2022-23 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
- Status
- Apr 20, 2005
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What’s going on with Mittens. I thought he did ok when called up last year.
Edit: seeing that Mittens is injured. Yikes. Challenging times.
11/18/2022
Utica Comets (3-5-1-1) @ Rochester Americans (7-4-1-1)
Forwards:
Foote/Thompson/Senyshen
Dugan/Schmelzer/Johnsson
Laberge/Stevens/Halonen
Gambardella/Talvitie//Clarke
D-Pairs:
Groleau/Walsh
Wotherspoon/Nemec
Okhotiuk/Russo
Goal - Russo
Scratches:
Vukojevic
Blujus
Hutchison
Pinho (inj)
Geertsen (Suspended)
Poulter (Backup)
Malcom Subban in net for the Amerks
Utica Comets (3-5-1-1) @ Rochester Americans (7-4-1-1)
Forwards:
Foote/Thompson/Senyshen
Dugan/Schmelzer/Johnsson
Laberge/Stevens/Halonen
Gambardella/Talvitie//Clarke
D-Pairs:
Groleau/Walsh
Wotherspoon/Nemec
Okhotiuk/Russo
Goal - Russo
Scratches:
Vukojevic
Blujus
Hutchison
Pinho (inj)
Geertsen (Suspended)
Poulter (Backup)
Malcom Subban in net for the Amerks
Last edited:
Dugan (2) from Johnsson (8) and Walsh (5)
23 seconds later
Rochester goal by Michael Mersch
1-1
1st ends 1-1
SOG:
7-6 Utica
23 seconds later
Rochester goal by Michael Mersch
1-1
1st ends 1-1
SOG:
7-6 Utica
Comets forwards do not know how to seek open ice on the rush. If 3 guys come in 3 across, with defenders in between, nobody breaks off the the 3 across. There is NO PASS available through defenders. Nobody drops off to become a candidate for a pass back. Nobody tries to get behind the defenders. he puck carrier doesn't alter his path, change speeds, nothing. Ultimately they either force a pass across that doesn't connect and possession changes or a new battle for puck control ensues - no offesnsive threat from the rush. or They force a feeble shot that's blocked or deflected off net or shot goes way wide or easy stop by the keeper. Nothing comes form possession entering the offensive zone because the puck carrier has no options. It's really frustrating to watch guys at this level who are poor puck handlers, poor passers, or worse yet attempt so many DUMB efforts which reveal very low hockey IQs. So many turnovers due to so few available options.
2nd underway and less than 2 minutes in the Amerks score again.
We see this occur so often with the Comets. Goals scored against in the 1st couple of minutes or the last couple in a period. A good number of goals against come directly off a faceoff. Their defense after losing a faceoff is weak at best. The normal things teams have specific rules to follow when certain hockey events happen every game seem to be completely absent from the Comets game plans.
Comets offense seems to be exercise your best guesses at the time. Dineen actually said they don't actually practice an offensive system. He doesn't block their indiviuality or improvisation.
OK lets a long wrist shot go and Subbna just blew it.
G-o-o-o-o-a-a-a-a-L
2-2
This game is far from pretty .
We see this occur so often with the Comets. Goals scored against in the 1st couple of minutes or the last couple in a period. A good number of goals against come directly off a faceoff. Their defense after losing a faceoff is weak at best. The normal things teams have specific rules to follow when certain hockey events happen every game seem to be completely absent from the Comets game plans.
Comets offense seems to be exercise your best guesses at the time. Dineen actually said they don't actually practice an offensive system. He doesn't block their indiviuality or improvisation.
OK lets a long wrist shot go and Subbna just blew it.
G-o-o-o-o-a-a-a-a-L
2-2
This game is far from pretty .
Foote cannot handle a pass cleanly. He keeps getting passes in the low slot and he consistently flubs them.
I'm on record saying if he plays this way game in and game out, his goal or assist here and there down here won't put him in the AHL. He has to be a major factor that other teams have to figure out how to stop. Such a player has never appeared.
The other guy expected to become a Devil is Thompson. 1 on 1 he fails almost every time.
When he gets in for a shot he is not finishing. He also is having a tough time handling the puck.
Daws is keeping the Comets in this hockey game. The efforts the Amerks are exerting against him are high danger attempts. The saves Subban is making are not of the same quality since the Comets are not challenging him with high quality shots.
I'm on record saying if he plays this way game in and game out, his goal or assist here and there down here won't put him in the AHL. He has to be a major factor that other teams have to figure out how to stop. Such a player has never appeared.
