2022-23 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Triumph]

The NHL team is just fine on centers, they have Hughes, Hischier, Haula, Boqvist, McLeod, with Mercer and Sharangovich able to step in. The AHL team needs an upgrade there for sure, but they can make deals in season for a center.

NJ's minor league team has traditionally risen and fallen with the quality of the prospects. For whatever reason it doesn't seem the organization has historically signed good AHL players play top roles on the team. I can't recall Lamoriello or Shero bringing in top AHL players before Fitzgerald took over. What is the annual price tag for a top AHL center that isn't on an ELC with his NHL team? I'm curious if that is the issue. From a quick look at Capfriendly, there is Brian Pinho who is listed as a center. I imagine you've seen him and have a sense of whether he can fill a center role on the team. I presume that the team expects at least one of the prospects to be able to make the move to the middle. Maybe a guy like Dugan who looks to be a playmaker first? He's big enough and has had some AHL success with the Vegas affiliate. I agree with you this was a questionable decision on the part of NJ. You'd think they want to have a sure thing at first line center to play with Holtz if nothing else.

The Devils have typically not signed the cream of the crop AHL UFAs, guys who go to the All-Star game. They've almost never put guys on one-way contracts down there since Vanderbeek was flush, when they did it all the time (and the teams were awful anyway). But they have signed a lot of good AHL UFAs over the years, Ben Street was a pretty big get in that regard. Jim O'Brien signed here. Going back a lot farther, Steven Zalewski ended up in the organization. But yeah, the Devils organization over the years has been quite content to just run out whatever team they're going to put out there; they're not going to beef up the club with a ton of expensive veteran signings.

So yeah, I think they are hoping Dugan-Thompson is adequate and that Pinho can manage, I suspect they're wrong and might have to add in season.

 

[BurntToast]

Let’s not completely freak out. We still need to see if any PTO’s are going to be added to camp.

My belief is that the Comets should be better defensively, with most of the defense returning and the possibility of Nemec.

Plus, there was a lot of grief over goaltending last offseason and they played well until they got burnt out.

AJ Greer wasn’t moving the needle for anyone. His stats were OK, but he did well last year and now ppl are crying he is gone.

You have to have faith someone will step-up.

 

[Guadana]

Thompson, Pinho, Dugan, Schmelzer, Talvitie. Not fireworks and flashes of joy, but somehow you can live with it. Although I would not refuse one additional center. Perhaps closer to the training camp we will see the next candidates.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

NJ's minor league team has traditionally risen and fallen with the quality of the prospects. For whatever reason it doesn't seem the organization has historically signed good AHL players play top roles on the team. I can't recall Lamoriello or Shero bringing in top AHL players before Fitzgerald took over. What is the annual price tag for a top AHL center that isn't on an ELC with his NHL team? I'm curious if that is the issue. From a quick look at Capfriendly, there is Brian Pinho who is listed as a center. I imagine you've seen him and have a sense of whether he can fill a center role on the team. I presume that the team expects at least one of the prospects to be able to make the move to the middle. Maybe a guy like Dugan who looks to be a playmaker first? He's big enough and has had some AHL success with the Vegas affiliate. I agree with you this was a questionable decision on the part of NJ. You'd think they want to have a sure thing at first line center to play with Holtz if nothing else.

Just looking quickly at the rosters of Binghamton and Albany prior to Tom Fitzgerald taking over and the Devils frequently supplemented the AHL roster with tweener types. Guys like Joe Whitney, Paul Thompson and Bracken Kearns were among the club's leading scorers but spent little or no time with New Jersey.

 

[My3Sons]

Just looking quickly at the rosters of Binghamton and Albany prior to Tom Fitzgerald taking over and the Devils frequently supplemented the AHL roster with tweener types. Guys like Joe Whitney, Paul Thompson and Bracken Kearns were among the club's leading scorers but spent little or no time with New Jersey.

That’s three guys in how many years though? This current Utica team has a veteran defender or two but not much at forward. I don’t doubt they brought in one here or there but the general lack of success recently suggests to me they are relying on prospects. Maybe it’s just my bias.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

That’s three guys in how many years though? This current Utica team has a veteran defender or two but not much at forward. I don’t doubt they brought in one here or there but the general lack of success recently suggests to me they are relying on prospects. Maybe it’s just my bias.

Didn't look back further but I'm pretty sure going back to David Emma there were always career AHL guys.

I'd imagine before the season starts there will be 2-3 veteran signees similar to DeLeo and Russo last season.

I believe guys like Rocco Grimaldi and Kyle Rau are still unsigned.

 

[Triumph]

That’s three guys in how many years though? This current Utica team has a veteran defender or two but not much at forward. I don’t doubt they brought in one here or there but the general lack of success recently suggests to me they are relying on prospects. Maybe it’s just my bias.

