GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Grand Rapids Griffins have signed forward Louis-Marc Aubryand defenseman Conor Allen to one-year contracts.
Aubry, 24, enjoyed a breakout year with the Griffins in 2015-16 by setting career highs in points (12-17—29), goals (12), assists (17), penalty minutes (87) and games played (75). The 6-foot-4, 212-pound winger also chipped in one goal while playing in all nine Calder Cup Playoff contests.
Detroit’s third choice (81st overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, Aubry joined the Griffins in 2011-12 and has totaled 77 points (28-49—77) and 254 PIM while appearing in 306 regular season games, the fifth-most in franchise history. He also appeared in 18 games with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye during the 2013-14 season and accounted for 15 points (7-8—15).
Aubry has contributed five points (4-1—5) in 39 career postseason games and he helped the Griffins capture the 2013 Calder Cup.
A native of Arthabaska, Quebec, Aubry played three seasons with Montreal (QMJHL) before turning professional. From 2008-11, Aubry compiled 80 points (38-42—80) in 166 regular season games.
Allen, 26, produced 14 points (3-11—14) and 68 PIM during the 2015-16 regular season in a combined 66 games between the Milwaukee Admirals, Binghamton Senators and Iowa Wild.
The 6-foot-2, 208-pound blueliner logged career highs in both points (11-23—34) and goals (11) in 72 games during the 2014-15 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack, pacing team defensemen in both categories. In 211 career AHL regular season games, Allen has accounted for 79 points (20-59—79) and 252 PIM while adding two points (1-1—2) and 10 PIM in 12 postseason contests. He also skated in seven games with the New York Rangers from 2013-15 and totaled four PIM.
A native of Chicago, Allen played at the University of Massachusetts from 2010-13. In 99 games with the Minutemen, Allen accumulated 39 points (14-25—39) and 110 PIM. During his junior season – his last on campus – he recorded a career-best 19 points (5-14—19).
The Griffins will begin the home portion of their 2016-17 season with Opening Night presented by Huntington Bank on Friday, Oct. 14 at Van Andel Arena. Additional home dates confirmed by the American Hockey League include Dec. 31, Jan. 7, Jan. 21, Feb. 4 and Feb. 25.
Single-game tickets will go on sale to the public in September. Fans can secure their full-season,select-season or group ticket packages by calling (616) 774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com for more information.
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With both of these contracts being AHL-only deals, this keeps them from counting against the Red Wings’ 50-contract limit (currently at 46 without non-counted junior contracts). This also means Aubry won’t have to go through waivers to go to Grand Rapids. Neither Aubry nor Allen can be called up to the Red Wings without being given either a professional tryout contract or a full NHL deal and both could technically be signed by another team to an NHL contract, but that’s not likely for either.
Ryan Sproul is now the lone unsigned restricted free agent in the Red Wings system. Sproul’s signing would give the Red Wings & Griffins a combined 16 defensemen under contract (assuming Sproul’s NHL deal, 15 of those are NHL contracts). With 7 spots earmarked for the Wings, the Griffins will end up with the bulk of the remaining nine, but will also likely have guys in Toledo getting playing time.