The other guy expected to become a Devil is Thompson. 1 on 1 he fails almost every time.
When he gets in for a shot he is not finishing. He also is having a tough time handling the puck.
Daws is keeping the Comets in this hockey game. The efforts the Amerks are exerting against him are high danger attempts. The saves Subban is making are not of the same quality since the Comets are not challenging him with high quality shots.
Foote is earning his keep by blocking shots in his own end.
Man, the Amerks are allowed to skate all over the ice unmolested in all 3 zones.
WTF is the defensive scheme? It appears to be let them do what they want. They have to get to our net to score and we'll meet them there. This pretty much eliminates creating turnovers in the other 2 zones. It greatly limits their number of offensive thrusts. It's up the ice, get a shot (not necessarily on net), getit blocked, shoot it wide, turn it over, etc, and then it's back to their own end until the next time.
End of 2 tied 2-2.
SOG:
12-10 Amerks
2-period total: 1
8-17 Rochester.
Man, the Amerks are allowed to skate all over the ice unmolested in all 3 zones.
WTF is the defensive scheme? It appears to be let them do what they want. They have to get to our net to score and we'll meet them there. This pretty much eliminates creating turnovers in the other 2 zones. It greatly limits their number of offensive thrusts. It's up the ice, get a shot (not necessarily on net), getit blocked, shoot it wide, turn it over, etc, and then it's back to their own end until the next time.
End of 2 tied 2-2.
SOG:
12-10 Amerks
2-period total: 1
8-17 Rochester.
2 great chances for the Amerks in the first 1/2 minute.
Amerk, like other opponents, have different gears. They can crank it up, coast, go hard, ease up, and go again. Utica just plods along at the same pace and take whatever happens.
Comets 3 terrible turnovers in the first 2 minutes.
Amerk, like other opponents, have different gears. They can crank it up, coast, go hard, ease up, and go again. Utica just plods along at the same pace and take whatever happens.
Comets 3 terrible turnovers in the first 2 minutes.
Daws has been unreal in the first 3+ minutes and now the Comets get their 3rd PP against none for the Amerks.
Comets PP is so slow, perimeter oriented, little player movement, and rarely dangerous.
Comets PP is so slow, perimeter oriented, little player movement, and rarely dangerous.
Comets to the PK. It had to come.
Amerks 6th best PP in the league.
Utica 25th in the AHL on the PK.
Comets kill it. Credit where it's due.
Amerks 6th best PP in the league.
Utica 25th in the AHL on the PK.
Comets kill it. Credit where it's due.
Amerks are baiting after every faceoff. Comets need to back off.
W_________O___________W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thompson pots a rebound from in close off a long point shot by Walsh.
3-2 Comets
6 on 5
W_________O___________W !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thompson pots a rebound from in close off a long point shot by Walsh.
3-2 Comets
6 on 5
Last edited:
1 minute to go.
Gambardella in 1 on 1 and his shot is blocked.
It's over.
Comets win 3-2
All kinds of scrums now. It breaks up and that's it.
Back to Utica and it starts all over again with these 2 going at it again tomorrow night at 7.
Gambardella in 1 on 1 and his shot is blocked.
It's over.
Comets win 3-2
All kinds of scrums now. It breaks up and that's it.
Back to Utica and it starts all over again with these 2 going at it again tomorrow night at 7.
sabremike
#1 Tageaholic
Final score Utica 3 Rochester 2
SOG:
Comets - 7 10 8 > 25
Amerks - 6 12 8 > 26
PP:
Comets - 0/3
Amerks - 0/1
Dugan (2) from Jonhsson (8) and Walsh (5)
Okhotiuk (1) from Russo (4) and Halonen (3)
Thompson (3) from Walsh (6)
Daws - 20/22
3 Stars
1 Tyce Thompson (Utica Comets) 1G
2 Michael Mersch (Rochester Americans) 1g/1A
3 Reilly Walsh (Utica Comets) 2A
SOG:
Comets - 7 10 8 > 25
Amerks - 6 12 8 > 26
PP:
Comets - 0/3
Amerks - 0/1
Dugan (2) from Jonhsson (8) and Walsh (5)
Okhotiuk (1) from Russo (4) and Halonen (3)
Thompson (3) from Walsh (6)
Daws - 20/22
3 Stars
1 Tyce Thompson (Utica Comets) 1G
2 Michael Mersch (Rochester Americans) 1g/1A
3 Reilly Walsh (Utica Comets) 2A
nugg
NJ Hammerhead Bats!
