2021-22 Utica Comets and ECHL thread - part V

[britdevil]

They look like they are having some fun.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

ya love to see it (posted like 20 min ago)

Gangster. Loving it.

Could've been weirdos posting insta shots of them pouring Heineken on coeds tits, but this is how pros roll.

Not that there's anything wrong with pouring natty ice on a willing young girls bosom when your a broke kid at Rutgers in 01.

I have no idea why I chose Heineken.

 

[Nubmer6]

Wasn't Dustin Byfuglien a forward who converted to defensemen? Perhaps he'll turn out like him?

Yeah, but so was Gelinas, I think.

 

[Xirik]

Yeah, but so was Gelinas, I think.

We don't say you know who's name here!

 

[OmNomNom]

From May 10th, but awesome regardless


also, shak hangin out w the boys

 

[UticaHockey]

From May 10th, but awesome regardless


also, shak hangin out w the boys

Looks like the boys enjoyed some sunshine after practice yesterday.

 

[Zippy316]

There are only 7 D currently in Utica signed for next season.

1. Okhotyuk - 2 yrs of his ELC remain.
2. Bahl - He will be on the final yr of his ELC
It's more than likely that 1 of these guys will be a Devil. For the purpose of argument let's say only one of them is in NJ and the other returns to Utica.

3. Vulojevic - 2 yrs of his ELC remain.

4. Walsh - He will be on the final yr of his ELC.
5. Groleau - He will be on the final yr of his ELC.
A decision will have to be made on these 2 at the end of the year. Do they get qualifying offers, traded, released?

6. Russo - He is the only veteran D-man on a 2-yr contract so he will be a Comet.

7. Mukhamadulin - He was on record as saying he didn't want to play in the AHL. He would exercise the European Assignment Clause. He did such this season, '21-22, and still has the option for the '22-23 season. Has he changed his mind? I know he's here now. Does that mean he intends to return to NA next season? Playing in the AHL on the smaller rinks with players he is likely to play with in NJ is a plus for his future.

Does the year he just spent in Russia after signing his ELC slide and thus, yr 1 of his 3-yr ELC begins in '22-23? I repeat the same question If he opts for yr 2 of the EAC. If that's not the way it works are we to understand that he has burned 2 years off his ELC without ever playing for a team in the Devils franchise making him an RFA in 2024-25. This tells the NA kids F*** You! Take your years of $70K in the AHL if you aren't a Devil and like it. Meanwhile Shakir makes a couple $mil give or take a couple $100K, comes to NA for 1 season on the same money deal the NA kids had for 3 seasons, but after 1 season of that contract he's an RFA looking to be qualified and seek at least $1mil.

#8 Topias Vilen - So, if we are only dealing with Bahl or OK leaving for NJ, the Comets would have 6 D-men. This would make Vilen 1 of 7. I can assure you that with injuries and call-ups a 7-man D-corps sees all 7 getting lots of game time. This past season the Comets ran just such a roster.
- Russo played 70 of the 72 games.
- Ok played 63
The other 5 were all in the 50 games played.
Bahl 54
Vukpjevic 54
Wotherspoon 53
Walsh 52
Groleau 50

If Shakir opts to play in Russia again. Vilen would be 1 of the 6 currently under contract.

So, unless the Comets end up with more D-men under contract to play in the AHL, Vilen is not bogged down in a "D logjam" in Utica. I will give you the fact that another veteran D-man is not out of the question. Their +/- leader on the backend was 29-yr-old Tyler Wotherspoon. He finished the regular season at +26.

Am I missing an incoming rookie D-man who will be starting his ELC this coming season?

There are only 7 D currently in Utica signed for next season.

1. Okhotyuk - 2 yrs of his ELC remain.
2. Bahl - He will be on the final yr of his ELC
It's more than likely that 1 of these guys will be a Devil. For the purpose of argument let's say only one of them is in NJ and the other returns to Utica.

3. Vulojevic - 2 yrs of his ELC remain.

4. Walsh - He will be on the final yr of his ELC.
5. Groleau - He will be on the final yr of his ELC.
A decision will have to be made on these 2 at the end of the year. Do they get qualifying offers, traded, released?

