Grand Rapids Griffins | CollegeHockeyPlayers

19Jun

Tomas Tatar(27) Grand Rapids Griffins

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2009 draft (#60 overall), Slovakian-born left wing Tomas Tatar(27) was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the most valuable player in the 2013 AHL Calder Cup Playoffs for his part in Grand Rapid Griffins‘ championship win.

His 16 goals were a postseason best and he finished tied for second in scoring with 21 points.

He started the lockout season back home with SHK 37 Piestany until he was returned to the AHL to keep him closer to the parent club.

He pocketed a swift 5 goals and 5 assists before he returned.

Within the first couple of weeks of the NHL reconvening the small-ish 5’10” 185 lbs. forward was recalled and playing consistently in the show.

In 18 games in the shortened season, he proved his abilities to compete with 4 goals and 3 assists before being sent back down.

He was recalled and reassigned numerous times as a rookie but never appeared in a game until his sophomore season, when he notched a first big league goal in 9 appearances.

The still only 22-year old with four years of North American pro hockey playing experience has another campaign left on his 3-year entry level deal (two seasons of slides due to his young age) and will likely find himself with a full-time role in the show for 2013/2014.

13Jun

Jan Mursak (39)

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th year, 6th round pick in the 2006 draft (#182 overall), Slovenian-born right wing Jan Mursak(39) has already made it public knowledge of his intentions next season to join Amur Khabarovsk of the KHL, reportedly to return to playing on the bigger sheets of ice.

He didn’t let that stand in the way of scoring the winning goal in game three of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals to help his current team, AHL affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins, to a sweep-ready 3-0 series lead.

The 25-year old is set to become an unrestricted free agent after signing a two-year, one-way extension as his entry level contract was up.

He has 46 games of NHL experience to his credit scoring a pair of goals and assists.

In 213 contests in the minors, he’s registered 43 goals and 60 assists with a huge +41 rating.

Almost ironically he started the lockout season back in his country skating for Olimpija Ljubljana in Erste Bank Eishockey Liga, where he logged 30 games, connecting for a career high 48 points and 29 helpers.

If he continues to excel overseas, there could be some room for him to return to North American pro hockey, but it remains to be seen if his heart keeps him closer to home.

10Jun

Francis Pare(9) Grand Rapids Griffins

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Detroit Red Wings‘ undrafted fifth year right wing, Francis Pare(9) scored the winning goal for minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins in game 2 of the 2013 Calder Cup Finals to help give his team a 2-0 series lead.

Appearing in all 20 postseasons contests, he has 3 goals and 9 assists. 2 of his strikes came on the power play, including the recent game-winner.

In 68 2012/2013 regular season outings he notched 22 goals and 22 assists

He is currently in the final campaign of his 2-year contract extension, which he signed as his tw0-year entry level deal was wrapping up.

In his first year as a pro he signed a one-year agreement with the Griffins.

He has played in 363 AHL games, all with Grand Rapids, scoring 102 goals and 135 assists with a +19 rating.

The 5’10” 191 lbs. forward had an outstanding junior career registering 1.12 points per game over 4 seasons in the QMJHL. He was selected league MVP in his final season.

The soon-to-be 26-year old enters his first off season as an unrestricted free agent. He has yet to skate in an NHL game but we have to think his chances of re-upping one more time are good, unless he feels the need to explore the market.

09Jun

Riley Sheahan(19) Grand Rapid Griffins

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 1st round pick in the 2010 draft (#21 overall), rookie center Riley Sheahan(19) got the winning goal for their minor league affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins in game 1 of the AHL Calder Cup Finals.

In 20 postseason contest he has 3 goals and 9 assists with a +6 rating. He appeared in all 72 regular season games and showed excellent point production with 16 markers and 20 helpers.

He’s appeared in a pair of games (one last season after finishing up 3 years at Notre Dame and one this year) with the parent club but has yet to hit the score sheet.

The 6’2″ 212 lbs. forward was never much of a scorer in college hockey but with a fairly large frame at only 21-years old he is definitely a prospect with potential.

05May

Chad Billins(14) Grand Rapid Griffins

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Undrafted, rookie defenseman Chad Billins(14) is a full-on Michigan hockey product.

He was born in Marysville, played his college game with Ferris State University and signed a one-year AHL contract with Grand Rapids Griffins.

The somewhat under-sized 5’10” 182 lbs. blue liner had a good first year campaign playing the complete 76-game regular season schedule scoring 10 goals and 27 assists with a +4 rating.

He was selected as one of three players on his team to represent at the 2013 AHL All-Star Game.

He is participating in his first pro postseason action and has a pair of assists in 5 games as the Griffins advanced to the Western Conference Semi-Finals.

It would be little surprise to see parent club Detroit Red Wings step in, complete the hometown story and sign the soon-to-be 24 year old to an entry level deal.

