Tyce Thompson is the definition of bust. His getting into NHL games, and being paid so much, is puzzling and absurd. I wish him the best in his future career, but he's not a pro hockey player.
2023-24 Utica Comets and ECHL thread
- Thread starter NJDevs26
- Start date
Clarke has been on a point streak since returning from his short stint in NJ.
He has taken the scoring lead from Parent and now leads the team with 16G/15A/31 PTS.
Parent is tied with Schmelzer at 28 points. Schmelzer has passed Xavier in goals 10-9, X has 19A to Schmelzer's 18A. Both are on AHL deals.
Criscuolo, who is on a NJ 2-way is 4th with 23 points, buy has only played 30 of the Comets 39 games. Schmelzer and Russo are the only Comets to have played in the 39 games to date.
Bowers is a major disappointment. He has an NHL deal and has amassed a measly 6G/8 PTS in 34 GP. He is a center and has not provided any of his wingers the type of games centers are supposed to give.
Halonen, only recently back in the lineup, has already passed Bowers with 7G/9 PTS in 13 GP
Justin Dowling has provided 8G/11A/19 PTS/30 GP. His .63 PPG is slightly below his career .71PPG. However, his assists total would be much higher if the passes he has provided his wingers, were put into the net at a much better rate. He has produced many high scoring chances that the receivers have missed, flubbed, shot wide, or were buried in the goalie's midsection. He's been what he was advertised to be.
Willman has been productive with 9G/16 PTS, but he has only played 20 games. His .80 PPG is only 4 tenths off of Clarke's team leading .84. That production over 37 games might have been worth a few more points for the Comets place in the North Divison considering the games they have lost by a single goal.
The only other NJ contracted forward is Stillman. He has 6G/11PTS in 32GP. That's a .34 PPG rate. That's Tyce Thompson PPG numbers, although he does score at a superior rate to Thompson, LOL.
He has not played in the last 4 games. The 1st of those 4 was the night that a group missed the game due to illness. They were only out for that 1 game except Chase. I haven't heard any update, but it would suggest he's got any injury or a more serious illness.
Gambardella on an AHL contract is 5th in team scoring with 20 points.
That means 3 of the Comets top 5 scorers are on AHL contracts. A 4th is an NJ prospects.
Where are the guys the Devils acquired that should be in this mix?
He has taken the scoring lead from Parent and now leads the team with 16G/15A/31 PTS.
Parent is tied with Schmelzer at 28 points. Schmelzer has passed Xavier in goals 10-9, X has 19A to Schmelzer's 18A. Both are on AHL deals.
Criscuolo, who is on a NJ 2-way is 4th with 23 points, buy has only played 30 of the Comets 39 games. Schmelzer and Russo are the only Comets to have played in the 39 games to date.
Bowers is a major disappointment. He has an NHL deal and has amassed a measly 6G/8 PTS in 34 GP. He is a center and has not provided any of his wingers the type of games centers are supposed to give.
Halonen, only recently back in the lineup, has already passed Bowers with 7G/9 PTS in 13 GP
Justin Dowling has provided 8G/11A/19 PTS/30 GP. His .63 PPG is slightly below his career .71PPG. However, his assists total would be much higher if the passes he has provided his wingers, were put into the net at a much better rate. He has produced many high scoring chances that the receivers have missed, flubbed, shot wide, or were buried in the goalie's midsection. He's been what he was advertised to be.
Willman has been productive with 9G/16 PTS, but he has only played 20 games. His .80 PPG is only 4 tenths off of Clarke's team leading .84. That production over 37 games might have been worth a few more points for the Comets place in the North Divison considering the games they have lost by a single goal.
The only other NJ contracted forward is Stillman. He has 6G/11PTS in 32GP. That's a .34 PPG rate. That's Tyce Thompson PPG numbers, although he does score at a superior rate to Thompson, LOL.
He has not played in the last 4 games. The 1st of those 4 was the night that a group missed the game due to illness. They were only out for that 1 game except Chase. I haven't heard any update, but it would suggest he's got any injury or a more serious illness.
Gambardella on an AHL contract is 5th in team scoring with 20 points.
That means 3 of the Comets top 5 scorers are on AHL contracts. A 4th is an NJ prospects.
Where are the guys the Devils acquired that should be in this mix?
