SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS - GRAND RAPIDS GRIFFINS
Oct 7, 2016Leading up to Opening Night on Oct. 14, IowaWild.com will preview each team on the 76-game regular season schedule. Please keep in mind with training camps in full swing, players could change their final destination by playing well in camp and perhaps make the NHL club.
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Grand Rapids Griffins
NHL Affiliate: Detroit Red Wings
2015-16 Record: 44-30-1-1, 90 Points
Iowa vs. GR in 15-16/All Time: 2-5-1-0/4-16-2-0
GR vs. Iowa in 15-16/All Time: 6-2-0-0/18-4-0-0
Place: 4th Central Division / 7th Western Conference
Playoffs: Swept Milwaukee in the first round. Lost in second round to eventual Champion Lake Erie (CLE) (4-2)
Biggest Changes:
The biggest offseason loss was in the leadership department with Captain Jeff Hoggan’s departure. Over the course of four years, he scored 57 goals and added 62 assists for 119 points in 261 games for Grand Rapids. Hoggan captained the Griffins to a Calder Cup in 2013.
The Griffins saw Andy Miele sign in the offseason with the Philadelphia Phantoms and he could see significant time in Lehigh Valley (AHL). Last season, the forward led the Griffins in assists (44) and points (62) over 75 outings. It was the second straight year he led the club in points, as Miele put up 44 assists and 70 points in 71 games in 2014-15.
With goaltending depth in rising in the Detroit system, goalie Tom McCollum was not re-signed this summer. He signed a tryout with the Los Angeles Kings. McCollum had been a Red Wing his entire five-year career, spent mostly in Grand Rapids.
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TOP OFFSEASON PLAYER SIGNING(S):
RW – Matt Ford - 64 GP – 27g-24a= 51 pts (Bakersfield AHL)
LW – Matt Lorito - 71 GP – 18g-36a= 54 pts (Albany AHL)
C – Ben Street - 15 GP – 7g-14a= 21 points (San Antonio AHL) * injured in 2015-16
TOP RETURNING PLAYERS:
G Jared Coreau – Was among the best in the AHL Went 29-15-2, posted a 2.43GAA with a .922 SV% and notched 6 shutouts.
F Tyler Bertuzzi – Led the Griffins in PIMs but also posted 30 points as a rookie. Had seven goals in nine playoff games.
D Robbie Russo – Led all GR defensemen in points (39) and led the AHL with a +40. Russo was named All-Rookie Team and to the AHL second All-Star team.
LW Eric Tangradi – The big winger did everything in 2015-16, scored 28 goals and totaled 56 points.
TOP NEW PROSPECTS:
F Evgeny Svechnikov - (1st rd, 19th overall in 2015) – 79 pts (32g-47a) in 59 GP with Cape Breton (QMJHL)
D Joe Hicketts - (Free agent WHL) 59 gp, 8g-53a=61 pts for Victoria (WHL)
LW Dylan Sadowy - (3rd rd, 81st overall in 2014 by San Jose) 70 pts in 64 GP between Saginaw/Barrie (OHL).