6. Russo - He is the only veteran D-man on a 2-yr contract so he will be a Comet.

7. Mukhamadulin - He was on record as saying he didn't want to play in the AHL. He would exercise the European Assignment Clause. He did such this season, '21-22, and still has the option for the '22-23 season. Has he changed his mind? I know he's here now. Does that mean he intends to return to NA next season? Playing in the AHL on the smaller rinks with players he is likely to play with in NJ is a plus for his future.

Does the year he just spent in Russia after signing his ELC slide and thus, yr 1 of his 3-yr ELC begins in '22-23? I repeat the same question If he opts for yr 2 of the EAC. If that's not the way it works are we to understand that he has burned 2 years off his ELC without ever playing for a team in the Devils franchise making him an RFA in 2024-25. This tells the NA kids F*** You! Take your years of $70K in the AHL if you aren't a Devil and like it. Meanwhile Shakir makes a couple $mil give or take a couple $100K, comes to NA for 1 season on the same money deal the NA kids had for 3 seasons, but after 1 season of that contract he's an RFA looking to be qualified and seek at least $1mil.

#8 Topias Vilen - So, if we are only dealing with Bahl or OK leaving for NJ, the Comets would have 6 D-men. This would make Vilen 1 of 7. I can assure you that with injuries and call-ups a 7-man D-corps sees all 7 getting lots of game time. This past season the Comets ran just such a roster.
- Russo played 70 of the 72 games.
- Ok played 63
The other 5 were all in the 50 games played.
Bahl 54
Vukpjevic 54
Wotherspoon 53
Walsh 52
Groleau 50

If Shakir opts to play in Russia again. Vilen would be 1 of the 6 currently under contract.

So, unless the Comets end up with more D-men under contract to play in the AHL, Vilen is not bogged down in a "D logjam" in Utica. I will give you the fact that another veteran D-man is not out of the question. Their +/- leader on the backend was 29-yr-old Tyler Wotherspoon. He finished the regular season at +26.

Am I missing an incoming rookie D-man who will be starting his ELC this coming season?

Good point, but I think ideally if you’re bringing a young European player over at his age, you would want to at least have a starting spot penciled in for him. You’d probably rather not potentially have him in that AHL/ECHL limbo. As someone mentioned before, you typically do that with US/Canadian guys and not Europeans. Right now, he’s kind of looking like he’s #7 to start the year.

Also just going off handedness, he has a lot of LDs ahead of him which doesn’t help. I would imagine the Devils also look to bring in a depth RD too which is another guy to compete with.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

 

[Bad Goalie]

Good point, but I think ideally if you’re bringing a young European player over at his age, you would want to at least have a starting spot penciled in for him. You’d probably rather not potentially have him in that AHL/ECHL limbo. As someone mentioned before, you typically do that with US/Canadian guys and not Europeans. Right now, he’s kind of looking like he’s #7 to start the year.

Also just going off handedness, he has a lot of LDs ahead of him which doesn’t help. I would imagine the Devils also look to bring in a depth RD too which is another guy to compete with.

As I already said, the Comets rolled with 7 all season and the least number of games played by any one of them was 50. That would easily be enough games for a young rookie to learn his trade.

The "AHL/ECHL limbo" was not a recipe for any Devils prospect in Utica last season. Vukojevic was the only prospect to even see Adirondack and that was just long enough to go there for one day, play a game, and returnto Utica the next day. Adirondack is only 2 hrs east on the NY State Thruway. He did this 4 times and the last time was 10/12. He ended up playing 54 games for the Comets and became a regular as a the season progressed and was in the lineup for Playoff game #1.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Wotherspoon-Bahl
Vukojevic-Okhotiuk
Mukhamadullin-Russo

 

[UticaHockey]

I didn't see anything happen to Walsh on Tuesday. Would hate to not have him available in a short series.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Good point, but I think ideally if you’re bringing a young European player over at his age, you would want to at least have a starting spot penciled in for him. You’d probably rather not potentially have him in that AHL/ECHL limbo. As someone mentioned before, you typically do that with US/Canadian guys and not Europeans. Right now, he’s kind of looking like he’s #7 to start the year.

