GROwl

Short term = Kindl has the 1-way contract that will most likely land him in Detroit this season. Long Term = Tatar has the most potential, but will likely stay in GR for most of the next 2 years due to waiver exemption.

Do you think Sergei Kolosov will be back? I believe he's an RFA. One of my favorite, but I got the impression he wasn't favored by Detroit. Never got a callup - not even as a Black Ace. Also, Lemieux must be considered departed. He didn't finish the season in GR or in Vegas, where he was sent down. Frankie spent the last bit of the season in Europe somewhere.

Has anyone ever hear of the Intent to Blow the Whistle rule outside of the NHL? The referees in my league would be removed from the league if they dared to call something so idiotic.

After seeing Jakub Kindl play over 50 times the past few 3 years, I can only hope to be pleasantly surprised next year. Detroit has high standards (for D especially, thanks to the great role model of Lidstrom); my fear is that Kindl is going to generate a lot of hate-threads next year.

Amen. Malts would be a perfect leader for the team in Grand Rapids. All of the AHL teams that consistently go deep into the play-offs have veterans who have seen a good part of their career in the NHL. Someone whose very presence in the lockerroom and on the ice commands respect. Grand Rapids has lacked this essential player the past several years. If Detroit wants to develop the young ones, they need to stuff a veteran or two lower in the system.

Yeah. Gotta get ny hockey fix before the season is completely over. Would definitely prefer it to be the Wings...but its a long drought til October.

Ironically, the gov't trend in the last decade around here has been to rip out the existing rails and replace them with bicycle paths. I wonder how Laich is at changing bike tires?

In the AHL, it is an initial five round SO. Coaches are known for putting their best shooter 5th...under the same theory in a relay race. Your best runner is usually the anchor. Yeah, it's possible that the race could essentially be lost before he starts if the deficit is too great, but he's usually also the clutch guy. If it is possible for him to win it for the team, he will.

Excellent news! Just hope the Wings give him a better idea of what to expect if/when he comes to GR, so that he doesn't end up giving up and going home ala Axelsson, Ryno and Grigorenko.

Kindl and Quincey have nothing in common. I've seen them both regularly in their first three years of their career. Quincey - big, physical with a heck of a hard shot and a good hitter. More of a stay at home D-man. Not a fighter, but will drop his gloves in a second if it means protecting his teammates. Kindl - faster, better skater than Quincey. More offensive upside, but far less defensively. Not a fighter nor a hitter. Not a stay-at-home D-Man...often caught behind the play in break away situations. Needs a D partner that can cover both spots. Has always finished the season with a negative +/- (-34 his first year; -14 last year; -4 this year to date). Question: Does anyone remember who Kindl was generally paired up with 3 seasons ago when he almost made the Wings' roster?

I saw Ferraro just on Friday night also. Another year in juniors can only help (not that he did anything bad, just didn't stand out much when compared to the others). I thought Lashoff was good a year ago when he played in a few games, and even better on Friday night. A year of heavy ice time can make a huge difference. Much better for Ferraro to be on a top junior line rather than fighting to even dress in the AHL (even if he met the minimum age, which he doesn't).

Lashoff is finally old enough to play for the Griffins in the Fall. Unfortunately, we have to wait another year for Landon Ferraro to join the regular roster.

This kid sure looked good last night. Big solid defensemen - made up for some of his D partner's (Jakub Kindl) misplays. Can't wait til we get to see Lashoff on a more permanent basis.

I don't think he has a chance to make Detroit's lineup. He might drop the gloves occassionally - but he's not really a fighter. He has okay speed, is okay defensively, an okay player. Unfortunately, probably not much more. What impressed us here in GR about Matt Ellis was his work ethic. He led by example and by voice when he needed to. Always one of the first to arrive and last to leave practices. Worked out like a madman off the ice too. Ellis' tenacity got him to the NHL.

Great picture. I was just looking for one from the March 6 game. It was Star Wars night and Darth Vader came out for the ceremonial puck drop. No one from either team wanted any part of it. Finally Brad May stepped up to the task. Quite the difference on March 27. Miss Michigan (crown and all!) came out for the puck drop. You never seen the boys move so fast to volunteer. Even the goalies fought to do the honors. Tards (the captain) insisted on doing it himself. LMAO.

Ozzie has called Jimmy "Moose" for years.

I just got back from the Griffins game (they lost in the shoot out). He looked good; showed some leadership. After the game, it looked like what was probably his wife and two kids joined him in the team bench area as he signed autographs along with Jordan Owens and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen.

This type of move is generally to get an early look at an undrafted college player. I believe that is how we ended up with Lebda too...and see how well that turned out (said tongue in cheek). Also, for all of the comments on Asians in the NHL, remember that the Griffins assistant coach is Jim Paek...

Whenever the Junior prospects are done with their seasons, they join the Griffins even if its only for a few games. They can't be "called up" earlier than that. If the Griffins need more forwards due to either injuries or being called up to the Red Wings before the juniors are done with their seasons, the Griffins can get them from the ECHL or IHL and still meet the Clear Day rules.

Yeah, the way Jonathan told the story was that he was a forward playing for a team that his dad coached (if I remember correctly). There were a few D sick/injured so he stepped in for what he thought was that game only. The Red Wing scout (Andersson) was there to scout out a player from the oppposite team and saw Jonathan. He convinced Jonathan to move to D permanently and convinced Detroit to draft him.

Awesome! Remember he played forward up until Detroit drafted him and turned him into a defensemen.

That was my initial reaction. LTIR gives them the ability to at least replace his salary. Not a permanent solution, but could help Chicago out for awhile.

Healthy scratch. He's been in a bit of a slump since the WJC. Coach thinks he's exhausted. Also, with the Wings getting healthy and sending down Abdelkader, May and Tollefsen, Griffins have a few spare men. They are up several from just before Christmas when they were playing short-rostered.

Clear Day rosters are intended to prevent NHL clubs who won't make the play offs from stuffing the AHL with their players. Therefore, there are a number of exceptions. Junior players who have finished their season can play in both AHL regular season and play off games. Call-ups from lower leagues can also occur in injury situations. Players from European leagues can in some circumstances play too when their season is over similar to juniors.

I was at the Griffins game last night and I'm here againn tonight (it's between the first and second periods). He's played in both games, but so far not very noticable. He was just interviewed on the big screen and said that he brings speed and physicality to the team. He also said that he had two hours to pack in Hartford before he had to catch his plane to GRR. It takes me longer than that to pack for a trip much less to move to another city!