- Apr 20, 2005
- 2,797
- 1,798
In fairness, Halonen and Foote should both be in your top 5 but for injury. Or, if Foote stayed in NJ, it would likely be Tierney.
Utica losing two top line forwards (or at least top six) is very tough. Offense was going to be a challenge with everyone.
Foote or Tierney right now have a good shot of being claimed. Maybe not. Same was true months ago. What I'm referring to is the signing of Bowers instead of one of the many other available free agents (at the time), who had a lot more talent at putting pucks in the net or on the sticks of guys who could. here were many more vets than him on the market as soon as free agency began. i watched them sucked up one by one. NJ didn't even start shopping until the good centers were gone.
- Apr 20, 2005
- 2,797
- 1,798
I get your point - you’ve made it well before. I personally think Tierney would’ve gone unclaimed at the beginning of the season - and I think he was signed to be in Utica / an injury call up. We can’t know the exact thinking, and it’s not clear it matters. Center depth would have been an issue even with Tierney
Louskoolaid89
Let's Go!!!
- Oct 14, 2017
- 3,109
- 3,851
It's call called "Dunkin". Hahaha you might confuse some people.
I want one of those jerseys! I don't like out version with the piping and dress gone but, this one I want. I like the "Jersey" Jersey spinoff they did too.
Louskoolaid89
Let's Go!!!
- Oct 14, 2017
- 3,109
- 3,851
Yeah I wanted to be a broadcaster as a kid too. Still want to lol. It's a tough think go break into no different than trying to make it as a musician. Some many super talented and capable people won't get the shit or thr recognition that they deserve. I'm a long haul truck driver and listen to and critique all different sports play by play. Really have become of fan of Nascar on radio. I'm not a big basketball guy but, I'd love to call the game or be the PA guy still. Anyway we are lucky to have some good voices calling the games in Adirondack and Uitca. Jason should be in the NHL thought he was great while called up last year subbing for Matt.
Jason wears on you after awhile. His over the top homerism is annoying. He needs to call things honestly when it's required. He just keeps telling us how great some of these guys are and just how good this team is when we all know it's not correct. There are ways to be positive about players and a team without painting an unrealistic picture. That's one of the pluses the real good PBP guys exhibit. Doc Emrick is a shining example. He loved the Devils but he called a spade a spade.
Joe Cullinane was the voice of the Rochester Red Wings from 1963 to 1975. Those years in the 60's he was the person I was most closely connected to as the Wings were my passion. I did those neighborhood play by plays of our street games recalling the tales he told during the summers previous and present. God, Sometimes I wish I had persevered.
Joe was another who never colored the truth. He went on to work with the Colorado Rockies. Rick Reilly, senior writer for Sports Illustrated at the time, said, "Joe Cullinane is to play-by-play sports broadcasting, what Otis is to elevators." I laid sweating in my bed in inner city Rochester with a pocket sized transistor radio stuck to my ear listening to Joe do Red Wing road games and the home games I was unable to get to (not many). He and the Red Wings were integral parts of my youth that I will never forget.
Emrick and Cullinane could tell stories forever. They had that many. I told a whole lot of Joe's to the neighborhood from my press box in the middle of the street and the vacant lot on the same street that served as our any season home field or rink, but baseball is the one our neighborhood adults remembered us most for. They would tell us, mostly at funerals as we had all moved out of the neighborhood as adults, that the neighborhood was never the same after we all grew up and the ballgames accompanied by endless play by play were no more. The new kids on the block were not in the street from morning til dark playing some kind of sport almost every day of every year. They seemed to have other interests and didn't interact with the older neighbors. Shame on them.
My guess is that today's PBP and color commentators are expected to be cheer leaders and probably get leaned on very heavily by the teams to make things sound much better than they really are. Why does NJ roll out "Mr. Devil" to do the color commentary? I don't think they expect him to be critical of the team if he wants to keep the title. I recall a story that the old PBP guy Steve Cangelosi told. Essentially, it was that Lou Lamoriello leaned on him pretty hard when he was hired about how Lamoriello expected the game to be called. I recall Dan Patrick on ESPN radio years ago doing a parody of what he termed "local announcing" and it was far from complimentary.
Doesn't change my mind on how it should be done. Like I said you can support the team, and be positive about the players without painting a totally false picture.
