March 29, 2017

By Pete Wallner, MLive
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GRAND RAPIDS - The future of the Grand Rapids Griffins is emerging and the newcomers will play a role in how the team finishes the regular season.
Especially on defense.

Filip Hronek, the Red Wings' third choice in the 2016 draft, picked up his first AHL goal as the Griffins continued to juggle their lineup Wednesday in a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee.

Hronek was one of seven defensemen in the lineup as the team adjusts on the fly to the situation in Detroit. With the Red Wings out of the playoffs, they're looking at different combinations via the Griffins. So the latest missing player was leading scorer Ben Street.

Add in the recent call-ups of Tomas Nosek and defensemen Robbie Russo and the Griffins have little choice but to look at new faces.
In this case, it was Hronek. The 19-year-old picked up his first goal in his third game on a blast from the point on the power play in the first period.

"It was an amazing feeling," he said.

As for the adjustment, Hronek added: "It's a different level of hockey. I played in the OHL and juniors, (but) there are stronger guys and so fast. It's a different level of hockey."

He had some fresh faces alongside him. Forward Dominik Shine, signed two weeks ago, played in his second game and picked up an assist, while the depleted frontline - with Eric Tangradi also out with a minor injury - gave power play opportunities to the likes of youngsters Dominic Turgeon and Dylan Sadowy.

Even Hronek got on the power play, something he was accustomed to with the OHL's Saginaw Spirit. And it paid off.

"Great shot," said fellow defenseman Nathan Paetsch. "He has a real promising career ahead of him. I thought he was really in a zone, moving his feet and getting his shot through."

"Young kid coming in here and played with poise and I think he's gaining confidence as he plays," coach Todd Nelson said.

The defense has especially been forced to quickly adjust game by game. In addition to Hronek's arrival, Dan Renouf returned after one game with the Red Wings while there was also Dylan McIIrath, in his 12th game after coming over from Florida as part of the Thomas Vanek trade.

Despite Wednesday's loss, the Griffins allow the second fewest goals a game (2.48). The Admirals managed 19 shots.

"I think we just have a lot of depth at that position," Paetsch said. "You look at a guy like (Matt) Caito. He should be up here, too ... When you see that kind of level from eight guys, that's kind of promising."

The Griffins can get some defensive help from Russo once the Red Wings' regular season ends, as well the return of forwards Street and Nosek.