Grand Rapids' Regular-Season Success Raises Playoff Stakes
The Griffins finished second overall at 51-16-4-1 last season, but a third straight playoff appearance again ended before the conference final.
Dan Watson enters his fourth season behind the Grand Rapids Griffins bench with a clear next benchmark: turn regular-season success into a deeper Calder Cup run.
Grand Rapids finished 51-16-4-1 in 2025-26, won the Central Division and placed second overall in the AHL. The Griffins reached the Central Division Finals, but their season ended before the Western Conference Final.
It was the third consecutive playoff appearance under Watson and the second trip to the division final in three seasons. That consistency has established Grand Rapids as a regular contender while also raising expectations for the postseason.
The gap last spring was largely on offense. The Griffins averaged 3.54 goals per game during the regular season, then 2.63 in the playoffs. Their goals-against rate improved slightly, from 2.21 to 2.13, but the reduced scoring left little margin for error.
Watson arrived in Grand Rapids in 2023 after six seasons as head coach of the ECHL's Toledo Walleye. His Toledo teams reached the Kelly Cup Finals in 2019 and 2022, and he was hired as the 12th head coach in Griffins history.
The roster again offers scoring and development potential. John Leonard scored 33 goals in 47 games for Grand Rapids last season, while Detroit prospects including Nate Danielson, Axel Sandin-Pellikka and Anton Johansson could factor into the lineup depending on the Red Wings' decisions.
Grand Rapids opens the 2026-27 season Oct. 2 at Cleveland. After last season's 51-win campaign, another strong start would reinforce what Watson's teams have already proven. Progress will ultimately be measured by how far the Griffins carry that success in the playoffs.
