When he wasn’t signing autographs or playing pool noodle games with the kids at the Family Centre last week in Wallaceburg, Seth Griffith took a few minutes to talk hockey with the Sydenham Current.
Training
Griffith said he has been training this off-season in Chatham with Colin Roeszler.
“It has been really good for me so far,” he said.
“I’m used to a lot of different training in the off-season but hockey specific is something I think I need with regards to injury prevention and getting stronger. So far Colin has helped me a lot.”
Griffith said he has been working with Roeszler at Athletes’ Fuel Strength & Conditioning, since mid-May.
“There is different phases of the summer with workouts,” Griffith said.
“The first couple of weeks are more introductory, you’re starting off your workouts and it’s more just getting a sweat on. Starting mid-June until I go back to camp it is really amped up. I can see the benefits of it for sure.”
Bruins camp
Griffith said he’ll head back to Boston at the beginning of September to prepare for training camp.
“I won’t go right before camp, usually some of the guys head down early and they do captain’s skates,” he said.
“Whoever is there we’ll get some skates under our belt. You don’t want to just show up for camp. First off, it doesn’t look very good on you and second off, you want to show them that you want to be there, you’re excited to be there. So you go down a bit early get some skates in and then you’re prepared for camp because camp is pretty short. You need to make an impression right away.”
Tough start to last season
As Griffith told the Sydenham Current last August, his goal last year was to stick with the NHL club for the full season.
Unfortunately, Griffith injured his knee in the team’s first preseason game of the year.
“My main goal was to make the team right off of training camp and obviously I hurt my MCL, I had a grade two MCL sprain right off the get go,” he said.
“That took the wind right out of that ship right away. It’s tough with an injury, I’ve never really had to sit out with any big injuries besides I broke my hand, but this year I had to sit out a few times.”
Griffith said he thought he bounced back quick from the injury.
“I had a good start, so I got the call to the Winter Classic, which was a lot of fun,” he said.
“It was an up and down year for me. I did really good in the American League but obviously you need that to translate into the NHL. So I’m hoping my off-season training and the skates I’m doing this year will hopefully pay off for that.”
New contract
This off-season Griffith signed a one-year, two-way deal with Boston.
The contract will carry through the 2016-17 season at an NHL cap figure of $625,000 per year.
“It’s the same as my entry-level expect I’d have to go through waivers,” Griffith said.
“So if they send me down, then another team can pick me up, but I’m not too concerned about that at all. Boston has faith in me and I want to stick with them. They’re a high class organization, so I want to earn their respect there.”
Griffith said he wants to earn a spot with the NHL club.
“If you’re invited to camp and you do well, they’ll make room for whoever shows up and plays hard,” he said.
“As of right now, I’m not worrying about that. I just want to come to camp prepared, not worry about if there is a spot, if there isn’t a spot, and just make them make a spot for me if it comes to that. Just focus on working hard every day.”
NHL experience
Griffith competed in four games for Boston last season, recording one assist.
He also played in 57 contests for the Providence Bruins (AHL) where he compiled 24 goals and 53 assists for 77 points.
He finished the 2015-16 regular season ranked first in the league in assists and second in scoring en route to being named an AHL First-Team All-Star.
In total, the 23-year-old forward has played in 34 NHL games with Boston, racking up six goals and five assists for 11 points.
The 5’9”, 191-pound Griffith was drafted by Boston in the fifth round (131st overall) of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
