2021/22 Utica Comets and ECHL Talk

[UticaHockey]

This is a surprise. The Comets will have all home games live on local TV. They did this last year for the first time when attendance at the Aud was restricted but I didn't expect it to continue this year while they are trying to fill the place.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Not a lot of meat there other than the they were bad last year so expect them to be bad again this year logic.

Yeah, he covers WBS.

So there you have it. I am probably wrong about the playoff chances for most of these teams because, like I said at the top the AHL is a funny league. Teams that are bad go on runs, teams that are good go through dry spells. There is always one or two surprise teams. That’s why we watch.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

That doesn't seem like it will happen very soon. That blunder may keep him right where he is. The AHL teams normally call a guy up from the ECHL to fill an immediate need. Calling a guy up to play in the 3rd game after you bring him on board isn't a normal action.

No. Might not see him again at all in Utica.

There were three checks to the head in that game. The first from Brandon Crawley for Syracuse who was not suspended. Masonius with the second and Kevin Lohan had the third for Syracuse and was also suspended, but only for one game instead of the two games Masonius got.

 

[UticaHockey]

Yeah, he covers WBS.

So there you have it. I am probably wrong about the playoff chances for most of these teams because, like I said at the top the AHL is a funny league. Teams that are bad go on runs, teams that are good go through dry spells. There is always one or two surprise teams. That’s why we watch.

It is very difficult to predict where teams will finish in the AHL. Things change much more year-to-year than they do in the NHL. The Comets in their inaugural season with Vancouver in 2013 started out losing their first ten games and didn't win a home game until almost Thanksgiving. The next season they made a few additions but nothing I thought would be that significant before the season started. They ended up going to the Calder Cup Finals in their second season so anything is possible in the AHL.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Tyce Thompson practicing with the Devils this morning. More good news for both the Devils and the Comets.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Patrick McGrath and Tyler Wotherspoon are the only two players not on the Comets website roster. Joe Masonius has been removed but Marek Mitens is still there. Wonder if Luke Stevens has made the team?

Also new spelling for Niko Daws.

 

[UticaHockey]

Patrick McGrath and Tyler Wotherspoon are the only two players not on the Comets website roster. Joe Masonius has been removed but Marek Mitens is still there. Wonder if Luke Stevens has made the team?

Also new spelling for Niko Daws.

I didn't see how McGrath got hurt but he left the ice during the first period on Friday and never returned. I see they have him listed as skating in a non-contact jersey today.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Guttersniped]

De Leo wore an A in San Diego last season while Dineen was coaching there so I’m guessing he a solid candidate for a letter.

Russo is probably close to a lock for a letter as the most experienced defenseman on two year two-way deal. Wore an A in Tucson.

Flynn has the most NHL experience. (And most experience in general as the oldest at 33.)

Gambardella didn’t wear one in Bakersfield, I thought he might have but nope, but he’s still a candidate I guess since he also has a two year two-way deal. I could see him losing out to other forwards though.

White and Schmelzer both wore an A last season for Bing but there wasn’t much competition for Vet presence then.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

De Leo wore an A in San Diego last season while Dineen was coaching there so I’m guessing he a solid candidate for a letter.

Russo is probably close to a lock for a letter as the most experienced defenseman on two year two-way deal. Wore an A in Tucson.

Flynn has the most NHL experience. (And most experience in general as the oldest at 33.)

Gambardella didn’t wear one in Bakersfield, I thought he might have but nope, but he’s still a candidate I guess since he also has a two year two-way deal. I could see him losing out to other forwards though.

White and Schmelzer both wore an A last season for Bing but there wasn’t much competition for Vet presence then.

Pre-season games 'A's:

Flynn
McGrath
Greer
Schmelzer
Groleau
Ohotiuk

Bahl wore an 'A' at the prospects challenge in Buffalo.

White wore an 'A' last season.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Bleedred]

Kevin Dineen is the head coach of Utica? I really have been under a rock this offseason.

