Griffins 06-07

[Henkka 0]

So, there has been lots of movement this summer. Some kids are going up to Detroit any many other players has left the team. Does anyone know how Griffins players are contracted at the moment. I'd like to have every information to this topic.

I've serched some data from AHL.com, redwingscentral.com and from the Griffins website. This is what I got.

Last season the team was quite this:

Hudler

Filppula

Bootland

McDonell

MacLean

Kopecky

DiCasmirro

Manlow

Ellis

Keller

Himelfarb

Oulahen

Helmer

Virtue

(Lebda)

Wilson

Meech

Quincey

Martens

Amadio

Richards

Dicasmirro - Ellis - MacLean

Kopecky - Filppula - Bootland

Hudler - Manlow - McDonell

Oulahen - Himelfarb - Keller

Meech - Helmer

Lebda - Quincey

Wilson - Virtue

Howard

MacDonald

McIntyre

So, Dicasmirro left to Boston, Maclean and Helmer left to Phoenix, Manlow left to Hamilton (Edmonton), Wilson left to Anaheim and Travis Richards retired. Kopecky, Hudler, Bootland and Lebda are going to Detroit. 10 players are gone so far.

THe Giffins website shows only these guys signed for 2006-07 season:

Ellis

Filppula

Himelfarb

Oulahen

Meech

Quincey

Howard

MacDonald

McIntyre

But there has been also other signings. The new faces so far has been Stefan Liv for the goaltending, Jonathan Ericsson, Dan Smith and Brad Norton for the defence (can play also as a wing), Matt Hussey and Evan McGrath for the offence. Jakub Kindl can't play AHL this season, he has to be at juniors one more year.

So what we have:

(Ellis?) - Hussey - XXX

XXX - Filppula - XXX

XXX - McGrath - (McDonell?)

Oulahen - Himelfarb - (Keller?)

Just five forwards signed, so there's lot of holes to fill.

Smith - Quincey

Meech - Ericsson

Norton - (Virtue?)

(Martens?)

(Amadio?)

There's five defencemen signed, so the situation is lot better than in offence.

Howard

Liv

MacDonald?

McIntyre?

The goaltendind situation is crazy. If the Wings will acquire 1st goaltender and Howard/Liv won't split the 2nd goalie duty in Detroit, there's just too many men. Can both MacDonald and McIntyre be send to Toledo or do we just let one of them (or maybe both) go?

It would more than nice if every Griffins information would be inserted here. Lines, contracts, movement, everything.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

I wouldn't be surprised if Filppula goes to the Wings either.

He was the guy they called back to have another look at

last year, so if he has a strong camp I think he'll be off to.

[Henkka 0]

Brendan Brooks signed. Right winger and exactly what they needed.

[Henkka 0]

Josh Langfeld signed. Another right winger and very good to AHL-level. I think he'll be on the first line.

[spydrwebb 0]

Josh Langfeld signed. Another right winger and very good to AHL-level. I think he'll be on the first line.

likely, but i hope he earns time with detroit instead.

[WingMan56 0]

This is the lineup I have so far

Filppula Kolanos Himelfarb

Langfeld Hussey McGrath

Oulahen Ellis Brooks

Norton Lebda

Quincey Meech

Smith Ericsson

Howard

Liv/Macdonald/Macintyre

[Andy Pred 48 337]

I think Lebda is going to be on the Wings roster.

Also I feel that with another strong camp as he had

last season, Filppula will be wearing the Wingedwheel too.

[Henkka 0]

I think Lebda is going to be on the Wings roster.

Also I feel that with another strong camp as he had

last season, Filppula will be wearing the Wingedwheel too.

No, Filppula will at Grand Rapids as long as there's lots of injurues on the Wings roster.

In Detroit, there's no spot for him, and we can't send Hulder, Kopecky or Bootland down to make room for him because we'd lose them on waivers.

This is just a fact that keeps Filppula at Griffins.

And it's also obviously better for to play at 1st line minutes at AHL, than be some 13th or 14th Wings forward at the crowd.

[WingMan56 0]

No, Filppula will at Grand Rapids as long as there's lots of injurues on the Wings roster.

In Detroit, there's no spot for him, and we can't send Hulder, Kopecky or Bootland down to make room for him because we'd lose them on waivers.

This is just a fact that keeps Filppula at Griffins.

And it's also obviously better for to play at 1st line minutes at AHL, than be some 13th or 14th Wings forward at the crowd.

Exactly...most people don't seem to realize that Kopecky, Hudler and Bootland all have to clear waivers to be sent down..Filppula doesn't...do the math. Why risk losing one of those top prospects just to keep Filppula up. Another year in the AHL being the teams top player and getting tons of minutes will be great for him. Also, the same sort of thing applies to Lebda...Lilja makes $1 million..why would they sit him in the press box and play Lebda all season long when Lebda can clear waivers and be one of the Griffins top D-men? He doesn't have to clear waivers..everybody else on Detroits defensive roster has to...so he'll end up in GR.

