[1] Also that month, Bruce Saurs, owner of the IHL's Peoria Rivermen, visited Grand Rapids to discuss with the group potential relocation of his team.

In keeping with the traditional theme desired by the club, navy blue and gold were chosen as the primary colors, along with hunter green, red and silver accents.

[7] Among the first players to join the team were defensemen Todd Nelson and Travis Richards and goaltender Pokey Reddick, all of whom brought National Hockey League (NHL) experience.

[12] Following lengthy negotiations with the City of Grand Rapids,[13][14][15][16] a DeVos-owned company took over operations of Belknap Ice Arena, which was then renovated for use as the Griffins' practice facility.

[17] McNamara filled the Griffins' 1996–97 inaugural season roster with IHL and AHL veterans (notably Michel Picard, Jeff Nelson and Don McSween) and a handful of prospects.

[18][19] The Griffins won their inaugural game on the road against the Indianapolis Ice,[20] but lost the home opener to the Orlando Solar Bears six days later.

[21] An early-season record of 9–10–2 improved after the addition of Pavol Demitra, who was acquired in a trade with the Las Vegas Thunder in late November, and NHL veteran Danton Cole, who signed with the team after a stint in the German Ice Hockey League (DEL).

[22][23][24] The Griffins were paced by the top forward line of Picard, Jeff Nelson and Demitra;[25] all three averaged over one point per game during the regular season.

[30] Grand Rapids finished in last place in a strong Northeast Division with a record of 40–30–12;[31] the team's opening round playoff series with Orlando ended in a 3–2 loss.

[33][34] The franchise's first season was considered a success by the IHL,[35] which held its 1997 All-Star Game in front of a capacity crowd at the 10,834-seat Van Andel Arena.

[40][41] Goaltender Pokey Reddick requested and was granted a trade after splitting playing time with Ian Gordon early in the season; Patrick Lalime signed with the team shortly thereafter.

[42] By December, the Griffins were contending for first place in the Northeast Division, largely on the strength of their goaltending and the top forward line of Picard, Metropolit and Greig.

[46] McNamara assumed the coaching duties for the final twenty games of the regular season, as well as the playoffs, in which the Griffins were swept in the first round by the Cincinnati Cyclones.

[50] His new team endured a flurry of roster moves following the departure of Mark Greig, Patrick Lalime and Shane Hnidy, all of whom signed NHL contracts.

[51] Kip Miller signed with the Griffins in August but left the team before playing in a regular season game, instead earning an NHL roster spot after his rights were traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Early-season signees Joe Frederick and Andrei Vasilyev provided an offensive boost,[53][54] but injuries on the defensive side preceded a franchise-record seven-game losing streak in November, leaving the Griffins with the worst record in the IHL at that point.

[58] Petrovicky signed an NHL contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in February, and the Griffins made numerous roster moves in the following weeks in an effort to qualify for the playoffs.

Red Wings general manager Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill were present for the announcement, which was made before an overflow crowd of media and sponsors.