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What’s Left When the Season Ends: Lincoln Griffin and the Reality of Life in Pro Hockey
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by Holly Arend | May 22 2026
There is always a strange calm that comes with the final buzzer of a hockey season.
After months of bus rides, morning skates and the daily grind of professional hockey, the first week away from the rink is less about jumping into something new and more about slowing everything down. For Lincoln Griffin, that usually starts with time spent around teammates, laughing, catching up and soaking in the final moments of a group that spent an entire season together.
"Hockey is around an eight-month-long season," he said. "We spend countless hours together at the rink, on the bus and outside of the rink forming a brotherly bond."
When the season ends, that bond makes the goodbye even tougher. The week after the final buzzer becomes a mix of memories, recovery and reflection, knowing you never quite know when that same locker room will be together again.
Once his body recovers, Griffin heads home to spend time with family and friends he has not seen in months. After a few weeks away, the game finds him again in a different way. He works summer hockey camps, helping players ranging from 5-year-olds to teenagers as they continue their own journeys.
That is not the only place Griffin has kept busy in the offseason.
Last summer, he took on work outside of hockey that pushed him into unfamiliar territory.
One job was at a car wash his uncle had taken over, where he helped wash cars, paint and reconstruct the building. Another was helping a family friend with granite installation, assembling countertops, kitchen spaces, bathrooms and bar tops.
"It was awesome seeing someone's new or old house transform into something amazing," he said. "But those slabs of granite were not an easy lift."
Off the ice, Griffin is drawn to things that help him slow down and reset. Fishing, beach days and long walks offer a little more peace than life in hockey usually allows.
When he does want something competitive, golf has become a go-to offseason outlet. It gives him a challenge without being too demanding on his body.
Another skill he has taken pride in building away from the rink is cooking. After moving away for hockey following college, Griffin found himself spending more time in the kitchen and gradually trying new recipes. His favorite meal to make is a simple one: steak, potatoes and asparagus.
Even when hockey is not the center of the day, Griffin still likes to stay engaged with the places the game takes him. Whether it is a restaurant, a bar or another sporting event, he tries to make the most of each city, fully aware that hockey does not always give a player the chance to return.
The offseason has also taken on new meaning in recent years, with his niece and nephews now part of that rhythm.
During the season, the focus is always on the game. But when he gets home, he steps into a different role, uncle first, hockey player second.
Whether he is playing outside with the kids, pushing them on the swing or watching "Bluey" for the 50th time in a day, Griffin says that time gives his offseason a different kind of purpose.
"It brings a different excitement," he said. "I try to be the best uncle I can be."
That same mindset carries into how he views the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and his career in the league.
Griffin believes the ECHL plays an important role in developing players who may not yet be ready for the American Hockey League (AHL) or National Hockey League (NHL). It gives young players a chance to adjust to the speed, size and demands of professional hockey while competing against AHL- and NHL-contracted talent.
"The ECHL has been trending upward in the past few years," he said. "It pushes each and every player to be the best they can be in hopes of getting to the next level."
The grind of the schedule, the travel, the sleepless nights and the uncertainty of trades have all played a role in making him stronger and more resilient.
"Every day is a new opportunity to be the best version of yourself," he said. "Although it might seem like a tough situation, I believe it has made me a stronger person and will help me in the long run throughout life."
Game days have their own rhythm. Morning skate, stretching, a trip back to his apartment, breakfast, a nap and then the pregame meal before puck drop. While he eats, he watches Fortnite streams, a small way of letting his mind go somewhere else before it has to be fully locked in.
For Griffin, the off-ice story matters just as much as what happens between the boards. Hockey will always be the thing people judge him on, but the way he treats people, connects with fans and carries himself away from the rink is part of it too.
And if he could speak to his younger self, the message would be simple.
"Your hockey career goes by very fast," he said. "Just remember you are playing a sport that you love, so always be grateful for every opportunity that comes your way."
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