Also just going off handedness, he has a lot of LDs ahead of him which doesn’t help. I would imagine the Devils also look to bring in a depth RD too which is another guy to compete with.

As I already said, the Comets rolled with 7 all season and the least number of games played by any one of them was 50. That would easily be enough games, especially for a young European rookie to ply his trade and get eased into the grueling schedule played in the AHL.

The "AHL/ECHL limbo" was not a recipe for any Devils prospect in Utica last season. Vukojevic was the only prospect to even see Adirondack and that was just long enough to go there for one day, play a game, and return to Utica the next day. Adirondack is only 2 hrs east on the NY State Thruway. He did this 4 times and the last time was 10/12. He ended up playing 54 games for the Comets and became a regular as a the season progressed and was in the lineup for Playoff game #1 and that was with a healthy D-corps.

As to handedness, Dineen has been working to familiarize most of the guys who are LH with playing the right side.
Groleau, Vukojevic, OK, and Bahl have all done duty at RD. Developing the ability to play your offside makes one a more valuable asset. Especially for the Devils who are really lacking in RDs. Maybe Fitz will be sure to address that deficit this off season. The 2022 draft is rich in RDs. Their NHL ceiling isn't clear, but there are a lot of them on the list. The league in general is short on the right side.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

I didn't see anything happen to Walsh on Tuesday. Would hate to not have him available in a short series.

I just watched again. Dineen shuffled the pairs in the last two minutes of the game. Wotherspoon took Walsh's spot with Vukojevic and Walsh was paired with Bahl for the last minute. Vukojevic and Okhotiuk finished the game after Bahl and Laberge were ejected. I didn't see Walsh get involved in the scrum. Maybe something happened earlier in the game and he just played through it.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

Hoping a local or two can help me out here.

Thinking about taking the train up from the city tomorrow, catching the game, and spending the night and next day in your lovely town.

A few questions, I'm looking at staying in the area of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. Is that a fine enough area? I live in Brooklyn and spend a fair amount of time in Newark so am pretty comfortable in not so nice areas, but I'd prefer to not be in the worst of it.

Any recommendations for after the game that don't involve raging with hockey fans or coeds? Somewhere chill to grab a small bite, good cocktail, or solid pint with people who live in the area that are in the 30-40 range is ideal.

Last but not least, I'll have most of Sunday to do whatever. I'm all over the place as far as taste is concerned so nature? Art? Music? Architecture? Any sort of history? Whatever can't misses will be appreciated.

Thank you for any input and feel free to pm if you don't want to muck up this thread.

 

[UticaHockey]

Hoping a local or two can help me out here.

Thinking about taking the train up from the city tomorrow, catching the game, and spending the night and next day in your lovely town.

A few questions, I'm looking at staying in the area of the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute. Is that a fine enough area? I live in Brooklyn and spend a fair amount of time in Newark so am pretty comfortable in not so nice areas, but I'd prefer to not be in the worst of it.

Any recommendations for after the game that don't involve raging with hockey fans or coeds? Somewhere chill to grab a small bite, good cocktail, or solid pint with people who live in the area that are in the 30-40 range is ideal.

Last but not least, I'll have most of Sunday to do whatever. I'm all over the place as far as taste is concerned so nature? Art? Music? Architecture? Any sort of history? Whatever can't misses will be appreciated.

Thank you for any input and feel free to pm if you don't want to muck up this thread.

The first question is do you have tickets? Looks like it is sold out and they are only selling standing room only tickets at this point with the disclaimer that you can sit in any unoccupied seat but must leave if the owner shows up. There really aren't many good spots to stand at the Aud where you wouldn't be blocking someone's view.

In the regular season there are routinely 100s of empty seats even though the game is sold out so the standing room seats are a good option. However on Tuesday there were not many open seats and I would expect tomorrow to be the same.

Gerber's 1933 Tavern sounds like it would fit what you are looking for. It's on the same street as the Aud three or four blocks away.

