Notably, the league-leading Grand Rapids Griffins' roster continues to get stronger as they pursue their best season in AHL history.
Goaltender Michal Postava is back healthy after being injured on Nov. 9 in Chicago. Now forward Amadeus Lombardi is also back, rejoining the Grand Rapids lineup for Tuesday night's 5-4 overtime loss to Milwaukee. Lombardi, who scored 19 goals in the 2024-25 season, has not played in a game since Nov. 21.
Then there's guard Shai Buium, who has settled on the Grand Rapids blueline as one of the Detroit Red Wings' most important young players. But the 22-year-old Buim's strong rookie season did not carry over into the fall, and he joined the Red Wings as a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft. Buum suffered an upper-body injury during training camp with the Red Wings, which sidelined him for the first half of the AHL season. The setback comes after he played in 67 of 72 regular-season games in 2024-25 and finished second among Grand Rapids defensemen with a 2-23-25 ​​record. His first break on the professional schedule came with three appearances in the Calder Cup playoffs.
He certainly missed a lot during his absence. The Griffins achieved an impressive record of 29 wins, 1 draw, 1 draw and 1 loss in the first three months of the season. This mark marks the best 32-game season start in 90 seasons in the AHL. A two-time NCAA national champion at the University of Denver, he now has a chance to compete for the Calder Trophy.
Buim had a big day last Friday night, making his season debut in the Griffins' rare 2-0 loss at home to the Texas Stars. His return prompted the Griffins to field seven defensive linemen, and head coach Dan Watson was pleased with the performance he saw from the rehabbing player in blue.
“I thought he was good,” Watson told the Grand Rapids media after the game. “I mean, there are going to be moments where the reads are slow or the pace is a little too fast or he's a little tired, but that's to be expected. But overall, I thought he skated well. I thought he saw the ice well.
You know, you see he's a smart player. we have met [him] Before, he would be back. It's going to take him some time, but it's great to see him back on our team. “
On Tuesday in Milwaukee, Watson returned to six defensive linemen. NHL veteran Justin Holl returns to the lineup to pair with Buium. Any rust that may have appeared in Buim's season debut seemed to disappear against the Admirals, as he tied the team's lead with four shots on goal.
The Griffins tied an AHL record with a point against the Admirals, their 16th game with at least one point on the road (14-0-1-1).
Next up on Grand Rapids’ schedule is a home game against the Rockford IceHogs on Friday and a rematch against the Griffins at Van Andel Arena on Saturday.
2026 Rockford IceHogs vs Grand Rapids Griffins
There are two ways to look at a midseason return like this for a young rookie. For one thing, it may take him a while to get up to speed with the league's midseason pace, both with teammates and opponents. However, he also wears far less. The Griffins will play eight games in 16 nights to wrap up their January schedule. In February, even with the AHL All-Star Game, there are 11 games. When the season ends in April, there will be eight games in 19 nights. All of this will come before a two-month grind in the playoffs, where this team has to be the clear favorite to win the Calder Trophy given their first-half performance.
So if the Griffins' season stretches into June, Buum will have a lot of hockey to play.
For now, though, the Griffins and Buims are happy to have him back on the ice healthy and healthy.
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