What I’m seeing from Red Wings prospects in the AHL playoffs: Standouts so far
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As the American Hockey League affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins steamrolled their manner by way of the common season, ending atop the Western Conference with 107 factors, the large query was what it might all imply for the Detroit Red Wings down the line.
Detroit has had prospects in Grand Rapids all season, together with some large names taking part in key roles. It’s additionally had a deep lineup of veterans, who’ve been capable of insulate these younger gamers and drive the group to success.
And with the playoffs underway, the deal with profitable and driving a deep playoff run is just ramping up. But that underlying query of which Griffins might assist the Red Wings — whether or not subsequent season or past — can be beneath the microscope, and with some attention-grabbing early potential solutions.
Here’s what I’m seeing after three AHL playoff video games, with the Griffins main the Manitoba Moose 2-1 in a best-of-five collection.
Michal Postava
The large story to start the playoffs was who was in internet for the Griffins — and simply as notably, who wasn’t.
For a lot of the yr, 2021 first-round choose Sebastian Cossa was the Griffins’ clear starter, taking part in a team-high 39 video games in purpose with a .915 save proportion for the sixth-best determine in the league amongst certified netminders.
But that quantity had truly been significantly increased earlier in the season, earlier than a late-season swoon in which Cossa had a .868 save proportion throughout his remaining eight begins. Meanwhile, the Griffins’ different goalie, undrafted AHL rookie Michal Postava, completed on a tear, posting at .940 since the begin of March with two shutouts down the stretch.
So it wasn’t essentially a shock when Postava earned the begin for the playoff opener. What has been notable, although, is that Postava has began all three playoff video games so far — together with a back-to-back in video games 1 and a couple of — and has been wonderful in them, stopping 57 of 60 mixed photographs (.957), together with a Game 2 shutout.
By all indications, that is Postava’s internet proper now.
“Everyone’s got full trust and confidence in him,” Griffins coach Dan Watson stated. “And we’ve seen it all year long, from both goalies. But just down the stretch, he was seeing the puck well, extremely confident, he was playing the puck well, and it’s followed right into these playoffs. So to be able to continue to throw him in the net, it’s an easy decision right now.”
For a goalie who performed in 25 out of 72 video games this common season, it will likely be attention-grabbing to see simply how arduous the Griffins can experience him. But Postava led his Czech group to a league title a yr in the past with a dominant playoffs, and he is begun these Calder Cup video games in comparable type.
The Griffins do have a stout protection in entrance of him, and Watson famous Postava’s present workload in Game 3 on Wednesday — a 4-2 Griffins win — wasn’t all that heavy, with the Moose producing simply 17 photographs on internet. Watson additionally stated that if Postava would not look able to go at any level, “we’ll get Cossa right in there with no problem.”
But once more, that basically simply reinforces that Postava has taken management of the Griffins’ internet.
“He continues to get better,” Watson stated. “And he loves these big moments. Don’t let him fool you, he’s a confident kid, and he loves these big moments.”
That, after all, might have big-picture ramifications for the Red Wings and Cossa, who will turn into a restricted free agent this offseason. In idea, he ought to be prepared for the NHL after three consecutive seasons in Grand Rapids with heavy workloads and save percentages above .910. At age 23, he nonetheless has the profile of a legit NHL goalie prospect, and the Red Wings want a backup behind John Gibson.
But Cossa has only one NHL look to his title, and his rocky end to the common season makes it arduous to foretell whether or not Detroit will really feel assured giving him the 25-30 begins it would want from its NHL backup subsequent season. At his year-end information convention, basic supervisor Steve Yzerman famous he wished to “see how the playoffs play out in Grand Rapids” earlier than deciding whether or not one in every of his AHL goalies was able to again up Gibson. And so far, it has been all Postava.
That raises questions on Cossa’s future. Could it make him a commerce candidate? It definitely appears believable. But it is also early, and the Griffins have what they hope shall be an extended playoff run nonetheless to play out.
Right now, although, Postava hasn’t given the Griffins any motive to go away from him. And that is an especially attention-grabbing growth.
Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and Carter Mazur
Two younger forwards are making their case to assist the Red Wings in the close to future to start these playoffs.
Detroit’s two large wants are extra five-on-five scoring and extra heaviness all through the lineup, however notably in the backside six. Both 2024 first-round choose Michael Brandsegg-Nygård and 2021 third-rounder Carter Mazur appear like candidates to convey that.