26Apr

Logan Pyett(39) Connecticut Whale

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5th year defenseman Logan Pyett(39) signed a one-year two-way deal with New York Rangers for 2012/2013 and had himself a career year for assists (32) and points (39) with Connecticut Whale. He finished third on the team in scoring and was also a +9 plus/minus.

The 5’10” 199 lbs. d-man is set to become an unrestricted free agent. No word quite yet if the Blueshirts will retain his services for another year.

He was originally a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2006 draft (#212 overall) and played four seasons with their minor league affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, initially on a three-year entry level deal and then inked an extension for another campaign.

The 24-year old has yet to appear in the NHL but has played in 361 AHL games scoring 30 goals and recently notched his 100th assist.

He was also a good point producer in junior hockey and captained his hometown team Regina Pats of the WHL.

Where he ends up is still a guessing game but regardless, he’s an asset and potential insurance to have on the blue line for any club.

04Mar

Andreas Lilja(6) Adirondack Phantoms

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Philadelphia Flyers‘ 13th year Swedish defenseman Andreas Lilja(6) is having a bit of a tough time finding a spot on the big club’s roster this lockout shortened season and has found himself reassigned to their farm team, Adirondack Phantoms on more than one occasion.

He’s played only a single NHL game thus far but has appeared in 11 AHL games and has three helpers.

The 37-year old has appeared through a smattering of loans to minor league clubs in the last few years but hasn’t spent significant time in the league since his rookie campaign with Lowell Lock Monsters in 2000/2001.

He was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick (#54 overall) in 2000 that already had 4+ years pro experience in SEL.

The sizable 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner has played an outstanding 577 NHL games scoring 16 goals and 77 assists with an overall +32 rating. He was also a member of the 2008 Detroit Red Wings’ Stanley Cup Championship team.

He’s set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current season and it would be no surprise to see him sign with his 6th team for at least one more run.

27Feb

Bryan Helmer(40) Springfield Falcons

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20th year, undrafted veteran defenseman Bryan Helmer(40) signed a contract to play with Springfield Falcons very late in the game, maybe waiting to see how the NHL lockout would unravel before making his move.

He has played an absolutely head-popping 1104 AHL games through 19 seasons and counting. He needs 1200 to catch the number two guy, so he may finally retire at 40-years old as the bronze medalist in the category. He has gold in the Calder Cup Playoff games played though with 158 and three Championship rings to his credit; two in 2009 and 2010 as captain of Hershey Bears and back in 1995 with Albany River Rats, his second year pro.

The solid 6’1″ 209 lbs. d-man has always been thought of as a good two-way player that isn’t afraid to jump up into the offensive action. He does have a pretty impressive 129 goals and 434 assists.

He’s played 146 NHL games (mostly from 1998 – 2004) with four different teams and as recently as 2009 with Washington Capitals. He has a modest 8 goals and 18 assists.

He’s like the ultimate team guy no doubt and we’d love to see him back somewhere for his 21st pro season.

08Feb

Petr Mzarek(34) Detroit Red Wings

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Detroit Red Wings‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#141 overall) rookie Czech net minder Petr Mzarek(34) got the nod for his 1st NHL start and absolutely commanded a 5-1 win over Division rivals St. Louis Blues.

Not bad for a goalie that started his still shiny new pro career in the ECHL with Toledo Walleye for a few games before being recalled to Grand Rapid Griffins.

He posted a 2-1 record with a 2.02 GAA and .944 SV% on a team that looks to be a Kelly Cup contender before receiving the start in his 2nd game back in the AHL and began winning, a lot, all the time.

His 16-7 in 25 games with a 2.26 GAA and .916 SV for the division leading squad is pretty dazzling.

These efforts earned him an invite to the 2013 AHL All-Star Game and was in net for the Western Conference late 3rd period victory.

It would almost be no surprise to see the 6’1″ 187 lbs. goaltender work his way into the mix of starters for the Wings going forward. He’s signed through 2015 on a three-year entry level contract.

The win was a nice early birthday present for the soon-to-be 21-year old Valentine’s Day baby backstop.

28Jan

Garnet Exelby(2) Providence Bruins

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11th year defenseman Garnet Exelby(2) signed a one-year two-way contract with Boston Bruins for the 2012/2013 season.

An Atlanta Thrashers‘ 8th round pick in 1999 (#217 overall) he has skated in 408 NHL games, mostly with his draft team but played one season patrolling the blue line for Toronto Maple Leafs.

His time as a Leaf was his last in the league. He was with Grand Rapids Griffins in 2011/2012 and Rockford Ice Hogs for the previous campaign. The now 31-year old was selected as team captain for both seasons in the AHL.

He has never been a big point-getter but is a good-sized presence in the defensive zone at 6’1″ 210 lbs., has always been fairly accountable on ice and never afraid to drop the mitts to protect a teammate.

In 19 games with Providence Bruins (he’s been hampered by injuries) he has a pair of goals. If the parent club suffers some injuries at the d-spot, the veteran could get a call-up but it’s a bit of a long shot maybe.