His first season as a pro in North America was delayed by injury. But Antti Tuomisto has made up for lost time.

The 6-4 Finnish defenseman, taken with the No. 35 pick in the 2019 NHL draft, spent last season in Finland (TPS Turku) after playing the previous two years at the University of Denver. A shoulder injury sustained in practice early in this season sidelined him until mid-December.

Since then, he has played in 45 games, with five goals and 12 assists and a plus-minus of +7, gaining the admiration of his teammates, and attention from the highest levels of the Red Wings organization.

The post Tuomisto GR Development Drawing Attention in Detroit (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Grand Rapids Griffins play on the road (8 p.m. ET) against the Rockford IceHogs tonight needing just one point to clinch a first-round playoff bye and a berth in the Central Division semifinals.

One reason why the Griffins are enjoying an improved season is the play of Detroit Red Wings prospect goalie Sebastian Cossa. He continued his strong play Friday night by making 24 saves to beat the IceHogs 3-0 for his second shutout of the season. Cossa extended his streak to 19 consecutive games of earning at least one point for the Griffins. He hasn’t lost a game in regulation since Jan. 12. Cossa is 19-7-9 on the season with a 2.47 goals-against average.

“This was a great bounce back game,” said Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson. “He wasn’t overly great last game. But tonight, again I have said that several times in the past, having a good bounce-back game,  seeing the puck. challenging the shooter, being big around the crease. It’s good for him.”

The Griffins now own a home streak of earning at least one point in 19 consecutive games. The Griffins are now trying to tighten up defensively and working to be harder to play against in preparation for the playoffs.

Forward Jonatan Berggren, recently sent down by the Red Wings, scored his 24th goal of the season for the Griffins on Friday. Matt Luff and Carter Mazur assisted. Berggren has a nine-game points streak (15 points).

Prospect Amadeus Lombardi also picked up two assists in the game. The 20-year-old center, drafted in the fourth round, now has 24 points on the season.  Defenseman Albert Johansson, projected to play for the Red Wings next season, also had an assist.

The post Griffins Can Improve Their Playoff Picture Tonight appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

With the Grand Rapids Griffins firmly in the AHL playoffs, the Detroit Red Wings and their affiliate have made some moves with the future in mind.

The Griffins signed North Dakota forward Hunter Johannes to an amateur tryout contract for 2024 and standard American Hockey League player contract beginning next season on Wednesday. He joins forward Emmitt Finnie (No. 201, 2023) and goalie Carter Gylander (No. 191, 2019), who signed similar contracts with the Red Wings last month.

Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson says adding the trio now should give them a head start on next season.

“We want to make sure (they) come in and and sees what the American League is all about,” he said. “You can get these kids a head start into what’s expected, so they’re prepared for pro hockey. I think it’s a great step in the right direction for their development.”

Additions To Contribute Immediately

Finnie has already played in two games for the Griffins after a standout season at Kamloops of the WHL. He’s the second of the Red Wings’ 2023 draft picks to sign with Detroit. It’s not a given that an NHL team would sign a seventh-round pick, but the Red Wings liked the growth in Finnie’s game this season enough to give him a contract.

Gylander, 22, joins fellow 2019 draftees Antti Tuomisto, Albert Johansson and Elmer Soderblom on the Griffins roster. The 6-4, 165-pound goalie recently finished his college career at Colgate. He backstopped the Raiders to their first ECAC championship in more than 30 years in 2022-23. He was 14-14-4 with a 2.93 GAA and a .901 save percentage this season.

“Carter Gylander helped make Colgate a solid NCAA team,” said NHL draft analyst and NHLdraftbuzz.com owner Russ Cohen. “He stays on his knees a lot since he’s 6’5″. He has a very effective blocker and his leg saves are quick and he’s good at directing the puck to the corners to keep the play going. His glove is ok, it could be better. He has quick covers and he is rarely out of position. Gylander hugs the post well. Sometimes gives up the low goal when he has to move from post to post. I think he may be a future NHL backup.”