sabremike
#1 Tageaholic
Saturday, 11/19/22
Rochester Americans @ Utica Comets
Final Score -
Rochester 3 Utica 2
Forwards:
25 Foote/28 Pinho/12 Thompson
15 Gambardella/21 Stevens/10 Dugan
79 Laberge/91 Hutchison/24 Halonen
11 Johnsson/26 Schmelzer/90 Senyshen
D-Pairs:
82 Okhotiuk/5 Russo
23 Wotherspoon/7 Nemec
2 Vukojevic/22 Walsh
Goal - 50 Daws
Scratches (all healthy):
CLARKE
Talvitie
Groleau
Blujus
Geertsen (2nd of a 6-game suspension)
Pinho (8) from Foote (4) and Johnsson (9)
Hutchison (2) from Halonen (4) and Laberge (2)
That lineup is the best the Comets can ice player wise. The exception may be adding Clarke back into the fray. He was a healthy scratch and probably for good reason, 12 GP 1G/4A 5Pts.
He has played most games with a good opposite winger (Gambardella-Centered by Stevens, Johnsson [3] with Stevens and Thompson for 2. He managed 1 point.
Then all of a sudden he was with Laberge and Schmelzer, but he recorded 2 points.
Next game he was only with Schmelaer on a broken line with the Comets skating 11 forwards.
Then he found himself on the 4th line with Laberge centered by Talvitie.
Then sunk another level with Geersten and Stevens for 2 games.
Then he was put on lines with better mates Foote for 2, Johnsson for 1, and Gambardella for 1. The result was still the same, 0 points.
His passing has become poor. He flubs passes to him. He is often out of position and commits horrible turnovers. He just seems out of sorts. He got scratched.
Now, this description could be used to describe almost every forward on the Comets. Those less guilty would only be Schmelzer and Johnsson. You can see the lineup above. It is not a good AHL lineup as far as forwards are concerned. With the exception of the 8-3 drubbing by Syracuse which was 8-1 after 2 periods and the Crunch let up on the gas for the 3rd, the Comets have been in low scoring games because the D and the keepers (discount the 2 Poulter played (he wasn't all bad in his first start either) are AHL quality or better.
The Devils' forward prospects still on the farm don't look anything like NHL prospects. Even when Dineen has put them together, the results have been meh.
Just as simple examples:
- Johnsson has played 9 games and has 11 points and it hasn't seemed to matter who he skates with, points still come.
- Pinho was acquired to help the team with scoring. He is supposed to be the missing #1 center. He has 11 points in 11 GP. 8 of those points are goals. A #1 center with only 3 assists when his wings have mostly been the best the team has to offer in Thompson, Foote, Johnsson, and Senyshen (Dineen's effort to reconstruct Senyshen, which seems to have been determined a lost cause before NJ ever gave him a chance).
The best wings results:
- Johnsson - 11 GP 2G/9A/ 11Pts 1.38 PPG
- Foote - 13 GP 5G/4A/ 9Pts 0.69 PPG
- Thompson - 9 GP 3G/3A 6Pts 0.67 PPG
- Senyshen (AHL contract) - 13 GP 2G/2A/ 4Pts 0.31 PPG
The rest of the NJ contracts:
- Pinho - 11 GP 8G/3A 11Pts 1.00 PPG
- Dugan - 13 GP 2G(1EN)/4A 6Pts .46 PPG
- Halonen - 13 GP 3G/4A/ 7Pts 0.54 PPG
- Clarke - 12 GP 1G/4A/ 5Pts 0.42 PPG
- Talvitie - 11 GP 0G/2A/ 2Pts 0.18 PPG
- Geersten - 11 GP 0G/1A/ 1PT 0.09 PPG
- Gambardella - 4 GP 0G/0A/ 0Pts 0.00 PPG (Played the 1st 2 games. Was out with a medical issue until this weekend. Played these 2 games like he was carrying 25 pounds of rust. He will improve.
Let's look at last year's players who are no longer here.
- Deleo (C) (A LW who played center for a major portion of the season) - 55 GP 21G/35A 56Pts 1.02 PPG More assists than goals like most centers.
- Zetterlund - 58 GP 24G/28A 52Pts .90 PPG
- Greer - 53 GP 22G/30A 52Pts .98 PPG
- Holtz - 52 GP 26G/25A 51Pts .98 PPG
- Gauthier (C) - 51 GP 8G/24A 32Pts .63PPG look at his assists compared to goals. That's what a #3C's numbers should reflect. Add in his +17 on the checking line and this guy was right on the mark.
