Detroit Red Wings prospect Shai Buium has rejoined the AHL-leading Grand Rapids Griffins after recovering from an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old defenseman made his season debut in a recent home loss and contributed in a road game against the Milwaukee Admirals. The Griffins tied an AHL record for road points streak in that overtime defeat.
The Grand Rapids Griffins, who lead the American Hockey League with a remarkable 29-2-2-1 record and 61 points, continue to strengthen their roster as they chase what could be the best season in AHL history. Their .897 points percentage puts them on pace to surpass the all-time mark set by the 1992-93 Binghamton Rangers (.775). Amid this success, defenseman Shai Buium, a second-round pick by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2021 NHL Draft, has returned from an upper-body injury sustained during training camp that sidelined him for the first half of the season.
Buium, a two-time NCAA national champion with the University of Denver, had a strong rookie campaign in 2024-25, playing 67 of 72 regular-season games and tallying 2 goals and 23 assists for 25 points, ranking second among Griffins defensemen in scoring. He also appeared in three Calder Cup Playoff games. His season debut came last Friday in a rare 2-0 home loss to the Texas Stars, where the Griffins dressed seven defensemen. Head coach Dan Watson praised Buium's performance: “I thought he was good... It's going to take him a little bit, but it's nice to see him back out there with our team.”
On Tuesday night, Buium paired with NHL veteran Justin Holl in a 5-4 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Admirals, recording four shots to match the team lead and picking up a point. This result moved the Griffins to 14-0-1-1 on the road, tying the AHL record for longest road points streak, originally set by the 2011-12 Admirals over 16 games. The Griffins hold a 21-point lead in the Central Division.
Other returns have bolstered the lineup: goaltender Michal Postava after an injury on Nov. 9, and forward Amadeus Lombardi, who had 19 goals in 2024-25 and missed time since Nov. 21. The Griffins face the Rockford IceHogs at home on Friday and visit Manitoba on Jan. 23, aiming to break the road record.
