Griffins extend defenseman Alex Kannok Leipert for one year

Grand Rapids has added continuity to its blue line by signing defenseman Alex Kannok Leipert to a one-year contract extension, a move that strengthens depth and penalty-kill capability as the Griffins press toward the playoff stretch. The 6-foot, 205-pound blueliner has been a steady, physical presence this season and the extension keeps him in the Detroit Red Wings development pipeline.

Kannok Leipert, listed at 25, has played 39 games for Grand Rapids this season and recorded nine points (1-8—9), 40 penalty minutes and a plus-seven rating. He has set a new career high with eight assists and is tied for third among AHL defensemen with two shorthanded assists, signaling his value on the penalty kill and in transition. Those traits - physicality, shorthanded instincts and playmaking from the point - explain why the Griffins moved to retain him for another season.

The signing also reflects a rebound trajectory. In 2024-25 with the Bakersfield Condors, Kannok Leipert appeared in 59 games and posted 11 points (4-7—11), 93 penalty minutes and a minus-one rating, representing career highs in several categories. Before Bakersfield, he spent three seasons with the Abbotsford Canucks from 2021-24, totaling 123 regular-season games with 12 points (1-11—12), 140 penalty minutes and a plus-10 rating. Those stops helped him develop the rugged, dependable style that defines his AHL role.

Kannok Leipert’s junior résumé underscores his leadership pedigree. He played parts of five seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League from 2016-21, serving as captain for his final two campaigns. In 219 regular-season WHL games he totaled 83 points (21-62—83), 240 penalty minutes and a plus-47 rating, and he added 12 points (2-10—12) in 28 playoff outings. During the 2019 WHL playoffs he ranked fourth among defensemen with 12 points in 22 games as Vancouver reached the Ed Chynoweth Cup Finals.

Beyond the box score, the extension has cultural and business resonance. Kannok Leipert is a native of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, a background that media coverage has spotlighted as unusual in pro hockey. His presence in the AHL highlights the sport’s growing global reach and provides a rare reference point for aspiring players from nontraditional hockey countries. From a franchise perspective, keeping a dependable, penalty-kill capable right-shot defenseman on a one-year contract is a low-risk, high-reward approach to roster construction for a team balancing a push for deeper postseason runs and the need to develop talent for its NHL affiliate.

For fans, the immediate takeaway is simple: Grand Rapids retains a gritty, situational defender who can eat minutes on the right side of the defensive pairings and shore up special teams. What comes next is performance continuity - if Kannok Leipert sustains his shorthanded play and continues to move the puck from the back end, he will remain a valuable piece for the Griffins and a player to watch for potential NHL consideration down the line.