The area around Munson-Williams Institute is okay. Not the best but not the worst either.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

The first question is do you have tickets? Looks like it is sold out and they are only selling standing room only tickets at this point with the disclaimer that you can sit in any unoccupied seat but must leave if the owner shows up. There really aren't many good spots to stand at the Aud where you wouldn't be blocking someone's view.

In the regular season there are routinely 100s of empty seats even though the game is sold out so the standing room seats are a good option. However on Tuesday there were not many open seats and I would expect tomorrow to be the same.

Gerber's 1933 Tavern sounds like it would fit what you are looking for. It's on the same street as the Aud three or four blocks away.

The area around Munson-Williams Institute is okay. Not the best but not the worst either.

Definitely not sold out if you're looking for one ticket:

Thanks for the other info. The area doesn't seem like the greatest but the hotel has great reviews and it's a 5 minute cab ride from the arena.

 

[UticaHockey]

Definitely not sold out if you're looking for one ticket:

View attachment 546224

Thanks for the other info. The area doesn't seem like the greatest but the hotel has great reviews and it's a 5 minute cab ride from the arena.

You are correct. They took down the seat map earlier today and added the standing room general admission option. I didn't notice that you could still click to buy single tickets but there are no longer two or more together at this point. Enjoy the game.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

You are correct. They took down the seat map earlier today and added the standing room general admission option. I didn't notice that you could still click to buy single tickets but there are no longer two or more together at this point. Enjoy the game.

Cheers man, you as well.

 

[EXTRAS]

Will Talvitie ever be a full time NHLer? Any chance he makes the devil's the next two years?

 

[OmNomNom]

Will Talvitie ever be a full time NHLer? Any chance he makes the devil's the next two years?

doubtful - we are locked up at center for top 6, and he's had a lot of injuries. there's a lot of depth ahead of him as well. if he plays winger, maybe? but odds look very slim

 

[Zippy316]

For the Utica fans, do you think there’s any NHL upside for Schmelzer?

Seems like he has definitely earned an NHL contract for the Devils or another team, I wonder if he is a guy who can potentially carve out a fourth line defensive role similar to what Rooney did. At worst, he seems like he could be your veteran call up when you need to fill a spot at moments notice.

His age is definitely fighting against him at this point so time is running out, but curious to hear peoples thoughts on him.

 

[UticaHockey]

For the Utica fans, do you think there’s any NHL upside for Schmelzer?

Seems like he has definitely earned an NHL contract for the Devils or another team, I wonder if he is a guy who can potentially carve out a fourth line defensive role similar to what Rooney did. At worst, he seems like he could be your veteran call up when you need to fill a spot at moments notice.

His age is definitely fighting against him at this point so time is running out, but curious to hear peoples thoughts on him.

I'm not sure Schmelzer skates well enough to play in the NHL. He is a perfect guy to have captain your AHL team though. They can always keep him on an AHL contract and give him a healthy raise in appreciation for what he has done this year. Unlike NHL contracts where you can go to Cap Friendly see the details there is no public reporting of AHL contracts. Another thing they can do is offer him a two year AHL contract as most of these kind of players live year to year on one year contracts.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

Dumont pushes Belzile into Lagace after the whistle.

Alnefelt in net for the Crunch.

 

[Tao Jersey Jones]

For the Utica fans, do you think there’s any NHL upside for Schmelzer?

Seems like he has definitely earned an NHL contract for the Devils or another team, I wonder if he is a guy who can potentially carve out a fourth line defensive role similar to what Rooney did. At worst, he seems like he could be your veteran call up when you need to fill a spot at moments notice.

His age is definitely fighting against him at this point so time is running out, but curious to hear peoples thoughts on him.

I think Wotherspoon should get an NHL contract, but not necessarily get any NHL time, like Russo and Gambardella. Schmelzer could get that too, but I agree he most likely gets another AHL deal. Most players his age with his production get AHL deals. Schmelzer did have a career season though had a good game for his first in the postseason.

 

[Bad Goalie]

I think Wotherspoon should get an NHL contract, but not necessarily get any NHL time, like Russo and Gambardella. Schmelzer could get that too, but I agree he most likely gets another AHL deal. Most players his age with his production get AHL deals. Schmelzer did have a career season though had a good game for his first in the postseason.

