Prospect Info: Grand Rapids Griffins 2013/14

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Evans and Grant signed.

http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=2549

Wise choice to bring back the sandpaper, fill the skill from within.

Agreed. They need that little bit of experience and toughness, especially on the blueline.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Video about Griffins Calder run. Part one of apparently six parts. Length 15 mins.

Btw, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

 

[ChadS]

Great video, looking forward to the next ones.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Wonder what our own Euros think of Landon and Sheahan calling the guy out on picking on Euros, like that kind of sounded like they themselves are picking on them without realizing it.

 

[Vladdy84]

Video about Griffins Calder run. Part one of apparently six parts. Length 15 mins.

Btw, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Excellent.

"You're Dad sucked too!"



Still think we should replace Babcock with Blashill to prevent Cleary getting signed and putting us through hell for 3 years.

Glad they call Landon, Lando. He should change him name now.

Tatar deserves to play with Datsyuk Or at least on the PP or top 6 in some capacity next year.

 

[WingsMike]

Great vid. LOL at 10:03 they gave a Flip doll to Almquist for his goal.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Wonder what our own Euros think of Landon and Sheahan calling the guy out on picking on Euros, like that kind of sounded like they themselves are picking on them without realizing it.

I was thinking that too. Sort of a weird moment.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I was thinking that too. Sort of a weird moment.

I mean especially since it is over leveling an AHL rookie in Pulkkinen in one of his first games. All they need to say is nice work tough guy targeting our 5'10" rookies.

Although you just saw the abuse Landon faces nightly because of his name in this video. You see guys always chatting him up in contests.

Also love watching guys bounce of Glendening a whole bunch and some of the clever stuff he does with his stick.

Then saying "these guys don't like me much." That guy is going to play in the league, cannot believe how much I like a U of M hockey player.

 

[newfy]

It seems pretty well known that Europeans arent used to the fighting aspect of the game and none on the griffins play that style. Im sure its known around the league to, guys who go after euros (esoecially youong ones) would get a bad rep pretty quick. I'm sure guys like Pulu would be the first to admit they arent scrappers, not sure why you guys care that much lol

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

It seems pretty well known that Europeans arent used to the fighting aspect of the game and none on the griffins play that style. Im sure its known around the league to, guys who go after euros (esoecially youong ones) would get a bad rep pretty quick. I'm sure guys like Pulu would be the first to admit they arent scrappers, not sure why you guys care that much lol

I am not saying it isn't accurate, my point was why even call your own teammates "Euros" like that. Even if you think that come up with better words for why you think he is picking on guys. In this particular case you have a smaller rookie, they were also mad at this particular guy for chasing other rookies in Jurco and Almqvist during the series. So yes they are European guys, but just use a better description.

Water under the bridge, just surprised to hear both of them vocalize it. Also interesting to see Sheahan talking. I know Callahan and Ferraro never shut up having watched a ton of Griffins games. Interesting to see Riley yap a little.

Tatar is a Euro, doubt they would say that about targeting him, because he fights back. Like you said point out he is going after non-fighters and rookies. Should he be on the team next year (think he starts in the ECHL) but Nedomlel will be one of the toughest guys in the outfit.

 

[waltdetroit]

Billings to Flames, 2-way

http://www.mlive.com/griffins/index.ssf/2013/07/grand_rapids_griffins_lose_top.html

 

[golffuul]

Francis Pare is headed to the Finnish League HC TPS:

via Twitter:

Francis pare ‏@F9Pare
Thanks to all @griffinshockey fans,front office, Dogg/@steggnastyy and old teamates! Its time for a new start with @HCTPS .#pesky #9 #ELE

 

[waltdetroit]

Hoggan signs & more news

http://griffinscentral.com/articles/070813.html

 

[griffs]

Paestch signed for 2 years as well.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Hoggan signs & more news

http://griffinscentral.com/articles/070813.html

Interesting that they have Paetsch in talks and then have both him and Hoggan signed through 2015 on the depth chart.

I know we have a ton of D prospects to work in but signing all of our vets back will be big as we transition in some of the younger guys, even if it bothers people that look at this team solely as a Wings proving ground. The left wing looks rough down there. I expect Jurco is moving over to the left wing this season. He can play both wing positions and has, but with the way the right wing is stacking up I expect him to be solely on the left next year.

They need to find a taker for Fournier, maybe include him in one of the deals shipping out one of our excesses forwards with the big club.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I like getting the vets back. I don't know what they'll do with the defense pairings, but the leadership aspect is so, so important since GR is primarily a place of development. It seems like they help make a good locker room group for the team, and Blashill clearly works well with what they bring.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

The left wing looks rough down there. I expect Jurco is moving over to the left wing this season. He can play both wing positions and has, but with the way the right wing is stacking up I expect him to be solely on the left next year.

I could see that.

