The freshest forwards in Grand Rapids
6’2” / Right Winger / Shoots: Right. Drafted by the Red Wings in seventh round in 2020,
Yes, he’s the son of Red Wings legend and current Assistant to General Manager and Director of Amateur Scouting, Kris Draper.
People can (and have) complained about nepotism, but Kienan Draper has played four seasons for the University of Michigan, donning an “A” this season. In his 133 games played, Draper has scored 17 goals and recorded 23 assists for a total of 40 points. He earned 144 penalty minutes and had a +21 with the Wolverines.
Maybe it was his dad’s name that earned the contract, but he’s worth a look with the Griffins. He signed a two-year contract starting next season and is on an amateur tryout to end the season with the Griffins.
Role: Likely plays a bottom-six, fringe role to end this season. He might see some penalty kill time as well.
6’1” / Right Winger / Shoots: Right. Received in a trade from Nashville Predators (selected in the third round in 2023)
The flashy Finnish forward has some offense to his game.
In a stingy Finnish Liiga (the highest level for Finnish men’s ice hockey), Kiiskinen has shown a bit of an offensive touch. He started in the Liiga in 2022 as a 17 year old (bouncing between levels before sticking in 2024-25. In his Liiga career, he scored 35 goals, recorded 48 assists for a total of 83 points over 145 games played (coming out to over half a point per game—0.572). Across his Liiga career, he amassed 53 penalty minutes with a +3 rating.
In his debut with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Kiiskinen earned his first assist and scored his first goal. Then, the referees recalled the goal and sent Kiiskinen to the box for tripping. (For what it’s worth, it was one of the worst-officiated games in AHL history.)
Kiiskinen has high-end skill that seems to come in waves. (What offensive player doesn’t go through down spells?). Consistency has been a question at times in his career. Still, he went from starting on the third line to jumping up to the top line. In his postgame comments with Hockeytown West Podcast, Dan Watson mentioned wanting to see what Kiiskinen could do on the top line:
“He made some big plays”
— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) April 13, 2026
Hear Griffins Head Coach Dan Watson share his thoughts on Jesse Kiiskinen’s Griffins debut and his thought after Saturdays game
(Yes we know this is from Saturday we forgot to post it…sorry!)#GoGRG #AHL #LGRW pic.twitter.com/TBrdTCN4oX
Kiiskinen likely projects as a top two forward for the Griffins—but there is plenty of competition. Don’t knock the kid if he remains a middle-to-bottom-six winger in the playoffs as the Griffins are stacked at all positions. Kiiskinen is bound for power play time as well.
6’1” / Left Winger / Shoots: Left. Drafted by the Red Wings in the second round in 2022
Dylan James is one of the most intriguing players to watch after signing an amateur tryout with the Griffins. He played in 154 games across four years for the University of North Dakota (while also wearing an “A”). He scored 52 times and recorded 37 assists in his collegiate career with 48 penalty minutes and a +28 rating.
He will be a welcome addition to any role within the Griffins lineup. He'll likely start in the bottom six, but may follow in the footsteps of Kiiskinen. Coach Watson will look to see who fits best where over the coming weeks. The Griffins are already stacked on the power play, so it wouldn't be a shock to not see him there.
5'11" / Left Winger / Shoots: Left. Acquired from the Syaracuse Crunch for Ian Mitchell.
Milne appeared in 39 games between the Iowa Wild, Crunch, and Griffins. He’s recorded two goals with four assists for a total of six points. In his time with Toledo, he’s appeared in three games and recorded two assists. Between the two leagues, he’s recorded 38 penalty minutes and is a -16 rating.
He’s likely a depth piece for a (hopefully) deep playoff run.
6’1” / Winger / Shoots: Left. Acquired from Syracuse Crunch for Ian Mitchell.
What a name! Does it warrant a double-check on spellcheck? Absolutely. Do we get it correct each time? Hopefully.
Wojciech Stachowiak is well on his way to becoming a fan-favorite.
If his hot offensive start isn’t enough, he was born in Poland and rose through the rans of German hockey. In 2017-18, he joined the USHL and attended Michigan State University the following two seasons. In 2019-20, he also played in the DEL (Germany’s top league). This season, he played with the Crunch and was part of the return for Mitchell.
Although he was injured when he originally joined the Griffins, he made up ground quick—both on the stat sheets and in the hearts of Griffins’ fans everywhere.
With Syracuse, Stachowiak played in 38 games, while recording nine goals and eight assists for a total of 17 points. With Grand Rapids, in just eight games, Stachowiak has recorded three goals, and he’s added eight more assists for a total of 11 points. Across both teams, he’s recorded 30 penalty minutes and a +5 rating (on the Griffins, specifically, he is a +11).
Stachowiak is likely a middle-six forward to close out the regular season and playoffs. You might see him on line one or four depending the personnel available. Likely sees some time on the power play as well.
6’2” / Winger / Shoots: Left. Drafted by the Red Wings in the second round in 2025(!)
At the ripe age of 18 (turns 19 on April 20th), Eddie Genborg hasn’t looked out of place in a league designed to filter out the excess.
In just his draft plus one (D+1) season, Genborg has turned some heads. Maybe it’s the team he played for in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Genborg played with Timrå IK this last season. If that sounds familiar, it’s the same team that gave us Henrik Zetterberg.
He's a feisty, hard-working forward ready to take on anyone or anything. Best of all, he seemingly has no fear.
On top of the exciting edge that Genborg plays with, he’s an effective offensive threat. In the SHL, he amassed nine goals and assisted on 16 goals for a total of 25 points in 43 games played. He recorded 24 penalty minutes (given his physical play, I’m surprised his penalty minutes were this low in the SHL) and a +8 rating.
Within the AHL, Genborg has appeared in nine games earned one goal and assist for a total of two points with four penalty minutes and -1 rating. On the international stage, he played in 16 games, scored seven times and assisted on six goals for a total of 13 points without recording penalty and was considered even. (For those fans interested, at the World Juniors, he played in seven games and recorded three goals with five assists for a total of eight points, no penalty minutes and +7 rating, earning a gold medal with Team Sweden.)
Much like Kiiskinen, Genborg started in the bottom six. The following game, he was scratched. Midway through his third game, Genborg earned his way on the top line. Genborg rewarded his coach’s trust when he assisted on the overtime winning goal. The fact that he was even out in overtime speaks volumes of coach Watson as well.
How Griffins Head Coach Dan Watson has handled the arrival of Eddie Genborg is a prime example of why he’s such a great hockey coach
— Hockeytown West Podcast (@HockeytownWpod) April 4, 2026
Eddie arrives during a tough stretch of the schedule (6 games in 9 days)
Coach starts Eddie in the bottom 6 including a few in the 4th line even… https://t.co/0ExcjaOleK
Genborg likely bounces between the middle six to finish the regular season and in the playoffs with the Griffins. He will see regular power play time, as well.
Next season, Genborg either returns to the SHL (as the AHL and SHL have an agreement in place) or plays in Detroit. Grand Rapids is not an option with him under contract in the SHL next season. Although it’s a long shot, considering his effective play in the AHL already and the lack of…well, any real threats in the bottom six for the Red Wings, it’s not impossible by any means, either.
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