This Week’s Games

GRIFFINS at Cleveland Monsters // Fri., Oct. 2 // 7 p.m. // Rocket Arena
GRIFFINS at Cleveland Monsters // Sun., Oct. 4 // 3 p.m. // Rocket Arena 

Listen: WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM at 6:45 p.m. on Friday and at 2:45 p.m. on Sunday

Watch: AHLTV on FloHockey on Friday and Sunday

Season Series: First and second of eight meetings overall, first and second of four at Rocket Arena

All-Time Series: 83-44-9-14 Overall, 35-25-5-10 Road

NHL Affiliation: Columbus Blue Jackets 

Noteworthy: Grand Rapids will begin the campaign on the road for the second straight season, which hasn’t happened since a run of three straight road season openers from 2018 to 2020. 

31st Season of Hockey: The Grand Rapids Griffins begin the franchise’s 31st overall season of play, 26th as a member of the American Hockey League, and 25th as the primary affiliate of the 11-time Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings on Friday evening when they travel to the Cleveland Monsters. The Griffins have competed in 2,277 games between the IHL and AHL and have amassed a 1,196-834-27-90-130 regular-season record (.585), to go along with 20 playoff appearances, eight division titles and two Calder Cups (2017, 2013).

The Watson Supercomputer: Dan Watson was named the 12th head coach in franchise history on June 14, 2023, and enters his fourth season at the helm. Last season, Watson became the third head coach in franchise history to reach the postseason in each of his first three full years as head boss (Jeff Blashill 2012-15 & Todd Nelson 2015-18) and is looking to become the first coach to lead the Griffins to four consecutive playoff appearances. Watson was also named the head coach of the Central Division at the AHL All-Star Classic for the second straight season, becoming the second coach in team history to attend two all-star events and the first in its AHL history. In the 2025-26 regular season, Watson led the Griffins to a Central Division title as well as a Western Conference championship with a franchise-record 51-16-4-1 (.743) mark. With Grand Rapids, Watson sports a 125-68-16-7 regular-season mark (.632) and a 9-11 postseason ledger (.450). As a head coach, the Glencoe, Ontario, native possesses a 397-180-38-20 record (.671) during the regular season and a 60-45 (.571) mark over only eight playoff campaigns.

We Meet Again: Dan Watson and Monsters new head coach Nick Bootland have a long history with each other, dating back to 2009. Bootland served as head coach of the ECHL’s Kalamazoo Wings from 2008-22 and Watson was on the Toledo Walleye’s bench from 2009-23. As head coaches in the ECHL from 2016-22, Watson and Bootland met 41 times during the regular season, with Watson holding a 29-7-2-3 record (.733) over teams led by Bootland. In addition, Watson and Bootland competed together in the 2003-04 campaign as teammates with the Cleveland Barons (AHL), Columbus Stars (UHL) and Kalamazoo Wings (UHL). 

2025-26 Season in Review: The Griffins skated in their 30th season a year ago and concluded with a franchise-record 51-16-4-1 (.743) mark and 107 points, which were the fourth-most in team history. The Griffins went 24-9-3-0 at Van Andel Arena and 27-7-1-1 on foreign ice, earning the most road wins in franchise history. Grand Rapids also went on to win the Central Division and Western Conference during the regular season before falling in the Central Division Finals for the second time in the last three years. Grand Rapids enjoyed a franchise-record tying 15-game win streak from Nov. 22-Dec. 27, 2025, which tied for the sixth-longest run in AHL history, and the 19-game point streak from Nov. 22, 2025-Jan. 7, 2026 (18-0-1-0) tied for the longest run in franchise history. The Griffins began the 2025-26 season with a 29-1-1-1 record and their 17-game point streak on the road from Oct. 10, 2025-Jan. 23, 2026 (15-0-1-1) set an AHL record. The team had three representatives at the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic in Sebastian Cossa, John Leonard and Dominik Shine, in addition to having head coach Dan Watson man the bench for the Central Division. Leonard led the team in points (33-21—54) and goals (33), while Erik Gustafsson paced the roster in assists (33). Michael Brandsegg-Nygard, the 15th overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, led the roster’s rookies in points (44), goals (20) and assists (24). Brandsegg-Nygard ranked among the 2025-26 AHL rookie leaders in points (T10th), assists (T14th), goals (T6th), plus-minus (+17, T8th), power-play goals (7, T6th) and game-winners (8, 1st). Defensively, Gustafsson led the team’s blueliners in points (37) and assists (33), while Antti Tuomisto ranked first in goals (8) and William Lagesson placed first in plus-minus rating (+33). Lagesson’s plus-33 rating ranked first among AHL defensemen and third among all skaters. In net, Cossa and Michal Postava were named the winners of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award, given annually to the team that allows the fewest goals per game in the regular season. Cossa produced a 26-8-4 record with five shutouts to go along with a 2.33 GAA and a .915 SV% in 39 games. During his rookie season, Postava went 17-6-0 with four shutouts, a 1.71 GAA and a .937 SV% in 25 outings and was named the starter for the entire 2026 postseason. Cossa ranked among the league leaders in games played (T12th), minutes played (12th), wins (3rd), GAA (5th) and save percentage (6th).  