I was thinking that maybe we'd see something to the effect of:

Ferraro-Jarnkrok-Jurco
Pulkkinen-Sheahan-Frk
Hoggan-Glendening-Callahan
Grant-Aubry-Parkes

but I don't see that 2nd line working out. Pulkkinen is more of a playmaker, but I don't think there's anybody there to really possess the puck the way you'd like. Maybe something closer to:

Ferraro-Jarnkrok-Frk
Pulkkinen-Sheahan-Jurco

What I like about that is that Ferraro and Frk will play with a bit some edge and grit, which is pretty much what Jarnkrok lacks, and yet the line should be able to score. Pulkkinen would obviously be the question mark on that second line, but I think he could step up to it. If not, you give Tvrdon a shot at it.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I could see that.

I was thinking that maybe we'd see something to the effect of:

Ferraro-Jarnkrok-Jurco
Pulkkinen-Sheahan-Frk
Hoggan-Glendening-Callahan
Grant-Aubry-Parkes

but I don't see that 2nd line working out. Pulkkinen is more of a playmaker, but I don't think there's anybody there to really possess the puck the way you'd like. Maybe something closer to:

Ferraro-Jarnkrok-Frk
Pulkkinen-Sheahan-Jurco

What I like about that is that Ferraro and Frk will play with a bit some edge and grit, which is pretty much what Jarnkrok lacks, and yet the line should be able to score. Pulkkinen would obviously be the question mark on that second line, but I think he could step up to it. If not, you give Tvrdon a shot at it.

With the way the left wings look, I don't know how you don't give Tvrdon a big shot. He should have a nice one at camp because they need what he has. My guess is Nestrasil is closer than you have him. But we will see a lot of that comes down to a battle between Tvrdon, Nestrasil and Parkes. I think we all know who I hope wins it and who I think is the most talented there.

Ferraro is a C/RW as is Glendening. So the centers you might role out to the wings will also want to be on the right. Think Frk is going to start farther down the lineup, either him or Pulkkinen is going to be lower than people are expecting right now on the depth chart.

 

[joe89]

I didn't think they would bring both D's back but here we are and I like it after all. Getting Hoggan back is kind of a key move for me though.

Overall we are gaining a few more bodies than we lose so it's gonna be interesting to see if all prospects, especially on D, survive the summer. Not that I'm sentimental about sending Coetzee, Parkes, Nestrasil and Fournier to Toledo.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I didn't think they would bring both D's back but here we are and I like it after all. Getting Hoggan back is kind of a key move for me though.

Overall we are gaining a few more bodies than we lose so it's gonna be interesting to see if all prospects, especially on D, survive the summer. Not that I'm sentimental about sending Coetzee, Parkes, Nestrasil and Fournier to Toledo.

Yeah at this point we are loading up Toledo pretty good. Since the qualified Tom McCollum, he or Coreau will be down there. That and a couple D, and enough forwards to stock the top lines down there.

Don't really care but they are going to have an extremely unusual amount of talent for that level down there. We should also send Sammy down there.

 

[ChadS]

Got to remember the Griffs are losing guys like Tatar, Andersson, Gus who are basically veterans. It's very important to bring these 4 vets back who are all real leaders. Hoggan seems like a great guy and captain.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Overall we are gaining a few more bodies than we lose so it's gonna be interesting to see if all prospects, especially on D, survive the summer. Not that I'm sentimental about sending Coetzee, Parkes, Nestrasil and Fournier to Toledo.

If they ship anybody out, I hope it's Almquist. Might be wishful thinking, though...

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

If they ship anybody out, I hope it's Almquist. Might be wishful thinking, though...

I sure don't, but would love to see them move Fournier while they are dumping some contracts. Teams might be interested enough in him, if they have contracts under some control a team might take a flyer.

Almqvist was on our number 1 pairing and has a good thing with Paetsch, he will be important while our other guys are feeling out pro hockey.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

I sure don't, but would love to see them move Fournier while they are dumping some contracts. Teams might be interested enough in him, if they have contracts under some control a team might take a flyer.

Almqvist was on our number 1 pairing and has a good thing with Paetsch, he will be important while our other guys are feeling out pro hockey.

We should dump Fournier for sure. I meant that, of the guys who are currently penciled in for roster spots, we should trade away Almquist before the others.

Almquist
Jensen
Ouellet
Sproul
Marchenko
Paetsch
Evans

In that group, I just don't know who sits. I guess Evans could, or maybe they could rotate or something. and that's not to get into other issues, such as what to do with Nicastro and Nedomlel for the season.

 

[Henkka]

We should dump Fournier for sure. I meant that, of the guys who are currently penciled in for roster spots, we should trade away Almquist before the others.

Almquist
Jensen
Ouellet
Sproul
Marchenko
Paetsch
Evans

In that group, I just don't know who sits. I guess Evans could, or maybe they could rotate or something. and that's not to get into other issues, such as what to do with Nicastro and Nedomlel for the season.

Paetsch will sit if he is signed. I think that's the reason why hasn't been signed. Maybe he will wan't a regular role from elsewhere.

I'm 99% sure that the starting Top6 will be those five kids + Evans.

One injury and Paetsch is in. One callup from NHL, and Paetsch is in. AHL roster always changes lot more than NHL one.

Fournier, Nicastro, Nedomlel will be starting from ECHL.