EXTRAS
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- Jul 31, 2012
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Noticed laberge now has 6 points in 10 games. Maybe the devils management is onto something and he will be an effective 4th liner.
2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
DevilsHughes86
Dance with the Devil
At least someone in this organization is stopping shots right now!!
UticaHockey
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I like Sam. He worked hard to turn himself from an ECHL/AHL tweener to a solid AHL 4th liner. I just don't think he skates well enough for that to translate into the same roll in the NHL.
At the NHL level?
I'm always open to the possibility of a guy growing as a player later on in his career, but at 26, I need to see more then OK results over a 10 game AHL stretch before I get hopeful.
Doesn't help that in his call up he barely played.
barriers
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- Feb 10, 2020
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A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
- Oct 17, 2010
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Doesn't this mean he's been practicing and he's ready to play? Anyone think he starts tonight?
UticaHockey
Registered User
Yes, Daws has been practicing with the Comets for a while so this should mean he is cleared to play now.
Great! Three goalies is surely the way to go. Kallgren can't go to Adirondack unless he okays it since he is on a NJ 2-way. That would mean if they decide to go with 2 that their best keeper all season, Isaac Poulter, gets sent down. He has been the brightest spot on the roster. Would shit the bed for the kid.
Comets have also recalled Erik Middendorf and Jace Isley from Adsirondack meaning someone unannounced is hurt.
Fitzgerald and Criscuolo were missing their 3rd consecutive games.
Dowling and Stillman were also scratched last game. That forced the Comets to go with 11 forwards. Dowling and Stillman both played on Saturday, but were scratched for the 12:30 game on Sunday. There was not time to bring anyone in thus, the Comets went 11 forwards.
That's 4 forwards missing. If none return that would mean one of Isley and Middendorf would have to be in the lineup if Dineen wants to have 4 lines. If there is yet another forward than the 4 mentioned that was injured in the last game, both would be in. IDineen has been very hesitant to add "Thunder" players to his lineup if there was any way to avoid it and that would include skating 11 forwards instead.
Adirondack is 108.6 miles away miles away. That's less than a 2-hour drive. He has known in advance during preparation for recent home games that his game lineup would be short a player. Rather than call up a "Thunder" player he went with 11 forwards.
Guess I'll find out for certain within the next 2 hours.
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UticaHockey
Registered User
I think they will keep three goalies here for now. With Daws coming off hip surgery they will probably want to manage his workload for now. Plus Adirondack has three goalies on their roster and don't need a fourth.
Agree with the 3 goalies for now. My point was if and when they decide to go with 2 the results would be as I pointed out. There is no way you can keep 3 guys game ready.
Kallgren has rarely been ready in the 2-man system as it is. He's been yanked twice, has a 4.27 GAA, an .851 SV%, and a 1-5-2 record. He's been playing behind the same players as Poulter and Isaac has been playing much better.
Add a 3rd keeper to the mix and it's more than likely that they are all going to suffer unless Dineen hangs one of them in the closet other than practice.
Daws is coming off a major surgery and one that can hamper the best of goalies so it's premature to see him as actually competing for real playing time right now. Presumably he'd have to play enough games without his hip exploding before the team would have to worry about him displacing Poulter. Frankly, at this point, if Kallgren sits for a while is that such a bad thing?
LaffyTaffy13
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- May 10, 2022
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When does Jeremy Brodeur get the call up to utica? Hes 9-0 and rocking a .942 save % and 1.77 GAA down in the echl.
- Dec 20, 2018
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A1LeafNation
Good, is simply not good enough!
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Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Very good first start for Daws
All of your post is logical.
Daws was super tonight. It's only 1 game, but he played in a way all you have said may have to be rethought.
If he doesn't "explode", as you state, my concern with 3 keepers is justified. Daws with Poulter as a back up is the way this team SHOULD go. The Comets played with a great deal of confidence with Daws in there and he gave them every reason to do such. 32 saves and 1 goal against. 2 early saves were the kind you call "out of his ass" unreal and he had 2/3 more of them later on.
Poulter has played much the same in most of his starts and the 2 games he came in and rescued the team from Kallgren.
We will have to wait and see how things play out over the next few games in which all 3 will have their chances to prove who the top 2 are. Word is we see Poulter tomorrow night in Syracuse and Kallgren back in Utica Sunday afternoon at 3 in a quick turnaround.
3 games in 2 and 1/2 days with 3 different keepers. Who'd have thunk it?
We could just waive Kallgren if Daws turns out to be healthy and durable. There's also 3 goalies in the ECHL, and as kyk1827 pointed out above, Jeremy Brodeur is killing it in the ECHL after 9 games, so worse comes to worse and Daws needs a lighter load or time off, Brodeur can come up and work with Poulter until Daws is better again, and there's still 2 more goalies in Adirondack (Purpura and Brennan).
I presume he'd pass through waivers. Then what? What are our options? Can we buy him out? I thought that can only happen in certain windows.
Contract termination waivers, I'd assume. He'd have to agree to it, since he didn't breach contract or act unprofessonally. But if he's not going to play, he probably would want to see about going elsewhere.
I find that unlikely unless he finds a spot with a European team, in which case we could "loan" him and he'd still get paid. In fact, that may be the best option even if we don't waive him.
That's what I was thinking - he could latch on with a European club to continue his career. He's toast here.
Devils731
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- Jun 23, 2008
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Clarke has some nice attributes but his preseason was played was so non assertive...disappointing. does he look more aggressive? Would love to see him be viable.
Mgd31
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Devils731
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