There are many in the Halls of Fame of all sports who have done it very well.
I don't disagree.
Doesn't change my mind on how it should be done. Like I said you can support the team, and be positive about the players without painting a totally false picture.
There are many in the Halls of Fame of all sports who have done it very well.
Louskoolaid89
Let's Go!!!
- Oct 14, 2017
- 3,109
- 3,851
Yeah that's what I want. Total honesty but, enthusiasm for the team and the game in general. If the opposition makes a great play and scores. I don't want you to sound like you answer your phone while a call woke you up at 3am. That's the Altitude Newtork style of broadcasting. I'd even hate it if I was an Avs fan
Doesn't change my mind on how it should be done. Like I said you can support the team, and be positive about the players without painting a totally false picture.
There are many in the Halls of Fame of all sports who have done it very well.
Mgd31
Registered User
Huge comeback win by Utica. Halonen keeps scoring down there. Call him up
1/31/24
Utica Comets @ Laval Rocket
Forwards:
Criscuolo/Dowling/Clarke
Parent/Bowers/Gambardella
Middendorf/Schmelzer/Halonen
Durandeau/Engaras/Laberge
D-Pairs:
Hatakka/Wotherspoon
Vilen/Russo
Misyul/Vukojevic
Goal - Poulter
Scratches:
Schmid (BU)
Kallgren (H)
Hirano (H)
MacKinnon (H)
Fitzgerald (H)
Stillman (?H/ill) - 5th straight game missed
The first period was common for Utica. They came out like Sloths and the Rocket were launched.
At 4:42 Poulter made 2 stops on shots from hand shaking distance. The puck slid under him and came out behind where Lias Anderson was allowed to step into the crease and tap in the loose puck.
1-0 Laval
The Rocket kept coming all period and the Comets just tried to ride out the storm.
At 13:09 the Rocket struck again. Misul was coming out from behind his net in possession of the puck which suddenly just slid forward off his stick. It was scooped up by Roy moving out towards his blueline, but he passed it back to Simoneau at the right of the circle. He passed it across to Gignac who had barged past Vukojevic, who then started toward Simoneau. Sim then passed it By Vyk to Gignac in front where he tapped it past Poulter who had moved to face Sim. No chnce on the goal Vuk was trying to get back to him. Don't ask me where everyone else was including his D-mate Misyul.
Terrible turnover ends up in the net.
2-0
The period ended that way.
SOG were 19-12 Laval
Period 2
Hatakka took a penalty at 2:41. The Comets PK was brilliant. Caused several turnovers and never let Laval set up in their end.
Hatakka came out of the box. Wotherspoon got the puck through a left corner boards scrum. Halonen picked it up and hit Hatakka in stride outside the blueline. He tore up ice and got wide of a defender and took a shot from the top of the right circle with nobody in the way.
He S--------C---------O--------R--------E----------D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-1
Comets continued to press, but somehow they let a guy past them at the attacking blueline and another Rocket joined him and they were away on a 2 on 0 breakaway all the way to the slot where they screwed up and never got a shot on net. That should have done it, but the Comets never gained control and and Mysak tried a centering pass on a wrap around and Vilen tipped it by Poulter who was moving to take on the shot he thought was coming from his net front.
3-1
Thge Comets discouraged but kept on fighting. The goals against them were crap goals created by themselves.
Late in the period Russo got a pass to Dowling who brke down the right soide and from the bottom of the circle made a tape tp tape pass to Clarke at the top of the left circle. IN stride he let go his pateneted wrister from the inside hash marks and ----
S---------C---------O----------R---------E--------D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-2
2nd ended 3-2 Laval
SOG 15-8 Comets
2-period total 27-27
Period 3
Comets finally came out of the gatwe to start a period looking hungry. They aggressively took it to the Rocket who seemed to be on their heels in surprise.
Trudeau was called for holding as he grabbed Dowling's arm when he turned to move into the middle with the puck.
:24 seconds later on the PP Clarke from the right side boards went back to Russo who passed it to Halonen who took a 1-timer form the left dot and------------------------------------
IT"S IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Halonen a POWER PLAY GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all even at 3.
The game progressed the teams traded PPs with neither taking advantage.
4 minutes to go. The Comets have dominated the period, but it's still anybody's game as the next goal probably wins it.
