Confirmed with Link: Canucks sign college FA Griffen Molino (Western Michigan University) to two-year ELC

[Jabba The Hutton]

Hearing that Griffen Molino is leaving Western Michigan to sign with The @Canucks. He was an undrafted free agent

http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=159696

33 points in 40 games with W. Michigan this year.

Here is a link from a Detroit Red Wings article about him, I believe he also went to one of their development camps.
https://www.nhl.com/redwings/news/griffen-molino-returns-to-joe-louis-arena-for-the-gli/c-284965152

Click to read more...

 

[Canucks LB]

Scouting report? Anybody seen him play?

 

[Canucks LB]

His name is Griffen Molino no?

Kid was a Canucks follower in 2011 it looks like lmao

First thing I found when typing in his name.

 

[Angry Little Elf]

Cool name

 

[cc]

hockeydb says he's a forward.
I'm assuming he's not a center even though centers are forwards

he's a Canucks fan born in michigan? I think that's probably pretty rare

 

[Josepho]

I have a random hunch that he'll play for no good reason.

hockeydb says he's a forward.
I'm assuming he's not a center.

he's a Canucks fan born in michigan? I think that's probably pretty rare

I'm pretty sure he was just cheering against the Bruins. After creeping even further, I saw him cheering for the Bolts in Round 3 and talking about the Red Wings.

Also found these

 

[jeromemorrow]

Lol.. cute tweets & FB posts. A Diehard American Canucks fan! NICE!

Welcome to Vancouver/Utica !!!

 

[vancityluongo]

 

[Snatcher Demko]

Well, you gotta like that personality.

But can anyone provide a scouting report? Is he the next Alex Friesen?

 

[Canucks LB]

The kid is hilarious, he is like a fan playing hockey. Love it, hope he makes it

 

[LastWordArmy]

Short Scouting Report in Here.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/03/07/top-2017-college-hockey-free-agents-part-3/

 

[jeromemorrow]

Short Scouting Report in Here.

http://lastwordonhockey.com/2017/03/07/top-2017-college-hockey-free-agents-part-3/

Thanks for the link.

Sounds a lot like a LW version of William Lockwood ... but with a hilarious social media personality (<-- not sure how it'll fly with the old guard)

 

[Jyrki21]

Wait, we finally got a guy with a tweet history favorable to the Canucks? I want him on PP1 yesterday.

In your faces, Mike Duco, Jayson Megna and, yes, Nolan Patrick.

 

[particularsolution]

23 already and not the most impressive stats. Seems like a low upside signing.

 

[Nucker101]

Yeah, the stats are underwhelming, especially for his age, but it looks like his team was pretty low-scoring as well. Guess we'll find out, I do trust our American scouting more than our Canadian scouting.

Seems like a funny guy at least.

 

[krutovsdonut]

he seems fine as a lottery ticket, but is this a level of free agent entry level contracts we've seen with other rebuilding teams? this seems like a lot of 3 year contracts being handed out for lottery tickets. i am not sure what the canuck's contract management plan is, but this would have to be depressing for current unsigned late round canuck draft picks and at minimum i'd assume they can't do this year after year.

 

[Zombotron]

It's a two-year ELC.

"Due to Molino being 23-years-old per section 9.1 and 9.2 of the NHL/NHLPA CBA, the entry-level contract will be two years."

 

[Nucker101]

he seems fine as a lottery ticket, but is this a level of free agent entry level contracts we've seen with other rebuilding teams? this seems like a lot of 3 year contracts being handed out for lottery tickets. i am not sure what the canuck's contract management plan is, but this would have to be depressing for current unsigned late round canuck draft picks and at minimum i'd assume they can't do this year after year.

Yeah, they're likely going to have a handful of these guys playing in the ECHL, it's pretty rare for guys at 20+ who went undrafted to even play 1 season in the NHL, or even become high quality AHL players.

I feel like they should be more selective with these and try to get some of these guys(or similar players) signed to AHL deals with Utica so it won't hinder their 50 contract limit in the future.

It seems like a weak year for undrafted ufa prospects anyway.

Hopefully 1 of these guys pans out.

Edit:

It's a two-year ELC.

"Due to Molino being 23-years-old per section 9.1 and 9.2 of the NHL/NHLPA CBA, the entry-level contract will be two years."

That's better.

 

[JumpierPegasus]

Late bloomer, didn't join the NCAA until last year at 22. Canucks brass probably liked that he was one of the top scorers on his team after only one season in the league. Maybe he can develop for another season or two but don't see him more than a Mike Zalewski type

 

[valkynax]

23, pt production looks very underwhelming. Projected...4th liner?


EDIT: Is it possible that we are making up for the lack of picks in the last couple of years by rounding up as many undrafted/college/outer league players as possible? I guess it's worth the time.

 

[jeromemorrow]

Yeah, they're likely going to have a handful of these guys playing in the ECHL, it's pretty rare for guys at 20+ who went undrafted to even play 1 season in the NHL, or even become high quality AHL players.

I feel like they should be more selective with these and try to get some of these guys(or similar players) signed to AHL deals with Utica so it won't hinder their 50 contract limit in the future.

It seems like a weak year for undrafted ufa prospects anyway.

Hopefully 1 of these guys pans out.

Edit:



That's better.

I seriously wonder whether we even need a ECHL team because:
(1) are we even developing guys from Utica? If no, let's focused and get the pipeline running efficiently first from Comets-to-Canucks
(2) we can easily just loan out or put our extra guys on to another ECHL team, no?
(3) Alaska to Utica is quite a distance... and now that Alaska is defunct and we're staying in Utica, just pick one that's close so there could be emergency call-ups from a geographical standpoint.

 

[jeromemorrow]

I think there was a clip with Weisbrod and Brackett in their pre-draft video in summer 2016 that they're trying to get as many characters guys that resemble Burrows (skilled, agitating & high compete).. esp. with their later "gambles"

 

[VanillaCoke]

We signing alot of underwhelming overagers.

 

[TruGr1t]

EDIT: Is it possible that we are making up for the lack of picks in the last couple of years by rounding up as many undrafted/college/outer league players as possible? I guess it's worth the time.

I would say that's definitely part of it. Noted it in another FA thread, but management has done a terrible job establishing legit depth in the farm system. Utica is constantly low on talent, and seems to get gutted every time there's an injured Canuck. The draft pick problem is certainly part of that, as you'd typically amass a bunch of late-round guys that can at least play depth roles in the AHL.

Also, I trust our NCAA scouts way more than any other area, so there's that.

 

[Josepho]

I think there was a clip with Weisbrod and Brackett in their pre-draft video in summer 2016 that they're trying to get as many characters guys that resemble Burrows (skilled, agitating & high compete).. esp. with their later "gambles"

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