He BETTER not be next in the line for the head coaching gig.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Abbotsford signed Cameron Schilling.

That leaves RD Nate Prosser 35 and RD ECHLer Jack Sadek 24 as the only UFA D.

LD Cameron Gaunce is on a PTO with the team he played for last season.

Some options at F remain.

NHL UFA

Boo Nieves C/LW
Joseph Blandisi C/LW
Michael Frolik RW/LW
Brandon Pirri C/LW
Tomas Jurco LW/RW

Dawson DiPietro LW (0 professional GP)

AHL UFA

Cam Darcy C (R)
Miles Koules C/RW
Nick Lappin RW
Troy Loggins LW
Paul Thompson RW
Chris Mueller C/RW
Nicholas Halloran RW
Gabriel Gagne RW/C
Colin Markison RW
Rourke Chartrier C (L)
Colt Conrad C (R)
Zach Natasiuk RW/C

LW Luke Stevens is on a PTO with Utica.

ECHLers

Joe Wegwerth RW/LW
Caleb Herbert C/RW
Matthew Weis C (L)

AHL UFA G

Zane McIntyre

NHL UFA ECHLers G

Jeremy Helvig
Jake Keilly
Cole Kehler

Eamon McAdam is on a PTO with Syracuse.

edit: added Paul Thompson who was added to Bridgeport on the AHL transactions page then removed.

 

[My3Sons]

Isn't it more realistic that when Smith and Sevs are healthy that White is sent down and Thompson gets sent down as well and maybe Geersten?

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Isn't it more realistic that when Smith and Sevs are healthy that White is sent down and Thompson gets sent down as well and maybe Geersten?

Not sure what one has to do with the other. White and Jaros make 9 D. Geertsen would make 10, but I don't see why NYR doesn't claim him back for Hartford. I don't see Utica taking Prosser or Sadek if that's what you are inferring as unrealistic.

 

[My3Sons]

Not sure what one has to do with the other. White and Jaros make 9 D. Geertsen would make 10, but I don't see why NYR doesn't claim him back for Hartford. I don't see Utica taking Prosser or Sadek if that's what you are inferring as unrealistic.

Posting UFA names suggested to me that Utica might pick one or more up. I don't see that happening. If I misread the post, that's on me.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Posting UFA names suggested to me that Utica might pick one or more up. I don't see that happening. If I misread the post, that's on me.

There was much interest in Cameron Schilling by a certain poster. I posted those last two D because they're the only two left, not that Utica should sign them. Utica does have room for more vets. Maybe another forward or two. I'd look at bringing back McIntyre if Wedgewood doesn't eventually clear waivers.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Isn't it more realistic that when Smith and Sevs are healthy that White is sent down and Thompson gets sent down as well and maybe Geersten?

I have voiced this likelihood.
However, the Comets have 7 D and that is far from enough. White is 8 and that would be the bare minimum for an AHL team.
I'd hope MacKinnon has his eyes on the NHL teams still letting guys go as they become compliant as players with minor hurts return to the roster. There are a couple on the UFA list that would still fit the depth need. One injury in Jersey and 1 in Utica and the team is playing the only 6 D they have. Most AHL teams have at least 9 in house and another couple with AHL experience are in the ECHL if they don't have 10 in house.

Forwards in house usually number at least 15 and that's not counting ECHL players in the 15. Patrick McGraith and Luke Stevens would really be stretching the term in house depth. Thompson and Gauthier would be 13 and 14 on a roster of the type of AHL level players a team needs. McGraith and Stevens are 15 and 16 on that roster and 1 could go to the ECHL. Picking someone off that still available UFA list like Mueller would give the Comets 15 forwards of AHL solid AHL level.

The thing you have to keep in mind is that the AHL depth is all the AHL roster has. When the parent needs a couple guys, like now, the farm gets tapped. If the farm has their own guys out, potential disaster to a decent season is likely if the farm has not put together a roster with just such a situation issue in mind. I've seen both and the prepared farm can keep its season going while the unprepared team sees its season spin downward out of control.

