The Grand Rapids Griffins have added another young talent to their growing list of prospects.
The protector Andrew Gibson signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings that will begin next season; The Red Wings assigned the 19-year-old to Grand Rapids on an amateur tryout deal.
Selected by Detroit in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft, Gibson performed well in his second full campaign in the Ontario Hockey League with the Soo Greyhounds this season. He produced 44 points (12 goals, 32 assists) while playing in all 68 games for the team during the regular season, and dished out two assists in 11 playoff games.
The Griffins won Game 1 of their series-clinching Central Division Semifinal against Rockford on Saturday night, 3-2 in overtime. They will host Game 2 on Wednesday at Van Andel Arena.
The Colorado Eagles were without a kicker Nikolai Kovalenko with the deciding game of their first round series against Abbotsford last night.
Kovalenko was down the road in Denver, making his National Hockey League debut in Game 4 of the Colorado Avalanche's Stanley Cup Playoff series against the Winnipeg Jets. He wore his father's number 51, Andreiwearing the Avs in 1995-96.
A sixth-round pick by Colorado in the 2018 NHL Draft, Kovalenko joined the Eagles earlier this month and had a goal and two assists in four regular-season games. He also scored in a 5-4 overtime win over Abbotsford in Game 2 on Friday night.
Kovalenko and the Avalanche defeated Winnipeg, 5-1, to take a 3-1 series lead. The Eagles saw their season end with a 2-1 OT loss to the Canucks.
Kovalenko is the 96th AHL player to make his NHL debut this season.
― with files from Patrick Williams
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