This week's Prospect Roundup takes a look at the Grand Rapids Griffins' playoff run and the impact it could have on Red Wings prospects. Plus notes on Nate Danielson, Andrew Gibson, Shai Buium, and a trio of players whose draft rights are pending expiry.
This week's Prospect Roundup takes a look at the Grand Rapids Griffins' playoff run and the impact it could have on Red Wings prospects. Plus notes on Nate Danielson, Andrew Gibson, Shai Buium, and a trio of players whose draft rights are pending expiry.
Amadeus Lombardi was snakebitten.
For 27 games with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Lombardi couldn’t even buy a goal. Known for his speed and scoring in juniors,the Red Wings fourth-round pick saw his offensive impact diminish down the stretch as the playoffs neared.
But at the perfect time, Lombardi finally broke through.
Down 2-1 with 4:25 left in Grand Rapids’ first playoff game against the Rockford IceHogs, Lombardi scored the game-tying goal to force overtime, where teammate Jonatan Berggren found the game-winner. Welcome to playoff hockey, where it’s now or never to stop a slump and where any player can make a massive impact.
The Griffins’ playoff run offers a chance for the Red Wings prospects — at varying levels of their development — to experience playoff intensity to a whole other level. The Calder Cup Playoffs are an intense, physical affair where prospects look to prove themselves and veterans fight to earn another contract. Considering Detroit’s lack of playoff appearances during an eight-season slump, this offers valuable experience for its next generation.
The Griffins are the second seed in the Western Conference, up 1-0 in the series against Rockford with a game tonight. They’re aided by the likes of Detroit prospects Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson on the blue line, Sebastian Cossa in net, plus Jonatan Berggren and Carter Mazur at forward. Many of these players could be in the NHL lineup in the future, and this playoff experience offers an intensity they can draw from.
For players like Lombardi and others, the playoffs are a proving ground where a season’s worth of struggles and triumphs, issues and development all fly out the window for a clean slate. For some more established prospects, it’s also a chance to prove NHL readiness — especially for Johansson, Berggren and Cossa. A good playoff run can be an indication that they’re ready for a chance to make next season’s Detroit roster.
For now, that playoff run is the highest priority. And if they’re getting goals like Lombardi’s slump breaker, as well as production from the usual suspects like Berggren, its meaning could span far past mere playoff experience.
Around the Prospect Pool
Andrew Gibson
The Red Wings signed 2023 second-round pick and right-shot defenseman Andrew Gibson to an entry level contract last week. The 6-foot-3, 203-pound Soo Greyhound was one of the best defensive defensemen in the OHL last season. He helped the Greyhounds sweep the Guelph Storm in the first round of the playoffs before losing to the Memorial Cup host Saginaw Spirit in seven games. Gibson seems likely to spend another year in Sault Ste. Marie before he goes pro, but his size and defensive identity make him an interesting prospect for the future of the Red Wings’ defense corps.
Nate Danielson
We went in greater depth on this topic yesterday, but Nate Danielson is tearing up the WHL Playoffs right now. He just had a three-assist game on Monday, and his 16 points rank third in the entire playoff. His Portland Winterhawks are up 2-1 in their third round series against the Prince George Cougars. If he keeps making plays — ones that have teammates comparing him to Connor McDavid — then he could be playing hockey deep into May.
Shai Buium
Last Prospect Roundup, we talked about Shai Buium’s journey to signing his ELC and his impending season-ending appearances with Grand Rapids. Well, before the playoff race, Buium found his way into one game playing on the second pairing with Radim Simek. He finished with zero counting stats, but he ended the night at an even plus-minus when his team lost 4-1. Without a big development, it seems that this Calder Cup Playoffs run is more so an opportunity for Buium to learn by example and not by experience.
Theodor Niederbach, Tnias Mathurin and Jan Bednar
These three players see their NHL draft rights expire June 1, meaning they have a month to sign with the Red Wings or otherwise they’ll hit free agency. Niederbach (2020, second round) seems unlikely to sign with Detroit given that he’s slated to return to MoDo Hockey next year in the SHL. Mathurin (2022, fifth round) is a little busy at the moment, in the Eastern Conference Final of the OHL Playoffs. His North Bay Battalion is down 3-0 to the Oshawa Generals, though, which seems to suggest his season will end soon enough. Bednar (2020, fourth round) is still under contract with Grand Rapids Griffins (loaned to Toledo) and has caught a bit of fire in the postseason. In two playoff games against the Kalamazoo Wings, he put up a .934 save percentage in his half of the series sweep. He and tandem partner Jon Lethemon will likely split starts against Wheeling in the second round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs next, which kicks off Friday.
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