I Shall Return: Veterans John Leonard (33-21—54) and Sheldon Dries (23-22—45) both return to the Griffins after being the team’s top two point producers last season. Captain Dominik Shine (21-18—39), who finished sixth on the roster in 2025-26 with nearly a point-per-game output, also returns. The Griffins went 35-3-2-0 (.900) a season ago when Shine was in the lineup. In addition to generating 21% of the team’s points, Leonard, Dries and Shine accounted for 30% of Grand Rapids’ goals from a year ago. Defensively, William Lagesson is back for his third campaign after pacing all AHL defensemen and ranking third among all skaters with a plus-33 rating last season. Goaltender Michal Postava enters his second season in North America after posting a 1.71 GAA and a .937 save percentage in 25 regular-season games, which were both franchise records for a single season.

Shine On, Captain: Dominik Shine enters his 11th season with the Griffins and his second as captain, becoming just the second player in team history to reach 11 seasons (Brian Lashoff 14). During the 2025-26 AHL season, Shine finished with 39 points (21-18—39), 41 penalty minutes and a plus-25 rating, setting career highs in goals, plus-minus and shooting percentage (20.5%). He also competed in his first-ever AHL All-Star Classic, serving as an alternate captain for the Western Conference. Shine spent Feb. 28 until the end of the NHL regular season with the Detroit Red Wings and showed three goals and seven penalty minutes across a career-best 18 outings. He scored his first NHL goal on March 8 at the New Jersey Devils, becoming the fifth-oldest player in Red Wings history to score his first-career NHL goal. On the all-time regular-season franchise leaderboard, Shine ranks third in games played (523), third in goals (96), seventh in assists (127), fourth in points (223), fifth in penalty minutes (594), tied for fifth in shorthanded goals (6), tied for third in game-winners (15), tied for first in unassisted goals (10), and third in shots (901).

Pure Michigan: Several Griffins will be competing in their home state this year, as the roster features seven Michiganders in Ronnie Attard (White Lake Township), Trey Augustine (South Lyon), Kienan Draper (Bloomfield Hills), Sheldon Dries (Macomb), Sutter Muzzatti (Okemos), Dominik Shine (Detroit) and Jacob Truscott (Port Huron). In addition, the roster is comprised of seven players that competed collegiately in the Great Lakes State, including Attard (Western Michigan), Augustine (Michigan State), Draper (Michigan), Dries (Western Michigan), Nolan Moyle (Michigan), Shine (Northern Michigan) and Truscott (Michigan). 

Holy Goalies: The Griffins’ goalie room this year will feature a pair of young prospects in Trey Augustine and Michal Postava. Augustine, the 41st overall pick by Detroit in 2023, enters his rookie campaign, while Postava, signed in 2025 as an undrafted free agent out of Czechia, returns to the Griffins for his second season in North America. Augustine, the 2025-26 Richter Award winner as the NCAA’s best goaltender, comes to Grand Rapids after an illustrious career at Michigan State, winning three Big Ten titles. As a Spartan from 2023-26, the 21-year-old went 66-25-7 with nine shutouts, a 2.40 GAA and a .922 SV% in 99 appearances. In the all-time rankings at Michigan State, Augustine places second in SV%, fifth in GAA, sixth in saves (2,838), sixth in wins and sixth in shutouts. The South Lyon, Michigan, native is also the winningest goaltender in Team USA history at the World Junior Championship, collecting a 12-1-1 record and two gold medals across three tournaments. As a rookie last season with Grand Rapids, Postava logged a 17-6-0 record during the regular season to go along with four shutouts, a 1.71 GAA and a .937 SV% in 25 outings. Along with teammate Sebastian Cossa, the duo won the 2025-26 Harry "Hap" Holmes Memorial Award with a league-low 159 combined goals allowed. In the franchise’s all-time single-season record book, Postava’s 2025-26 season ranked first in GAA, first in save percentage and tied for 10th in shutouts. The 24-year-old was also named the team’s starter for the 2026 Calder Cup Playoffs and went 4-4 with one shutout, a 2.09 GAA and a .912 SV% in eight appearances. Throughout Postava’s four-year pro career, the 6-foot-1 netminder has shown a 91-71-9 record with 16 shutouts, a 2.05 GAA and a .932 SV% in 169 regular-season contests. 

Roster Breakdown: Eighteen players (forwards Ondrej Becher, Cameron Butler, Noah Dower Nilsson, Sheldon Dries, Dylan James, Jesse Kiiskinen, John Leonard, Sutter Muzzatti, Theo Rochette, Dominik Shine and Wilmer Skoog; defensemen Ronnie Attard, Jacob Bryson, Shai Buium and William Lagesson; goaltenders Trey Augustine, Carter Gylander and Michal Postava) on the roster are under contract to the Red Wings, while six players (forwards Tag Bertuzzi, Kienan Draper and Nolan Moyle; and defensemen Justice Christensen, Alex Kannok Leipert and Jacob Truscott) are playing on a Griffins contract. Seven players are Red Wings draft picks (Augustine, Becher, Buium, Dower Nilsson, Draper, Gylander and James).

Venture Across the Pond: Forwards Noah Dower Nilsson, Jesse Kiiskinen and Theo Rochette are all embarking on their first full professional seasons in North America. Dower Nilsson, the 70th overall pick by the Detroit Red Wings in 2023, competed in parts of four Swedish Hockey League seasons with Frolunda since 2022-23, notching 28 points (11-17—28) in 91 regular-season outings. Kiiskinen was the 68th overall pick by the Nashville Predators in 2023 and has shown 83 points (35-48—83) in 145 regular-season games in the Liiga (Finland) since 2022-23. Rochette is a 24-year-old undrafted prospect out of Switzerland who has suited up for three seasons in the National League (Swiss), totaling 104 points (50-54—104) in 131 regular-season games with Lausanne.

Young Guns: The Griffins have eight players who are considered rookies this season in forwards Dylan James, Kienan Draper, Noah Dower Nilsson, Sutter Muzzatti and Jesse Kiiskinen, defensemen Justice Christensen and Jacob Truscott, and goaltender Trey Augustine.

Oldies but Goodies: The Griffins’ roster features five veterans, including forwards Sheldon Dries, John Leonard and Dominik Shine, and defensemen Jacob Bryson and William Lagesson. A player receives veteran status if he has competed in at least 261 games in the NHL, AHL or European elite leagues. Shine leads all veterans with 550 professional games played, while Dries (523) ranks second and Lagesson (427) places third.  

Where It All Began: The Griffins near the 30-year anniversary of their first-ever game and victory, which occurred on Oct. 5, 1996, in a 1-0 win at the Indianapolis Ice. Grand Rapids opened its inaugural campaign on the road at Market Square Arena versus the Ice and emerged with a 1-0 win behind 30 saves by Pokey Reddick and a first-period power-play goal by Michel Picard, the first goal in franchise history. 

World Travelers: The Griffins have nine Americans in forwards Kienan Draper, Sheldon Dries, John Leonard, Nolan Moyle, Sutter Muzzatti, Dominik Shine, defensemen Ronnie Attard and Shai Buium, and goaltender Trey Augustine. There are seven Canadians on the roster, including forwards Tag Bertuzzi, Cameron Butler and Dylan James, defensemen Jacob Bryson, Justice Christensen and Alex Kannok Leipert, and goaltender Carter Gylander. From overseas, Sweden leads the way with three players in forwards Noah Dower Nilsson and Wilmer Skoog, and defenseman William Lagesson. Next, the roster features two Czechs in forward Ondrej Becher and goaltender Michal Postava. Finally, Finland (Jesse Kiiskinen) and Switzerland (Theo Rochette) both feature one player with the Griffins.

Pour Me A Draft: The Griffins’ roster is highlighted with three former second-round picks, including Trey Augustine (41st in 2023 DET), Shai Buium (36th in 2021 DET) and Dylan James (40th in 2022 DET). The roster also includes four third-round picks in Ronnie Attard (72nd in 2019 PHI), Ondrej Becher (80th in 2024 DET), Noah Dower Nilsson (70th in 2023 DET) and Jesse Kiiskinen (68th in 2023 NSH), and 15 total draft picks.

