Griffins Sign Former Arizona Draft Pick to Two-Year Contract
Former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Carson Bantle signed a two-year deal with the Grand Rapids Griffins
The Grand Rapids Griffins picked up some reinforcements, signing former Arizona Coyotes draft pick Carson Bantle to a two-year AHL contract. The team announced the signing Tuesday afternoon.
Bantle, 22, played the past four seasons in the NCAA, including his three most recent years with Wisconsin. He scored a career-high 19 points last season with the Badgers, 14 of which were team-leading goals. But that strong campaign wasn't enough for the Coyotes — now the Utah Hockey Club — to sign their 2020 fifth round pick.
Bantle had one more year of eligibility as an athlete who played during the 2020-21 season marred by COVID-19. However, cashing in on last season's success by signing with the Griffins foregoes this final year.
As a high-upside winger for the AHL level, Bantle adds depth to a Griffins team that could see a number of its forwards called up to Detroit in the next couple seasons. He can play up and down the lineup if needed, standing at 6-foot-4 and 194 pounds. His breakout last season is an encouraging sign that his game could keep improving, especially when his size translates well to any league.
As he joins Grand Rapids, Bantle is surrounded by a number of previous teammates in Detroit's overall system. He played with forward Trenton Bliss and defenseman Jed Pietila at Michigan Tech, and both of them will play for the Toledo Walleye this season. Current Detroit prospects in forwards Owen Mehlenbacher and defenseman Brady Cleveland, as well as former prospect Sam Stange, were Bantle's teammates at Wisconsin last season.