Red Wings third round pick inks tryout with Griffins

If Shawn Horcoff, general manager of the Grand Rapids Griffins, is on the injured reserve in the next few days, it'll probably be from all the contracts he's had to sign this season.

We all thought the signings were complete, but just as Curly Howard thinks he's stopped a water leak in the bath tub, we learn that life is full of surprises. Thankfully, in the case of Griffins this surprise is a good one.

The previous eight additions to the Griffins apparently weren’t enough, so they have signed Detroit Red Wings forward prospect Noah Dower-Nilsson to a professional tryout.

Red Wings fans may remember the third round pick from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Red Wings selected Dower-Nilsson 73rd overall at that time. His older brother, Liam, was another Red Wings selection in 2021. A bit different player from his older brother, the younger Dower-Nilsson has a bit more pop in terms of skill, maybe a bit less consistency.

Detroit Red Wings prospect Noah Dower-Nilsson joins the Grand Rapids Griffins

Per the Elite Prospects 2023 NHL Draft Guide, 

“Noah Dower Nilsson possesses an impressive blend of playmaking, raw skill, and offensive sense. Whether he’s manipulating defenders off the rush to create space or turning forechecking steals into ridiculous spin passes to the slot from behind the net, he’s always using his offensive instincts and sense to generate opportunities for himself and teammates.” 

Here's just a taste of what Red Wings and Griffins fans can expect to see from Dower-Nilsson:

Like any 21-year-old prospect, Dower-Nilsson needs to improve his two-way game and consistency. That said, his offensive instincts are intriguing.

Dower-Nilsson is in great hands with the Griffins coaching staff and players.

This season, Dower-Nilsson played with Frölunda HC of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). If that team sounds familiar, it’s likely from Lucas Raymond, Elmer Söderblom and Simon Edvinsson. Frölunda has played host to its fair share of notable NHLers like Buffalo Sabres captain Rasmus Dahlin, as well.

In 48 games played, Dower-Nilsson scored six goals and recorded 10 assists for a total of 16 points with a +7 rating and 10 penalty minutes. Although the numbers aren’t eye-popping on paper, SHL seasons are shorter and the play style is quite different from the NHL. The fact that Dower-Nilsson played in so many games alone is a testament to his development. 

The timing of the signing is a bit odd as the Griffins are knee deep in their playoff hunt--a five-game playoff series against the Manitoba Moose. Dower-Nilsson may not play in the playoffs this season, but he is likely coming over to learn about the Grand Rapids systems, city and team.

Next season, Dower-Nilsson joins a robust group of forwards, which should make for healthy competition and interesting lineup decisions.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow