Griffins shatter records, clinching the earliest playoff spot ever. Discover the historic dominance and rising stars propelling this unforgettable season.
The Grand Rapids Griffins, AHL affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings, continue to rewrite the record books during a historic 2025-26 campaign. Grand Rapids officially clinched a playoff berth on March 6, marking the earliest postseason qualification in franchise history and the earliest by any AHL team since the 1992-93 Binghamton Rangers secured their spot on February 24 with 24 games remaining.
Remarkably, the milestone came despite a 3-2 loss to the Iowa Wild on Friday. The Griffins still boast a league-best 40-8-3-1 record, good for 84 points through 52 games. Their dominance has been consistent all season, as they set AHL records for best points percentage through 20, 35, 40, and 50 games in the league’s 90-year history.
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Several young standouts have fueled the surge like Red Wings prospect Michael Brandsegg-Nygard has caught fire with five goals in his last five games, while defenseman Shai Buium has made an immediate impact since returning from a preseason injury, recording points in back-to-back games and totaling nine points in 19 appearances.
Latvian forward Eduards Tralmaks has also provided a spark following his Olympic stint, posting a goal and an assist since returning and tallying five points over his last six contests.
With 20 games remaining, Grand Rapids now shifts its focus toward maintaining momentum and potentially finishing with one of the greatest regular-season records in AHL history. What has already been a breakthrough season could become even more memorable as the Griffins prepare for what promises to be an exciting playoff run.
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