2 minutes to go.
1:45 to go and the Comets ice it.
Now, the Rocket ice it with 1:31 to go.
Laval called for slashing with 1:04 to go.
G____________________O___________________A__________________L
Halonen a wrister from the top of the left circle and it had eyes. 2 Comets were in front. Don't know it went in clean or if one of theos guys tipped it.
Laval calls TO.
Comets keep the puck out of their zone twice
Now they ice it with 3 ticks leftComets win the draw and take it to the boards and keep it there.
COMETS WIN THIS ONE 4-3
Come back from 2-0 and 3-1.
WOWSERS!
Utica Comets @ Laval Rocket
Forwards:
Criscuolo/Dowling/Clarke
Parent/Bowers/Gambardella
Middendorf/Schmelzer/Halonen
Durandeau/Engaras/Laberge
D-Pairs:
Hatakka/Wotherspoon
Vilen/Russo
Misyul/Vukojevic
Goal - Poulter
Scratches:
Schmid (BU)
Kallgren (H)
Hirano (H)
MacKinnon (H)
Fitzgerald (H)
Stillman (?H/ill) - 5th straight game missed
The first period was common for Utica. They came out like Sloths and the Rocket were launched.
At 4:42 Poulter made 2 stops on shots from hand shaking distance. The puck slid under him and came out behind where Lias Anderson was allowed to step into the crease and tap in the loose puck.
1-0 Laval
The Rocket kept coming all period and the Comets just tried to ride out the storm.
At 13:09 the Rocket struck again. Misul was coming out from behind his net in possession of the puck which suddenly just slid forward off his stick. It was scooped up by Roy moving out towards his blueline, but he passed it back to Simoneau at the right of the circle. He passed it across to Gignac who had barged past Vukojevic, who then started toward Simoneau. Sim then passed it By Vyk to Gignac in front where he tapped it past Poulter who had moved to face Sim. No chnce on the goal Vuk was trying to get back to him. Don't ask me where everyone else was including his D-mate Misyul.
Terrible turnover ends up in the net.
2-0
The period ended that way.
SOG were 19-12 Laval
Period 2
Hatakka took a penalty at 2:41. The Comets PK was brilliant. Caused several turnovers and never let Laval set up in their end.
Hatakka came out of the box. Wotherspoon got the puck through a left corner boards scrum. Halonen picked it up and hit Hatakka in stride outside the blueline. He tore up ice and got wide of a defender and took a shot from the top of the right circle with nobody in the way.
He S--------C---------O--------R--------E----------D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2-1
Comets continued to press, but somehow they let a guy past them at the attacking blueline and another Rocket joined him and they were away on a 2 on 0 breakaway all the way to the slot where they screwed up and never got a shot on net. That should have done it, but the Comets never gained control and and Mysak tried a centering pass on a wrap around and Vilen tipped it by Poulter who was moving to take on the shot he thought was coming from his net front.
3-1
Thge Comets discouraged but kept on fighting. The goals against them were crap goals created by themselves.
Late in the period Russo got a pass to Dowling who brke down the right soide and from the bottom of the circle made a tape tp tape pass to Clarke at the top of the left circle. IN stride he let go his pateneted wrister from the inside hash marks and ----
S---------C---------O----------R---------E--------D!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3-2
2nd ended 3-2 Laval
SOG 15-8 Comets
2-period total 27-27
Period 3
Comets finally came out of the gatwe to start a period looking hungry. They aggressively took it to the Rocket who seemed to be on their heels in surprise.
Trudeau was called for holding as he grabbed Dowling's arm when he turned to move into the middle with the puck.
:24 seconds later on the PP Clarke from the right side boards went back to Russo who passed it to Halonen who took a 1-timer form the left dot and------------------------------------
IT"S IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Halonen a POWER PLAY GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's all even at 3.
The game progressed the teams traded PPs with neither taking advantage.
4 minutes to go. The Comets have dominated the period, but it's still anybody's game as the next goal probably wins it.
2 minutes to go.
1:45 to go and the Comets ice it.
Now, the Rocket ice it with 1:31 to go.
Laval called for slashing with 1:04 to go.
G____________________O___________________A__________________L
Halonen a wrister from the top of the left circle and it had eyes. 2 Comets were in front. Don't know it went in clean or if one of theos guys tipped it.