Johannes, 25, played in 31 games for North Dakota.This despite a lower-body injury that sidelined him for much of the second half of the season. The 6-3, 210-pound forward scored 12 goals with seven assists for North Dakota.

Watson said Johannes will add a size element to the Griffins.

“Our expectations are he’s going to come in, get some minutes, get some games and see how he does,” Watson said. “So we’re excited about it. We’re excited to have fresh faces in that locker room in the lineup. It does create some energy.”

For now, Johannes’ contract is owned by the Griffins. But the Red Wings will obviously be able to watch him, especially next season.

The post Griffins Bring in Prospects to Get A Taste of the AHL appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Jonatan Berggren continues to do everything within his power as a Grand Rapids Griffins player to show that he is ready to play with the Detroit Red Wings in 2024-25.

The Swedish winger had to be disappointed that he only played 12 games with the Red Wings this season after playing 67 in 2022-23.  He netted 15 goals for Detroit in those 67 games. But he clearly hasn’t sulked about his situation. He showed that again Wednesday night when he registered his first American Hockey League hat trick to spark the Griffins to a come-from-behind 5-4 OT win against the Chicago Wolves.

The Van Andel Arena ice was flooded with hats after Berggren (drafted 33rd overall in 2018) scored his third goal with 13 seconds left in regulation.  Berggren extended his points streak to eight games (7-7-14)

“He basically won the game for us down the stretch,” Grand Rapids coach Dan Watson said. “He knows how to create offense, knows how to score goals. That’s what he does best. He did it for us tonight. It’s always fun to watch him play.”

Thanks to Berggren’s heroics, Red Wings prospect Sebastian Cossa has now extended his streak to 18 consecutive games (12-0-6) of earning at least one point for his team. He hasn’t lost in regulation since Jan. 12.

Berggren also assisted on Brogan Rafferty’s overtime tally for his season-high fourth point of the game. Berggren now boasts 23 goals and 52 points in 45 games for Grand Rapids.

The Grand Rapids team also has an 18-game home points streak (13-0-3-2). Carter Mazur had a pair of assists in this game, while Amadeus Lombardi, Marco Kasper and Antti Tuomisto also added assists. Mazur now shows 33 points in 52 games. Kasper has 32 points in 63 games.

The post Berggren Still Piling Up Points For Griffins, 14 In Last Eight Games appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Grand Rapids Griffins forward Tyler Spezia is “awake, alert and doing well” after being stretchered off the ice during his team’s 4-2 road loss to the Chicago Wolves Friday night.

The team provided the update on his condition on X (formerly known as Twitter) after the game.

The injury occurred just two minutes into the AHL contest when Spezia was knocked to the ice by Chicago defenseman Alex Green. Spezia fell over teammate Cross Hanas. At that point, Spezia was unable to get up. He was transported to a local hospital where he was alert and able to move his extremities. The Griffins reported he was having tests as a precautionary measure.

M Live reported that the Griffins players were rattled by the scene on the ice.

Tyler Spezia was injured during the first period of tonight's game in Chicago and taken to a local hospital. He is awake, alert, and doing well while awaiting more tests and undergoing precautionary measures. Thank you for your continued thoughts and prayers, Griffins Nation!

— x – Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) March 30, 2024

The Griffins claimed a 2-0 first period lead on goals by Riley Sawchuk and Matt Luff. Sawchuk was brought up from the Toledo Walleye because the Red Wings called up Zach Aston-Reese. The Red Wings needed an extra forward because Patrick Kane and Austin Czarnik have the flu bug that is sweeping through the team.

Luff, on a Red Wings’ contract, has a seven-game points streak. He has nine points during the streak.

The Wolves took charge with two goals in the second period against goalie Michael Hutchinson and another in the third period. They clinched the win with an empty net goal. Former NHLer Rocco Grimaldi had two goals and assist for Chicago.

Red Wings prospect William Wallinder assisted on Sawchuk’s goal, while Eemil Viro and Marco Kasper assisted on Luff’s tally.

