Red Wings could pick up some knowledge from Griffins leaders

While we've seen a Tale of Two Teams with the Detroit Red Wings, their AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, are sitting pretty once again.

Atop the entire AHL as of October 27, the Griffins have something the Wings haven’t in almost a decade: leadership. Since Henrik Zetterberg retired, there has always been a question mark at who would take over.

There was a time when Red Wings fans thought Justin Abdelkader was the answer, then we landed on Dylan Larkin. While Larkin once provided Wings fans with great memories, they will be forever tainted as the captain who quit on his team. He didn’t just ask out: he handcuffed his team and dragged them down to the bottom of Mariana's Trench on his way out. 

Sure, his injury likely played a role in his lackluster start to the season, but his overall performance sure reminds Detroit fans a lot of the last three seasons in March. Maybe we’re jaded. Maybe it’s truly a concern. To help the young leaders of Detroit, it may be in their best interest to bring up a guy like Dominik Shine.

The Red Wings could benefit from leadership found on the Griffins

If the Red Wings were wise, they would cut ties with Larkin as soon as humanly possible. If his play continues to dip, they may have to take a loss on the trade, which is likely what Larkin and Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin are banking on. However, the toxic fumes seemingly oozing from the former Red Wings captain is contagious enough that their plan just might work.

To help counteract some of the negativity - and to help ease young players into new roles - it might be wise for the Red Wings to lean heavily on their leadership with the Griffins.

Unlike Larkin, who leaves when the going gets rough, Dominik Shine and his two alternate captains have chosen to stay with their Griffins teammates for better or worse.

Dominik Shine continues to shine for the Griffins

Dominik Shine has never taken a game off. He continues to play an infectious game that inspires the young guys in Grand Rapids, just as it inspires veterans in Detroit. Shine is someone everyone can (and should) aspire to be -- whether in hockey or elsewhere.

Shine’s a testament to what hard work and determination can do that counting stats couldn’t demonstrate even if they tried.  Whether it’s scoring his first NHL goal at 33 years young, or running across the parking lot in Traverse City because a family clad in Shine jerseys wanted an autograph, he's an inspiration to eveyrone he encounters.

Shine has played in all seven games for the Griffins so far and recorded one goal and four assists for a total of five points. For a 33 year old who almost hung up his skates in favor of his dad-era, Shine is still has what it takes to produce.

Additionally, he's a fantastic teammate who goes out of his way to support his players. Take for example his response to Jesse Kiiskinen scoring his first hat trick in the AHL:

Add to the leadership group William Lagesson and John Leonard, and there might not be a better leadership trio in AHL hockey.

Griffins alternates just as capable

Lagesson had an odd season in 2025-26, only playing 30 games: seven with Detroit and 23 with Grand Rapids the entire season. In a surprising turn of events, he re-signed and chose to commit to the Griffins

Over his tenure with Grand Rapids, Lagesson has served as a great mentor for young players. He's got a perfect blend of collegiate experience and comfort with Swedish play and culture. He even spent a season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. To have a player with such a rounded history is an advantage for any team, but especially for the Red Wings who have so many young players converging from all across the globe with varying backgrounds.

Just as importantly, Lagesson is one of the toughest guys on the ice. He's consistently one of the first players to go to bat for his teammates, though it seems like every Griffins player mobs any opponent who sneezes too closely toward their teammates. This is the culture that Shine and Lagesson have set that allows and emphasizes the respect that they have for each other as teammates.

Then, there’s the leader who just doesn’t know how to stop scoring: John Leonard. But Leonard is so much more than a goal scorer. 

Leonard is a vital part of leadership group in Grand Rapids. After attending UMass Amherst (along with Cale Makar), he spent time within the San Jose Sharks, Nashville Predators and Arizona Coyotes organizations as well as spending time with the Charlotte Checkers.

While he's had success everywhere he played, since joining the Griffins, Leonard has taken his game to the next level. 

Leonard's scoring transcends multiple leagues

Last season, Leonard scored 33 goals and assisted on 21 other goals in 47 games played with the Griffins. His goal scoring was so prolific that even with his time in Detroit, he continued to lead the AHL in goals. Leonard’s stint with Detroit was successful, too, as he played in 11 games where he scored twice and assisted on two other goals for a total of four points. To top it all off, Leonard isn't high in the penalty category, with just 12 last season and a +8 rating.

In the playoffs with Grand Rapids, Leonard scored once and had four helpers in eight games played for a total of five points with two penalty minutes and +2 rating.

Although Leonard started this new campaign injured, he's more than making up for lost time. In just six games, he's scored five times (including a hat trick) and assisted on two goals for a total of seven points. He has recorded a two-minute penalty and is a +1 rating.

In some ways, Red Wings fans might be a bit jealous that Leonard hasn't earned a longer look with Detroit, especially with the lack of scoring, but the Griffins fans and teammates alike are thrilled to have him as their alternate captain. He’s a great offensive mind that young players can learn from and is someone who is deeply committed to Grand Rapids.

Griffins leadership in a great place

No matter how it’s sliced, the Detroit Red Wings are fortunate to have a stable leadership group with the Grand Rapids Griffins. In an ideal world, one, two or all three players would be brought up the NHL to help guide the new regime in Hockeytown. 

So far, Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond and Alex DeBrincat have done an impressive job given the circumstances. Juggling the circus that is the Larkin trade request, then the events (or lack thereof) surrounding top-pair defenseman Simon Edvinsson not signing and the normal ebbs and flows of a new leadership group trying to find their footing with their hockey club is far from an easy task.

However, these three guys have stood tall. 

It’s likely that these three are relying heavily on guys like Andrew Copp and Ben Chiarot for leadership, as well. It’s great that there is some sort of foundation given all the turmoil. Yet, it’s hard to keep wandering minds from looking to Lagesson, Leonard and Shine, who can all provide something the Detroit Red Wings can learn from.

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