Griffins Re-Sign Turner Elson, Dominik Shine

On Monday afternoon, the Grand Rapids Griffins announced the re-signing of forwards Turner Elson and Dominik Shine to one-year contracts.

These are just AHL deals, so they will not count towards the 50-contract limit for the Red Wings, or will affect the cap hit either.

This season, the 25-year-old Elson had 9 goals and 21 points in 57 games, as well as 49 penalty minutes. This was his first season within the Red Wings organization.He has played one game in the NHL, for the Calgary Flames in the 2015-16 season.

Just turning 25 in April of this year, Dominik Shine played 58 games for the Griffins this year, scoring 8 goals and 16 points. A Michigan native and Northern Michigan University alumni, he signed a one-year deal with the Griffins at the beginning of last season as well.

Re-signing these two players raises a couple of questions. Earlier in the year, Assistant GM of the Red Wings and GM of the Griffins, Ryan Martin, was quoting in saying that he wanted his team to get younger and provide a development role for the Wings. Both of these players will turn 26-years-old during this AHL season, surely their age and stats show that there is no chance in them developing into anything more than AHL depth players.

Why not use their spots for incoming young forwards like Givani Smith, that actually has a chance of making the NHL and providing the Wings some value. Even try out some undrafted CHL players that can taste their first experience of professional hockey with the Griffins. Smart teams explore this option more than the Red Wings.