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RWC Archives - Grand Rapids Griffins Report Cards
Groulx, MacDonald and Miller earn top marks for Griffins...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
April 14, 2004
The grades are in for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
The Griffins finished their regular season on Sunday, and kick off the opening round of the playoffs on Friday night in Grand Rapids. Red Wings Central has graded 23 Griffins players for their regular season performances.
An A grade translates to an outstanding season; B to very good; C to passable; D to below-average; and F to fail.
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A Grades
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Danny Groulx
(79-8-13-21-93, plus-20): The talented young blueliner had a great season, leading the team with a plus-20 and more than doubling last year's scoring total, collecting eight goals and 13 assists.
Joey MacDonald
(39 GP, 22-12-3, 6 SO, 1.97 GAA, .936 SPCT): With
Marc Lamothe
in Detroit, MacDonald took advantage of his chance to shine with the Griffins. He posted sparkling numbers and proved capable of handling No. 1 duties.
Kevin Miller
(74-27-21-48-22, even): A veteran center with a streaky scoring touch, Miller put the puck in the net when it counted with 10 game-winners. He played in all situations and provided good leadership.
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A- Grades
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Marc Lamothe
(43 GP, 21-16-5, 4 SO, 2.06 GAA, .924 SPCT): Last year's AHL goaltender of the year had a tough start, but recovered to provide top-notch goaltending and earn a couple of call-ups to Detroit.
Dave Van Drunen
(80-2-7-9-11-104, plus-4): The steady defenseman had another typical season, playing all 80 games while providing solid but unspectacular defense.
Travis Richards
(76-2-22-24-48, plus-1): The glue that holds the team together and a rock on the blue line, Richards logged a ton of ice time this season. His smarts and veteran savvy allow him to make an impact at the AHL level.
Nathan Robinson
(69-24-26-50-41, plus-8): Robinson was the hottest player on the team, scoring at a point-per-game clip, before a groin injury at the All-Star Game. It wasn't the same after he returned, but Robinson's speed still created offense.
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B+ Grades
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Jiri Hudler
(57-17-32-49-46, plus-16): The young center put up impressive numbers before a late-season slump hit. He had a plus-16 rating, but needs to work on his attitude, which got him in trouble on the ice and in the room.
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B Grades
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Matt Ellis
(64-5-10-15-23, minus-4): Ellis had a great first year in the AHL, sparking the team with his all-out hustle and sterling defensive play. The downside was that despite 139 shots (fourth on the team), he didn't contribute much offensively.
Ryan Barnes
(69-6-13-19-175, plus-6): Except for the occasional streak where he sometimes lost his game, Barnes plays his role well and nearly doubled his previous career-high point total offensively.
Ryan Bonni
(54-1-6-7-98, plus-4): The steady defender was rescued from the ECHL and provided a physical presence on the blue line. Bonni played well when paired with
Anders Myrvold
, although his offensive contributions were minimal.
Jeff Nelson
(64-14-30-44-43, plus-13): Nelson helped fill the void left by the departure of leading scorer
Mark Mowers
, chipping in 44 points in 64 games. He provided a two-way presence and saw ice time in all situations.
Michel Picard
(75-17-37-54-35, plus-2): Picard might be slowing down, but still managed to lead the Griffins with 54 points. He also fired a team-high 185 shots, and is still a threat with his dangerous offensive skills.
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B- Grades
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Hugo Boisvert
(80-9-16-25-48, minus-8): With no goals, four assists and a minus-9 in his last 28 games, Boisvert's dreadful finish marred a tremendous season. Boisvert, an energy player, saw his passion wane near the end of the year.
Anders Myrvold
(71-0-21-21-94, plus-3): The sum of the parts doesn't add up to the player the Griffins saw on most nights. Myrvold is a fabulous skater with offensive instincts, but is a defensive liability and was more often the goat than the hero.
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C+ Grades
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Darryl Bootland
(54-12-2-14-175, minus-8): The feisty winger's season got off to a great start, earning him a 22-game NHL call-up. After his return to Grand Rapids, Bootland lost his scoring touch, intensity, and physical presence.
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C Grades
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Kory Karlander
(67-10-13-23-83, plus-5): Karlander got off to a great start after signing a tryout contract, but his offensive game dried up after signing a standard contract. His speed makes him a key member of the penalty-killing unit.
Aaron Schneekloth
(56-1-6-7-98, plus-4): An offensive defenseman, Schneekloth got into the lineup when
Jamie Rivers
got recalled to Detroit. After an unimpressive first half, he became a regular scratch as the Griffins tried to get more offense in the lineup.
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C- Grades
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Derek King
(77-9-21-30-19, minus-1): King was never the same after a hamstring injury last season. He still has a valuable role as a teacher and father figure for younger prospects, and should earn an expanded coaching role in the future.
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D Grades
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David Brisson
(33-3-1-4-2, minus-3): The speedy forward had a disappointing rookie season, splitting the second half between Muskegon (UHL) and the AHL press box.
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F Grades
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Tomas Kopecky
(48-6-6-12-28, minus-3): Kopecky often seemed uninterested and rarely makes any impact on the ice. He's a frequent scratch, despite good size, talent and upside, and is unlikely to get a shot in the playoffs.
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INCOMPLETE
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Eric Himelfarb
(7-2-3-5-2, plus-6): Performed at an A-level during his seven-game stint, providing the speed and energy needed to spark the Griffins' offense.
Brett Lebda
(6-0-1-1-0, minus-1): Lebda had an unimpressive AHL debut as he attempted to adjust to the pace of the pros. He moves the puck well, but must get stronger in front of his own net.
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