2021-22 Utica Comets and ECHL thread - part V

[PizzaAndPucks]

Following a 3-game losing streak that saw the Comets sink below the .700 winning percentage, with the current 3-game win streak they have inched back above the .700 winning percentage - .703. That's good for 3rd overall.

They'd have to go gonzo to attempt to surpass #2 Chicago's .733 and the Wolves would have to help them out.

There is no prayer to catch #1 Stockton at .755.

Would love for them to have home ice if they can make a serious run to the finals. Getting there is more important to me though. The guy we just signed from Michigan Tech and the addition of Mercer to Utica (if he and management are up for it) can really stack our offense. I can understand if Mercer and/or the organization don't want to send him down after his 1st pro season. I wouldn't really want to see someone lose out a roster spot to a player who didn't play 1 game for their team all year too. Also having Daws back down there will help in goal with the option of playing him or Schmid. Either way the playoffs are a different animal , we need Utica to close the season out playing good hockey heading into the playoffs.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Would love for them to have home ice if they can make a serious run to the finals. Getting there is more important to me though. The guy we just signed from Michigan Tech and the addition of Mercer to Utica (if he and management are up for it) can really stack our offense. I can understand if Mercer and/or the organization don't want to send him down after his 1st pro season. I wouldn't really want to see someone lose out a roster spot to a player who didn't play 1 game for their team all year too. Also having Daws back down there will help in goal with the option of playing him or Schmid. Either way the playoffs are a different animal , we need Utica to close the season out playing good hockey heading into the playoffs.

Mercer was not papered down before the deadline and is therefore ineligible to play for Utica for the rest of the season and playoffs.

Tyce Thompson is eligible and should be a good addition. He can C.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[UticaHockey]

Would love for them to have home ice if they can make a serious run to the finals. Getting there is more important to me though. The guy we just signed from Michigan Tech and the addition of Mercer to Utica (if he and management are up for it) can really stack our offense. I can understand if Mercer and/or the organization don't want to send him down after his 1st pro season. I wouldn't really want to see someone lose out a roster spot to a player who didn't play 1 game for their team all year too. Also having Daws back down there will help in goal with the option of playing him or Schmid. Either way the playoffs are a different animal , we need Utica to close the season out playing good hockey heading into the playoffs.

The Comets have held a solid lead all season as the number one team in the entire eastern conference and should be able to maintain that for another month. The two teams that currently have better records than the Comets are both in the western conference. The Comets should have home ice advantage in every playoff round except the Calder Cup Final if they make it that far.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

2022-03-29

Patrick Grasso (F)

Utica

DEL

Returned on loan to Adirondack (ECHL)

 

[Guttersniped]

2022-03-29

Patrick Grasso (F)

Utica

DEL

Returned on loan to Adirondack (ECHL)

Looking at his photo I’m surprised he wasn’t on loan from Hogwarts.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

The Marlies signed two G to ATOs today. One started and the other is backing up in Abbotsford tonight. I don't see any announcement on the Marlies twitter account except for the lineup tweet. AHL transactions has them.

EP has the starter listed as being signed with Abbotsford. He's stopped 20 of 21 through two in his pro debut.

Talor Joseph at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Talor Joseph, 1994-08-01 Sherwood Park, AB, CAN Canada. Most recently in the SPHL with Quad City Storm. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

The backup hasn't played since 2017-18 with in the WHL with Prince George, so he's probably a local EBUG from Burnaby.

Tavin Grant at eliteprospects.com

Eliteprospects.com hockey player profile of Tavin Grant, 1998-02-22 Burnaby, BC, CAN Canada. Most recently in the AHL with Toronto Marlies. Complete player biography and stats.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Talor Joseph finished stopping 34 of 37 and had an EN primary assist in his pro debut. Loan D Philippe Myers had the EN secondary.

I knew the Marlies would get G playing before Fitz. lol

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Laval's SOL should drop Utica's division clinching magic number down to 15.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

So Toronto beat Abbotsford with the Canucks emergency G.

Thanks to @Booba.

 

[UticaHockey]

So Toronto beat Abbotsford with the Canucks emergency G.

Thanks to @Booba.

So the Marlies started the Canucks EBUG against Abbotsford and won. That leads to the question of who was the Marlies backup goalie last night and where did the find him?

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

So the Marlies started the Canucks EBUG against Abbotsford and won. That leads to the question of who was the Marlies backup goalie last night and where did the find him?

The Marlies signed another EBUG to an ATO, Tavin Grant, from Burnaby, BC. He hasn't played since 2017-18 with Prince George in the WHL.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

I wouldn't expect any more non-emergency recalls to NJ until Foote, Holtz (day to day), and Groleau return, a playoff spot is clinched, maybe even the division clinched, and there is break in Utica's schedule. Comets could possibly clinch a playoff spot on Saturday if they win all three games this week.

