Detroit Red Wings AHL Affiliate off to Red Hot Start

Originally posted on Inside The Rink | Last updated Oct 29, 2024 5:05 PM ET

The Detroit Red Wings season is off as they are nine games in and have a record of 4-4-1 with nine points. The Red Wings AHL affiliate the Grand Rapids Griffins are at the top of their division to start the 2024-25 season. The Griffins have played seven games and are 6-1-0 tied with the Milwaukee Admirals for first place; the Admirals’ lone loss game against Grand Rapids. The Griffins’ lone loss came in the second game of the season against the Rockford IceHogs, putting them on a five-game winning streak. In their seven games, they have outscored their opponents 18-11. They are currently on an East Coast trip which started this past weekend as they faced the Springfield Thunderbirds and the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and on Wednesday they will face the Hartford Wolf Pack before returning home for a game on Friday and then a road game on Sunday. Some key Red Wings prospects have contributed in a big way to this start for the Griffins:

Goalie – Sebastian Cossa

Cossa has started off locked in, in net for Grand Rapids making five appearances and going 4-1-0 with a shutout, he’s currently posting a 1.54 goals against average and a .954 save percentage. The 6-7 220lb goaltender was drafted 15^th overall by the Red Wings in 2021. In his last start on Saturday, he stopped 31 of the 33 shots he faced, he also played on Friday coming in for Ville Husso who left with an injury and he stopped all 21 shots he faced to secure the win for the Griffins. If Cossa can have a season similar to the start he’s had he’ll for the hands to be in a winged wheel sweater next season, assuming no injuries this season otherwise he may get a shot in 2024-25.

Forward – Amadeus Lombardi

Lombardi is tied for the leading scorer on the Griffins to start the season, he does lead the team in goals with four as he has six points on those four goals and two assists; all of which has come in the last four games. Lombardi is anchoring the top line in Grand Rapids, and he seems comfortable in that spot. Lombardi in his final season in the OHL before joining the Red Wings organization had 102 points in 67 games.

This article first appeared on Inside The Rink and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: