2021/22 Utica Comets and ECHL Talk

[Bad Goalie]

@ UticaHockey

We need the numbers of the players added to the training camp roster since the first day. Have they been posted somewhere?

 

[Bad Goalie]

My guess is it’s a courtesy thing. Let the guys trying to make the bottom of the roster have every possible chance to impress. I’m guessing players would rather have an NHL chance even if a long shot over getting settled in at the AHL level. Same for the ECHL guys who I’m sure want to stick with Utica.

I fully understand the players' perspective.

The issue is with management. The Comets will play a game tomorrow night they are totally unprepared for. If they put guys out there after having had no introduction to one another bad things can happen. I'm guessing that won't happen

Most likely it will be the first batch tomorrow; the ECHL guys, college guys, and those signed to AHL contracts. Those guys will go up against a team that will skate mainly AHL players. I wish them the best of luck.

Everyone else will probably get the 5 pm game on Saturday at Syracuse. There is no love lost between their coach and team. A good portion of their current team has played against the Comets before and I don't see them giving an inch.

Losing both games would mean absolutely nothing since they are totally unprepared and not matched up in any way. Next week the boys will be worked in units and get to know each other and the opening game on the 17th will hopefully see better results, win or lose. I doubt they match the Comets record of most games won consecutively to start a season. That was 8 straight in 2019-20.

 

[My3Sons]

I fully understand the players' perspective.

The issue is with management. The Comets will play a game tomorrow night they are totally unprepared for. If they put guys out there after having had no introduction to one another bad things can happen. I'm guessing that won't happen

Most likely it will be the first batch tomorrow; the ECHL guys, college guys, and those signed to AHL contracts. Those guys will go up against a team that will skate mainly AHL players. I wish them the best of luck.

Everyone else will probably get the 5 pm game on Saturday at Syracuse. There is no love lost between their coach and team. A good portion of their current team has played against the Comets before and I don't see them giving an inch.

Losing both games would mean absolutely nothing since they are totally unprepared and not matched up in any way. Next week the boys will be worked in units and get to know each other and the opening game on the 17th will hopefully see better results, win or lose. I doubt they match the Comets record of most games won consecutively to start a season. That was 8 straight in 2019-20.

Isn’t this AHL preseason? Won’t all the teams be somewhat patchwork to start?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Isn’t this AHL preseason? Won’t all the teams be somewhat patchwork to start?

Somewhat, but I have been following the Tampa cuts and the Crunch have a lot of regulars and some of their best.

I have seen on TSN's NHL transactions NHL teams recalling players from the minors telling me they are exchanging players as they are needed at both levels. Just as an example, Columbus called up 6 guys from the minors (AHL Cleveland) today and they had been sent most of them down on Tuesday.

Buffalo is only an hour from Rochester. With that close proximity don't see why Rochester won't have enough AHL talent as well.

 

[My3Sons]

Somewhat, but I have been following the Tampa cuts and the Crunch have a lot of regulars and some of their best.

I have seen on TSN's NHL transactions NHL teams recalling players from the minors telling me they are exchanging players as they are needed at both levels. Just as an example, Columbus called up 6 guys from the minors (AHL Cleveland) today and they had been sent most of them down on Tuesday.

Buffalo is only an hour from Rochester. With that close proximity don't see why Rochester won't have enough AHL talent as well.

It might be a rocky start. Some of the guys like Holtz and Mercer have played well in NJ and are among for tough decisions. Plus with a few guys hurt they may not be sure who will be available for the opener.

 

[UticaHockey]

@ UticaHockey

We need the numbers of the players added to the training camp roster since the first day. Have they been posted somewhere?

I haven't seen an updated Comets training camp roster. Nothing on the Comets website.

 

[UticaHockey]

 

[UticaHockey]

A few more moves.

 

[Guttersniped]

Somewhat, but I have been following the Tampa cuts and the Crunch have a lot of regulars and some of their best.

I have seen on TSN's NHL transactions NHL teams recalling players from the minors telling me they are exchanging players as they are needed at both levels. Just as an example, Columbus called up 6 guys from the minors (AHL Cleveland) today and they had been sent most of them down on Tuesday.

Buffalo is only an hour from Rochester. With that close proximity don't see why Rochester won't have enough AHL talent as well.

But the first regular season game is October 17th, preseason is preseason. Tampa has a lot veteran AHL forwards so it’s not hard to send down “some of their best” I guess but Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk and Alex Barre-Boulet aren’t there.

You’re complaining about roster management at beginning of AHL preseason for no real reason as far as I can tell. You make a lot good observations but you also nitpick a little at times, this will sort itself out quickly as more cuts are made. We would probably send more defensemen down if Smith and Severson weren’t both out.

And Columbus sending dudes down on Oct 5. and then calling them up Oct 7 are paper transactions, presumably to get them through waivers. It doesn’t look like Cleveland played.

 

[OmNomNom]

how are they proving vaccinated vs unvaccinated? honor system?

 

[UticaHockey]

how are they proving vaccinated vs unvaccinated? honor system?

Sounds like the honor system. From what I've heard they will not be checking for proof of vaccination at the door. Hopefully people will be "honorable" with the honor system. That may be too much to ask for with some people.

 

[Bad Goalie]

But the first regular season game is October 17th, preseason is preseason. Tampa has a lot veteran AHL forwards so it’s not hard to send down “some of their best” I guess but Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk and Alex Barre-Boulet aren’t there.

You’re complaining about roster management at beginning of AHL preseason for no real reason as far as I can tell. You make a lot good observations but you also nitpick a little at times, this will sort itself out quickly as more cuts are made. We would probably send more defensemen down if Smith and Severson weren’t both out.

And Columbus sending dudes down on Oct 5. and then calling them up Oct 7 are paper transactions, presumably to get them through waivers. It doesn’t look like Cleveland played.

Neener. Neener.

The main point of my concern is that there was no reason to schedule preseason games if the players who will be Comets are not here to play them. The main roster tonight will most likely be made up a few Comets and the rest are either Adirondack bound or worse, looking for work.

It teaches Dineen nothing. He had to recognize the lack of AHL level talent immediately on Monday. The players who will be here were getting ice time, but most of them were getting that ice time in New Jersey anyways. The Thursday cuts shouldn't be in ther lineup. They have a few important things to do first and Saturday afternoon would make sense. Today's cut should be out of the picture and De Leo won't clear waivers until 2 pm and the game is at 5. Leave him here as well.

DiNeen will have to decide upon his first day lineup based upon camp play during next week and that's fine. The 2 games are meaningless to the construction of the Comets.

 

[My3Sons]

Neener. Neener.

The main point of my concern is that there was no reason to schedule preseason games if the players who will be Comets are not here to play them. The main roster tonight will most likely be made up a few Comets and the rest are either Adirondack bound or worse, looking for work.

It teaches Dineen nothing. He had to recognize the lack of AHL level talent immediately on Monday. The players who will be here were getting ice time, but most of them were getting that ice time in New Jersey anyways. The Thursday cuts shouldn't be in ther lineup. They have a few important things to do first and Saturday afternoon would make sense. Today's cut should be out of the picture and De Leo won't clear waivers until 2 pm and the game is at 5. Leave him here as well.

DiNeen will have to decide upon his first day lineup based upon camp play during next week and that's fine. The 2 games are meaningless to the construction of the Comets.

Those kids need to stretch their legs and get warmed up. Plenty of NHL preseason games are pointless too. My guess is that Dineen has a good idea of all but the fringes of the roster already.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Sounds like the honor system. From what I've heard they will not be checking for proof of vaccination at the door. Hopefully people will be "honorable" with the honor system. That may be too much to ask for with some people.