The Griffins (32-19-7-4) will play at Milwaukee tonight. Based on the Grand Rapids rotation, it should be Sebastian Cossa’s game to play in net.

The post Griffins Player Recovering After Scary Injury appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

One subplot of the Grand Rapid Griffins’ strong season has been the pleasing development of defensemen Antti Tuomisto and William Wallinder.

While Simon Edvinsson and Albert Johansson receive most of the attention in the assessment of the Grand Rapids’ defensive prospects, Tuomisto and Wallinder are demonstrating their NHL potential. The 6-foot-5 Finn Tuomisto has five goals and owns a plus-7 plus-minus. The 6-foot-4 Swede Wallinder shows three goals and is plus-1.

“They’ve progressed really well,” Detroit GM Steve Yzerman said earlier this month. “Both of them are really good. Antti’s a right shot, William is a left shot. Different players but they’re both big. Antti’s big and strong, physical, great shot, passes the puck really well. William probably a little bit lighter. Tall, lanky guy, really good skater, moves the puck really well. Probably a little bit more active in the rush offensively.”

The post What the Red Wings Really Think About Tuomisto and Wallinder (+) appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

While the Detroit Red Wings’ postseason fate is still to be determined, the Grand Rapid Griffins clinched their playoff spot with a 5-2 win against the Cleveland Monsters.

The Griffins have not competed in the AHL playoffs since 2019, although the league didn’t have a postseason in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid 19. Grand Rapids is the fourth AHL team to clinch a playoff berth. Since the Christmas break, the team is 23-5-4-3 (.757).

Detroit prospect goalie Sebastian Cossa established a new team record by registering at least one team point in his 16th consecutive game (11-0-5). The 2021 Red Wings first round pick needed only 17 saves to break the record previously held by former Red Wings goalie Marc Lamothe who had held the record since 2003-04.

Jonatan Berggren, recently sent down by the Red Wings, and Matt Luff each had a goal and an assist to lead the offensive charge.

Prospect Elmer Soderblom (drafted 159th in 2019) also netted his 12th goal of the season to give him three goals in his past four games. Cross Hanas (drafted 55th overall in 2020) contributed a pair of assists. Marco Kasper (drafted eighth in 2022) and Amadeus Lombardi (drafted 113th in 2022) also registered assists. Kasper has two goals and three assists for five points in his past five games. He is fifth in scoring (31 points) for the Griffins.

Under coach Dan Watson, the Griffins have improved impressively defensively in the second half of the season. Albert Johansson (drafted 60th overall in 2019) was plus-2 against Cleveland to raise his season plus-minus to plus-10.  Johansson will no longer be waiver exempt next season, meaning the Red Wings will have to find a spot for him on the roster.

The post Red Wings Prospects Put Griffins in Playoffs First Time Since 2019 appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The NHL is accustomed to Philadelphia Flyers coach John Tortorella making news with how he runs his team and what he has to say in his press conferences.

But Tuesday he added a new wrinkle to his show: He apologized.

PHN’s Jonathan Bailey wrote that Tortorella admitted he poorly handled a situation when asked his thoughts about how goalie Felix Sandstrom played against Florida Sunday night. Instead of speaking, Tortorella raised his arms twice, and walked off.

“It appears that both he and the Flyers quickly picked up on how negatively this reaction was perceived,” Bailey wrote.

Tortorella’s apology: “I made a terrible mistake with you guys the other night when. . . my body language was wrong. I tried to communicate with you guys after. He’s trying. Sandy’s trying,” Tortorella told traveling media in New York. “Things happened this year that put our goaltending situation into a little bit of a state of flux. Sandy did not deserve that from me.

“He did not deserve that from me. It was wrong.”

