Remember when the Detroit Red Wings had so many injuries they needed an extra forward line (plus) from the Grand Rapids Griffins?
There were games where Griffins’ head coach, Dan Watson, didn’t have enough forwards on the roster to dress. Even after a trade sent an effective veteran defenseman Ian Mitchell to the Syracuse Crunch in exchange for some help at forward, injuries and those recalls plagued Grand Rapids.
The Griffins might have faltered given these circumstances (losing quite a few games), but their record-breaking start to the season gave them plenty of room for error.
Going 5-4-1-0 in their last 10 games played still has the Grand Rapids Griffins sitting atop the Central Division of the American Hockey League (AHL) with a 22-point lead. Only the Providence Bruins have performed better with 110 points thus far this season.
The Griffins have two games remaining in the regular season. With all the new faces, these games are gifts for both the players and coaching staff.
Regardless of a player's talent level or background, growing pains are inevitable and there is always a transition to a new team, system, and league. Even if players might have interacted in previous development camps, the AHL is one of the most challenging leagues to play in even in the perfect set of circumstances.
If you have found yourself lost in all the new arrivals, it’s understandable. Guys have been signing in both Detroit and Grand Rapids like crazy. It’s likely difficult for anyone to keep tabs on every single player.
Newcomers to Grand Rapids Griffins: here’s what to expect
With eight new faces, even the most diehard fans are forgiven if you aren’t sure where they came from, what expect from them, and if you wonder where they might fit with the Griffins. Here’s a bit about each and what you should expect from them (unless otherwise noted, the stats mentioned below are per each player's Elite Prospects page):
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