There has been some great news today regarding the Griffins.
First up is the new Griffins web site. I think it looks sharp, and is a huge improvement. The site now looks up to par with other AHL team sites, nice a professional. It’s a shame that the web is no longer dial-up friendly.
Moving on to moving players. The Griffins got their ‘First Wave’ of players for the season.
October 3, Griffinshockey.com: The Detroit Red Wings on Friday assigned nine players to the Grand Rapids Griffins, including goaltender Daniel Larsson; defensemen Jakub Kindl, Sergei Kolosov and Logan Pyett; and forwards Randall Gelech, Darren Haydar, Evan McGrath, Ryan Oulahen and Jamie Tardif. Also coming to Grand Rapids are five players on Griffins contracts who were released by Detroit, including defensemen P.J. Atherton, Tom Galvin and Jason Jozsa; and forwards Francis Lemieux and Francis Pare.
In addition, Grand Rapids announced that it has received center Aaron Gagnon on loan from the Dallas Stars, who are without an American Hockey League affiliate this season.
The Griffins also released nine players today upon the conclusion of their training camp at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit: goaltender Isaac Reichmuth; defensemen Johann Kroll, Brett Peterson, Kelly Sullivan and Adam Welch; and forwards Andrew Fournier, Matt McKnight, Evan Rankin and Geoff Walker.
Tags: Darren Haydar is in Traverse City for Red Wings training camp. He sat down with Michael Zuidema of The Grand Rapids Press to talk about why he went from the Chicago Wolves to the Grand Rapids Griffins. It does seem a little strange to see a player move from the Calder Cup champs to a team that is going to be doing a lot of rebuilding this season.
September 22, Grand Rapids Press: “I already crossed sides once going from [the] Milwaukee [Admirals] to Chicago. I’m making my way around the lake,” Haydar said, laughing. “I’m just trying to give myself the best opportunity to make it at the NHL level. Detroit plays a skilled game, and I feel like I fit their mold.”
Haydar hopes to make a strong impression on Red Wings coaches during training camp at Centre I.C.E. Arena, but he knows that Detroit’s depth makes cracking the lineup a difficult task.
George James Malik from Mlive.com also makes mention of the Haydar interview.
September 22, Mlive.com: Grand Rapids Griffins forward Darren Haydar is a tremendous point-producer at the AHL level, and he was spectacular for the Chicago Wolves on their way to the Calder Cup last season, but he tells the Grand Rapids Press’s Michael Zuidema that “jumping ship” to an up-and-coming franchise wasn’t a difficult decision
