The Detroit Red Wings are having success throughout the organization
The Detroit Red Wings are having success throughout the organization.
The Detroit Red Wings have been one of the more successful franchises in the history of the NHL. They have 11 Stanley Cups, and 19 division championships, appeared in the playoffs an incredible 64 times, and led the league in points 18 times.
However, some of that success has been due to their minor league affiliates in the American Hockey League (AHL) and ECHL. Several prospects have made it through the system and made it to Detroit throughout the years. This season, all three teams are doing something special.
This season, expectations were high across the board for all three. Detroit had reloaded and signed free agents to help them compete with elite teams in the Eastern Conference.
The Grand Rapids Griffins named a new head coach, Dan Watson, who came with plenty of promise and a successful resume. Toledo was also prepared for a big season as they also announced a new coach, Pat Mikesch, who replaced Watson behind the bench.
Plenty of changes for all three teams within the organization as the Red Wings thought those changes were necessary to get back on track. Of the three, Toledo has enjoyed the most success over the years, yet came up empty in the Kelly Cup final.
The Griffins and Red Wings were going through the motions and knew work had to be done. The work has been done and it has paid off so far this season.
This is how each of the three look so far this season:
Detroit Red Wings
With more than half of the Red Wings roster for the 2023-24 season being new due to free agency, Detroit thought they finally had the roster to compete for a playoff spot and they were not wrong. The Red Wings are 34-28-6 for 74 points, good for 5th in the Atlantic Division.
They are one win shy of their entire win total from last season and are in the playoff hunt, something the management wanted to see late in the season. They have a better points percentage (.552 to .488) compared to last season yet they are barely outscoring their opponents 230-229.
Second-year head coach Derek Lalonde is getting the revamped roster to buy into his systems as the team marches toward the end of the season.
With the playoffs still a possibility, will star forward Lucas Raymond continue his hot play? His 57 points lead Detroit and they look to turn things around and grab that important playoff spot.
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Griffins have been as up and down as the Red Wings over the past few seasons and were hoping for a big 2023-24 season. With new head coach Watson behind the bench, Grand Rapids has been successful in the standings and looks as if they are heading in the right direction.
The Griffins are in second place in the Central Division with a record of 29-17-7 for 69 points and have a .605 winning percentage. They are outscoring the opposition 171-161 and are 5-2-2-1 in their last 10 games.
First-year Grand Rapids coach Watson is keeping the Griffins within reach of a playoff spot and has plenty of hockey yet to be played.
Coach Watson, known as a coach who does well in developing players, has done a great job with the young roster.
Defenseman Simon Edvinsson (8 goals and 21 assists for 29 points), forward Jonatan Berggren (19-27-46), forward Marco Kasper (11-16-27), and goaltender Sebastian Cossa (14-7-8, 2.58 goals-against-average, a .911 save percentage, and 1 shutout all continue to develop at a good pace under his guidance.
The Griffins have a franchise-record 16 straight home games with a point as they continue to play well as a team.
With many transactions this season, coach Watson has kept the players focused and playing hard. The progression of the team as a whole and the development of the Red Wings prospects is going smoothly. There is no reason to doubt they are on the right track.
Toledo Walleye
The Walleye, at the bottom of the Red Wings totem pole, have done a tremendous job in being the more successful of the three teams over the past few seasons.
Toledo continues their winning ways this season, posting a 36-14-4 record for 81 points, placing them in first place in the Central Division. They are 7-3 in their last 10 games and have outscored their opponents 243-187 this season.
The attendance has been helpful in the success of the Walleye as they are third in total attendance, with an average of 7,097 fans per game and a total of 253,020 fans this season at home.
Toledo has a .610 winning percentage and has played as a unit the entire season. First-year head coach Mikesch has come in and put things into perspective with his knowledge and techniques that have made him successful. He has done an excellent job in replacing Watson and keeping the winning tradition alive in Toledo.
Toledo has had players in the past who have had their start in Toledo and grown more in Grand Rapids.
Players like Cossa, John Lethemon, Trenton Bliss, Willie Coetzee, Martin Frk, Luke Glendening, and Jordan Pearce have played their way through the Walleye roster to only achieve great success in Grand Rapids.
Most players who have made their pro debuts in Toledo have attended development camp with the Red Wings.
Walleye forward Brandon Hawkins leads the league in scoring with 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points in 60 games.
Red Wings goaltending prospect Jan Bednar has a record of 15-7-2 with a GAA of 2.81 and a save percentage of .894 with three shutouts, while Lethemon has been solid between the pipes with a record of 22-7-2, a 3.09 GAA, and a .886 save percentage. Both netminders have played well and could be in Grand Rapids next season.
The connection Detroit has had with Grand Rapids and Toledo has been exceptional. It is not rare for an NHL team and their AHL affiliation to be good at the same time.
However, it does not happen that often when an ECHL affiliate of that team is excelling at the same time. This organization is due for a championship at any level. It is a matter of which of these teams will get there first.
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