkowski has scored one goal, three assists, four points, and a +4 rating. Witkowski has one year remaining on his current contract before he can become an UFA in 2023.
Seth Barton (RD)
Contract Status: RFA after 2022-2023, NHL $832,500/AHL $65,000 (2021-22), $70,000 (2022-23)
Grade: N/A
Seth Barton is currently playing in his 2nd partial season with Grand Rapids. Barton started the season on the injured list. He then played two games for Toledo in the ECHL before being promoted to Grand Rapids. In five games, Barton has one assist and a +1 rating. Barton has one season remaining on his entry-level contract and will be a RFA after next season.
Taro Hirose (LW)
Contract Status: RFA after 2021-2022, NHL $850,000/AHL $190,000
Grade: B+
Taro Hirose is currently in his 3rd season in Grand Rapids. He is also currently the top scorer for the Griffins. In 39 games, Hirose has scored nine goals, 23 assists, 32 points, and a -11 rating. Hirose will be a RFA at the end of the season.
Jonatan Berggren (W/C)
Contract Status: RFA after 2023-2024, NHL $925,000, AHL $70,000
Grade: B+
Jonatan Berggren is currently in the first year of his entry-level contract with Detroit. Berggren is currently 2nd in scoring with the Griffins and remains one of Detroit’s top forward prospects. In 37 games, Berggren has scored nine goals, 20 assists, 29 points, and a -9 rating. Berggren has two years left on his entry-level contract with Detroit and can be a RFA at the end of his contract in 2024.
Kyle Criscuolo (C)
Contract Status: UFA after 2022-2023, NHL $750,000/AHL $170,000 (2021-22), $190,000 (2022-23)
Grade: B+
Kyle Criscuolo is currently in his 2nd season back with the Griffins after starting his professional career with Grand Rapids in 2016. Criscuolo is currently 3rd in scoring for the Griffins and serves as a alternate captain with the team. In 31 games, Criscuolo has scored 12 goals, 14 assists, 26 points, and a -3 rating. Criscuolo has one year remaining on his current contract before he can become an UFA in 2023.
Riley Barber (RW)
Contract Status: UFA after 2021-2022, NHL $800,000, AHL $275,000
Grade: B
Riley Barber is currently in his 2nd season playing with the Griffins. He is currently on Detroit’s injured list. In 23 games, Barber has scored eight goals, 11 assists, 19 points, and a -9 rating. Barber will be an UFA at the end of the season.
Chase Pearson: (C/LW)
Contract Status: RFA after 2021-2022, NHL $874,125, AHL $70,000
Grade: C-
Chase Pearson is currently in his 3rd full season in Grand Rapids. After a promising season last year, Pearson has struggled with his game this season. In 32 games, Pearson has scored four goals, nine assists, 13 points, and a -13 rating. Pearson will be a RFA at the end of the season.
Moritz Seider is leaving no doubt as the NHL’s best rookie. dark. Next