- Schnarr (C) - 43 GP 13G/13A 26 Pts .60 PPG Then traded.
- Studenic - 13 GP 5G/5A 10 Pts .77 PPG before being claimed off waivers.
What did NJ do to replace the core of the Comets? Let's compare. look mat the stats above
Deleo vs Pinho Maybe in points.
Greer vs Senyshen? No! No. Johnsson is expected to pick up a lot of those points, but he has been a playmaker much more than a goal scorer which is sorely needed.
Holtz vs Dugan? HA HA HA
Zetterlund vs Halonen? NOT a chance.
Gauthier vs Stevens? Not even worth a conversation.
Schnarr vs Hutchinson? Same quote as the last.
Studenic vs Geersten? Not applicable.
Obviously they expected returning prospects to improve off last season combined with a couple new acquisitions to make the above replacements.
Deleo (LW/C) vs Pinho (RW/C) He is puttting up points at the same rate, but is not helping his linemates also put up points which Deleo did on a nightly basis.
Greer (LW) vs Foote - It's not even a contest. Also the leadership qualities Greer brought to the table are absent completely from this season's roster. He tends to be selfish with the puck. Schmelzer is the best leader, but he is no Greer or Deleo.
Holtz RW vs Thompson (RW) - Thompson hasn't shown himself to be the prolific goal scorer/playmaker Holtz was. In his short stint with the Comets last season, Thompson benefited from having a couple or at least one of Deleo, Holtz, Zetterlund, and Greer on the ice when he racked up his points.. He is struggling without them having to go it alone more often than not.
Zetterlund (RW) vs Johnsson(RW?LW) - Johnsson is expected to pick up a lot of those points, but he has been a playmaker much more than a goal scorer which is sorely needed. The Comets also can't count on him to be here for the season. The way the prospects are playing, he's still the best choice for any forward callups except centers. There isn't one center here that can help NJ. They will have to help themselves if replacements are needed at center and fill in the spot they vacated with replacement wings.
Gauthier vs Schmelzer - Schmelzer is nowhere near Gauthier in the faceoff dot. He is the top PK center like Gauthier was. He is a good defensive center and would be good on the checking line, but due to the center weakness this team suffers, he is playing in the #2 slot way too much and he is often left treading water there rather than excelling.
Schnarr vs Stevens/Hutchinson - Neither Stevens nor Hutchinson could carry Nate's equipment bag off the bus for him. They are bottom line centers and are way over their heads trying to play any higher in the lineup.
Studenic vs Senyshen/Clarke - All we would be asking for here is a hard skating, board battling, hard forechecking forward who knows where the net is and isn't afraid to go there as often as possible every game. Neither of these guys fits that bill.
The only ones even coming close in the above comparisons are Schmelzer (#3C, but more often the #2C, which is not good) and Pinho (point wise), but not setting up his mates.
Much of this roster is filler material for any good AHL team, not every game players. Who do I mean?
Hutchison - Has been and always should be an ECHL/AHL tweener. He has been a 2/3 line center with the Comets.
Stevens - This guy should never see duty above the 3rd line.
Talvitie - Aarne is what he is, a 4th line center.
Geersten - The Goon does absolutely nothing every shift. When it ends he glares at somebody who may have been a little out of line, gets into someones face, pushes and shoves guys while he and they are on the way to their benches, yaps at guys, yaps at their bench, but makes no actual hockey contributions that his line might benefit from during the entire shift.
Senyshen - He has flashes, but not enough to fill a top 6 position on a regular basis.
Dugan - He's in the same boat as Senyshen at the moment. Very unimpressive.
To put it bluntly there are no players on this team the quality of Holtz, Zetterlund, Deleo, Greer, Gauthier. The best they have are below the talent level of these 5 in their specific roles. The best they have are struggling to put pucks in the net on a nightly basis and that's not just my opinion. The Comets are dead last in the AHL in goals scored with 33. They rank tied for 6th in goals against with 39. If they could score at an AHL average level of 48 they would be in much better shape Especially when you consider that of their 6 losses 3 have been by a single goal, 2 by 2 goals, and 2 more were 1 OT loss and another a SO loss that went 11 rounds in which they only scored 1 goal. Thus those last 2 losses were also by 1 goal. 8 total losses 5 by a single goal and 2 by 2 goals (1 of which that 2nd of the 2 goal margin was into an empty net. Only in the 8-3 loss to Syracuse were they out of the game.
