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RWC Archives - 2004-05 Grand Rapids Griffins report cards
After rare non-playoff season, we rate the Griffins...
By Jason Kasiorek
www.griffinscentral.com
April 22, 2005
It's report card time again for the Grand Rapids Griffins.
After a season that featured more downs than ups, the Griffins missed the playoffs for just the second time in the franchise's nine-year history. Of course, they did it by collecting more points (86) than any non-playoff team in league history.
The grading scale is as follows: A ' excellent; B ' above average; C ' average; D ' poor; F ' unacceptable. Grades are based on AHL play and will not correspond to end-of-season organizational prospect grades.
The following are the final report cards for the 2004-05 season (statistics listed include games-goals-assists-points-penalty minutes, plus-minus):
A GRADES
Matt Ellis
(79-18-23-41-59, plus-10) ' Ellis stepped up his game in the second half and became a steady offensive contributor. He assumed the role of a team leader, and ' with another off-season of improvement ' might audition for a depth spot in the NHL.
Kip Miller
(50-13-32-45-17, minus-3) ' When he finally recovered from off-season shoulder surgery, Miller scored at a point-per-game clip down the stretch. If Miller had been signed and healthy at the start of the season, things might have ended differently in Grand Rapids.
Joey MacDonald
(34-29-2, 2.29 GAA, .926 SPCT, 5 SO) ' In his first year as a starter, MacDonald re-wrote the Griffins' record book and kept the team alive through some incredible droughts. Only a back injury at the end of the season could derail his Cinderella run to the playoffs.
A-MINUS GRADES
Niklas Kronwall
(76-13-40-53-53, plus-6) ' Despite a mid-season slump, Kronwall had a phenomenal start and an equally impressive finish to win the Eddie Shore award as the AHL's top defenceman. He set team records offensively, made big open-ice hits, and was a defensive rock.
B-PLUS GRADES
Eric Manlow
(61-21-20-41-24, minus-4) ' A huge catalyst for the Griffins despite his modest totals, Manlow was at his best on the power play. He missed 19 games with a broken foot, but scored at a point-per-game clip down the stretch when the Griffins needed him most.
Ryan Barnes
(69-7-8-15-167, plus-1) ' Worked his way back to the Griffins from the United Hockey League, and earned an important role with his hustle and forechecking. Barnes was a physical presence and was capable of taking regular shifts on scoring lines.
B GRADES
Peter Vandermeer
(73-4-13-17-310, plus-4) ' Vandermeer set an example for younger players to follow in the second half. His game is all hustle, and he excelled on a line with
Eric Himelfarb
. Vandermeer will do anything to win, and is a strong voice in the room.
Eric Himelfarb
(44-3-6-9-23, minus-4) ' Although he slumped in the second half, Himelfarb still managed to produce a point-per-game in the final 10 games and nearly broke franchise rookie records. With his shifty skating and dynamic playmaking, Himelfarb has a bright future.
Bryan Helmer
(80-7-18-25-64, plus-11) ' Veteran sacrificed his offensive game to cover for multiple rookie partners. He teamed with
Derek Meech
to form the team's most consistent defensive tandem during the second half, and led the team with a plus-11.
B-MINUS GRADES
Derek Meech
(78-6-8-14-40, minus-2) ' Meech struggled early, but rebounded in the second half. He has work to do and must bulk up to handle the pro game. He earned more ice time as the season progressed, and made noticeable strides every game.
C GRADES
Greg Amadio
(35-0-2-2-96, even) ' Amadio brought exactly what the team needed ' a no-frills defensive game. He established himself as a serviceable depth player in the AHL, providing a tough, safe game and dropping the gloves if needed.
Tomas Kopecky
(48-8-8-16-35, plus-1) ' Inconsistency was again the problem for Kopecky. He had five goals in an eight-game stretch once, but collected just three in the other 40. Kopecky finally came around late in the year, but three seasons into his pro career, he is a long way off.
Blake Sloan
(78-15-11-26-68, minus-3) ' Sloan gives everything he can every game, but that's not always enough. He plays an up-tempo hitting game, but is spotty offensively. His true value came in the room where his veteran demeanor was important for the team's youth.
Jeff Panzer
(20-6-3-9-11, plus-4) ' Panzer never got going after coming to Grand Rapids in exchange for struggling
Nathan Robinson
. He had a couple of big games playing with Miller, but didn't really stand out or regain his form from previous seasons.
Brent Kelly
(22-3-4-7-4, even) ' Kelly was well-liked in the room and provided some jump in a limited role. He played just 22 games, and scored the bulk of his points ' three goals and an assist ' in the final six games of the season.
Darryl Bootland
(78-14-20-34-336, plus-5) ' When Greg Ireland took over as coach in February, Bootland's play fell off. He did not see much ice and was removed from the power play, and finished with 34 points and 336 penalty minutes. Still, he is a solid pro.
Mark Eaton
(29-3-3-6-21, plus-2) ' The Nashville Predator provided a steadying veteran presence on the blue line, and worked well when paired with Kronwall. It took him a while to get into game shape, but he was steady ' if unspectacular ' the rest of the way.
C-MINUS GRADES
Brett Lebda
(80-2-10-12-34, minus-1) ' A terrific skater, Lebda hasn't been able to play the offensive puck-moving game that was his hallmark in college. He doesn't have the size or skills to be a defensive defenseman, so he ended up bouncing around the lineup.
Jiri Hudler
(52-12-22-34-10, plus-1) ' With an ailing father, Hudler had every excuse to struggle. Consistency, effort and desire are three areas he can improve. He was a key player in the final 10 games of the season, and hopefully he can use that as a starting point in 2005-06.
Ernie Hartlieb
(44-3-6-9-23, minus-4) ' Hartlieb provided some energy in the lineup, and was responsible in his own zone. Filling in throughout the lineup, he didn't provide much offense, but gave 100 percent on every shift ' even if it was only a few.
D GRADES
Drew MacIntyre
(7-8-0, 2.69 GAA, .902 SPCT, 1 SO) ' A year of 60 starts in the ECHL might have been better for his development than a year as a backup. MacIntyre lost his rhythm and was unable to recover it, getting lit up after MacDonald went down with an injury late in the year.
INCOMPLETE
Jon Insana
(8-0-1-1-2, minus-7) ' Thrown into the fire during the stretch run, Insana finished with a team-low minus-7 in just eight games.
Travis Richards
(35-1-3-4-30, even) ' His veteran presence was missed as he struggled through an injury-plagued season.
Jason Kasiorek contributes monthly Grand Rapids Griffins reports. They appear on RedWingsCentral.com on the first of each month.
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