Detroit Red Wings

Red Wings Notebook: Hirose, Luff Still Looking For Work

Another point for Buchelnikov

Published

4 weeks ago

September 8, 2024

Bob Duff

Taro Hirose, who played 60 games for the Red Wings, is still without a job for this season.

Three players who’ve played prominent roles for the Grand Rapids Griffins – two of whom saw duty with the Detroit Red Wings – are still looking for work with just a couple of weeks to go until NHL training camps get underway.

Forwards Taro Hirose, Matt Luff and Joel L’Esperance are all unrestricted free agents who’ve yet to find a new hockey home.

Left-winger Hirose has been an ever-present in the Red Wings organization since 2019. He suited up for 60 games with Detroit, collecting 4-16-20 totals as an NHLer. Hirose also shows 51 goals and 151 assists in 248 AHL games for the Griffins. However, last year he was slumping to 9-27-36 numbers in 54 games and two assists in eight playoff games. He’d gone over 50 points in each of his two previous campaigns with the Griffins.

Injuries hampered right-winger Luff during his two seasons with the Detroit organization. When he did play, he certainly was playing well. Last season with the Griffins, Luff put up 10-8-18 numbers in 26 games. During the 2022-23 season, Luff was good for 25 points in 28 games with Grand Rapids and spent 19 games with the Red Wings, accounting for 2-2-4 numbers.

Center L’Esperance was playing for the Griffins on an AHL contract. He put up 16-12-28 numbers last season. That was down from the solid 25-24-49 totals he was posting in 2022-23.

One member of the 2023-24 Griffins was finding himself a place to play this week. After six seasons with Grand Rapids, forward Tyler Spezia was agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with the ECHL Toledo Walleye. Spezia previously played with the Walleye in 2018-19 and 2019-20.

Finnie Ready To Lead

The Red Wings believe so much in center Emmitt Finnie that they’ve already got their 2023 seventh-round pick’s name on an NHL contract. He’ll be playing in next week’s rookie games in Traverse City. Then he’ll return to play his fourth WHL season with the Kamloops Blazers.

“It feel’s weird,” Finnie said on the Blazers’ social media feed. “The last couple of years I’ve been one of the younger guys on the team.”

Just like that @emmitt_finnie32 entering his 4th season!🔥
cc: @DetroitRedWings pic.twitter.com/SSA90cds8I

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) August 29, 2024

He’s looking forward to the opporunity to be a team leader for the younger players.

“Just trying to help them out as much as I can,” Finnie said. “I remember when I was 16 I was looking up to those older guys. I know it’s going to be the same thing for them. I’ll try to help them out as much as possible.”

Last season, Finnie, 19. led the Blazers in goals (19), assists (40) and points (59). He even managed to play three AHL games for the Griffins.