Their PP is 29th in the league having scored 9 goals on their 46 opportunities. 1 better than IOWA and San Jose behind them with 8 and Chicago on the bottom with 7.
Their PK is ranked #21 percentage wise at 75.7%. They have only surrendered 9 goals, but have only been shorthanded 37 times which is 2nd in the league. So, they don't take a lot of penalties, but give up goals more often than they should.
The failure of NJ to provide their farm with 2 AHL level centers and a couple extra proven scorers has left this team with very little chance of being better than a bubble team and currently that possibility looks slim.
That's the last comparison to last season I will make the rest of the season. The proof is currently in the pudding. If this team should make some miracle run and end up in much better shape than today without significant changes in the lineup, I will roast the crow.
Rochester Americans @ Utica Comets
Final Score -
Rochester 3 Utica 2
Forwards:
25 Foote/28 Pinho/12 Thompson
15 Gambardella/21 Stevens/10 Dugan
79 Laberge/91 Hutchison/24 Halonen
11 Johnsson/26 Schmelzer/90 Senyshen
D-Pairs:
82 Okhotiuk/5 Russo
23 Wotherspoon/7 Nemec
2 Vukojevic/22 Walsh
Goal - 50 Daws
Scratches (all healthy):
CLARKE
Talvitie
Groleau
Blujus
Geertsen (2nd of a 6-game suspension)
Pinho (8) from Foote (4) and Johnsson (9)
Hutchison (2) from Halonen (4) and Laberge (2)
That lineup is the best the Comets can ice player wise. The exception may be adding Clarke back into the fray. He was a healthy scratch and probably for good reason, 12 GP 1G/4A 5Pts.
He has played most games with a good opposite winger (Gambardella-Centered by Stevens, Johnsson [3] with Stevens and Thompson for 2. He managed 1 point.
Then all of a sudden he was with Laberge and Schmelzer, but he recorded 2 points.
Next game he was only with Schmelaer on a broken line with the Comets skating 11 forwards.
Then he found himself on the 4th line with Laberge centered by Talvitie.
Then sunk another level with Geersten and Stevens for 2 games.
Then he was put on lines with better mates Foote for 2, Johnsson for 1, and Gambardella for 1. The result was still the same, 0 points.
His passing has become poor. He flubs passes to him. He is often out of position and commits horrible turnovers. He just seems out of sorts. He got scratched.
Now, this description could be used to describe almost every forward on the Comets. Those less guilty would only be Schmelzer and Johnsson. You can see the lineup above. It is not a good AHL lineup as far as forwards are concerned. With the exception of the 8-3 drubbing by Syracuse which was 8-1 after 2 periods and the Crunch let up on the gas for the 3rd, the Comets have been in low scoring games because the D and the keepers (discount the 2 Poulter played (he wasn't all bad in his first start either) are AHL quality or better.
The Devils' forward prospects still on the farm don't look anything like NHL prospects. Even when Dineen has put them together, the results have been meh.
Just as simple examples:
- Johnsson has played 9 games and has 11 points and it hasn't seemed to matter who he skates with, points still come.
- Pinho was acquired to help the team with scoring. He is supposed to be the missing #1 center. He has 11 points in 11 GP. 8 of those points are goals. A #1 center with only 3 assists when his wings have mostly been the best the team has to offer in Thompson, Foote, Johnsson, and Senyshen (Dineen's effort to reconstruct Senyshen, which seems to have been determined a lost cause before NJ ever gave him a chance).
The best wings results:
- Johnsson - 11 GP 2G/9A/ 11Pts 1.38 PPG
- Foote - 13 GP 5G/4A/ 9Pts 0.69 PPG
- Thompson - 9 GP 3G/3A 6Pts 0.67 PPG
- Senyshen (AHL contract) - 13 GP 2G/2A/ 4Pts 0.31 PPG
The rest of the NJ contracts:
- Pinho - 11 GP 8G/3A 11Pts 1.00 PPG
- Dugan - 13 GP 2G(1EN)/4A 6Pts .46 PPG
- Halonen - 13 GP 3G/4A/ 7Pts 0.54 PPG
- Clarke - 12 GP 1G/4A/ 5Pts 0.42 PPG
- Talvitie - 11 GP 0G/2A/ 2Pts 0.18 PPG
- Geersten - 11 GP 0G/1A/ 1PT 0.09 PPG
- Gambardella - 4 GP 0G/0A/ 0Pts 0.00 PPG (Played the 1st 2 games. Was out with a medical issue until this weekend. Played these 2 games like he was carrying 25 pounds of rust. He will improve.
