Howard and Quincey get the call, others work hard to be ready when their chance comes

They're wearing Grand Rapids Griffins uniforms now, but the Detroit Red Wing prospects playing in the Furniture City continue to look forward to the moment that they go from the American Hockey League to the National Hockey League.

Perhaps the biggest name Red Wing fans have focused on from the Grand Rapids roster is goalie Jimmy Howard, who the Detroit franchise hopes will be its netminder of the future.
On February 11, the Red Wings recalled Howard from the Griffins, making it his second callup of the current season. He was also called up Oct. 25-Nov.7.

Photos by Mark Newman

Goaltender Jimmy Howard has worked hard to improve his game in Grand Rapids and was called up to Detroit on February 11 when Dominik Hasek was injured.

Howard’s most recent call-up occurred when Wing's goalie Dominik Hasek was listed as day-to-day following minor inflammation of his hip flexor. In 39 games with the Griffins, Howard has a 17-19-2 record with a 2.61 goals against average and a .914 save percentage, plus two shutouts. He is fourth among AHL goalies in minutes played with 2,300 and saves with 1,057.
“I got off to a good start,” Howard said, prior to his recent call-up. “Then I slumped the whole month of November. I finally feel like I am back to my old self.”

Howard played in the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic earlier this year in Binghamton, N.Y. He was named December’s AHL Goaltender of the Month for a 1.72 goals against average and 0.939 saves percentage.

“Since the end of November and the beginning of December I've played well,” he said. “They're great honors that I've received. One of my goals at the beginning of the season was to make the all-star team and I've gotten that one out of the way. Now I'm focusing on the team here to make the playoffs and then having a deep playoff run.”

Turning pro
Howard, in his third year with the Griffins, was a college starter at Maine. The biggest adjustment from college to pros, Howard said, is the longer schedule.

“Night in and night out, in college you played weekends and it's only 40 games and that's if you make it to the Frozen Four,” he said. “Now it's an 80-game schedule. The grind of it is the biggest adjustment.”

But Howard is confident that he has made the adjustment and is close to being a full-time Red Wings goalie.

“It's my third year now (in the AHL now),” he said. “I know when to push and when to back off. I'm going out there every single night and my concern this year has been to be more consistent.”

Prior to his recent call-up, Howard said he tries not to worry about when the Wings may or may not ask for his services.

“I can only control what I can control,” Howard said. “Other people make those decisions. That's why they have Ken Holland and Jim Nil over there.”

“He's been a big part of our team this year,” said Griffins general manager Bob McNamara. “He's had a good season. He's gotten in much better condition. He is probably more focused on what he needs to do. He's been generally our best player in the past couple of months.”
Spending time with the Wings has been a huge benefit, Howard said.

“You get to learn something new. Every single day you have to be prepared and ready to come to work,” he said. “Watching the Wings goalies the way they play and the other guys in the lockerroom and to see how hard they work is probably the best experience I can get.”

Defenseman Kyle Quincey played 13 games with the Red Wings last season in the playoffs but broke his hand in training camp this season. After playing 45 games with the Griffins this year he was called up to Detroit on Feb. 14 when Red Wings blueliner Brian Rafalski was injured.

A big jump
Another prospect is 6-foot, 195-pound center Evan McGrath, the Red Wing's second choice (128th overall) in the 2004 NHL entry draft. In the Griffins first 50 games, he had seven goals and seven assists.

“It's been quite a jump this year. I've had a lot more ice time this year than last,” McGrath said. “I'm getting a lot more opportunity. The trust factor is there from the coach, which definitely helps.”

McGrath said he's been trying to keep his defensive game as strong as possible.
“I'm trying to do the little things instead of worrying about the big plays,” he said. “I have a little ways to go, but hope to get there (to the Red Wings) as soon as possible.

“It's a combination of everything. You have to work as hard as you can and try to listen to the little things the coaches have to say. “It's a huge learning experience but a lot of fun as well.”
Another of Detroit’s draft picks playing in Grand Rapids is Jonathan Ericsson, a 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman from Sweden who was Detroit's 10th choice and 291st overall in the 2002 NHL entry draft.

“I started out pretty good, but I’ve had some problems with consistency. I have to be more consistent in my game,” he said. “I can't say I'm too satisfied. I'm expecting more of myself.”
Now in his second season with the Griffins, Ericsson led Grand Rapids defensemen with 24 assists and was third overall on the team with 29 points last year. His 102 penalty minutes tied for third on the Griffins and was second among their defensemen. He had three shootout goals to tie for second among AHL defensemen. Last season, he tied a franchise record for having two power-play goals in one period.

“I feel I'm a better player,” he said. “You get better as you get more experience.”
This season, after 51 games, Ericsson has six goals and 22 points, ranking him fourth on the team. He knows what is expected of him to get the call up to Detroit.

“I have to be more consistent and be stronger and faster since the NHL is a much quicker game,” Ericsson said. “The AHL has a lot of young talent. When you have the opportunity to play for them, it's very good.”

Ericsson is trying to help the Griffins qualify for the AHL playoffs.

“We have everything we need,” he said. “It's a great town. It's an unbelievable organization. They really care about the players.”

“He's had his ups and downs,” McNamara said. “Overall, he's been good. There's been some consistency issues, but that comes with being a young defenseman.”

Getting the call
Last season Griffins defenseman Kyle Quincey played 13 games for the Red Wings in the playoffs, but a broken hand in training camp knocked him out of action and he started this season in Grand Rapids.

When Detroit defenseman Brian Rafalski injured his groin, the Red Wings called up the 6-2, 205 Quincey on Feb. 14 to fill in.

Quincey was in his third season with the Griffins. In 45 games this season, he had two goals and 10 points. Last season, he played in 65 games and had four goals and 18 assists for 22 points. For the 2005-06 campaign, he had 70 games played with seven goals and 26 assists.

“I had a bad break in training camp. I broke my hand and was out the first month of the year,” Quincey said. “I've battled injuries most of the season. I've gotten off to a slow start. I have an opportunity to start over the second half of the year and try to get to the playoffs. The playoffs would be our chance and my chance to shine. That's what we're going for.”

His playoff experience last year in Detroit has helped him understand what he needs to do to earn a regular spot on the Red Wings blueline.

“I got a lot of confidence playing in the playoffs last year with Detroit,” he said. “I want to get faster and play as physical as I can and be consistent night in and night out.

“Talking to a lot of the guys, they said this is one of the better places to play in the American League,” Quincey said. “They take care of all of us. We know we have it pretty good here. From the coaching staff to the personnel, we're all on the same page. It's a good opportunity for everyone to make it to the next level.

“Every morning, you hope you get that call that they're looking for someone like you. If I could help that team, I'd love to be up there. It's such an honor to put the Red Wings jersey on and play with those players. It's a process. I have to prepare myself every day for a chance to get a call.”

All of the future Wings prospects playing for the Griffins smile while talking about the success the Detroit team is enjoying.

“They're playing phenomenal,” Howard said. “I don't think they could ask for a better season.”
“They're obviously a great team. You wish all the best and hopefully they'll continue to make the progress that they did in the first half,” McGrath said.

“They're having a great season,” Ericsson said. “They've been playing really well. I'm glad to see that.”

“It's not that they're easily winning but they make it look easy,” Quincey said. “Having been there, I know the way they play. Winning is standard to them. They don't like losing. It's not in their history. They know how to win.

“I can't say enough about them. They have veteran players, who will lead that team for years to come.”

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