Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
When the Grand Rapids Griffins chose their nickname in 1995, it proved to be a fitting choice.
The name gryphon appears in ancient mythology and represents strength and protection. This is a great fit for a hockey team, both on the ice and in terms of merchandise.
Thirty years later, the Griffins continue to live up to their name. They joined the AHL in 2001, affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings in 2002, and won the Calder Cup twice, in 2013 and 2017. They send players to Detroit year after year and have become the cornerstone of the team on and off the ice.
Now, their 8-0 start has made them the last undefeated team in the AHL and atop the competitive Central Division. They visited Chicago this afternoon and left a perfect mark.
The AHL record for winning streak to start a season is 13 games, set by Utica in 2021. But the coaching staff won't care too much about the record. What they really want this time of year is something simple: practice time. There are many more. With new faces and a lighter schedule early in the season, the team can get organized and get their systems firmly in place before the game schedule starts to get tight.
Today's game is the Griffins' first game since last Sunday. There are just two games in the week ahead — Wednesday morning and Friday night — both at home against Toronto. It's a nice pace, with plenty of practice time and enough gameplay action to keep players engaged.
Early data shows head coach Dan Watson He and his staff are making the most of the early schedule. Grand Rapids leads the league in both offense (4.25 goals per game) and defense (2.00 goals allowed per game), tied with Providence and Colorado. John LeonardAfter a 36-goal season in Charlotte, the Griffins have scored nine goals in seven games this year. Dominic Shane (six goals, three assists) is riding the fastest offensive pace of his nine-year career. Carter Mazur After missing most of last season due to injury, he scored four goals in five games and Nate Danielson He was recalled to Detroit this weekend to make his NHL debut.
senior defenseman Justin Hall and Eric Gustafson Adds over 900 games of NHL game experience to the Griffin blue line. Pair with top prospects Sebastian Cosa and rookie Michal Postava He won the Czech League title last season and has performed well in tennis so far, alternating starts.
It's hard to find a weakness in this lineup. It has something for everyone: proven performers, a slew of top prospects and intriguing young players to keep prospect watchers from Detroit and far away intrigued.
The Griffins will play their ninth game on Sunday, eight points into their schedule. There are still months and months, game after game, to be done. Detroit is off to a 9-5-0-0 start, which is good news for the Griffins as well. Winning at the NHL level allows us to be more patient with our AHL prospects.
But this is a Griffins team that picked up points early and looks very much like a team to watch closely this season.
About two decades in the American Hockey League, TheAHL.com feature writer Patrick Williams also currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. In 2016, he received the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of the league.