Let's look at last year's players who are no longer here.
- Deleo (C) (A LW who played center for a major portion of the season) - 55 GP 21G/35A 56Pts 1.02 PPG More assists than goals like most centers.
- Zetterlund - 58 GP 24G/28A 52Pts .90 PPG
- Greer - 53 GP 22G/30A 52Pts .98 PPG
- Holtz - 52 GP 26G/25A 51Pts .98 PPG
- Gauthier (C) - 51 GP 8G/24A 32Pts .63PPG look at his assists compared to goals. That's what a #3C's numbers should reflect. Add in his +17 on the checking line and this guy was right on the mark.
- Schnarr (C) - 43 GP 13G/13A 26 Pts .60 PPG Then traded.
- Studenic - 13 GP 5G/5A 10 Pts .77 PPG before being claimed off waivers.
What did NJ do to replace the core of the Comets? Let's compare. look mat the stats above
Deleo vs Pinho Maybe in points.
Greer vs Senyshen? No! No. Johnsson is expected to pick up a lot of those points, but he has been a playmaker much more than a goal scorer which is sorely needed.
Holtz vs Dugan? HA HA HA
Zetterlund vs Halonen? NOT a chance.
Gauthier vs Stevens? Not even worth a conversation.
Schnarr vs Hutchinson? Same quote as the last.
Studenic vs Geersten? Not applicable.
Obviously they expected returning prospects to improve off last season combined with a couple new acquisitions to make the above replacements.
Deleo (LW/C) vs Pinho (RW/C) He is puttting up points at the same rate, but is not helping his linemates also put up points which Deleo did on a nightly basis.
Greer (LW) vs Foote - It's not even a contest. Also the leadership qualities Greer brought to the table are absent completely from this season's roster. He tends to be selfish with the puck. Schmelzer is the best leader, but he is no Greer or Deleo.
Holtz RW vs Thompson (RW) - Thompson hasn't shown himself to be the prolific goal scorer/playmaker Holtz was. In his short stint with the Comets last season, Thompson benefited from having a couple or at least one of Deleo, Holtz, Zetterlund, and Greer on the ice when he racked up his points.. He is struggling without them having to go it alone more often than not.
Zetterlund (RW) vs Johnsson(RW?LW) - Johnsson is expected to pick up a lot of those points, but he has been a playmaker much more than a goal scorer which is sorely needed. The Comets also can't count on him to be here for the season. The way the prospects are playing, he's still the best choice for any forward callups except centers. There isn't one center here that can help NJ. They will have to help themselves if replacements are needed at center and fill in the spot they vacated with replacement wings.
Gauthier vs Schmelzer - Schmelzer is nowhere near Gauthier in the faceoff dot. He is the top PK center like Gauthier was. He is a good defensive center and would be good on the checking line, but due to the center weakness this team suffers, he is playing in the #2 slot way too much and he is often left treading water there rather than excelling.
Schnarr vs Stevens/Hutchinson - Neither Stevens nor Hutchinson could carry Nate's equipment bag off the bus for him. They are bottom line centers and are way over their heads trying to play any higher in the lineup.
Studenic vs Senyshen/Clarke - All we would be asking for here is a hard skating, board battling, hard forechecking forward who knows where the net is and isn't afraid to go there as often as possible every game. Neither of these guys fits that bill.
The only ones even coming close in the above comparisons are Schmelzer (#3C, but more often the #2C, which is not good) and Pinho (point wise), but not setting up his mates.
Much of this roster is filler material for any good AHL team, not every game players. Who do I mean?
Hutchison - Has been and always should be an ECHL/AHL tweener. He has been a 2/3 line center with the Comets.
Stevens - This guy should never see duty above the 3rd line.
Talvitie - Aarne is what he is, a 4th line center.
Geersten - The Goon does absolutely nothing every shift. When it ends he glares at somebody who may have been a little out of line, gets into someones face, pushes and shoves guys while he and they are on the way to their benches, yaps at guys, yaps at their bench, but makes no actual hockey contributions that his line might benefit from during the entire shift.
Senyshen - He has flashes, but not enough to fill a top 6 position on a regular basis.
