Dec. 29, 2016

By Pete Wallner, MLive
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GRAND RAPIDS - Finding a replacement for last year's leading scorer Andy Miele wasn't an easy task for the Grand Rapids Griffins, who ultimately lucked out that Matt Lorito grew up a Detroit Red Wings fan.

Lorito has not only stepped in to provide scoring punch for the Griffins, but he has done it by shifting early in the season from center to his more natural position at wing. The result has been 10 goals and 32 points from the second-year pro, good for a share of second in the AHL.

Lorito remains hot with six assists the past four games for the Griffins, who play at Cleveland on Friday and at home 6 p.m. Saturday against Rockford.

The Griffins have won five in a row with points in 13 of 14 games to move into first place in the Central Division with the best record in the Western Conference at 19-7-1-2.

They wouldn't be there without Lorito, who has filled the void lost when Miele departed with his 62-point season for the Philadelphia Flyers organization.

Lorito led Albany in scoring (18-36-54) last season after a decorated career at Brown. He signed an amateur tryout agreement with the New Jersey Devils organization and, when he became a free agent after a productive first season, he liked the opportunity and fit with the Red Wings' organization.

"Anytime you get a chance to sign with an organization like this it's pretty exciting," said Lorito, who grew up in Oakville, Ontario, as a Red Wings fan even though Toronto was closer in proximity.

"I was a Leafs fans early on but as I started watching it on TV and getting to know more about hockey I gravitated toward the Wings," he said. "So it (signing) was a dream come true."

The Griffins liked the fit as well, especially with the organization uncertain if Tomas Nosek would stick in Detroit and compounded by the departure of Miele, who was sixth in scoring last season.

"We were looking at the center position and it worked out that we got two guys in Ben Street and Matt Lorito," said coach Todd Nelson. "He sees the ice really well and has a great shot, but it's his play-making ability that is at an elite level."

It helps that he's now playing wing. He played part of last season in Albany at center, and that's what showed up on the scouting tape. So, the Griffins inserted him at center to start the season and even though he fared well, Nelson noticed something about 10 games in.

"Just looking at some of the scoring chances were fine but defensively there were some lapses that were head-scratchers," Nelson said. "I went up to him after a practice one day and said, 'Matt are you a natural center?' He said, 'No, I play wing but I can play both.' So we made the switch and he's really taken off."

Lorito will play either.

"It's nice that I can play center but I'm a little bit better suited as a winger," he said. "I think it just frees me up a little more. I can concentrate more on producing and playing offense, while, obviously, taking care of the defensive side."

If Lorito continues at his current pace, he could force himself on the Red Wings, who have an abundance of averaged-sized forwards and an overall lack of production to date. At 5-foot-9, 171-pounds, Lorito sees his niche to the NHL with balance.

"Obviously, I think you have to be accountable defensively, and win puck battles," Lorito said. "I've been able to make some plays with the puck, but without the puck, I think I can do a little bit better job of getting it back and getting in some checking and forechecking.

"But, overall, I think my smarts and my skating is what can give me an opportunity to show what I can do up there," he added. "But you can't necessarily control what happens so I'm just trying to focus on being successful and help the team win here."