Laval calls TO.
Comets keep the puck out of their zone twice
Now they ice it with 3 ticks leftComets win the draw and take it to the boards and keep it there.
COMETS WIN THIS ONE 4-3
Come back from 2-0 and 3-1.
WOWSERS!
That’s a promising left side of the defense. Hopefully they are starting to mature and grow their games. It’s good to see a hardworking guy Iike Halonen have some success.
Utica Comets at Laval Rocket
Final Score:
Utica 4 Laval 3
SOG:
UTC 12 15 14 = 41
LAV 19 8 3 = 30
PP:
UTC - 2/5
Lav - 0/3
Scoring
Hataklka (3) from Halonen (3) and Russo (10)
Clarke (17) from Criscuolo (16) and Dowling (12) - I think this is wrong. Dowling made the pass to Clarke, thus he should have the ptimary assist. It was an eyes in the back of his head type of center's pass.
Halonen (8) from Russo (11) and Clarke (16) PP
Halonen (9) from Russo (12) and Clarke (17) PP
Poulter 27/30
3 *s
1 Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 2 G / 1 A
2 Graeme Clarke (Utica Comets) 1 G / 2 A
3 Robbie Russo (Utica Comets) 0 G / 3 A
Have a good night all!
Final Score:
Utica 4 Laval 3
SOG:
UTC 12 15 14 = 41
LAV 19 8 3 = 30
PP:
UTC - 2/5
Lav - 0/3
Scoring
Hataklka (3) from Halonen (3) and Russo (10)
Clarke (17) from Criscuolo (16) and Dowling (12) - I think this is wrong. Dowling made the pass to Clarke, thus he should have the ptimary assist. It was an eyes in the back of his head type of center's pass.
Halonen (8) from Russo (11) and Clarke (16) PP
Halonen (9) from Russo (12) and Clarke (17) PP
Poulter 27/30
3 *s
1 Brian Halonen (Utica Comets) 2 G / 1 A
2 Graeme Clarke (Utica Comets) 1 G / 2 A
3 Robbie Russo (Utica Comets) 0 G / 3 A
Have a good night all!
It is, but:
- Misyul's uncontested giveaway on the 2nd Laval goal was unacceptable.
- Vilen unintentionally tipped in the 3rd Laval goal.
On the other had (to quote Tevye) they have been playing well.
Wothersppoon and Vukojevic are the roller coaster guys. Something good and then not so good. Something not so good again and then something good.
Their inconsistency keeps Utica/s supply of antacids flying of the shelves the afternoons with Comets games that evening.
As to Halonen -14GP - 9G/3A/12PTS. Yeah, I'd say that's "some success".
Tonight's win was huge.
They entered the night in 7th place trailing:
- Toronto and Bellevile tied for 5th by 2 PTS
- 4th place Laval by 3 Pts
- 3rd place Rochester by 5 Pts
Belleville was idle and Utica had a game in hand. Now the Comets and Belleville each have 41 and Utica is ahead of them based on the fact that Utica has 1 less loss.
Toronto won and moved ahead of Laval into 4th by a single point. They still trail Toronto by the same 2 points.
Laval is now alone in 5th, but with the loss only lead Utica by a single point.
Rochester lost and Utiuca only trails the 3rd place Amerks by 3 Pts. I told you last week that this North Division is a real dog fight for the fianl 3 playoff spots. Syracuse and Cleveland are tied for 1st, 8 points ahead of the Amerks.
This is how it looks:
SYR 41GP 52 Pts
CLE 40GP 52 Pts
ROC 39GP 44 Pts
TOR 39GP 43 Pts
LAV 41GP 42 Pts
UTC 40GP 41 Pts
BEL 40GP 41 PTS
Utica plays their next 10 games vs North Division teams.
This weekend 2/2 and 2/3 back to back vs Toronto. Both games in Utica.
That makes 3 games in 4 nights.
Next weekend 2/9 and 2/10 back to back vs Belleville. Both games in Belleville.
Only 2 games but both on the road.
2/14 home vs Rochester
2/17 home vs Belleville
2/18 away vs Rochester
3 games in 5 days
2/23 home vs Syracuse
2/25 away in Syracuse
2/28 away in Belleville
These 10 games are critical. They need to win most of them to keep pace with the Division since everybody is playing each other. A couple wins can move you up 2 spots and vice versa. Any single team going on a tear can make some serious headway. Teams playing .500 keeps this division a mess.
