GROwl

Spanish Inquisition? We didn't see much of Ryno when he came two years ago...just a handful of games at the beginning of the year and at training camp. But he had some good features. If he's continued to develop them, he could be a contributor. Ryno also has a nice size advantage. If I remember correctly, he's nearly as tall as Ericsson, but a lot bigger. Again, if he learns to use his strengths. there are some good possibilities with this kid. This is also his last chance. If he's hungry... What did you see in Mursak that would generate some excitement?

Quite honestly, I didn't consistently see anything from him last year that warranted a full time spot on the roster. Maybe it was just a first year adjustment - hopefully he'll do better this year.

I hear Frankie Lemieux will likely be back (though he has actually been signed by GR yet). If so, he'll probably be at least initially put back on a line with McGrath and Pare since they had such good chemistry last year: Mattias Ritola Justin Abdelkader Dick Axelsson Francis Pare Evan McGrath Francis Lemieux Kris Newbury Ryan Oulahen Jeremy Williams Johan Ryno Cory Emmerton Jamie Tardif Jan Mursak Jakub Kindl Andy Delmore Doug Janik Sergei Kolosov Sebastien Piche Travis Ehrhardt Logan Pyett Daniel Larsson Thomas McCollum

I haven't seen Pogge play at the NHL level, though he was pretty effective against the Griffins while playing for the Marlies. I still wouldn't want to see him - or anyone else for that matter - in a third goalie spot. It rarely works out well for either the second or the third goalie. For a goaltender to stay sharp, he needs regular playing time in both practice and games.

You mean you wouldn't recognize Овечкин as Ovechkin? Or, our very own ДацюÌк as Datsyuk?

In the twenty or so games that I've attended each year in GR, I can't remember a single hit by McGrath or Oulahen. Either they didn't hit, or it wasn't significant enough to be memorable. Then again, Helm didn't have a whole lot of hits either in GR - it was only when he started playing with the Wings that he became a hitting machine. Maybe we'll see the same thing with McGrath and/or Oulahen.

I've always wondered exactly what this means. Babcock said that both Z and Dats are natural centers, so he split them up. When they were put back together, both their points increased. So what is a natural center?

McGrath's played for three full seasons in the AHL. Doesn't that mean he has to pass through waivers to go to GR again? I know goalies get a fourth year, but I thought skaters only had three years of exemption. Also, extremely unlikely that Randall Gelech would be resigned. He came to GR as a free agent two years ago. The first year, he started slow, but ended up having a fair year. Last year, he never cracked the Griffins line up. He was re-assigned to the Rochester Americans (AHL) the week of Thanksgiving and never returned. He's a super guy, just not a great hockey player. We spoke with him during the last Griffins play-off game (Rochester didn't come close to making the play-offs, but he came back to GR with Kyle Quincey as "fans" to support their former teammates). He wants to continue playing, but doesn't know where he'll end up.

That's exactly what they did with Oulahen last year-signed him to a one year contract and sent him to GR for the 4th year. Passed through waivers with no problem at that time. However, he had a pretty good year; there could be an NHL team willing to give him a try if Detroit waives him again.

In many ways, similar to Ryan Oulahen. He was also given a qualified offer, but I haven't seen that he has actually signed yet. Evan will need to clear waivers too this Fall to go to GR again. Ryan's been with GR 4 years, Evan 3. Evan doesn't have as much as a specialty as Ryan's penalty killing, but seems slightly better 5-on-5. A few months into the season, he went on a roll on a line with Frankie Pare and Frankie Lemieux - where the line couldn't do anything wrong. Unfortunately, then the line gotten broken up with fairly long injuries to Lemieux and then McGrath, and the momentum was lost. Training camp and the fight for the few open Wings' roster spots will be tight...but I think Evan will be a long shot for one of them. Likely, he will clear waivers and will be back to GR.

Need to replace Brian Lashoff and Brent Raedeke with Ryan Oulahen and Evan McGrath on the roster. Under the Canadian junior hockey agreement with the NHL, aren't Brian and Brent too young yet to play in the AHL? They both just turned 19 this summer.

Abdelkader had a handful of fights this year with GR. He's no Aaron Downey, but he didn't do too poorly. At the end of the season, one of the guys said that Downey was going to hold an informal fighting clinic for some of his Griffin teammates this Summer at Downey's farm in Ontario. Don't know if Abs was included in the group or not. But if that's the role that the Wings' want Abs to play, he'll do it.