This whole stance on admission to the building is BS.

Vaccinated people SHOULD wear a mask.

Unvaccinated people are REQUIRED to wear a mask.

No one will have to show proof of the vaccination and you know as sure as the sun shines that unvaccinated people will just waltz right in. Many vaccinated ones feel they are immune and don't care. Kids will be therewith parents who believe kids don't get it and if they do it's just like a bad cold or flu at the worst.

The Aud is going to become a petri dish and the first positive individual is going to start a spread to other unvaccinateds and vaccinated as well and the asymptomatic in both groups also spreads it about.

The Comets have the right to impose their own rules. I investigated that fact. That move is up to Comets management aka Robert Esche. All he had to do was take the stance that every AHL and NHL team in the league he has taken. All people are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test at the door. No proof , no entrance. Simple as that.

As it is, he can claim he has just been following the rules as provided to him by the state. Governor Hochul in this morning's paper is considering stiffer rules because people aren't following the ones in effect. She says when she enters a building she finds it amazing that she is the only one wearing a mask. People in enclosed spaces should to be wearing masks to protect themselves and others regardless of their vaccination status. I find the same thing everywhere I go. The masses believe this thing is all over and we are back to normal and they are living accordingly.

The health and safety of his sellout crowds, Auditorium staff, Comets staff, and the team itself are all in his hands and he is being very cavalier about the whole thing.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Those kids need to stretch their legs and get warmed up. Plenty of NHL preseason games are pointless too. My guess is that Dineen has a good idea of all but the fringes of the roster already.

I totally agree and that's why I said these games mean absolutely nothing. It shouldn't have taken him 10 minutes to evaluate the bunch he had on the ice the first couple of days./ He was in NJ and saw the kids he knows are coming here and comparing their talent to that bunch in front of him told him all he needed to know. If anything positive comes out of these games, he will know if there is a player who can be trusted to be called up from Adirondack or other ECHL teams some might land with to hold down a spot for a few games at the AHL level. From what I saw of their stats and my knowledge of the many ECHL players that have been here over the past seasons, there are much better players throughout the ECHL that can be loaned to an AHL team by request and most of those guys do well to tread water. It's extremely rare that an ECHL player impresses enough to become a player that sticks with the AHL team.

 

[UticaHockey]

The difference between what the Comets are doing and what the Crunch are doing in Syracuse is striking. Esche wants to sell tickets. Dolgon doesn't want to be responsible for spreading the virus. Our positive rate is twice that of NYC right now mainly because our vaccination rate lags way behind.

 

[Bad Goalie]

This whole stance on admission to the building is BS.

Vaccinated people SHOULD wear a mask.

Unvaccinated people are REQUIRED to wear a mask.

No one will have to show proof of the vaccination and you know as sure as the sun shines that unvaccinated people will just waltz right in. Many vaccinated ones feel they are immune and don't care. Kids will be therewith parents who believe kids don't get it and if they do it's just like a bad cold or flu at the worst.

The Aud is going to become a petri dish and the first positive individual is going to start a spread to other unvaccinateds and vaccinated as well and the asymptomatic in both groups also spreads it about.

The Comets have the right to impose their own rules. I investigated that fact. That move is up to Comets management aka Robert Esche. All he had to do was take the stance that every AHL and NHL team in the league he has taken. All people are required to provide proof of vaccination or a negative test at the door. No proof , no entrance. Simple as that.

As it is, he can claim he has just been following the rules as provided to him by the state. Governor Hochul in this morning's paper is considering stiffer rules because people aren't following the ones in effect. She says when she enters a building she finds it amazing that she is the only one wearing a mask. People in enclosed spaces should to be wearing masks to protect themselves and others regardless of their vaccination status. I find the same thing everywhere I go. The masses believe this thing is all over and we are back to normal and they are living accordingly.

The health and safety of his sellout crowds, Auditorium staff, Comets staff, and the team itself are all in his hands and he is being very cavalier about the whole thing.