Over the last 10 games Rochester, Laval, and Utica were all 6-3-1-0.
Toronto was 5-3-2-0Cleveland took a dive going 4-5-0-1 while Syracuse went 8-2-0-0.
Belleville fell from grace going 3-6-0-1 yet their 41Pts just like Utica leaves them 3 points out of 3rd.
This one could be a nail biter all the way to the end as 5 teams make the show and only 2 get left out.
Need to finish 3rd or better to avoid the 3-game play in only to get #1 in the next round if you escape. Utica did that last year. Swept the play-in from Laval. Then lost the next best of 5 to #1 Toronto 3 games to 1.
They entered the night in 7th place trailing:
- Toronto and Bellevile tied for 5th by 2 PTS
- 4th place Laval by 3 Pts
- 3rd place Rochester by 5 Pts
Belleville was idle and Utica had a game in hand. Now the Comets and Belleville each have 41 and Utica is ahead of them based on the fact that Utica has 1 less loss.
Toronto won and moved ahead of Laval into 4th by a single point. They still trail Toronto by the same 2 points.
Laval is now alone in 5th, but with the loss only lead Utica by a single point.
Rochester lost and Utiuca only trails the 3rd place Amerks by 3 Pts. I told you last week that this North Division is a real dog fight for the fianl 3 playoff spots. Syracuse and Cleveland are tied for 1st, 8 points ahead of the Amerks.
This is how it looks:
SYR 41GP 52 Pts
CLE 40GP 52 Pts
ROC 39GP 44 Pts
TOR 39GP 43 Pts
LAV 41GP 42 Pts
UTC 40GP 41 Pts
BEL 40GP 41 PTS
Utica plays their next 10 games vs North Division teams.
This weekend 2/2 and 2/3 back to back vs Toronto. Both games in Utica.
That makes 3 games in 4 nights.
Next weekend 2/9 and 2/10 back to back vs Belleville. Both games in Belleville.
Only 2 games but both on the road.
2/14 home vs Rochester
2/17 home vs Belleville
2/18 away vs Rochester
3 games in 5 days
2/23 home vs Syracuse
2/25 away in Syracuse
2/28 away in Belleville
These 10 games are critical. They need to win most of them to keep pace with the Division since everybody is playing each other. A couple wins can move you up 2 spots and vice versa. Any single team going on a tear can make some serious headway. Teams playing .500 keeps this division a mess.
Over the last 10 games Rochester, Laval, and Utica were all 6-3-1-0.
Toronto was 5-3-2-0Cleveland took a dive going 4-5-0-1 while Syracuse went 8-2-0-0.
Belleville fell from grace going 3-6-0-1 yet their 41Pts just like Utica leaves them 3 points out of 3rd.
This one could be a nail biter all the way to the end as 5 teams make the show and only 2 get left out.
Need to finish 3rd or better to avoid the 3-game play in only to get #1 in the next round if you escape. Utica did that last year. Swept the play-in from Laval. Then lost the next best of 5 to #1 Toronto 3 games to 1.
UticaHockey
Registered User
I just glanced at the Comets goalies win-loss records.
Isaac Poulter 12 - 5 - 1
All other Comets goalies 5 - 11 - 6
The Comets just simply win when Poulter is playing.
Isaac Poulter 12 - 5 - 1
All other Comets goalies 5 - 11 - 6
The Comets just simply win when Poulter is playing.
I concur and have said so. They just seem to be more comfortable and trusting of Isaac. Even though they leave all of them out to dry, Isaac seems to handle it better.
Dineen seems to be catching on. He was bringing Schmid back every time a game came after he had a significant rest time. This Laval game would have been such an instance, but he came back with Issac instead and it paid off. I'd guess Schmid gets Friday vs Toronto in the first of a back to back with them. That brings Isaac back on Saturday. Isaac gets 2 of the 3 in 5. That's the way a coach manages his #1.
The results would indicate the future. Let's see if I got this right. Next week is Belleville back to back in Belleville. My thoughts are they each get one, but with Rochester on the Wednesday after Belleville, Poulter would get the Friday game in Belleville and the Rochester game on Wednesday.
