2023-24 Player in Review: Taro Hirose
Left wing Taro Hirose skated in his fifth season with the Griffins and totaled 36 points (9-27—36) and eight penalty minutes in 54 regular-season games, adding two assists in eight postseason outings. Throughout the campaign, Hirose continued to climb the Griffins’ all-time leaderboard and now sits in third place with 151 assists and sixth with 201 points in 248 career games.
Regular Season Stat Line
54 GP, 9 goals, 27 assists, 36 points, -2 rating, 8 PIM
Postseason Stat Line
8 GP, 0 goals, 2 assists, 2 points, -4 rating, 0 PIM
Contract Status
Unrestricted free agent
By the Numbers
3 – Collected three points (2-1—3) in the season opener on Oct. 13 against the Colorado Eagles and began the campaign on a three-game point streak (3-2—5) from Oct. 13-20.
200 – Appeared in his 200th game as a Griffin on Oct. 28 at the Rockford IceHogs.
131 – Registered a two-point night (1-1—2) on Nov. 17 at the Texas Stars, which moved him into fifth place on the Griffins’ all-time assists list with 131.
150 – Clinched 200th pro point and 150th assist as a pro on Nov. 26 against the Manitoba Moose. He later bagged his 150th assist as a Griffin on March 30 at the Milwaukee Admirals.
136 – Claimed sole possession of third place on the Griffins’ all-time assist list with his 136th helper on Dec. 1 against the Milwaukee Admirals.
7 – Enjoyed a seven-game point streak (3-7—10) from Nov. 17-Dec. 5, which tied his career best previously set from Jan. 18, 2020-Feb. 14, 2020. He also posted seven points (2-5—7) in a four-game span from Nov. 17-26.
196 – Took sole possession of sixth place on the team’s all-time points list on March 27 against the Cleveland Monsters, recording two points (1-1—2) to pass Tomas Tatar (196).
300 – Competed in his 300th game as a pro on March 29 at the Chicago Wolves.
15 – Missed 15 games throughout the season due to rehabbing an injury. He was sidelined nearly a month from Dec. 29-Jan. 27 and missed 12 straight outings.
5 – Recorded his 50th goal as a Griffin and his 200th point with Grand Rapids on April 5 against the Rockford IceHogs.
27 – Made his Calder Cup Playoff debut on April 27 at the Rockford IceHogs and finished the postseason with two assists in eight contests.
4 – Set a new career high with four power-play goals this season, beating out his previous high of three set in the 2022-23 campaign.
1 – Notched his lone game-winner during the season opener on Oct. 13 against the Colorado Eagles.
8 – Tallied eight multi-point outings throughout the campaign, including a season-high three points (2-1—3) on Oct. 13 versus the Colorado Eagles.
4 – Logged four points (1-3—4) in a two-game span from Nov. 24-26 against the Manitoba Moose. He also amassed a season-best four-game assist streak (0-5—5) from Nov. 17-26.
5 – Collected first career point in the Calder Cup Playoffs with an assist on May 5 at the Rockford IceHogs.
Newsworthy
Grand Rapids Griffins | Ticket Punched (griffinshockey.com)
Growing pains for Griffins, but foundation is strong | TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League
Two 40-save performances help Griffins open season with a weekend sweep over Colorado - mlive.com
Swedes Produce, Hutchinson Sharp to Help Griffins Win Opener | Detroit Hockey Now
Grand Rapids Griffins | Taro'd and Feathered (griffinshockey.com)
Griffins’ Hirose suspended for two games | TheAHL.com | The American Hockey League
Red Wings Review: Taro Hirose's Future (detroithockeynow.com)
Photo at top by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins