GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – This is your one-stop, authoritative source for information on who could play for the Grand Rapids Griffins in 2026-27, who is unsigned, and where former players and coaches will be this coming season.

Starting with players from Grand Rapids' 2025-26 roster who finished the season within the Red Wings organization, then adding new signees and other players from the organization, here are the currently contracted players who could play for the Griffins this coming season unless they make Detroit's roster, are assigned to the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye, or are loaned to another team.

Under Contract for 2026-27 (Contract)
G Trey Augustine (DET)
F Ondrej Becher (DET)
F Michael Brandsegg-Nygard (DET)
D Shai Buium (DET)
D Justice Christensen (GR)
F Nate Danielson (DET)
F Noah Dower Nilsson (DET)
F Kienan Draper (GR)
F Sheldon Dries (DET) (not waivers-exempt)
F Eddie Genborg (DET)
F Dylan James (DET)
D Anton Johansson (DET)
D Alex Kannok Leipert (GR)
F Jesse Kiiskinen (DET)
D William Lagesson (DET) (not waivers-exempt)
F John Leonard (DET) (not waivers-exempt)
G Michal Postava (DET)
D Axel Sandin-Pellikka (DET)
F Dominik Shine (DET) (not waivers-exempt)
D Jacob Truscott (GR)

Bold indicates AHL veteran status for 2026-27, meaning he has played 261 or more games in the NHL, AHL and European Elite Leagues and is at least 25 years old. AHL teams may dress no more than six veterans each game, not including goalies.

Nine players from the 2025-26 Griffins are entering restricted free agency. NHL teams can retain rights to their RFAs by extending qualifying offers to them by Monday, June 29 at 5 p.m. EDT. Those not receiving qualifying offers will become unrestricted free agents.

Restricted Free Agents
G Sebastian Cossa
F Alex Doucet
G Carter Gylander
F Amadeus Lombardi
F Carter Mazur
F Michael Milne
F Jakub Rychlovsky
F Wojciech Stachowiak
D William Wallinder

Eight players will become unrestricted free agents, free to sign with the Griffins, Red Wings or any organization. NHL free agency begins on Wednesday, July 1 at noon EDT.

Unrestricted Free Agents (Contract)
D Nick Andrews (GR)
F Tyler Angle (GR)
F Carson Bantle (GR)
D Eric Gustafsson (DET)
F Gabriel Seger (GR)
F Eduards Tralmaks (DET)
D Antti Tuomisto (DET)
F Austin Watson (DET)

Finally, these are the transactions involving Griffins alumni that have taken place since before the NHL's March 6 trade deadline. Check back often to see where your favorites will be playing and coaching in 2026-27.

June 1
Tomas Jurco (2012-14; 15-17) - Will not return to Togliatti (KHL/Russia)
Sebastien Piche (2009-12) - Will not return to Brasov (Erste Liga/Romania)

May 30
Matt Berry (2021-22) - Signed to a one-year contract by Gap (Ligue Magnus/France)
Evgeny Svechnikov (2015-18; 19-21) - Will not return to Khabarovsk (KHL/Russia)
Denis Yan (2021-22) - Will not return to Ufa (KHL/Russia)

May 29
Axel Holmstrom (2016-19) - Signed to a two-year contract by KooKoo (Liiga/Finland)

May 27
Tom McCollum (2009-16; 17-18) - Signed to a one-year contract by Dunkerque (France2)

May 25
Nolan Stevens (2023-24) - Signed to a two-year contract by Sodertalje (HockeyAllsvenskan/Sweden)

May 24
Gleason Fournier (2011-14) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Cardiff (EIHL/Wales)

May 23
Adam Almquist (2011-14) - Retired
Patrick Holway (2020-21) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Rouen (Ligue Magnus/France)

May 18
Madison Bowey (2019-20) - Signed to a one-year contract by Wolfsburg (DEL/Germany)
Chase Pearson (2018-23) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Nottingham (EIHL/England)

May 10
Alexis D'Aoust (2021-22) - Signed to a contract by Herforder (Germany3)
Josh Dickinson (2021-22) - Signed to a two-year contract by Orebro (SHL/Sweden)
Eddie Pasquale (2016-17) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Pustertal (ICEHL/Italy)
Tylor Spink (2016-17) - Signed to a two-year contract by Dresdner (DEL2/Germany)

May 7
Bruce Ramsay (1996-99; AC 2015-18) - Named associate head coach by Tulsa (ECHL)

May 6
Andrej Nestrasil (2011-14) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by Trinec (Czechia)

May 3
Jamie Tardif (2006-11) - Fired as assistant coach by Hartford (AHL)

April 30
Mattias Backman (2013-15) - Will not return to Vita Hasten (HockeyEttan/Sweden)
Axel Holmstrom (2016-19) - Will not return to Litvinov (Czechia)
Luke Witkowski (2021-22) - Signed to a contract by Brno (Czechia)

April 29
Oliwer Kaski (2019-20) - Signed to a contract by Malmo (SHL/Sweden)
Dominic Turgeon (2016-21) - Will not return to Kassel (DEL2/Germany)

