The Grand Rapids Griffins are making a huge impression on the American Hockey League, and on Detroit Red Wings coach Todd McLellan.
Off to a 16-1-0-1 start to the AHL season, the Griffins have outscored opponents 73-34. This week, Grand Rapids goaltender Sebastian Cossa was given the honor of the AHL Player of the Week. At the same time, forward John Leonard was recognized as the AHL Player of the Month for November.
Brick Wall Award: Accepted 👊‼️ #GoGRG
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— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 1, 2025
“They’re a very good hockey club,” McLellan said. “Goaltending, even when (Carter) Gylander’s gone up there (from ECHL Toledo) from what I’ve heard, he’s played real well.”
Cossa went 3-0 this past week, allowing just four goals on 73 shots for a 1.33 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage. He also posted his second shutout of the season. Cossa made 26 saves in a 1-0 victory on Sunday over the Iowa Wild.
“That gives them the security blanket of rescuing the team when they do make mistakes,” McLellan said. “But from what I understand, they don’t make a lot of mistakes.
“They’re well organized. So (head coach Dan Watson) and his coaching staff have done a really good job.”
Red Wings Coach Likes How Griffins Handle Veterans
Leonard has 15 goals and 24 points through his first 15 games with the Griffins. In the AHL rankings, the 27-year-old places first in goals, tied for first in points, tied for seventh in plus-minus rating (+11), and first in points-per-game among players with at least 10 games (1.60).
Change this to the Certified Sniper Award ‼️🚨 #GoGRG
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— Grand Rapids Griffins (@griffinshockey) December 1, 2025
Leonard’s career-best 10-game point streak from Oct. 10 to Nov. 19 set a franchise record to begin both a season and a Griffins career. And he’s done all this while being among eight Grand Rapids veterans who rotate in and out of the six available veteran roster spots per game.
Under AHL rules, a team can only have a total of six skaters who have played 261 or more professional games (AHL, NHL, or European Elite League) in its lineup for a game.
“I think that the veterans that have gone down there, from what I understand, there’s a rotation because there’s too many of them,” McLellan said. “They’ve handled that really well because that can distract a group real quick.
“You take a guy like Leonard, who’s one of the top goal scorers. All of a sudden he’s not in a game. You know, it’s not ideal, but those guys have really handled it well.”
Leonard is just the third Griffins player to win the AHL Player of the Month award. He joins Riley Barber (April 2022) and Chris Minard (Feb. 2012).
“There’s a lot of real positives going on down there, and we’re happy for them,” McLellan said. “They deserve it.”