Sunday, November 3, 2019

Brian Lashoff Autograph Card

I have a fairly busy day today, so I can't do one of my usual weekend deep dives into someone's career, but I do have a few I'm eyeing for the future - including one in baseball. For now, however, let's talk about the Detroit Red Wings' ninth defenseman, Brian Lashoff.

Currently playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins - with whom he won the Calder Cup in 2013 (under head coach Jeff Blashill) and 2017 (under Todd Nelson) - for the 11th season, Lashoff only played one full year in the NHL, in 2013-14, under Mike Babcock, averaging 14:26 and posting six points (one goal, five assists), a -2 rating and 36 penalty minutes. The Wings made the playoffs that year.

Despite Detroit having replaced GM Ken Holland with Steve Yzerman, it seems they still value hard work, dedication and loyalty, as they rewarded the 29-year-old for his time in the organization with a two-year, two-way deal that pays him $700K in the NHL (they're tight against the cap) and $275K in the AHL but with a $325K minimum guaranteed salary, meaning even if he remains in Grand Rapids all year, he'll earn $50K extra as if he'd been called up for a month or so.

It's a fair deal, because, honestly, he doesn't look out of place on a third pairing, has experience winning - he has a gold medal from the 2010 World Juniors with Team USA in addition to his two Calder Cups - and can share his experience of bouncing around between first-class air travel and riding buses for entire nights at a time to young up-and-comers.

He's the type of guy who is good enough and has seen enough to be an AHL captain.

Here he is wearing the winged wheel red (now-home) uniform, on card #I-BLA from Panini's 2013-14 Contenders set and NHL Ink sub-set:
It features a blue-sharpied on-sticker autograph.

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