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#41 Alex Kannok Leipert
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Pos: D
D.O.B.: 7/20/00
From: Rakhon Ratchasima, Thai
Height: 6'0
Weight: 205
Shoots: Right
Drafted: 2018 draft 6th rnd, 161st overall by Washington
Acquired: Signed 1 yr contract with Grand Rapids (AHL) 7/11/25 |
| Personal: |
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| Plus: Grit, Muscle, & Muay Thai Training: A true throwback physical defender, Kannok Leipert plays a punishing brand of hockey. He integrates his offseason Muay Thai training directly into his physical edge, actively seeking out heavy body checks on the forecheck and standing up for teammates... Unmatched Tactical Versatility: He functions as a coaching staff's ultimate Swiss Army knife. While primarily a steady right-shot defenseman, he spent chunks of his early professional career seamlessly sliding up to play as a physical, direct fourth-line checking winger when injury crises struck... Shorthanded Specialty & Execution: He thrives on the penalty kill by prioritizing simple, North-South puck clearance and eating heavy shot blocks. During his breakout 2025-26 season, he tied near the top of the AHL by generating two shorthanded assists...
| | Minus: Strictly Secondary Playmaking: Kannok Leipert operates with a "keep it simple" puck-moving philosophy. He is not an offensive blue-line quarterback and relies on direct, high-percentage breakout passes to forwards rather than driving zone entries himself... Discipline Management: His heavy-hitting, intimidating presence can occasionally cross structural lines, resulting in physical minor penalties or brief operational positioning gaps (accumulating 51 penalty minutes last season)... Lacks Game-Breaking Dynamic Pace: While his straight-line skating mechanics are entirely functional for an AHL defender, he lacks the high-end explosive recovery gear or lateral deception required to dynamically drive rush sequences... |
| Organizational Comments: |
What GRC says: Fall 2026 The physical defender is expected to anchor the Griffins' third defensive pairing and serve as a primary penalty-killer under head coach Dan Watson. Because he is signed to an AHL contract rather than an NHL deal, his ceiling is limited to minor-league veteran leadership. His ultimate projection is a premier AHL shutdown presence who provides necessary pushback and shields the franchise's top-tier defensive investments.
2025-26 Kannok Leipert delivered an impressive and quietly valuable season on the Griffins' blue line. He followed up a strong first half with a steady, reliable second half, though his role diminished late when Anton Johansson arrived and claimed a lineup spot. Even so, Kannok Leipert remained one of the team's most consistent depth defenders. He does a lot of things well, even if none of them rise to a standout, signature skill. Billed as a physical, stay at home defender, he showed he can move the puck effectively and skate with more mobility than expected. His competitiveness, edge, and willingness to engage physically made him a dependable option whenever called upon. Kannok Leipert proved to be a versatile piece, capable of sliding into different pairings and roles without disrupting structure. His ability to provide steady minutes, kill plays early, and keep things simple made him a valuable part of the defensive rotation. Returning for another season, he projects to anchor the bottom pairing, offering stability, physicality, and trustworthy depth as the Griffins integrate younger defenders.
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| Role: Shutdown defender |
| Projection: AHL third pairing |
| Transactions |
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| 7/11/25 | Signed 1 yr contract with Grand Rapids (AHL) |
| 9/18/25 | Invited to Training Camp |
| 10/1/25 | Released to Grand Rapids Camp |
| 2/3/26 | Signed 1 yr contract extension with Grand Rapids (AHL) |
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