April 28
Patrick Curry (2020-22) - Signed to a contract by Jokerit (Liiga/Finland)
Richard Nedomlel (2013-14; 15-16) - Signed to a contract by Brno (Czechia)

April 26
Randy Gazzola (2021-22) - Will not return to Vienna (ICEHL/Austria)

April 24
Louis-Marc Aubry (2011-17) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Kolner (DEL/Germany)
Oliwer Kaski (2019-20) - Will not return to Kolner (DEL/Germany)

April 23
Taro Hirose (2019-24) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Munchen (DEL/Germany)
Ryan Murphy (2021-22) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Munchen (DEL/Germany)

April 22
Kevin Tansey (2018-19) - Retired

April 21
Trenton Bliss (2021-25) - Signed to a one-year contract by Linz (ICEHL/Austria)

April 20
Ian Mitchell (2025-26) - Signed to a two-year contract by Bern (NL/Switzerland)
Bruce Ramsay (1996-99; AC 2015-18) - Fired as head coach by Wichita (ECHL)

April 18
Tory Dello (2019-21; 24-25) - Will not return to Karlovy Vary (Tipsport Extraliga/Czechia)

April 15
John Leonard (2025-26) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Detroit
Luke Witkowski (2021-22) - Will not return to Brynas (SHL/Sweden)

April 13
Alexis D'Aoust (2021-22) - Will not return to Lausitzer (DEL2/Germany)
Brent Raedeke (2008-09; 10-13) - Will not return to Kaufbeuren (DEL2/Germany)

April 12
Nolan Moyle (2025-26) - Will not return to EC-KAC (ICEHL/Austria)

April 10
Pat Verbeek (GM 2021-22) - Re-signed to a multiyear contract as general manager by Anaheim

April 9
Trenton Bliss (2021-25) - Will not return to Stavanger (Norway)
Filip Larsson (2019-20) - Signed to a two-year contract by Orebro (SHL/Sweden)

April 6
Tim Gettinger (2023-25) - Will not return to Schwenninger (DEL/Germany)

April 4
Filip Larsson (2019-20) - Will not return to Leksands (SHL/Sweden)

March 31
Teemu Pulkkinen (2012-15) - Will not return to Rosenheim (DEL2/Germany)

March 30
Bruce Cassidy (HC 2000-02) - Fired as head coach by Vegas
Anton Johansson (2024-25) - Reassigned to Grand Rapids by Detroit from Leksands (SHL/Sweden)

March 28
Alec McCrea (2019-20) - Signed to a one-year contract by Augsburger (DEL/Germany)
Trevor Parkes (2011-14) - Signed to a one-year contract by Augsburger (DEL/Germany)

March 26
Gemel Smith (2021-11) - Will not return to Wolfsburg (DEL/Germany)
Tyler Spezia (2018-24) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Nurnberg (DEL/Germany)

March 20
Ryan Bednard (2022-23) - Will not return to Dusseldorfer (DEL2/Germany)

March 15
Radim Simek (2023-24) - Re-signed to a three-year contract by Liberec (Tipsport Extraliga/Czechia)

March 12
Ian Mitchell (2025-25) - Traded to Tampa Bay by Detroit in exchange for Michael Milne and Wojciech Stachowiak

March 10
Wyatt Newpower (2021-24) - Traded to Springfield (AHL) by Syracuse (AHL) in exchange for Matthew Peca

March 6
Luke Glendening (2012-14) - Claimed on waivers by Philadelphia from New Jersey
Justin Holl (2025-26) - Traded to St. Louis by Detroit with Dmitri Buchelnikov, Detroit’s first-round selection and San Jose's third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for Justin Faulk
Alex Nedeljkovic (2022-23) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by San Jose (NHL)
Elmer Soderblom (2022-25) - Traded to Pittsburgh by Detroit in exchange for San Jose's third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft  

Feb. 26
Victor Brattstrom (2021-23) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by AIK (HockeyAllsvenskan/Sweden)

Feb. 25
Andy Miele (2014-16) - Re-signed by Fischtown (DEL/Germany)

Feb. 24
Matt Luff (2022-24) - Traded to NY Islanders by St. Louis in exchange for Julien Gauthier

Feb. 23
Dustin Tokarski (2025-26) - Signed by Ljubljana (ICEHL/Slovenia)

Feb. 4
Riley Barber (2020-22) - Re-signed by Ingolstadt (DEL/Germany)

Feb. 3
Alex Kannok Leipert (2025-26) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Grand Rapids

Feb. 1
Sheldon Dries (2024-26) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by Detroit

Jan. 21
Joe Snively (2024-25) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by Djurgardens (SHL/Sweden)

Jan. 10
Dominik Shine (2016-26) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by Detroit

Jan. 1
Charle-Edouard D'Astous (2019-20) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Tampa Bay

Dec. 29
Luke Esposito (2017-18) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Mannheim (DEL/Germany)
Dan Renouf (2015-18; 21-22) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Mannheim (DEL/Germany)

Dec. 16
Jan Bednar (2024-25) - Re-signed to a one-year contract by Assat (Liiga/Finland)

Nov. 23
Gregor MacLeod (2019-21) - Re-signed to a two-year contract by Kolner (DEL/Germany)