Brown was a mediocre college player for three seasons before having a breakout season as a senior - playing on a team with some of the most dynamic players in college hockey.
Not sure how much upside there is but I'd imagine the Devils are quite familiar with him.
Between the guys in the pipeline and the signed veterans not sure how much of an upgrade he would be.
Comets are playoff bound while helping the younger players to develop. Seems like they are doing their job.
Thompson hasn't scored a goal in the last 36 games!!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job by Dineen and Co..
#32 PP out of 32 AHL teams. Great job Dineen and Co.
#27 PK out of 32 AHL teams (28 going into Wednesday). Great job Dineen and Co.
#32 in PPG scored.
Scored 210 vs 218 allowed.
Worst own zone defensive system I have ever seen in many decades of playing at various levels and following the game.
I'm not sure what you mean by doing their job at player development.
Player improvement? We should see significant improvement from season to season if players are developing.
1st of all there are not that many young players developing here any more anyways. There are 3 forwards.
1) Thompson is a disaster. 7 goals scored, the last of which was on January 13, 36 games ago. 24 points/55GP. In 21-22 he had 15Pts/6G/16GP. Can't imagine what he must be feeling. He is signed to a 1-way NHL deal next season for $762,500. Can't imagine how Fitz views that.
2) Foote has had a decent season with 37 pts in 55 GP. Last season 32 pts in 55 GP. Improved 5 points. His 37 points puts him at #3 in scoring for the Comets. That's #151 in the league.
3) Clarke had 24 pts in 52 GP in 21-22. In 22-23 he has more than doubled his output with 57 pts in 67 GP. He leads the team in goals with 24. That is very significant improvement for him. In comparison to the league, however his team leading 24 goals ranks him at #31. Not too shabby.
These 3 were supposed to replace the play of DeLeo, Green, Holtz, andZetterland
Talvitie is the only other forward prospect and he has fallen from 24 pts/12 G/68 GP in 21-22 to 13 pts/3 G/57 GP in 22-23. He isn't close to a threat to show up on the NJ roster. He has to hope they sign him to an RFA contract for next season. He would not be a key player for the Comets who are desperate to fill the middle slot with talent next season. That makes him expendable.
The Comets have had 3 defensive prospects in Utica this season. Can't count Bahl with only 3 GP here nor OK because he played 20 games, was injured, and traded.
1) Walsh put up 43 pts/9 G/70 GP in 21-22. In 22-23 he has put up 40 Pts (#2 on the team) 8 G/70 GP. It's a good season, but there was no improvement.
2) Groleau is playing his 4th season of hockey and has been unable to establish himself as regular game night player. He played 50 games in 21-22 and recorded 9 pts/2 G. In 22-23 he has only played 42 games and has recorded 10 pts/2G.
3) Vukojevic is in his 3rd pro season and has spent a significant amount of time out with a surgically repaired finger. He has been limited to 37 GP and 3pts, 1 of which was a goal.
S looking ahead:
- Thompson opens the season in Utica. It will take some amazing improvement for him to live up to that contract. He would have to blow the doors off the entire Devils camp to make their team.
- Walsh has had a good season, but the Devils have no room for him. He will be an RFA. What the Devils and Walsh decide is yet to be seen.
Foote and Clarke each still have another year on their ELCs. Unless the Devils make significant changes in their forwards, there's not much room at all.
- Foote is the only guy I see possibly sticking with NJ next year.
We must remeber that Holtz just may have the inside edge over anybody else under a NJ contract to replace any forward the Devils move out and he has 2 seasons left on his ELC.
- Clarke has had a very good season, but he is the kind of player who would have to be top 6. He is soft as far as players go. He doesn't kill penalties and is not strong defensively. There is no way he cracks that lineup.
Very possibly both are in Utica again next season and will be playing to make themselves valuable on the trade market and Walsh is in the same situation.
Groleau and Talvitie are RFA and could easily be passed over. My guess is a slight increase in salary and assigned to Utica as depth.
Vukojevic has another season to blow things up and become a valuable asset to NJ on the market by 24-25.
The Comets have Vuk, Vilen, Hatakka, and Wotherspoon under contract and I seriously believe the Devils will give Nemec more time in the AHL. He still needs work on his defensive game to be considered for time in the NHL. Playing him as a #7/8 would be foolish. The kid needs to play every day and take on much more responsibility. That's 5 and Groleau could conceivably fit in on the 3rd pair. Hayes is also RFA and has played a regular role since his arrival. At 23 I'd guess he is signed.
Russo is a UFA and I'd guess he moves on and another veteran would be signed to join Wotherspoon as the 2 veteran D-Men. That 2nd guy could be Walsh if he's willing.
One would hope the improvement of these prospects is much more significant if they are back here again.
