As NHL heavyweight contenders slug it out in tightly contested playoff races, one team on the AHL undercard has managed to steal some of headlines
The AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins, the Detroit Red Wings affiliate, has played 33 games and only lost twice in regulation. Their 29-2-1-1 record (60 points) represents the best start in the American Hockey League’s 90-year history.
“There’s a lot of real positives going on down there, and we’re happy for them,” Red Wings coach Todd McLellan said. “They deserve it."
The 90 years is not an exaggeration. The AHL launched in 1936-37. America was still recovering from the Great Depression. Gas sold for 19 cents per gallon. A pound of hamburger was 12 cents and a loaf of bread cost eight cents. You could drive a new Studebaker out of a showroom for $665 all-in.
The country was experiencing significant economic growth for the first time in several years, but unemployment was still at 16.9%. You can bet many in the business community were skeptical about the viability of a new hockey league. But remarkably, 90 years later the AHL is a thriving business operation. And people are talking about the Griffins.
Grand Rapids has been so dominant that the Griffins lead their division by 20 points. Only one team is within 10 points of them. Coach Dan Watson’s team leads the league in goals (124) and fewest goals against (64). Their .909 points percentage is off-the-chart incredible. The Griffins' 87.5% penalty killing efficiency also leads the league.
It’s not like their surge is a hot spell. When the Griffins play a road game tonight against Milwaukee Admirals, it will be their 34th game. That’s the midpoint of their season.
Top Prospects Help
The AHL is a development league, and the Griffins are benefitting from Detroit’s No. 1 goaltending prospect Sebastian Cossa who currently owns the AHL’s best goaltending numbers (17-1-1 record, 1.68 GAA and .937 save percentage).
Red Wings 2024 first-round pick Michael Brandsegg-Nygard also had 21 points in 28 games and Amadeus Lombardi was putting up a point per game before he was injured.
John Leonard, who spent nine games with the Red Wings, has 20 goals and 32 points in just 23 games
It is not all youngsters getting it done. Wanting to have a younger NHL roster, GM Steve Yzerman sent veteran defensemen Justin Holl and Erik Gustafsson to Grand Rapids. Both have played impressively well for Grand Rapids. Gustafsson is an offensive force at the AHL level with 20 points in 21 games.
The Red Wings credit Dan Watson’s coaching as playing a major role in what’s happening this season.
The amazing part of the story is that some of the exciting players the Griffins thought they were getting this season made the Red Wings and are still in Detroit. That includes Axel Sandin Pellikka and Emmitt Finnie. Nate Danielson, a 2023 first-round draft pick, only was recently reassigned to Grand Rapids after spending 28 games in Detroit.
It’s been an amazing story. If Carter Mazur didn’t make the Red Wings, it was anticipated he would be among the Griffins top scorers. He has only played five games for Grand Rapids. The Griffins season has almost been too good to be true.