Grand Rapids Griffins 2012-13 ‎- Part 2

[Debrincat93]

A 2.51 and a .907 is decent but nothing to brag about in todays NHL, its actually very average or below. In the clips i've seen of him the past few years, the goals he allows are bad, bad angles, bad judgements and just stuff that does not show progress. I have also read reports from people who i trust that exemplifies the same thing.

I was in the minority about Howard being legit beause he wasnt doing these things. I saw game after game in the AHL when i lived in GR and he was getting left out to try, never a wrong angle, just bad defense, bad breaks, bad everything. TM, he just doesnt play the position right. Angles are piss poor. I will stay in the minority but 3-4 years from now, we will see.

 

[Debrincat93]

Mrazek has 11 wins from 14 games, which is almost 80%. Wow.

and he's also a .16 and 0.39 GAA better. and he's over 2 years younger. That's huge at that stage.

TM was a '08 draftee. This is a draft where by now we could have had a impact player ready to play for us this year. Sucks to know this was a wasted draft pick. Sucks to know our best pick was Nyquist in round 5.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

Time to give the reigns to Mrazek and move on.

Mrazek has the reigns so.... I am glad McCollum has improved a bunch this year, can never have enough goalies in your system. I don't know that he will get a contract after this year anyway, but it should be pointed out he has improved. Might not be enough for the NHL, but lets call a spade a spade and not pick on the guy like he is playing the same he did for the first year and a half as a Griffin and he has been much better for the last year in a half, deserves some credit for it.

 

[GoAwayDanCleary]

Mrazek has been on fire.

 

[InjuredChoker]

and he's also a .16 and 0.39 GAA better. and he's over 2 years younger. That's huge at that stage.

TM was a '08 draftee. This is a draft where by now we could have had a impact player ready to play for us this year. Sucks to know this was a wasted draft pick. Sucks to know our best pick was Nyquist in round 5.

4th round. Last pick though.

5th round pick was Julien Cayer

 

[InjuredChoker]

 

[Fugu]

Surfacing for air for a moment.....

I've been busy on the business board so I haven't had a chance to follow the Griffs closely. How are Smitty and Nyquist looking so far?

 

[waltdetroit]

Smith is good but not really up to expectations (B to B+). Nyquist started great but really slowed down scoring wise - suspected shoulder injury - still great D (A-). IMHO

 

[JmanWingsFan]

Surfacing for air for a moment.....

I've been busy on the business board so I haven't had a chance to follow the Griffs closely. How are Smitty and Nyquist looking so far?

When I saw Smith in person, he was solid and scored a goal. My guess is he's just floating until he takes the next step to the NHL where he has more to accomplish. Nyquist was invisible, 'cept for some decent puck cycling routines with his line.

One thing I forgot to mention last Friday... I saw Smith try and pick off a forward for a breakaway... Almost led to a disaster. Quite interesting, though.

 

[joe89]

Surfacing for air for a moment.....

I've been busy on the business board so I haven't had a chance to follow the Griffs closely. How are Smitty and Nyquist looking so far?

They're doing what's expected of them I think. Whatever last steps they might take in their development, they'll take in the NHL.

Truth be told, I probably expected Smith to have a higher ppg average than last season. But Billins has had a hot start and the Griffins have a good puck moving core spreading the points between them, which is some of the explanation behind it.

Nyquist is, save for the OKC guys, right up there in scoring. He's keeping up with guys like Niederreiter, Schenn and Connolly. Despite being kinda quiet lately.

 

[InjuredChoker]

Nice article about our goalies/URL]

"I think, honestly, the biggest difference is I'm playing relaxed now," said McCollum, who's in his fourth season in Grand Rapids. "At the start of the season I felt like I was pressing ... as time went on I'm learning to let the plays come to me,"

"A lot of it is how confident he (Mrazek) is," McCollum said. "That's never seems to be an issue for him. He knows he can do it and succeed in every situation. And, at times, that's been a problem for me in the past, so it's nice to see and try an incorporate in my game."

"He's (McCollum) always been a very hard worker," Benard said. "Almost too hard and too hard on himself. We tweaked a few things around the net, but mostly it's about maintaining focus, maintaining that great attitude throughout a game."

 

[MrMariusz]

Griffins return to the ice this evening; ended 2012 on a pretty high note, cheers to them.

 

[RedMachine87]

Anyone know where I could watch the game online? Preferably on a non-scummy site with a decent feed?

 

[ProPAIN]

Griffins return to the ice this evening; ended 2012 on a pretty high note, cheers to them.

Against Oklahoma (Justin Shultz, Eberle, Hall, etc.). Should be fun.

 

[MBauer]

Griffins better bring their A game, especially the D, or else they might get lit up.

 

[joe89]

Both Andersson and Pare out..

 

[JmanWingsFan]

Both Andersson and Pare out..

Yet they're still winning...

Sheahan... Doin' pretty good, methinks. Still got that play last friday stuck in my head. He's smart, I'll give him that.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Just amazing spin-a-rama pass by Tatar to Sheahan for a goal. Highlight reel for sure.

Smith playing very well too, already 2 assists in mid-2nd period. I think he wants to show up Schultz, who is a -3.

 

[joe89]

Sheahan and Ferraro on the PK.. money.

 

[Unfriendly Ghost]

Schultz, who is a -3.

-4 now.

 

[JmanWingsFan]

Ferraro is having a nice comeback season as well... I LOVE OUR PROSPECT POOL SO MUCH.

 

[JmanWingsFan]

Sheahan's got 3 points

 

[joe89]

Very nice to see Smith finally get some points in bunches. 3 so far. Sheahan 2+1 aswell.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

It looks like a lot of the Griffins big guns were looking forward to this game. They have really showed up. Sheahan has been the best first year AHL player on the ice. That is including Eberle and Hall right now.

 

[MBauer]

Ferraro and Sheahan are so dangerous shorthanded. I want to see Ferraro on Helm's wing and Sheahan centering the fourth line.