Making Maple Leafs debut ‘dream come true’ for Griffith, even if it’s as a fourth-line grinder
Seth Griffith can score. He has proven that at every level below the NHL. But if he is going to make his mark with the Maple Leafs, he will do so — at least to start — as a fourth-line grinder.
“I’m a playmaker, I think I’ve got a good high hockey IQ,” Griffith said. “I have to play smart out there, not try to do anything fancy and I think good things will happen for us.”
Griffith was the centre of attention Thursday morning, awaiting his Maple Leafs debut Thursday night against the Florida Panthers, where he would replace Peter Holland in the Toronto lineup.
Griffith was claimed on waivers at the start of the season from the Boston Bruins, who drafted him in 2012. The Leafs, thanks to assistant GM Mark Hunter, appear to have a soft spot for the former London Knights player.
Griffith had a strong junior career in London, leading the Knights in 2011-12 with 85 points in 68 games. He followed that up with an 81-point season despite missing a large chunk of the season with a broken hand. The offence kept coming as he made the leap to the AHL; Griffith had 77 points last year with Providence. But in 34 games with the Bruins, he couldn’t become an NHL regular. Leafs coach Mike Babcock has told him what he needs to do.
“He was a real good player in the American League, a real good player in junior,” Babcock said. “Our people like him. I know Claude Julien (Bruins coach) real well, I talked to him about him.
“Lots of guys in our league make good on their second and third chances, more so than on their first because the league is that tough. They learn a lot. When they go to a new spot, they’re more willing to do something without the puck. That usually endears him to the coach better. This is his opportunity.”
Griffith is a bit undersized, at fivefoot-nine and 192 pounds. He admits he was a bit frustrated being a healthy scratch to start the season, but he put his time to good use.
“When you’re working so hard in practice and you think you’re doing well, it’s tough to be a healthy scratch,” Griffith said. “But at the same time, it’s good to watch from up top, see what’s going on, see what you can do to help the team.”
The 23-year-old from Wallaceburg, Ont., grew up a Leafs fan, citing Mats Sundin and Gary Roberts as his favourites.
“This is a dream come true to put on the blue and white,” Griffith said. “I’ve got to keep working hard, show the coaches that I want to be here everyday. Hopefully I can just make some plays out there and have some fun.”