JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The Grand Rapids Griffins on Monday announced that the Detroit Red Wings have assigned left wing Valtteri Filppula and goaltender Jimmy Howard, and have recalled goaltender Joey MacDonald. In addition, the Griffins today recalled center Jeff Nelson from the Muskegon Fury (UHL), and assigned forwards Scott Cameron and Ryan Keller to the Dayton Bombers (ECHL) and Fury, respectively.
Filppula, summoned by the Wings last Wednesday, became the 75th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL and notched his first point with an assist in Detroits 3-2 overtime loss at Florida on Thursday. Filppula, who also skated in Detroits 6-3 win at Tampa Bay on Saturday, ranks third on the Griffins with 11 goals (tied), 15 assists and 26 points in 27 games.
Howard has split the season between Grand Rapids and Detroit, posting a 4-2-1 record, a 2.91 GAA and a 0.898 save percentage with the Griffins. He made his NHL debut with the Wings on Nov. 28 and now shows a 1-2-0 record with a 2.99 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage in four starts for Detroit.
MacDonald, who has yet to make his NHL debut, becomes the seventh Griffin this season to be called-up to the parent club. Grand Rapids all-time leader with 75 wins, he has played 12 games since recovering from off-season back surgery, owning a 5-4-1 record with a 3.87 GAA and a 0.877 save percentage.
Nelson, who previously played for the Griffins during the 2003-04 and 1996-97 seasons, ranks among the franchises career leaders with 48 goals (T7th), 85 assists (6th), 133 points (6th), and 17 power play goals (T6th). He leads the United Hockey League with 49 points and 34 assists, while also contributing 15 goals in 23 contests.
Cameron went scoreless in his three-game debut with the Griffins over the weekend after signing a professional tryout on Friday. He currently leads Dayton and is tied for ninth in the ECHL with 29 points (9-2029).
Keller returns to the Fury tied for 16th in the UHL scoring race with 26 points (12-1426). He registered his first AHL goal Dec. 9 at Milwaukee, accounting for his lone point in eight games with Grand Rapids.
Filppula, summoned by the Wings last Wednesday, became the 75th Griffins alumnus to play in the NHL and notched his first point with an assist in Detroits 3-2 overtime loss at Florida on Thursday. Filppula, who also skated in Detroits 6-3 win at Tampa Bay on Saturday, ranks third on the Griffins with 11 goals (tied), 15 assists and 26 points in 27 games.
Howard has split the season between Grand Rapids and Detroit, posting a 4-2-1 record, a 2.91 GAA and a 0.898 save percentage with the Griffins. He made his NHL debut with the Wings on Nov. 28 and now shows a 1-2-0 record with a 2.99 GAA and a 0.904 save percentage in four starts for Detroit.
MacDonald, who has yet to make his NHL debut, becomes the seventh Griffin this season to be called-up to the parent club. Grand Rapids all-time leader with 75 wins, he has played 12 games since recovering from off-season back surgery, owning a 5-4-1 record with a 3.87 GAA and a 0.877 save percentage.
Nelson, who previously played for the Griffins during the 2003-04 and 1996-97 seasons, ranks among the franchises career leaders with 48 goals (T7th), 85 assists (6th), 133 points (6th), and 17 power play goals (T6th). He leads the United Hockey League with 49 points and 34 assists, while also contributing 15 goals in 23 contests.
Cameron went scoreless in his three-game debut with the Griffins over the weekend after signing a professional tryout on Friday. He currently leads Dayton and is tied for ninth in the ECHL with 29 points (9-2029).
Keller returns to the Fury tied for 16th in the UHL scoring race with 26 points (12-1426). He registered his first AHL goal Dec. 9 at Milwaukee, accounting for his lone point in eight games with Grand Rapids.