With the NHL locked out for the immediate future, Detroit Red Wings fans will have to rely on the Grand Rapids Griffins for their hockey fix. The Griffins open their AHL season on Friday when they host the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators' affiliate. The Griffins will play again on Saturday night, taking on the Hamilton Bulldogs, the affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens.

The Griffins will start their season with 16 returning members from last season. The group is a nice mixture of new veterans as well as top prospects like defenseman Brendan Smith, center Joakim Andersson and defenseman Brian Lashoff. Smith and Andersson have both logged some ice time with the Red Wings. Smith has 14 games with the big club under his belt while Andersson has five.

Here's the Griffins' schedule for the upcoming week (all times Eastern):

Fri, Oct. 12: Milwaukee Admirals at Grand Rapids Griffins 7:00 p.m.

Sat, Oct. 13: Hamilton Bulldogs at Grand Rapids Griffins 7:00 p.m.

Fri, Oct. 19: Grand Rapids Griffins at Rochester Americans 7:05 p.m.