After finishing second in the West division with 96 points in 2003-04, the Chicago Wolves swept the Griffins in four games in the Division Semifinal playoff series. The Griffins will look to improve on their early exit last year. With strong goaltending, a solid blueline and depth at forward, the Griffins, on paper, look like they are built to go deep into the playoffs.

With 14 returning players the Griffins should have the leadership and experience, and adding to that three new faces with professional hockey experience and the Griffins should make life difficult for opposing teams.

Goaltending

Having finished in the top 10 in the league last year in wins, goals against average and save percentage, 24-year-old Joey MacDonald has clearly arrived. After splitting last year with Marc Lamothe, MacDonald will be Grand Rapids’ No. 1 this year with the departure of Lamothe to Yaroslavl Lokomotiv of the Russian league. MacDonald has had only one season, his first in the QMJHL, in which his goals against average has been over 3.00 and his save percentage has been below .900, with his best career numbers coming last year.

Sharing the goaltending duties with MacDonald will be 21-year-old Drew MacIntyre. MacIntyre comes to Grand Rapids from the Toledo Storm of the ECHL. With the Storm, MacIntyre, posted very good numbers with a 2.61 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and 6 wins in 11 games.

Additions: Drew MacIntyre

Departures: Marc Lamothe

Defense

After finishing fourth in the league in goals against, only giving up a stingy 166 goals against, the Griffins return the core of their defense unit. With five returning players, this should be a strength of the Griffins. Rookie Derek Meech and Bryan Helmer join the unit.

Anchoring the blueline this year is Detroit’s top defensive prospect, Niklas Kronwall. Kronwall put up 5 points with the big club playing 20 games with the Red Wings before breaking his leg and missing the last 33 games of the regular season. He was the Red Wings first round pick (29^th overall) in 2000.

Danny Groulx was given the opportunity to play as a top 4 defenseman last year with Grand Rapids and it paid off as he posted 21 points and led the team with a +20 rating. Looking to build on those numbers will be the challenge for Groulx if he wants to continue to be successful at this level. He will need to improve his skating if he hopes to make it beyond the AHL.

Making his professional debut this year on the blueline for the Griffins is Red Deer Rebel standout Derek Meech. Meech, who won a Memorial Cup in his rookie season with the Rebels, is an offensively gifted defenseman. He finished off his junior career as captain of the Rebels and with an appearance at the World Juniors where he was paired with Red Deer partner Dion Phaneuf. Watch for Meech to improve as he adjusts to the pro style game.

Additions: Bryan Helmer, Derek Meech

Departures: Andres Myrvold, Dave Van Drunen, Aaron Schneekloth, Ryan Bonni

Forwards

Returning to the Griffins this year is the club’s second overall points leader last year right-winger Nathan Robinson. With 50 points last year, 24 of those goals, in only 69 games, watch for Robinson to be a leader in the point’s category again. Although not big in size, Robinson has been blessed with blazing speed, which creates many scoring opportunities for him. Also returning is Detroit’s top center prospect, Jiri Hudler. Detroit’s first round pick in 2002, Hudler split time between the Red Wings (12 games) and Grand Rapids. While only playing in 57 games with the Griffins, Hudler put up 49 points and finished second on the team with a +16 rating. He also made the 2003-04 AHL PlanetUSA All-Star Team.

After a disappointing and injury plagued season, right wing Tomas Kopecky will need to step up his play this year. Only playing in 48 games last year, Kopecky posted a disappointing 12 points and finished with a -3 rating. He only appeared in one playoff game for the Griffins last year and was a healthy scratch in several games. Boasting a good shot and stickhandling ability, Kopecky needs to be more consistent to be effective to play at this level.

Eric Himelfarb, who played just seven regular season games and the playoffs with the Griffins last year made an impact on a line with Hudler and Kevin Miller posting 10 points. Before joining Grand Rapids, Himelfarb played with Kingston in the OHL, scoring 37 goals and posting an incredible 107 points. Good enough for fourth in the league in scoring. That was his fourth 30-goal season in the OHL. Himelfarb was voted one of OHL's top-three skaters, faceoff men and most dangerous in the goal area in a coaches poll.

A fresh face up front this year will be right-winger Todd Jackson. Jackson, coming off a career season with the University of Maine where he was the team’s captain, posted career high numbers in points will have his first taste of the professional game. Voted Hockey East's best defensive forward, Jackson will have to carry that aspect of his game over to the professional level to be successful.

Additions: Todd Jackson, Pete Vandermeer and Eric Manlow

Departures: Michel Picard, Kevin Miller, Jeff Nelson, Derek King, Hugo Boisvert

Outlook

Clearly the bar has been raised this year in Grand Rapids. After a disappointing sweep in the first round of playoffs last year, expectations will be a lot higher this year. With the NHL lockout the Griffins will have the services of Kronwall, Hudler and Robinson full-time. This will benefit the Griffins as last season’s point leader Michel Picard will need to be replaced.

Matt MacInnis contributed to this article. Copyright 2004 Hockey’s Future. Do not duplicate without permission of the editorial staff.