Dugan - He's in the same boat as Senyshen at the moment. Very unimpressive.
To put it bluntly there are no players on this team the quality of Holtz, Zetterlund, Deleo, Greer, Gauthier. The best they have are below the talent level of these 5 in their specific roles. The best they have are struggling to put pucks in the net on a nightly basis and that's not just my opinion. The Comets are dead last in the AHL in goals scored with 33. They rank tied for 6th in goals against with 39. If they could score at an AHL average level of 48 they would be in much better shape Especially when you consider that of their 6 losses 3 have been by a single goal, 2 by 2 goals, and 2 more were 1 OT loss and another a SO loss that went 11 rounds in which they only scored 1 goal. Thus those last 2 losses were also by 1 goal. 8 total losses 5 by a single goal and 2 by 2 goals (1 of which that 2nd of the 2 goal margin was into an empty net. Only in the 8-3 loss to Syracuse were they out of the game.
Their PP is 29th in the league having scored 9 goals on their 46 opportunities. 1 better than IOWA and San Jose behind them with 8 and Chicago on the bottom with 7.
Their PK is ranked #21 percentage wise at 75.7%. They have only surrendered 9 goals, but have only been shorthanded 37 times which is 2nd in the league. So, they don't take a lot of penalties, but give up goals more often than they should.
The failure of NJ to provide their farm with 2 AHL level centers and a couple extra proven scorers has left this team with very little chance of being better than a bubble team and currently that possibility looks slim.
That's the last comparison to last season I will make the rest of the season. The proof is currently in the pudding. If this team should make some miracle run and end up in much better shape than today without significant changes in the lineup, I will roast the crow.
Mgd31
Registered User
So many legends in the bottom photo.
Seems like someone before now would have posted in the Utica thread that NJ finally woke up and sent the 2 top prospects not playing for them to Utica where they can get some much needed game time.
The season is 40 days old. The Devils have played 19 games of which Holtz has played 4 averaging 10:35 of ice time and his last game played was on October 25th. Tomorrow will likely be his first game in 29 days.
Kevin Bahl has only played 3 games of the 19 averaging 10:27 of ice time and his last game was on October 24th. Tomorrow will likely be his first game in 30 days.
This is the way a team's last roster forward or D-man is used. He is most often a veteran who can fill a role in an emergency, but sittting for extended periods of time in the press box doesn't matter. The team knows what it's got and isn't counting on him improving to become a regular.
This is the last way you develop the top 2 guys under contract not yet PLAYING on the roster.
Holtz is 20 in his 2nd professional season. Last year he was among the AHL's elite rookies. His 26 goals were 2 behind the top rookie's 28. Holtz put up his 26 in only 51 games while JJ Peterka needed 70 games to net his 28. Alex played half that season at 19 not turning 20 until Jan 23rd. He is still only 20 and will be 2 for 2 more months. This player is still a kid. If the Devils are not going to play him on some form of regular basis he should be in the AHL continuing to build on his game.
Bahl is 22 and is in his 3rd professional season with the first being the fiasco COVID season. He has established himself as NHL capable, but Ruff is obviously going to play Brendan Smith no matter what. Okay, if that's how it's going to be, Bahl belongs in the AHL taking a regular shift as a top member of the Comets D-corps.
I have been discussing the usage of these 2 with several Comets' fans for the entire season. We have come to a mutual thought on the following.
If you look at the player transactions between a majority of NHL teams and their farms there is a common thread. Their top prospects not on the regular roster are on escalators. They go up for home games with the big club and when they have down time, the prospects go play games with the farm. It happens on a regular basis.
The Devils play 3 to 4 houes from here depending on the time of day one travels and the speed driven. It would be so simple to run this kind of system. Instead the Devils chose to keep these guys in the pressbox on a regular basis. If the streak was so important that the lineup couldn't be dickered with, so be it, but send the kids down so they can play. Pull up Groleau and let him sit in the rafters. He gets some extra cash and returns to Uitca after 0 chance of playing. Hell, Wotherspoon is under contract let him sit a game. Do a full D-corps rotation of the contracted players if that makes you happier. This system gives Bahl playing time on a regualr basis, but still keeps him moving in and out of NJ. If they want him to be on hand for Road trips, take him along.
Holtz can be used the exact same way. Clarke and Talvitie, can also sit in the press box and then get back to Utica.
These guys can't play in the game anyways no matter what happens on the ice until the next game. So, if an injury happened and Holtz or Bahl are needed they get there by tomorrow. Home and away games based on the 2 teams' schedules determines how Bahl and Holtz are shuttled back and forth.