The Devils could easily handle the main needs in terms of complimentary players for next year by bringing back exaclty the 5 they signed this sesason. Russo and Gambardella are already signed.

Lock up Schmelzer as was already suggested. Give him a healthy bonus for the job he has done this season as the Comets captain and give him the job for the next 2 seasons.

That only leaves Flynn and Deleo.

Deleo would be a no brainer. The team will always need someone of his ilk, so why not just get to him and sign him to another 2-way and up his paycheck a bit to reward him for his leadership and production. He was the team's leading scorer with 56 points. He can and did play all 3 forward positions. With the Devils void at center he eventually became the #1 C for the Comets and there was no one else close to the game he could play with the team's best young wingers. There doesn't appear to be anyone on the immediate horizon either. So, they can save themselves the time and energy of searching for another and just sign the good one they already have.

Based upon the AHL criteria to classify a player as a Veteran or Veteran Exempt, Gambardella will just barely cross the line and become a VE. The number is 261 GP and he has played 263 games.

So right now this would be the Vet/VE situation next season:

Gambardella - VE
Russo - Vet
Greer - Will be a UFA. He would be a great reacquisition for the Comets (Devils?) If so, he would be a VET.
Deleo - Vet
Wotherspoon - Vet. No reason not to re-sign your co-Vet D-man. He was the team's most effective defensive D-man and led the team in +/- at +26. The next closest being the team's top defensive forward Frederik Gauthier, +17.
Gautheir- Vet. Will be a UFA. I would extend an offer to the Goat. The role he played could not be filled by any other member of the team. He was the best face-off man, best defensive forward, #1 PK forward and dynamite paired with Greer (they were a threat to score every time they took to the ice a man down), and to top it all off he put up 32 points, tied with 3 other guys for 6th place in scoring. He too will be a UFA.

This would give the Comets the 5 Vets and 1 VE allowed to play in a game.

The only other player acquired specifically to support the prospects was Brian Flynn. Based upon the players above, I would consider him the least necessary of the 7. The Devils need to acquire another player with no veteran conflicts as they did last season with Gambardella. They would need a good AHL level center to fill the #2 slot. Talvitie and Schmelzer can both play the wing. For that matter Deleo is a top line wing if not playing center.

Deleo
X
Gauthier
Schmelzer/Talvitie

Right now if they brought back the 6 listed above the roster would look like this:

Deleo
Gambardella
Greer
Gauthier
Schmelzer
Holtz
Thompson
Clarke
Talvitie
Halonen

Holtz
Zetterlund
Foote

These 3 could all be Comets or any mix of Devils and Comets.

That's a maximum of 13 forwards. If they lose Gauthier, Greer, Deleo, and Schmelzer, it's complete reconstruction time. If they kept them on board the Comets are again a very good team.

Couple that with:

Russo
Wotherspoon (has to be re-signed)
Vukojevic
Groleau
Walsh - Many HF posters seem to believe he will be a Devil. I do not. We'll see.

Bahl
Okhotyuk
There is no decision as to what Fitz will do to fill out the Devils backend. Both of these guys could be gone or Devils or one each. If back in Utica, they are a tossup as to who gets the first call-up.

Mukhamadullin - If he plays tonight, as the teaser has been offered, and shows to be through a deeper than round 1 of the 2022 playoffs, at the least, an effective AHL D-man, he could be coming to NA for the '22-23 season. Then again maybe not regardless of how he plays. He could also be the LD people are penciling Bahl/OK into the lineup. There is no telling what happens with this kid other than it looks like he wants to play in America sooner than later.

Vilen will hopefully be in camp and the Devils staff can get a good look at him and determine his readiness. Best bet is he will be headed back to Finland and return to America as a 20-yr-old if he is really a rising prospect. If not at least 2 years before he sets foot in NA.

My guess is the Comets will have to acquire at least 2 more D-men, maybe 3.

The net will start with Daws and Schmid and they should be allowed to be AHL goalies for most of the season with Mitens in the wings in Adirondack. Fitz MUST fix the goalie crisis in NJ. It can't be allowed to be the chaotic situation it has been for the past 2 seasons, especially this last one! Everyone agrees on that note.