Edited July 29, 2006 by WingMan56

[wingsdiehard13 33]

The Griffins are losing alot of talent

[Seth 0]

Kolanos, Langfeld, and Hussey thats whom Im gonna be paying attention too. Those 3 got some interesting things going down for em. If they pan out, this organization would have some nice depth.

[Andy Pred 48 337]

Could get some talent from the prospects camp, a few guys

there could be a good addition to the Griffs this year.

[spydrwebb 0]

Could get some talent from the prospects camp, a few guys

there could be a good addition to the Griffs this year.

definitely, i wouldn't mind seeing the twins in GR this season.

[Seth 0]

Jamie Tardif drooooooooool Kevin Undershute could really add something to the Left side of Hudler makes the big club.

Edited August 23, 2006 by Seth

[TNBT 3]

Kolanos, Langfeld, and Hussey thats whom Im gonna be paying attention too. Those 3 got some interesting things going down for em. If they pan out, this organization would have some nice depth.

Apart from the kids like Filppula, the guy that I am going to be looking at the most is Kolanos. He has some size and talent, but for whatever reason he hasn't really displayed it consistently. I'm really hoping he can turn it around and develop into a steal for the Wings.

[Kwiatek 0]

Hm, Griffins this season looks really good, maybe not like a year ago, but it' s still good team. I wanna see how will play Filppula - the first offensive star in this club after Hudler and MacLean era []. Stefan Liv and Jimmy Howard will be great compare this two in this year - both should be in Detroit for year, two or even three, I don't care when, I wanna see this two in Hockeytwon someday because they have very big potential.

And at the end... Lebda in Griffs or Wings? I know that in 3rd will play Lilja/Markov and Chelly, but grandpa Chelly is too old for playing 82 games on NHL level, Lebda is still young and have an experiance... be cool see him in red Wings jersey again

Sorry for my poor english, hope you understand what I have written here

Edited September 5, 2006 by Kwiatek

[spydrwebb 0]

Hm, Griffins this season looks really good, maybe not like a year ago, but it' s still good team. I wanna see how will play Filppula - the first offensive star in this club after Hudler and MacLean era []. Stefan Liv and Jimmy Howard will be great compare this two in this year - both should be in Detroit for year, two or even three, I don't care when, I wanna see this two in Hockeytwon someday because they have very big potential.

And at the end... Lebda in Griffs or Wings? I know that in 3rd will play Lilja/Markov and Chelly, but grandpa Chelly is too old for playing 82 games on NHL level, Lebda is still young and have an experiance... be cool see him in red Wings jersey again

Sorry for my poor english, hope you understand what I have written here

sounds good, thanks for your thoughts. we have some interesting things to unfold in traverse city and i look forward to seeing how this affects our roster in grand rapids.

[Barrie 900]

I really hope Oulahen makes a move this year. He'll have more ice time with guys like Bootland, Kopecky, Hudler, etc. with the Wings.

Oulahen's an excellent hockey player at both ends. He played his OHL about 30 minutes East of where I live. I hope he makes the Wings someday.

[spydrwebb 0]

introductions.

[Icer 0]

Looks like Kip Miller is back. The Griffins also added Jeff Hamilton, Ryan Keller, and Mike Walsh.

www.griffinshockey.com

This is Miller's 4th time with the Griffins. He's a solid ppg guy and a former MSU Spartan so I'm always happy to see him on the team. As for the other guys, Keller and Walsh are prospects and Hamilton is a career minor leaguer who has played a handful of games for the Islanders.

[spydrwebb 0]

Looks like Kip Miller is back. The Griffins also added Jeff Hamilton, Ryan Keller, and Mike Walsh.

miller's nothing special but i couldn't be more thrilled to see hamilton skating with grand rapids. hamilton is an immediate asset to this club.

[Icer 0]

miller's nothing special

Kip may be old, but I wouldn't be surprised if he finished among the top five in scoring on this team.

[WingMan56 0]

Kip may be old, but I wouldn't be surprised if he finished among the top five in scoring on this team.

Yeah..he was 2nd in scoring on Chicago last season and only played 67 games...not sure what "nothing special" means. He'll be in the top 3 in scoring for GR probably, and will be the quarterback for the PP.

[eva unit zero 271]

Yeah..he was 2nd in scoring on Chicago last season and only played 67 games...not sure what "nothing special" means. He'll be in the top 3 in scoring for GR probably, and will be the quarterback for the PP.

Kip was a solid second liner not that long ago in the NHL...he's a good pickup for the Griffs.

[spydrwebb 0]

i admit to my bias here... fact is i'm tired of seeing the miller boys parade their pathetic MSU pride around local rinks... i don't have any legitimate reason to not be impressed by kip, i'm just not. i'd rather get excited about hamilton and hussey... that's all.