 

[Bad Goalie]

There was much interest in Cameron Schilling by a certain poster. I posted those last two D because they're the only two left, not that Utica should sign them. Utica does have room for more vets. Maybe another forward or two. I'd look at bringing back McIntyre if Wedgewood doesn't eventually clear waivers.

An AHL team going with 2 rookies in the net is courting disaster before they start. The Comets are loaded with talented prospects and a group of competent experienced extras. It would be a crying shame for those guys to see a promising season go to Hell because their young keepers have no solid veteran presence to share the net with. Teams are grown from the goal out and when its weak there to start, it's hard to compensate for that problem. The fact is that the young D needs solid goaltending to help them out as they develop their game. When you know an error likely means a very good chance of a goal against, the pressure not to make a mistake usually leads to just that, mistakes.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

I have voiced this likelihood.
However, the Comets have 7 D and that is far from enough. White is 8 and that would be the bare minimum for an AHL team.
I'd hope MacKinnon has his eyes on the NHL teams still letting guys go as they become compliant as players with minor hurts return to the roster. There are a couple on the UFA list that would still fit the depth need. One injury in Jersey and 1 in Utica and the team is playing the only 6 D they have. Most AHL teams have at least 9 in house and another couple with AHL experience are in the ECHL if they don't have 10 in house.

Forwards in house usually number at least 15 and that's not counting ECHL players in the 15. Patrick McGraith and Luke Stevens would really be stretching the term in house depth. Thompson and Gauthier would be 13 and 14 on a roster of the type of AHL level players a team needs. McGraith and Stevens are 15 and 16 on that roster and 1 could go to the ECHL. Picking someone off that still available UFA list like Mueller would give the Comets 15 forwards of AHL solid AHL level.

The thing you have to keep in mind is that the AHL depth is all the AHL roster has. When the parent needs a couple guys, like now, the farm gets tapped. If the farm has their own guys out, potential disaster to a decent season is likely if the farm has not put together a roster with just such a situation issue in mind. I've seen both and the prepared farm can keep its season going while the unprepared team sees its season spin downward out of control.

I am used to those numbers from previous AHL Devils rosters. A reminder to others: There is no roster limit in the AHL.

Binghamton Devils
Binghamton Devils
Binghamton Devils

Some of these rosters are missing a player or two that may have finished their seasons in ECHL or NHL.

(Don't go by the number in parentheses at the bottom with the number by position. Count the names on the roster, it's usually more.)

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

An AHL team going with 2 rookies in the net is courting disaster before they start. The Comets are loaded with talented prospects and a group of competent experienced extras. It would be a crying shame for those guys to see a promising season go to Hell because their young keepers have no solid veteran presence to share the net with. Teams are grown from the goal out and when its weak there to start, it's hard to compensate for that problem. The fact is that the young D needs solid goaltending to help them out as they develop their game. When you know an error likely means a very good chance of a goal against, the pressure not to make a mistake usually leads to just that, mistakes.

Besides Zane McIntyre there isn't much out there for G. Andrew D'Agostini who is an ECHLer and Devan Dubnyk.

Eamon McAdam could be released from his PTO with Syracuse but he's played 0 AHL games the past two seasons.

Tuukka Rask is Boston or retire.

edit: D'Agostini signed a PTO with the Marlies.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Besides Zane McIntyre there isn't much out there for G. Andrew D'Agostini who is an ECHLer and Devan Dubnyk.

Eamon McAdam could be released from his PTO with Syracuse but he's played 0 AHL games the past two seasons.

Tuukka Rask is Boston or retire.

Zane isn't bad if you had to put him between your pipes. You could certainly do much worse.

 

[BurntToast]

Zane isn't bad if you had to put him between your pipes. You could certainly do much worse.

Cry me a river..


Daws played great in preseason and has experience in a professional league. Schmid was one of the best goalies in the USHL. We don’t need some other teams trash.