Tortorella this morning apologized for his non-response when asked about goalie Felix Sandstrom's play Sunday: "I made a terrible mistake with you guys the other night. You might have asked me about Sanny. My body language was wrong. What I should have said to you was … (1/2) https://t.co/lzzfrxpAyA

— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) March 26, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Too many third period mistakes dooms coach Derek Lalonde‘s team in overtime loss to Washington Tuesday.
• Detroit prospect Axel Sandin Pellikka scores overtime playoff goal for Skelleftea in the Swedish Hockey League.
• The Grand Rapids Griffins are on the verge of getting somewhere they haven’t been since 2019.
• The Red Wings hope they have discovered a late-round sleeper. They signed 2023 seventh-round draft pick Emmitt Finnie.

Red Wings Next Game

The Red Wings are looking to break a seven-game road losing streak when they play the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday in Raleigh. The Hurricanes are 11-3-1 in their last 15 games. The Hurricanes are second in the Metropolitan Division, three points behind the New York Rangers.

Hockey Now Network

Chicago: Nate Brown writes that former Notre Dame player Landon Slaggert may be another piece for the Chicago Blackhawks future.

Colorado: Avalanche coach Jared Bednar was not happy with his team’s energy level in sleepy loss to Montreal. Colorado Avalanche.

Montreal: Juraj Slafkovsky sets Montreal Canadiens record in win against the Colorado Avalanche.

Pittsburgh: Jake Guentzel made it clear that it was the Pittsburgh Penguins‘ decision to trade him. “Not my choice,” he said.

San Jose: San Jose Hockey Now’s Sheng Peng breaks down the different scenarios possible regarding whether the San Jose Sharks receive the Pittsburgh Penguins’ first round draft this year or next year.

The post The Daily: Tortorella Adds Twist to His Act; Wings Prospect News appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

The Grand Rapids Griffins, a Detroit Red Wings’ affiliate, can clinch their first American Hockey League playoff appearance since 2019 if they beat the Cleveland Monsters Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.

The Griffins, winners of four of their last five, are 3-3 this season against the Monsters who are the Columbus Blue Jackets’ affiliate.

Coach Dan Watson’s Grand Rapids squad received major help Monday when the Red Wings reassigned Jonatan Berggren to the Griffins.  Berggren leads the Griffins with 48 points in 43 games.

Grand Rapids didn’t qualify for the playoffs in 2021-22 and 2022-23, and the AHL postseason was cancelled in 2019-20 and 2020-21 because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With 12 games remaining, the Griffins (31-18-7-4) are trying to qualify for the postseason for the 18th time in 28 seasons. They are 22 points above the playoff cutline. Grand Rapids has outscored opponents 74-39 in the third period this season and they have come from behind in the third period to win six times. Only two other AHL teams have done it more times this season.

Matt Luff has been hot of late with 10 points in his past 10 games. Marco Kasper, the Red Wings’ 2022 first round pick, has eight points in his past 12 games.

Strong defensive play has carried the Griffins this season. Since Dec. 27, Grand Rapids has only given up 2.47 goals per game. Overall this season, the Griffins rank ninth in GAA (2.83). Detroit prospects Wyatt Newpower (+9), Antti Tuomisto (+8) and Albert Johansson (+8) have  been leading the way in plus-minus.

The post Griffins Look To Get Somewhere They Haven’t Been in Five Years appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.

Emmitt Finnie learned he had been drafted by the Detroit Red Wings by telephone after a workout last summer.

The next step in his Red Wings career was more direct.

Finnie, drafted in the seventh round last summer, signed a three-year contract with the Red Wings on Thursday. It begins with the 2024-25 season. He will join the  Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur tryout deal for the rest of this season.

The 6-1, 178-pound forward signed at the conclusion of his third season with the Kamloops Blazers of tbe Western Hockey League. He led the team in points (59), assists (40) and was second on the team in goals with 19. He was named the WHL’s Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 11. He had seven goals and  two assists in three games.

His 59 points this season was a significant jump from the year before, when he had nine goals and 35 points. He led the team in shorthanded goals (f0ur) and was second on the team in power-play points with 20.

The post Red Wings Ink 2023 Draft Pick To Three-Year Contract appeared first on Detroit Hockey Now.