They bring in a lot of guys. Gambardella, Pinho, and I guess Dugan are the 3 they have this year, last year's were Flynn, DeLeo, and Gambardella, 2020-21 was a weird year but they brought in Martel and St. Denis, year before that it was Street and Conner, 2019 it was Tangradi, then Kearns, Kennedy, and Latta, then Gibbons, Camper, and Sexton - you get the point. Most of these guys only stay for a year, they're seldom talked about in these threads because they're not prospects, everyone groans if they get a callup, but usually top AHL teams have several of these guys, and the Devils don't go after the top guys that often.

 

[Nubmer6]

Just looking quickly at the rosters of Binghamton and Albany prior to Tom Fitzgerald taking over and the Devils frequently supplemented the AHL roster with tweener types. Guys like Joe Whitney, Paul Thompson and Bracken Kearns were among the club's leading scorers but spent little or no time with New Jersey.

Don't forget Matt Ruchty! Man I loved that guy. I thought he was the heir apparent for Claude Lemeuix.

 

[Guttersniped]

This has been a very disappointing off-season so far in terms of minor league league signings. No other way to look at it.

1) We’ve spent money on minor league guys on the past.

2) I don’t give a shit about the past, not sure why that would get them a pass for being a second rate organization now.

I’m waiting until the off-season is closer to over to evaluate, teams are still making moves.

There aren’t amazing minor league guys left but they are some they could choose from to pick up that would make me feel better about this.

 

[nugg]

Logan Morrison would be tremendous. C'mon Mackinnon!

 

[Guadana]

Logan Morrison would be tremendous. C'mon Mackinnon!

Is he on the PTO with Dallas? Or I think about someone else?

 

[nugg]

Is he on the PTO with Dallas? Or I think about someone else?

He was in their development camp, but I think that was it. He's got one more season of junior eligibility, and I think that's where he's headed unless someone signs him. He would be our top center in Utica, I'm sure of it.

 

[Triumph]

He was in their development camp, but I think that was it. He's got one more season of junior eligibility, and I think that's where he's headed unless someone signs him. He would be our top center in Utica, I'm sure of it.

There's no way a player being passed over for a pro contract would be the top center in Utica.

 

[Guadana]

He was in their development camp, but I think that was it. He's got one more season of junior eligibility, and I think that's where he's headed unless someone signs him. He would be our top center in Utica, I'm sure of it.

I would say, its too early to say this, but he definitely could be regular center in Utica.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

I’m guessing the plan is for all of Holtz, Foote, Thompson, and Nemec (all waiver ineligible) to be in the AHL this year. Zetterlund and Boqvist get their NHL opportunity and if they get outplayed in camp and preseason, Fitz will have to trade them or else likely lose them on waivers.

With their development, hopefully better health, and Dugan, do the Comets still look competitive? My gut says yes but it’s notoriously unknowledgeable.

 

[Zippy316]

I’m guessing the plan is for all of Holtz, Foote, Thompson, and Nemec (all waiver ineligible) to be in the AHL this year. Zetterlund and Boqvist get their NHL opportunity and if they get outplayed in camp and preseason, Fitz will have to trade them or else likely lose them on waivers.

With their development, hopefully better health, and Dugan, do the Comets still look competitive? My gut says yes but it’s notoriously unknowledgeable.

On paper, goaltending and the strength on the wing should keep them competitive. Defense looks solid but definitely will be depleted quick if they lose two of Walsh, Wotherspoon, Bahl, or Okhoituk. The lack of center depth is going to be the biggest issue, it is really poor going into the year.

 

[nugg]

Logan Morrison is in the Prospect camp Traverse City? with Dallas. I think it's likely he's sticking with them in some capacity.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Watching the broadcast of the rookie game from last night now.

Half way through the second and unless I missed it Matt and Chico still haven't referenced last year's series between Utica and Rochester.

Imagine that has something to do with the edge after whistles.

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

Watching the broadcast of the rookie game from last night now.

Half way through the second and unless I missed it Matt and Chico still haven't referenced last year's series between Utica and Rochester.

Imagine that has something to do with the edge after whistles.

that makes a lot of sense, was wondering why it was so much chippier than the montreal game

 

[Devs3cups]

 

[Brodeur]

,,,,and I'll be grabbing one of those

 

[SKNJD9]

Yep, a Nemec Utica throw back is gonna have to happen

 

[Devils090]

Those are incredible

 

[aero8279]

At least they get the Utica jersey right lol...those look beyond awesome!

 

[Classic Devil]

I wish the green was black but damn, yes, those are good jerseys! Why can't we have those for New Jersey in place of the horrid nonsense we're currently stuck with?