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Red Wings Farm Club Looming Large

Griffins really sizing up on the wings

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1 month ago

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Carson Bantle, Griffins
Newcomer Carson Bantle gives the Grand Rapids Griffins five wings who are 6-3 or taller.

There can be no question that the Grand Rapids Griffins are looming large in the future of the Detroit Red Wings.

In more ways than one, it would seem.

Tuesday, the AHL Griffins, Detroit’s top farm club, were signing Wisconsin Badgers left-winger Carson Bantle as a college free agent. The hulking forward towers above most at 6-foot-5 and 207 pounds. However, he’ll fit right in with the majority of wings on the current Griffins roster.

Since late last season, Grand Rapids has been sizing up the club’s future. North Dakota left-winger Hunter Johannes (6-foot-3, 217 pounds) was added near the end of the 2023-24 AHL campaign. Over the summer, they were picking up free agent left-winger Gabriel Seger, a 6-foot-4, 213-pound Swede who was playing college hockey at Cornell.

This trio will be joining the likes of left-winger Elmer Soderblom (6-foot-8, 246 pounds) and left-winger Tim Gettinger (6-foot-6, 218 pounds). Both Soderblom and Gettinger are showing NHL playing experience on their respective resumes.

Red Wings Future In Good Hands

Since all three of the newcomers were inking AHL pacts, it’s entirely possible that none of Seger, Johannes or Bantle will ever be playing for the Red Wings. Still, that doesn’t mean they won’t be capable of making an impact on Detroit’s future.

There’s an old saying that you can’t coach size. What these big wingers could prove capable of doing is forming a protection racket to be providing insurance that liberties aren’t taken with top Red Wings prospects such as Nate Danielson, Marco Kasper and Carter Mazur. They can also provide time and space for diminutive Amadeus Lombardi (5-foot-11, 175 pounds) to be at his creative best.

Bantle was originally a 2020 draft pick of the Arizona Coyotes (142nd overall) who went unsigned. His contract with the Griffins is for two years.

He played at Michigan Tech before transferring to Wisconsin. A native of Onalaska, Wisconsin, Bantle set career highs with the Badgers last season in games played (39), goals (14), points (19), penalty minutes (45), and plus-minus rating (+7).

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