It doesn't matter if NJ wants to enact this procedure to get them games, but they must get these guys on a
regular game schedule. If it means they are Comets for the immediate future so be it. If they stay in NJ and don't play anymore often than they have so far, there is no better way to alter the development of young players than to not let them play lots of games. Then when they finally get a start, they will not be up to game
standards and not look good. The people who have said all along that they don't have it will be boasting about how they told us so. They won't have a clue if what they believed is true if the kids never got the chance to develop properly. Even if NJ wants to trade them, their value won't be worth much if there is no resume to use for proof of their worth.
The season is 40 days old. The Devils have played 19 games of which Holtz has played 4 averaging 10:35 of ice time and his last game played was on October 25th. Tomorrow will likely be his first game in 29 days.
Kevin Bahl has only played 3 games of the 19 averaging 10:27 of ice time and his last game was on October 24th. Tomorrow will likely be his first game in 30 days.
This is the way a team's last roster forward or D-man is used. He is most often a veteran who can fill a role in an emergency, but sittting for extended periods of time in the press box doesn't matter. The team knows what it's got and isn't counting on him improving to become a regular.
This is the last way you develop the top 2 guys under contract not yet PLAYING on the roster.
Holtz is 20 in his 2nd professional season. Last year he was among the AHL's elite rookies. His 26 goals were 2 behind the top rookie's 28. Holtz put up his 26 in only 51 games while JJ Peterka needed 70 games to net his 28. Alex played half that season at 19 not turning 20 until Jan 23rd. He is still only 20 and will be 2 for 2 more months. This player is still a kid. If the Devils are not going to play him on some form of regular basis he should be in the AHL continuing to build on his game.
Bahl is 22 and is in his 3rd professional season with the first being the fiasco COVID season. He has established himself as NHL capable, but Ruff is obviously going to play Brendan Smith no matter what. Okay, if that's how it's going to be, Bahl belongs in the AHL taking a regular shift as a top member of the Comets D-corps.
I have been discussing the usage of these 2 with several Comets' fans for the entire season. We have come to a mutual thought on the following.
If you look at the player transactions between a majority of NHL teams and their farms there is a common thread. Their top prospects not on the regular roster are on escalators. They go up for home games with the big club and when they have down time, the prospects go play games with the farm. It happens on a regular basis.
The Devils play 3 to 4 houes from here depending on the time of day one travels and the speed driven. It would be so simple to run this kind of system. Instead the Devils chose to keep these guys in the pressbox on a regular basis. If the streak was so important that the lineup couldn't be dickered with, so be it, but send the kids down so they can play. Pull up Groleau and let him sit in the rafters. He gets some extra cash and returns to Uitca after 0 chance of playing. Hell, Wotherspoon is under contract let him sit a game. Do a full D-corps rotation of the contracted players if that makes you happier. This system gives Bahl playing time on a regualr basis, but still keeps him moving in and out of NJ. If they want him to be on hand for Road trips, take him along.
Holtz can be used the exact same way. Clarke and Talvitie, can also sit in the press box and then get back to Utica.
These guys can't play in the game anyways no matter what happens on the ice until the next game. So, if an injury happened and Holtz or Bahl are needed they get there by tomorrow. Home and away games based on the 2 teams' schedules determines how Bahl and Holtz are shuttled back and forth.
It doesn't matter if NJ wants to enact this procedure to get them games, but they must get these guys on a
regular game schedule. If it means they are Comets for the immediate future so be it. If they stay in NJ and don't play anymore often than they have so far, there is no better way to alter the development of young players than to not let them play lots of games. Then when they finally get a start, they will not be up to game
standards and not look good. The people who have said all along that they don't have it will be boasting about how they told us so. They won't have a clue if what they believed is true if the kids never got the chance to develop properly. Even if NJ wants to trade them, their value won't be worth much if there is no resume to use for proof of their worth.
UticaHockey
Registered User
The Devils are down to 20 players on their roster so it is save to say that 2 Comets will be heading to New Jersey today. Any guess as to who will replace Holtz and Bahl for press box duty?
Classic Devil
Spirit of 1988
I actually think the answer might be no one. We've got a stretch of home games, with the only away game being in Buffalo. Right now we're not using the depth anyway. So, barring an injury (which would mean Holtz or Bahl come back), I don't think we're going to recall anyone.
Classic Devil
Spirit of 1988
- Status
