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AHL Grand Rapids Griffins

Six Players on the Move

December 9, 2003 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Grand Rapids Griffins News Release


Grand Rapids, Mich. - The Grand Rapids Griffins on Tuesday announced that the Detroit Red Wings have recalled forward Kevin Miller and defenseman Niklas Kronwall from the American Hockey League team, and that forward Nathan Robinson has been assigned to Grand Rapids.

In addition, the Griffins today signed center Jeff Nelson to a professional tryout, recalled defenseman Paul Ballantyne from the ECHL's Toledo Storm and assigned goaltender Joey MacDonald to Toledo.

The six transactions tie April 1, 2002, for the busiest day of player movement in the franchise's eight seasons.

Miller, who has played 91 of his 616 career NHL games in a Red Wings uniform, returns to the NHL for the first time since the 1999-2000 season. The 38-year-old currently leads the Griffins with 10 goals, 18 points, three power play goals (tied) and four game-winning goals.

Kronwall, 22, stands second on the Griffins with 11 assists and is tied for fourth with 13 points. In his first North American season, he leads all Grand Rapids defensemen and is tied for seventh among AHL blueliners in scoring.

The pair joins three other Griffins - forwards Darryl Bootland and Mark Mowers, and defenseman Jamie Rivers - on the Red Wings' roster.

Robinson, 21, made his NHL debut in five games with Detroit, going scoreless. He currently ranks among the Griffins' leaders with 13 points (T4th) and nine assists (3rd).

Already a two-time UHL Player of the Week, Nelson makes the drive from Muskegon to Grand Rapids for the second time this season. After just 10 games with the Fury, he is tied for 13th in UHL scoring with 21 points (7-14-21). The 30-year-old Nelson appeared in nine games with the Griffins from late October to mid-November, contributing five points (1-4-5).

Ballantyne, 21, has played 17 games for Toledo, tying for second on the squad and ninth among ECHL defensemen with 16 points (5-11-16). Named an ECHL Player of the Week during November, he went scoreless in his lone appearance as a Griffin this season, on Nov. 30 at Cincinnati.

MacDonald, 23, was assigned to Toledo to get playing time during Curtis Joseph's stay in Grand Rapids. In eight games with the Griffins this season, he owns a 5-1-2 record with a 2.07 goals against average and a 0.938 save percentage.

The first-place Griffins (15-6-4-0) will try to extend their six-game winning streak and eight-game unbeaten streak on Wednesday, when they travel to Gund Arena for a 7 p.m. start against the Cleveland Barons.

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