Then Schmid would get the Belleville game on Saturday and Poulter the Sunday game vs Rochester.
My thinking mapped out:
Friday,Feb. 2 - Schmid vs Toronto at home
Saturday, Feb. 3 - Poulter vs Toronto at home
Friday, Feb. 9 - Poulter vs Belleville away
Saturday, Feb. 10 - Schmid vs Belleville away
Wednesday, Feb.14 - Poulter vs Rochester at home
Saturday, Feb. 17 -Schmid vs Belleville at home
Sunday, Feb. 18 - Poulter vs Rochester away
That's how it would work if Dineen uses Poulter as his #1.
If he goes by who beat who in the recent past, Schmid has beaten Belleville and Poulter shut out Rochester. My scheme still holds true.
Utica only played Toronto once so far. It was the 2nd game of the season. Kallgren started and gave up 4 goals in 11:47 of the first period. Poulter yielded 1 in the remaining 47:53. in a 5-2 loss in Toronto. Poulter was the man again.
Let's see how Dineen rolls the dice, LOL.
Last edited:
UticaHockey
Registered User
The fly in the ointment is Kallgren is healthy and has backed up several games recently. At some point Dineen is going to be compelled to give him a start again.
Only if he is lily livered. Erik has been s**t in his games this season. If the Comets race for a playoff spot stays this tight, can he really afford to start a very questionable Kallgren, who has never been all that anyways?
He has been the backup lately because Dineen is resting his non starter of the top 2 for the next game. Kallgren can take warm-up shots and sit as the backup. No need for Poulter or Schmid to do so as it gives them rest time. The schedule is becoming grueling with all of the in Division games meaning so much.
The last 2 games Poulter and Schmid backed up each other. Kallgren waa simply a scratch. Kallgren needs some game conditioning time. He needs to agree to go down to Adirondack for a couple starts and if he sucks down there, no reason to put him in up here. This is not Pee Wees where everyone should get to play. It's the pro game and if you have two keepers carrying the load, giving a 3rd gametime because you feel sorry about not playing him, you need to get a different job. Kallgren does not fit anywhere in NJ's future and he has to know it.
Kallgren is very likely going to be elsewhere after this season anyways. If Poulter continues to impress, NJ needs to give him a 2-way contract. If not, MacKinnon needs to give him a 1-way AHL deal. This kid has earned the right not to play anywhere below the AHL level.
There is a lot of discussion as to what NJ will do about their goalie situation. I don't believe they are going to go with both Schmid and Daws as their tandem next year. One will be a backup and the other will be down here. Schmid is just a few games from losing waiver exemption. Both he and Daws will be RFAs at the end of the season. NJ knows they have to find onsistent NHL level goaltending and neither of these 2 have proven they can be trusted to be that guy next season. If Schmid ends up playing thoise few games before this season ends he would have to clear waivers to come down any future time. With the state of NHL goaltending a lot of teams could take a flyer on Daws or Schmid. GM Fitz has some thinking to do.
Tyler Brennan has been signed. He's been battling injury since early in the season and has been playing some recently and has 7 games under his belt for the season. My thoughts are he will start out in Adirondack again next season. He has done nothing to prove he belongs in the AHL.
The guy who looks to be ready is Jakub Malek, who has not signed yet. He will be 22 in April. He is playing in the Liiga in Finland. He's played 22 games and has posted a 2.33 GAA and .915 SV%. If he's looking to prove anything to NJ, he needs to play some NA pro hockey. There will be a spot for him in Utica next season if one of Daws or Schmid is the backup in NJ.
NJ posters say he is just as well off in Finland. I disagree. Daws came here in 2021-22 at 20, but turned 21 in December. He recorded a 2.54 GAA/.916 SV% in 21 GP in Utica and a 3.11 GAA/ .893 SV% in NJ.
The following season he played 33 games in Utica and none in the NHL. His AHL numbers were 2.70 GAA /.904 SV%. His numbers slipped with a less talented team.
This season he has only played 3 games joining the Comets until 12/7 due to recovring from off season surgery. He then played 3 games putting up a 2.39 GAA/.929 SV% before getting a call to NJ because Schmid was faltering. In NJ Daws started out brilliantly, but has since cooled off. His current numbers are 3.43 GAA/.895 SV% in 8 GP. We are in February and the kid has played 11 games. Major surgery and thrust into the boondoggle mess that is the current NJ Devils isn't the ideal situation for this kid right now.
