The emergence of Dan Watson, bench boss for the Grand Rapids Griffins is bringing high praise to Steve Yzerman for a brilliant hire.
When it comes down to breaking down the job Steve Yzerman has done for the Detroit Red Wings so far, one noteworthy point of business for the general manager has been his ability to bolster his farm system. The Grand Rapids Griffins have been a formidable force in the AHL since the acquisition of Dan Watson, who has transformed their system from a ground roots level and has bred a winning culture in Grand Rapids.
In his first season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, Watson pushed the team to the playoffs (first time since 2018-19, which is wild to me). The Grand Rapids Griffins finished 72 gams with 37 wins, 23 losses, 12 overtime/shootout losses for second in their division in the AHL.
Watson has been responsible for making highly intuitive decisions in the lineup from top to bottom. Watson has a knack for balance, and has been able to bring out the best of his players all throughout the Griffins Lineup. Steve Yzerman's ability to select the right staff for his farm system has proven to be detrimental to their future success in the NHL. Not only has Dan Watson emerged as one of the top coaches in the AHL, his ability to develop and mentor future Red Wings talent is worth mentioning when assessing Steve Yzerman's abilities as a leader.
