Detroit Red Wings

The Daily: Where Did All the Griffins Go This Summer?

Published

2 years ago

July 26, 2022

Turner Elson signed with the New York Rangers.

With GM Steve Yzerman playing Let’s Make a Deal all summer, it was easy to miss that the Red Wings said goodbye to some higher profile Grand Rapids Griffins veterans.

The Grand Rapids Griffins website does an excellent job of rounding up the departures on its roster and alumni tracker. Here is a capsule look at what happened to some of them:

Forward Riley Barber, 28, signed with the Dallas Stars for one year for $750,000. The lure for him is a $300,000 minor league salary. He scored 28 goals in 49 games for the Griffins last season and played four games in Detroit.
Forward Turner Elson, 29, signed a two-year deal with the New York Rangers for $762,500 per season. His enticement is a $225,000 minor league salary. He played five seasons for Grand Rapids and scored 21 goals last season. Former Detroit assistant GM Ryan Martin knows him well. Martin is now the Rangers’ assistant GM.
Defenseman Dan Renouf agreed to a two-year contract with the Boston Bruins for $762,500 per season. The attraction for him is a $400,000 minor league salary.
Defenseman Ryan Murphy jumped to Kontinental Hockey League team Salavat Yulaev Ufa in Russia.

* Goalie Calvin Pickard signed with Ken Holland’s Edmonton Oilers for two years at $762,500 per year. His minor league salary is $300,000.

Trade talk

New York: Should New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello be trying to pry Jesse Pulujarvi away from the Edmonton Oilers? Hockey Now’s Stefan Rosner weighs in.

Montreal: Hockey Now columnist Jimmy Murphy believes that Pierre-Luc Dubois was doing damage control when he said he didn’t ask to be traded. Murphy believes Dubois does want to play in Montreal.

#NHLJets C Pierre-Luc Dubois says he has not asked for a trade and he always intended to be at training camp. As for attending the NHL Draft, he said he is a fan of hockey and was invited to attend by his bank and because he lives 15 minutes away from the Bell Centre.

— Ken Wiebe (@WiebesWorld) July 25, 2022

In Case You Missed It

Recently-signed free agent Dominik Kubalik hopes to rediscover his scoring touch in a Red Wings’ sweater.

With defenseman Mark Pysyk out with a torn Achilles, the Detroit Red Wings signed defenseman Robert Hagg to a one-year deal for $800,000.

Former Detroit player Jiri Hudler has been vocal in support of what GM Steve Yzerman is doing to rebuild the Detroit Red Wings organization.

The Grand Rapids Griffins and Red Wings have a lengthy relationship and that isn’t going to change. The two organizations extended their partnership another five seasons.

Bob Duff takes a look at whether Red Wings prospect goalie Joren Van Pottelberghe has a chance to make the Red Wings.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: John Gruden explained why he was aggressive in working to a land a spot on Jim Montgomery’s coaching staff.

Colorado: Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon appeared on a podcast and said this: “It was win or bust. If we didn’t win, it was a failure. But it was a really positive group. Good energy around the team.”

Florida: Matthew Tkachuk says he already hates the Tampa Bay Lightning. This Tkachuk-to-Florida move could be very fun.

Pittsburgh: Dan Kingerski of Hockey Now does a deep dive analysis of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ defense.