@ UticaHockey
Thanks for the like on this comment. I appreciate the support. I know there are many who will not like my stance. I also know season ticket holders who gave up their seats simply based upon the behavior at the end of last season when the rules for the miniscule number of fans proved to them how the idiots in the crowd are going to handle any kind of simple health standards.

Others right now are not going to go to games and are offering up their seats on StubHub. They hope to get back a large portion of what they paid for their seat, but can hold onto them for when things are safe. The Comets have informed callers asking about the Comets taking over making the seats available through a buy back that they haven't set that process up this season as of now.

 

[UticaHockey]

@ UticaHockey
Thanks for the like on this comment. I appreciate the support. I know there are many who will not like my stance. I also know season ticket holders who gave up their seats simply based upon the behavior at the end of last season when the rules for the miniscule number of fans proved to them how the idiots in the crowd are going to handle any kind of simple health standards.

Others right now are not going to go to games and are offering up their seats on StubHub. They hope to get back a large portion of what they paid for their seat, but can hold onto them for when things are safe. The Comets have informed callers asking about the Comets taking over making the seats available through a buy back that they haven't set that process up this season as of now.

Just got to the Aud. 10% at best are wearing masks.

 

[NJ Fan 12]

Was hoping for hockey talk. Any word on the team?

 

[NJ Fan 12]

Anywhere to find a numerical roster or podcast of the game? @Tao Jones ?

 

[UticaHockey]

1 - 0 Comets after the first. 13 - 5 shots in favor of the Comets. Joseph Gambardella with a penalty shot goal.

Foote and Clark stood out in a positive way. Daws in goal. Hasn't had much work but seems to be fighting the puck a bit.

 

[UticaHockey]

2 - 2 after the second. Daws beat clean on a pair of 2 on 1 with shots from the right side. Clarke with a snipe on the PP for the Comets from the right circle. Clarke has a great motor.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Just got to the Aud. 10% at best are wearing masks.

Like I said I thought it would be.

Is the building full?

What's the Rochester roster look like?

May be too much to ask, but who's in the lineup for the Comets.

I've got Daws, Gambardella, Foote, and Clarke. You only have to give me 15 more skaters and I'll bet Mitens is the backup.

Maybe:
Flynn
Russo
Vukojevic
Schmelzer
Groleau
Schnarr

How'd I do so far? If I'm correct you only have to give me 9 more.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Like I said I thought it would be.

Is the building full?

Delete/error

 

[UticaHockey]

Like I said I thought it would be.

Is the building full?

What's the Rochester roster look like?

May be too much to ask, but who's in the lineup for the Comets.

I've got Daws, Gambardella, Foote, and Clarke. You only have to give me 15 more skaters and I'll bet Mitens is the backup.

Maybe:
Flynn
Russo
Vukojevic
Schmelzer
Groleau
Schnarr

How'd I do so far? If I'm correct you only have to give me 9 more.

Small crowd of about 1500 but they were loud. About what I expected for preseason. Comets won 4-3 in a shootout with Foote and Clarke scoring in the SO and Daws giving up one.

Comets goals in regulation were...

Gambardella on a penalty shot.
Clarke on a PP
Zetterlund on a SH breakaway.

The Amerks roster was about half regulars and half names I didn't recognize.

I'm still learning the Comets names and spellings. Everyone you mentioned played. There were a few guys that may be Adirondack guys.

For a preseason game it was entertaining. All four lines played with pace and forechecked hard all night. If this is Kevin Dineen hockey it will be fun to watch. The forwards looked good but the defense was shaky at times.
Vukojevic and Bahl had trouble moving the puck against a heavy forecheck. I thought Walsh was the best defenseman. Daws was OK but only OK. Just seemed to be fighting the puck.

Tomorrow they are in Syracuse but we probably won't get much of a report being a preseason game.