WingMan56

Just because they don't sell out every game doesn't mean they have bad attendance. The Griffins average attendance is somewhere around 7,000 and the arena holds 10,834 or something like that. Pretty good..not sure where that ranks in the league, but i know some AHL arenas dont even hold 7,000. I went to the game on Sunday afternoon at 4, which i wasn't expecting to have much of a crowd and i think there was about 8,000 there.

Kopecky and Bootland are playing well, but Kopecky is absolutely en fuego. He had 4 goals and an assist in the 2 games this past weekend and had game winners in BOTH games.

Jimmy Howard should NOT be in Detroit next year. I've seen all the games he has played in Grand Rapids this year, and it wasn't until very recently that he's started to look comfortable and confident. Yes, it's a great sign that he's showing that the hype was correct, but it in no way means he's ready to step into the NHL. He's played something like 35-40 games and he only just recently broke the .900 sv % plateau. His record is more idicative of the team that's playing in front of him (see Osgood, Legace). But I will admit that he saved the Griffin's *sses in the last 3 games or so and salvaged wins for them. The start to this season was rocky for him and took him a LONG time to get comfortable. He needs another full season in the AHL before he's ready.

Hudlers skating is his weakest asset IMO..aside from his size, of course. He has great hockey sense, so he knows where to be, and how to move the puck. He has shifty moves and good hands so he doesn't need to be fast. But I'd say overall his speed is average at best.

Hockeysfuture.com is one of the worst sites for prospect info.

Ryan Barnes is on the Griffins roster on Griffinshockey.com..guess he made the team. I know a certain few who will be happy about this.

I was at the Griffins opener, and he didn't really get alot of ice-time. He showed flashes of good hands and puck skills, but didnt have any great chances. I'm sure he's still a little rusty from his injury and might still be getting in shape. Lets hope he gets it together, from what I hear, he could be a good one. He's still young too.

Was anybody else at the game? Bootland had a HUGE open ice hit on Pivko, I'm surprised he even got up. I thought pretty much everyone looked awesome, I wasn't really disappointed by anyone. Hackert was the least impressive, but showed flashed of good puck handling, and i'm sure he's still recovering and getting in shape from his injury. MacIntyre actually looked like a completely different goalie in this game compared to last season. Lets hope he keeps it up until Howard and Macdonald come back. Amadio clearly worked on his skating in the offseason. The rookies looked great..Quincey, and Filppula. I was upset Oulahen didn't play. All in all, this team looks great, they are stacked on offense, and have decent D. As long as Macdonald can come back soon and stay healthy, they'll have an amazing tandem in Howard/Macdonald. This could be the best team they've had in years.

Now we need to find a scientist who can shrink him down to sub-6 foot size.

McGrath turned 19 in January.

See the above posts...it's pretty much what Draper is known for doing best.

Thank you..

Stillman showed promise...? He had 10 goals in the ECHL last year...I think you're confusing him with Cory Stillman who played for Tampa last year and plays for Carolina this year....2 different players. Not only that, but the Griffins are FULL...every player who is left in camp, except for 3 or 4, is under contract with the Griffins or Redwings. Their roster is already at 22-23 players..theres no room for any of those other guys..they were simply invited to fill out the training camp rosters because so many of the Griffins were still up with the wings when their camp started.

They won again tonight 3-2 (Griffinshockey.com). Hackert with the game winner. Good to see!

Definitely agree.

fort worth CHL interesting player...hmmm if only GR management would dump some of their over the hill vets. who's over the hill?? Travis richards is the oldest player at 35...Helmer is 33, the other 25+ players are under 30

There are only a handful of guys in camp that will actually even be on the Griffins this year..75% of their team is still up in Detroit. But I'd watch Himelfarb..he's small, but feisty. He hits, he's fast, he puts up points, he is amazing at faceoffs.

Exactly..i said the same thing on HFboards...9 points in 9 games is great and everything..but the kid is known for scoring goals! Hope he ends up with at least 15 this season.

He's supposedly been extremely inconsistent. They drafted him for his offense (he put up good numbers in Swedish Juniors), but he hasn't yet secured a spot in the SEL, and hasn't put up numbers there yet.

Wasted prospects and AHL leftovers?? Maclean won the AHL scoring race 2 or 3 years ago and puts up huge numbers every year, Bryan Helmer has NHL experience and is a great vet for the young prospects. Eric manlow has NHL experience. He led the Griffins in goal scoring last year, and would have led them in points but had an injury and missed 10-15 games. Filppula, Hudler, Bootland, Ellis, and now Hackert are all great prospects and will put up numbers in the AHL this year. Jimmy Howard and Joey MacDonald are both high level goalie prospects. I dont see how it's knee deep in wasted prospects and AHL left overs.

The way he's been playing in Detroit, it looks like he could carry a decent load and play well. But, since Osgood is going to be out for probably another month..Howard will be in Detroit. Leaving MacIntyre and Koopmans as the 2 goalies in GR. I read in the Grand Rapids Press that Griffins management is looking to sign another goalie to an AHL contract so they're not stuck with MacIntyre as a starter.

He was released by the Wings from his tryout..he wasn't signed.

Actually supposed to be a poor mans Draper. Fast, good defesively..mediochre offensively.

wow, triple post

double post