Detroit — The big news coming out of the Red Wings organization Wednesday didn’t necessarily come out of the NHL team, which closes out its season Thursday in Tampa.
The interesting piece of news came out of minor-league affiliate Grand Rapids, where the Griffins announced defenseman (and Griffins captain) Brian Lashoff will be retiring at the conclusion of the American League regular season this weekend.
Lashoff, 32, who has played more seasons (14) in Grand Rapids than any professional athlete in the city’s history, will be honored during a ceremony prior to the Griffins’ regular-season home finale Friday against Rockford. Grand Rapids visits Chicago Saturday (8 p.m., NHL Network) for the final game of Lashoff’s playing career.
Almost unanimously, be it from Brendan Smith to Filip Hronek to Moritz Seider, every Wings defenseman who spent time in Grand Rapids spoke glowingly of Lashoff’s influence, leadership and professionalism.
Including a three-game stint with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye during his first full pro season in 2010-11, Lashoff played his entire career within the Wings organization, after making his pro debut with the Griffins in 2008-09 at the age of 18.
In this day and age of pro sports, and especially at the minor-league level, it’s a remarkable accomplishment.
Lashoff made his Red Wings debut on January 21, 2013, in Columbus, scoring a goal in his first game. Lashoff played 136 games with the Wings through parts of seven NHL seasons (2012-20), with 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) and 65 penalty minutes. Lashoff also played eight NHL playoff games with the Wings.
“You don’t stay with the same organization for this long by accident; that doesn’t happen by chance,” Griffins coach Ben Simon said. “As an undrafted player, he endeared himself to numerous coaches, teammates, and the fans through his hard-nosed style of play, his infectious work ethic, and impeccable character both on and off the ice.
“Brian epitomizes what an organization wants from its players. He does things the right way, every day. He gave his best effort every practice, every shift, and every game, leaving it all out there on the ice. Off the ice, he set an example in the locker room every day as to what it meant to be a pro. The character and professionalism he brought to the rink every day were unmatched. The appreciation, pride, respect, and passion he has for the game and this organization is evident through his work ethic, the same — if not more today — since he first walked through the Griffins’ doors.”
Lashoff has played in 628 games with the Griffins, with 32 goals and 100 assists (132 points). Only Travis Richards (655 games) has played more games with the Griffins. Lashoff was a key component of Grand Rapids’ Calder Cup championship teams in both 2013 and 2017, joining Nathan Paetsch and Mitch Callahan as the franchise’s only two-time Cup champions.
Draft position
So, what’s at stake for the Wings Thursday in Tampa (7 p.m., BSD/The Ticket)?
For the majority of Wings fans still paying attention, it’s draft positioning, and with Vancouver’s regulation victory Tuesday in Anaheim, that slipped the Wings into 24th overall (Vancouver 81 points, Wings 80) and the ninth-best odds (5%) of winning the draft lottery and selecting first. They’d have a 5.4% chance of drafting second.
The top two players in the draft are considered to be Connor Bedard (Regina Pats), a franchise-altering generational player, and Michigan’s Adam Fantilli, who last week won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player.
The Wings could still move into 23rd if Washington (79 points) defeats New Jersey Thursday in regulation time and the Wings earn no more than one point — or the Capitals win in overtime/shootout and the Wings lose in regulation. That would give the Wings a 6% chance of winning the lottery and 6.4% chance of drafting second.
Lombardi GR bound
The Wings reassigned forward Amadeus Lombardi to Grand Rapids Griffins from the Flint Firebirds (OHL).
Lombardi, 19, skated in 67 games with the Firebirds this season and led them with 45 goals, 57 assists and 102 points.
Lombardi (5-foot-10, 165-pounds) was a 2022 fourth-round (113th overall) draft pick of the Wings, and finished third in the OHL scoring race. Lombardi had seven points (five goals, two assists) in seven playoff games this season for Flint.
It’s likely Lombardi will play in one, if not both, of the Griffins’ final two games against Rockford and Chicago.
Red Wings at Lightning
▶ Faceoff: 7 p.m. Thursday, Amalie Arena, Tampa
▶ TV/radio: BSD/97.1 FM
▶ Outlook: The Lightning (45-30-6) have secured third place in the Atlantic Division and will face Toronto in the first round of the playoffs. Tampa isn’t on a roll, having lost four consecutive games and seven of its last 10 games. RW Nikita Kucherov (82 assists, 112 points) has had a monstrous offensive season.
ted.kulfan@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @tkulfan