DetroitHockey.net’s Clark Rasmussen wrote a superb analysis of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ situation as it applies to the team’s roster turnover this past summer:
Top scorer Jonatan Berggren, seventh-leading scorer Simon Edvinsson, and fourteenth Albert Johansson are all expected to graduate to the Detroit Red Wings as they are no longer waiver exempt. Hirose (third) is bound for Munich, Zach Aston-Reese (sixth) signed with the Vegas Golden Knights, Joel L’Esperance (tenth) remains unsigned, Austin Czarnik (eleventh) signed in Switzerland, Matt Luff (fifteenth, having played only 26 games due to injury) is in a PTO with the Florida Panthers, Radim Simek (seventeenth) signed back home in Czechia, and Tyler Spezia (nineteenth) is now on an ECHL-only deal with the Toledo Walleye.
The Griffins will, seemingly, be getting some help from some of Detroit’s summer free agent signings. Joe Snively scored 59 for the Hershey Bears last season while Sheldon Dries put up 52 points for the Abbotsford Canucks. That would have put them first and third in scoring for GR, on either side of Berggren. Additionally, William Lagesson didn’t do much at the NHL level last year (and is on a one-way contract with Detroit, anyway) but he could end up with the Griffins and the 32 points he scored for AHL Chicago in 2023 would have made him the Griffins’ leading scorer on defense last year.
After those three, though, the scoring kind of dries up. Tory Dello scored only 13 points for AHL Laval. Chaz Reddekopp has mostly played at the ECHL level. Carson Bantle and Gabriel Seger will be making their pro debuts. The wild card is Jakub Rychlovsky, who will be making his North American debut after putting up 46 points in 51 games in Czechia last season.