Akira Schmid was 21 when he arrived in 2021-22. His rookie numbers were 2.60 GAA and .911 SV%. He played 6 games in NJ and was lit up registering 4.83 GAA/.833 SV%.
His 2nd seasaon he put up 2.63 GAA/.905 SV% in 23 GP. Was then called to NJ where he put up a 2.13 GAA/.922 SV% in 18GP and was awesome in the NHL playoffs 2.35 GAA/.921 SV%.
He beagn this season in NJ playing well and then the wheels fell off and with a 3.26 GAA and .893 SV% and with his number of games before having to clear waivers creeping up, he was sent back to Utica in a swap with Daws. Currently his numbers in Utica are 3.39 GAA/.891 SV%/ 3-3-4 in 10 GP. His AHL numbers are very close to his poor NHL numbers. This kid's confidence was crap upon arrival here. He has not been sharp.
He had a real good game his last outing following up a Poulter shutout of Rochester (4-0) the next night with a 1 goal against peformance against Syracuse (3-1) with Utica's 3rd goal being an ENG at the end of the game. Both kid's played great games. Maybe his head is straightening out. They have Toronto for a back to back in Utica ths weekend. The 6th place Comets trail the 4th place Marlies by 2 points so this is a big weekend for both keepers. A split leaves things exactly as they started. Getting swept moves them back into the basemant and Toronto moves ahead by 6 points. Sweeping the Marlies puts the Comets 2 points ahead of them. Like I said a pressure packed weekend for the 2 young keepers.
It is my opinion that Malek needs to get his feet wet over here. He is not going to leave the Liiga and move into the Devils lineup just like that. What Fitz does with his goaltending woes now and in the coming offseason could have quite an impact on Malek's future.
If Schmid and Daws get their heads on straight and come back next season moving forward and if Fitz has managed to land an NHL capable keeper and if one of Daws or Schmid actually earns the back up spot and if the other is sent to Utica already nipping at the heels of the other in NJ, then Malek could soon see himself on the outside looking in and maybe Finland remains his home since NJ has no room for him. If he decided to come next season and enter a competition with whomever is in Utica, maybe he becomes #3 and if there is trouble in NJ, he moves up. Each season a player fails to sign is one more season that he may end up costing himself the shiny reward he was hoping for when he was drafted. Other guys are hungry and can establish themselves ahead of him. If Daws and Scmid continue to develop, Jakub could be looking for work elsewhere.
Who Knows? It's a fickle position. It's not like 24 guys you have to compete with to get a spot. There's only 2 roster goalies in the NHL. You need to get in whenever the getting is good. Right now that's the situation in NJ. Staying comfortable at home could be your shortcoming. It's not lie he's a blue chip - can't miss draft pick any more than Schmid or Daws were. They've both spent time in NJ already and have had some very positive results. They have that to build on. What has Malek done?
That'a very thoughtful analysis but is Malek even really on the radar screen yet? I guess NJ will try anyone at this point but there is the option to loan a goalie to another team isn't there?
That team should be Utica. He would become #4 with either Daws or Schmid. The rest would be up to him.
He is 21 now and will be 22 in April. He is playing in the Liiga. He can't get any higher in Finland. If he was a Candian or American he would be playing in his 2nd pro season right now. Over there he has played 22 games this season and has a 2.33 GAA/.915 SV%. He is ready for the AHL. He would be as ready as Schmid or Daws were when they came on board. As I said, the rest would be up to him.
I don't have anything invested in this nor do I have an ounce of influence, LOL. Just voicing an opinion based upon the newbies I witness in net in the AHL every season and they are in that age group, 21, 22, 23.
Daws is 23 and playing his 3rd pro season.
Schmid is 23 and playing his 3rd pro season.
Poulter is 22 and playing his 2nd pro season.
These 3 guys have spent their pro seasons in the NJ organization.
Malek is 22 and playing his 2nd pro season in the Liiga.
If he is anything close to the real deal, it would be time to get him under contract and get him going.
That’s a fair way to look at it. I imagine with the big club needing goalies they will look at it after the season.
