Sheahan leaves Notre Dame, joins Griffins

The Red Wings first round draft pick in 2010 (21st overall) has left the Fighting Irish and will join the Grand Rapids Griffins on an amateur try-out contract. Three seasons of collegiate hockey is usually what the Wings expect out of their draft picks, and Sheahan has proven to be no different. In joining the AHL, even on an ATO, he is foregoing his final year of college eligibility.

While he hasn’t yet been signed by the Detroit Red Wings (and, thus, not counting against the 50-man contract limit), it’s pretty clear that he will be this summer. It’s an exciting time for our good friend — I was lucky enough to be the first to interview him immediately following his selection in Los Angeles, and he’s joined us on TP:60. While he never tipped his hand regarding the team’s plans for him, many of us were expecting him to join the professional ranks this summer.

Sheahan’s a big two-way center (he’s listed at 6-2, 210 lbs) and grew up in St. Catharine’s, Ontario — just on the Canadian side of the border near Buffalo. He didn’t produce a ton of points in the CCHA, and the Wings will likely ask him to continue to be responsible defensively and potentially make an impact physically.

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