If the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy is still in play then maybe wait until it's decided unless it goes down to the last week of the season.

April 10-14 (Devils Western Conference road trip starts April 9)

April 23- 28 (NJ home matinee B2B, plus two on the road)

 

[UticaHockey]

I wouldn't expect any more non-emergency recalls to NJ until Foote, Holtz (day to day), and Groleau return, a playoff spot is clinched, maybe even the division clinched, and there is break in Utica's schedule. Comets could possibly clinch a playoff spot on Saturday if they win all three games this week.

If the Macgregor Kilpatrick Trophy is still in play then maybe wait until it's decided unless it goes down to the last week of the season.

April 10-14 (Devils Western Conference road trip starts April 9)

April 23- 28 (NJ home matinee B2B, plus two on the road)

Who do you think will get the two regular call ups that the Devils have available to them? My guess is still Walsh and Zetterlund.

Whenever Fitzgerald has mentioned Holtz he has said things like they don't want to interrupt the progress he is making in Utica but never talks about the elephant in the room which is Holtz can only play two more NHL games this season before he burns off a year of his ELC. For that reason I don't think Holtz will be one of the two recalls.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Who do you think will get the two regular call ups that the Devils have available to them? My guess is still Walsh and Zetterlund.

Whenever Fitzgerald has mentioned Holtz he has said things like they don't want to interrupt the progress he is making in Utica but never talks about the elephant in the room which is Holtz can only play two more NHL games this season before he burns off a year of his ELC. For that reason I don't think Holtz will be one of the two recalls.

I don't think Holtz will be up again either. Zetterlund will need to clear waivers next season, so I think they may want to give him one more well deserved free look before camp. Groleau is the other player that will require waivers next season, but he is too far down on the depth chart and his lower body injury doesn't help him get tapped. Schnarr was the other player that requires waivers next season.

Fitz mentioned Okhotiuk on a recent NJD pre-game as another player they want to call up "at some point". Some point could be this season or next.

The four players being discussed were Bahl, Walsh, Zetterlund, and Holtz. I'd say Foote would be in the mix if he wasn't injured even though he already got a look this season. See Bahl.

If Hammond gets lit up and Blackwood doesn't fully recover by season's end, I think they could hold a spot open for Daws. I hope that isn't the case.

To answer your question, I'd say Zetterlund, and Walsh or Okhotiuk.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Scratches: Holtz, Foote, Groleau, McGrath, Halonen

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Greer scores on the PP from Schmelzer and Zetterlund.

1-0

A.J. Greer (20)
Ryan Schmelzer (13), Fabian Zetterlund (27)

 

[Bad Goalie]

So, the Comets reaasigned Grasso to the Thunder yesterday. Halonen was added, but it was said he wouldn't play until Friday and he is not in the lineup. No word on Mcgrath? Holtz and Foote still injured. The result is that with Utica's plethora of depth the Comets are playing tonight with 11 forwards and have dressed 7 D.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

SOG 6-4 Utica after one.

 

[UticaHockey]

So, the Comets reaasigned Grasso to the Thunder yesterday. Halonen was added, but it was said he wouldn't play until Friday and he is not in the lineup. No word on Mcgrath? Holtz and Foote still injured. The result is that with Utica's plethora of depth the Comets are playing tonight with 11 forwards and have dressed 7 D.

A lot of coaches are going with 11F and 7D recently. McGrath is utterly useless and Grasso wasn't very impressive. I think I'd rather go with 11F than use either of them.

 

[Bad Goalie]

So, the Comets reaasigned Grasso to the Thunder yesterday. Halonen was added, but it was said he wouldn't play until Friday and he is not in the lineup. No word on Mcgrath? Holtz and Foote still injured. The result is that with Utica's plethora of depth the Comets are playing tonight with 11 forwards and have dressed 7 D.

A lot of coaches are going with 11F and 7D recently. McGrath is utterly useless and Grasso wasn't very impressive. I think I'd rather go with 11F than use either of them.

Oh. I totally agree on Grasso and McGrath. Just reiterating my concern as to the lack of any serious depth on this team.

Last time they went with 11 Schmelzer took a strick to the face in the 1st and didn't come back. The Comets played the rest of the game with 10 forwards. It's near the end of regular season and no better way to wear out young kids who have never made an AHL playoff run than to overplay them before it even starts. With some decent depth you can rotate guys in and out and give guys a needed rest, especially as loaded up the end of this season is for the Comets.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

SOG 5-4 Utica after one.

Greer shortie from Gauthier.

2-0

A.J. Greer (21)
Frederik Gauthier (24)

 

[Bad Goalie]

Schmid comes up big in the 1st 15 seconds of the 2nd.