Griffins in the NHL: Twenty-seven former Griffins can be found on the season-opening rosters of 15 NHL teams, along with one player currently designated as non-roster injured reserve. The group includes two players from their 2017 championship squad. In addition, 11 teams feature former Griffins on their coaching staffs, including two head coaches and eight assistants.

Familiar Faces in Different Places: Several contributors to last season’s 51-win team now find themselves with new clubs for the upcoming season.

• Tyler Angle: Ranked eighth on the roster last season with 20 assists to go along with 26 points (6-20—26), 24 penalty minutes and a plus-17 rating in 62 games; Added one goal in six playoff appearances; Signed to a one-year contract by Leksands (HockeyAllsvenskan/Sweden);
• Carson Bantle: Last season, posted career highs in games played (52), goals (3), assists (4), points (7) and penalty minutes (55) with Grand Rapids; Throughout parts of two season with the Griffins from 2024-26, logged eight points (4-4—8) and 78 penalty minutes in 75 outings; Signed to a PTO by Lehigh Valley (AHL);
• Sebastian Cossa: 15th overall pick by Detroit in 2021; Throughout parts of four seasons with Grand Rapids, posted a 70-33-18 record with eight shutouts, a 2.46 GAA and a .911 SV% in 123-career outings; In the Griffins’ all-time rankings, he places fifth in games played, fifth in minutes played, 10th in GAA, fifth in wins, tied for sixth in shutouts and fifth in saves; Traded to Utah by Detroit in exchange for a 1st-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and re-signed to a two-year contract by Utah;
• Alex Doucet: Spent parts of three seasons in Grand Rapids from 2023-26 and totaled 35 points (15-20—35), 53 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating in 122 appearances; Signed to a one-year contract by Assat (Liiga/Finland);
• Erik Gustafsson: Competed in first season with Grand Rapids last year, registering 37 points (4-33—37), 32 penalty minutes and a plus-21 rating in 39 games; Ranked first on the team in assists, while tying for eighth among AHL defensemen in assists and tied for 14th in plus-minus; Signed to a one-year contract by Los Angeles;
• Amadeus Lombardi: 113th overall pick by Detroit in 2022; Tied for fourth on the team last year with 42 points (16-26—42) in 47 regular-season games, adding three assists in seven playoff contests; In Griffins career from 2022-26, showed 109 points (40-69—109) in 163 regular-season games and six points (2-4—6) in 18 postseason contests; Traded to New Jersey by Detroit in exchange for a 4th-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and re-signed to a two-year contract by New Jersey;
• Jakub Rychlovsky: Spent two seasons in Grand Rapids and made his AHL debut during the 2024-25 season; Logged 30 points (9-21—30) in 67 games last season; Throughout Griffins career, notched 38 points (12-26—38) in a combined 105 appearances; Signed to a two-year contract by Liberec (Extraliga/Czechia);
• Gabriel Seger: Last season, notched career highs in games played (70), assists (13), points (21), plus-minus (+13) and penalty minutes (20) to go along with eight goals; With the Griffins from 2024-26, recorded 38 points (18-20—38) and a plus-18 rating in 129 regular-season games; Signed to a one-year contract by Chicago (AHL);
• Eduards Tralmaks: Totaled 42 points (26-16—42), 14 penalty minutes and a plus-29 rating in 64 regular-season games last season, adding four goals in eight playoff outings; Ranked among the team leaders in points (T4th), goals (2nd), plus-minus (3rd) and power-play goals (T3rd); Plus-29 rating also tied for seventh in AHL; Signed to a one-year contract by Edmonton;
• Antti Tuomisto: Accumulated career highs in games played (68), goals (8), points (29) and plus-minus (+30) to go along with 21 assists and 34 penalty minutes; Ranked among the team’s defensemen leaders in points (2nd), assists (2nd), goals (1st) and plus-minus (2nd); Plus-30 rating tied for seventh in the AHL and placed fifth among all defensemen; In three campaigns with the Griffins from 2023-26, posted 73 points (16-57—73), 112 penalty minutes and a plus-36 rating in 185 regular-season contests; Signed to a two-year contract by Vegas;
• Austin Watson: Posted 24 points (12-12—24), 146 penalty minutes and a plus-two rating in 62 regular-season games last year; 146 penalty minutes ranked first on the roster and eighth in the AHL; Ranked first on the team in penalty minutes in both seasons with the Griffins, totaling a combined 258 minutes in 122 games; In two seasons with Grand Rapids from 2024-26, accumulated 66 points (31-35—66), 258 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating in 122 regular-season games; Remains an unrestricted free agent.

Photo by Nicolas Carrillo/Griffins