Both Lashoff and Raedeke just turned 19 according to the article. If they don't make the Wings' active roster, I believe they must return to their Canadian junior hockey team. They would have to turn 20 by calendar year end to play in either GR or Toledo. Its too bad - Lashoff did great in GR this past Spring after his junior season ended. We should see them again next Spring.

Mark is a career AHL'er. He'll be sent to the Rockford Ice Hogs to help develop the young kids and provide a bit of depth. The Cullens are actually a pretty talented family. Three of the boys play pro hockey at various levels, and I seem to remember his sister was a collegiate diver or something.

I've seen Kris Newbury many times over the past several years when the Marlies came to town to play the Griffins. He'll challenge some of the prospects to be one of the first few callups to Detroit.

Ryan Oulahen is definitely expected to be back in time for training camp. Yes, he's out of options and will need to clear waivers before returning to GR. He had to last year also. That being said, it will likely be more difficult this year. His stats don't show near his value. He is one of the best PK'ers in the AHL. After his injury this Spring, he received special permission from the league to be behind the bench. He did a great job. He's a lot like Matt Ellis...a very hard woker and a bit of a late bloomer.

Yes, these boys will compete for callups against the handful of late signings that Detroit usually adds to the GR roster: *Veteran AHL'ers *Guys that have spent most of their career floating between the AHL, NHL and Europe *Last-chancers (RFA's from other clubs that didn't receive qualifed offers-rarely does this last group work out). When Detroit and GR signed their affiliation contract, Detroit agreed to supply GR with a certain number of players. Usually the number of true prospects falls slightly short, so Detroit adds the roster fillers by the end of training camp.

Having all three available will be nice. If callups or injuries occur, we have a spare already in the system v. having to borrow whoever is available from Muskegon or Kalamazoo.

Sergei Kolosov (called "Coleslaw" by his teammates in GR this year) was probably the most improved Griffin this past season. He's a nice kid who was signed last summer on the recommendation of Griffins coach Curt Fraser who I believe had coached him in Belarus.

Good thing the Wings are playing with so many Griffins! Helm, Abs, Leino and Ericsson are all used to playing 3-in-3's. The 3-in-4 is a bonus to them!

Axelsson and two of the young Canadian prospects were sent home early just after the Griffins defeated Hamilton in the first round of the playoffs. The official reason has been kept pretty quiet-though behaviorial issues is the speculation. If this is the case, the boy had better grow up pretty quickly if he hopes to continue to play in the Wings system.

I only saw Lashoff in one game - the final regular season home game since the Griffins were on the road for the last 3 weeks of the season except for the one game. He sustained a concussion last Saturday in Manitoba so was out for the two playoff games in GR this week. He looked very good from what I did see of him. Especially for a 18 year old kid that joined the Griffins right at the end of the season. Lashoff adapted quickly and well to the AHL play and was a solid contributor. The team was very impressed with him this last month. Based on his age, I think he has to go back to his junior team for another year; but I would have loved to see him in GR again in the Fall.

For those of you who didn't make it in person, you missed a good game. The Griffins didn't give up; they gave it all they had to the end. Unfortunately, Manitoba was the better team on the ice this series. That doesn't take away anything from who our boys are and what they accomplished with what they had. With their late season injuries and call-ups, no one really expected that they would defeat Hamilton. Yet they did. And they skated right with Manitoba in each of the 4 games. They should be proud - we are of them. It was also nice seeing Randall Gelech and the very tan Kyle Quincey at the game. Clearly, Quincey has enjoyed his time off. Two great guys supporting their former teammates and mingling with the crowd. I mean, come on. Who spends their vacation in Grand Rapids of all places! My daughter received two big hugs from Gelech before we left. She was so happy to see her hockey buddy again that I don't think she even noticed the final score. A good end to a very good season.

Concussion from Saturday night. Time for the boys to pour it on tomorrow night. Let loose with the offense and see where it goes.

Come on. The Wings played Columbus. The playoffs haven't really started yet! Except for the 4th game, the scores were 4-1, 4-0 and 4-1. Hitting the Blue Jackets is almost the same as playing against a PeeWee team and hitting one of kids. Kronwall was still saving himself for when it matters.