Both performed video games in Detroit this season, with Brandsegg-Nygård truly breaking camp with the group to start the yr. But the tempo at occasions appeared a bit of quick for him, and he wasn’t capable of materialize the offense the Red Wings ultimately hope to get from the big-bodied winger with a booming shot.
He had extra luck in Grand Rapids, although, scoring 20 objectives and 44 factors by way of 60 video games, and he is been one in every of the most notable Griffins gamers to start the playoffs.
The offense is a part of that. Brandsegg-Nygård had a purpose and an help in the Griffins’ Game 2 win over the Moose final weekend, and he was concerned in extra offensive probabilities Wednesday, together with his shot and by being in the hardest areas of the ice. Those are the hallmarks of his recreation and may permit him to convey some arduous, playoff-style offense to the Red Wings. He was a point-per-game participant in three AHL playoff video games final season (two objectives, one help) and has two in his first three of this collection as properly.
And past that, he completed each verify he might Wednesday — the actual sort of physicality the Red Wings want.
“He plays a North American pro style already, in terms of his physicality,” Watson stated. “He’s a really good forechecker. Obviously, we know he’s got a good shot. He’s still trying to find his way to get open to find those shots, but his overall awareness, his defensive play — I put him out there the last couple shifts (protecting a lead), just, I trust him. And he’s going to do the right things. He’s strong on pucks, he protects pucks, he’s hard to knock off pucks.”
On Wednesday, it was his linemate Mazur who discovered the internet, scoring twice: as soon as after pulling down a puck and rapidly ripping it previous the Moose’s netminder, and one other into an empty internet to seal the recreation. Mazur’s had a tricky go together with accidents, and he is a difficult participant to foretell consequently, however there are nonetheless quite a lot of likeable qualities to his recreation, beginning together with his effort and willingness to play in the arduous areas however extending to a perhaps-underrated shot.
Mazur bought a late run in Detroit at the finish of this season, and though he did not produce, he additionally appeared to search out his recreation extra towards the finish of that stint. He’s one other one who might convey some new components to Detroit’s backside six subsequent season, if he can keep wholesome.
“He’s one of the guys that’s not going to change his game too much (in Detroit or Grand Rapids),” Watson stated. “Yeah, I think he’s going to produce more offense at this level, but he goes up there, he’s physical, he’s getting pucks to the net, he’s getting himself to the net. He’s in the corners battling, he’s blocking shots. He’s doing everything that’s part of his identity and what’s in his DNA. He comes back here, does the exact same thing, but now he’s got a little more puck touch at this level. I hope that translates to the NHL, but for him it’s all about just getting back down here, enjoying this time of year.”
Anton Johansson
The Griffins’ best defenseman Wednesday was Erik Gustafsson, the longtime NHLer who has embraced a veteran role in Grand Rapids this season and has looked every bit like an NHLer in this series. He’s been excellent and had a goal and an assist in Game 3.
But among the prospects, I continue to be highly impressed by Anton Johansson, the 2022 fourth-round pick who stood out in a late-season stint with the Griffins last year and has come back again looking even better.
Johansson’s tools have always popped; he’s big at 6-foot-4, a strong skater and has a big shot with some bite to his game. That’s a great package. But where I thought he had some wild horses to his game last spring, he now looks more in control. He can skate the puck up ice, make the right pass and put lots of shots on net: 12 through the first three games of this series. He walked in for a great chance in the first period Wednesday but hit the post.
He doesn’t yet have a point in these playoffs, but he’s been highly noticeable — and, like Brandsegg-Nygård, showed plenty of physicality, too.
“He’s a more mature player,” Watson said. “You definitely exude confidence on the market. Great skater, performs an extended recreation. I feel when he bought over right here final yr, it took him these 8-10 video games to get used to the tempo, get used to North American hockey, if you’ll. Now, he got here right here, he knew what to anticipate. … That’s why we put guys in conditions at the finish of the yr after they get right here. They want that have. And now you see the kind of participant he’s for us this collection so far.”
The Griffins have been listing Johansson and his defense partner William Wallinder as their third defense pair, but Johansson played over 20 minutes in Game 2, and I’d be surprised if he wasn’t right around there in Game 3.
It might be a bit bold, because he remains a bit skinny and has limited experience in North America, but there’s a real chance we’re talking about Johansson’s pushing for a roster spot in Detroit as soon as next season.
“Skilled guy, plays tough, too,” Gustafsson said. “Very good in his personal zone. (Has) stick. I’m impressed together with his recreation.”
