Rochette Takes Personal Leave From Griffins
Grand Rapids Griffins forward Theo Rochette has taken a personal leave of absence, the team announced Monday.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Hockey
The Grand Rapids Griffins announced Monday that forward Theo Rochette has taken a personal leave of absence. The team said it will have no further comment.
Why it matters
Rochette is in his first AHL season after signing a one-year, entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings in June. His absence removes a young prospect from the Griffins lineup while the club has not disclosed the reason.
Rochette has one goal and four assists in nine games in his first AHL season, after producing 22 goals and 43 points in 46 games with Lausanne HC in Switzerland in 2025-26. The Griffins have not disclosed how long the leave will last.
The players
Theo Rochette
Rochette is a 24-year-old forward who captained the Quebec Remparts to the 2023 Memorial Cup and produced 115 goals and 317 points across five QMJHL seasons.
Grand Rapids Griffins
The Griffins are the American Hockey League affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings are an NHL franchise based in Detroit that signed Rochette to a one-year entry-level contract in June.
The details
The Griffins announced the leave on Monday and said they will have no further comment. Rochette, 24, spent the past three seasons with Lausanne HC of the Swiss-A League before the Red Wings signed him in June.
Timeline
June: Red Wings signed Rochette to a one-year, entry-level contract.
2023: Rochette captained the Quebec Remparts to the Memorial Cup championship.
2025-26: Rochette scored 22 goals in 46 games with Lausanne HC.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Griffins announced Rochette's personal leave.
Season Trajectory
Rochette's leave comes during his first AHL season, a transition step for European and junior prospects moving up through the Detroit Red Wings development pipeline. The absence affects a depth forward on a club developing players for the NHL roster.
The Griffins' roster is now without Rochette while the club has not said when he will return. Fantasy and depth-chart followers should track further team updates for any change to his status.
The takeaway
A personal leave can affect a young player's development without any public explanation, so followers should rely on official team updates for the status of a player like Rochette.
Further reading
For more on the team, see the Hockey section covering the Griffins and their AHL affiliates.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Mlive.
