Wallner: Red Wing assistant GM Ryan Martin discusses the Griffins’ “next wave”

The Grand Rapids Press’s Peter J. Wallner spoke with Red Wings assistant GM and Grand Rapids Griffins GM Ryan Martin regarding the future of the Grand Rapids Griffins as it applies to a future influx of the Red Wings’ top prospects:

The Red Wings have as many as 11 picks within the first six rounds of the NHL draft this June 22-23. That follows 11 selected last season and comes after 13 picks the previous two drafts combined. But, before the best prospects migrate to Detroit over the course of years they will inevitably first change the dynamic of the Griffins.

“At some point in the next four years you’ll see the makeup of the team become significantly different than what he has been the past couple years,” said Ryan Martin, the Red Wings assistant general manager who oversees the Griffins.

That means the organization will look to provide more younger players a shot in the ECHL with Toledo and – more so, they hope – in the AHL with Grand Rapids. For the Griffins, that would mean fewer veterans and seasoned developmental players.

If, for example, the team has five veteran forwards, the number may decrease to three. Likewise, for defensemen; instead of four veterans there may be two.

“We’re going to have to make room for the young kids and the young kids are going to have to have an opportunity to compete for playing time and compete for jobs,” Martin said. “There will be no entitlement, but at the same time we have to make sure we don’t have impediments to them playing and getting an opportunity to play.”

Continued with some roster projections from Martin…

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George Malik

My name is George Malik, and I'm the Malik Report's editor/blogger/poster. I have been blogging about the Red Wings since 2006, and have worked with MLive and Kukla's Korner. Thank you for reading!

5 thoughts on “Wallner: Red Wing assistant GM Ryan Martin discusses the Griffins’ “next wave””

  1. It’s a step in the right direction for the wings org. Late blooming players are becoming more and more rare. If you can’t make an impact on an ahl squad between age 20-23 then you probably don’t have a place in the nhl moving forward.

  2. Reducing veterans on the Griffins huh? Having them develop on a team that migrates to the bottom of the standings and loses their leadership and winning culture? Hoping it makes the future arrive sooner? This is new.. and bold.

    Have fun in Seattle Mr. Holland! Mr.Martin and Mr. Draper sound like they are ready for change. Get out of the way or start drinking the kool- ade.

    1. Well I mean, DET’s prospects who came up like Tatar, Nyquist, etc, all got that veteran leadership experience and… the team in DET is not good. So to be fair, it hasn’t gained them anything yet.

      1. Even the reputation of being an earn it 1st culture is not gaining much UFA respect anymore. AHL maybe, NHL no.

        Parity = less honorable negotiations with Red Wings that should be lifers and leaders. Not the way I would want to run my business…

  3. “Center Mike Rasmussen, the Red Wings No. 1 pick (seventh overall) last year, is expected to join the Griffins for the postseason but, by rule, next fall he will either make the Red Wings or return for his second season of juniors.”

    Erm. This is already Rasmussen’s third junior season right now. It would be his second season as a DET prospect. Either weird wording, or Wallner didn’t understand something.

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