2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

Bad Goalie

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Jan 2, 2014
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11/11/2024
Cleveland Monsters @ Utica Comets

Final Score -
Cleveland 4 Utica 0

Comets now 0-9-1-2. Better defined as 12 straight losses since the season opened.
Still in last place in the North Division as well as last place in the entire AHL.
#31 in the AHL for goals scored.
Lead the league in goals against.
#32 in PK%.
#14 in PP % and falling. #20 in PPGF.
These stats are mind numbing.

I can't relate anymore at this moment. I'll give you an update by editing this tomorrow.

Forwards:
(34) Beckman (26) Schmelzer (25) Foote)
(20) Willman (15) Bowers (24) Halonen
(67) Parent (11) Legare (61) Stillman
(14) Bertuzzi (13) Malone (37) Wendt

D-Pairs
(83) Vilen (17) Nemec
(6) White) (22) Casey
(93) Misyul (3) MacKinnon

(50) Daws

The game was a tight checking, close contest with the Monsters on The strength of a PP goal leading 1-0 after 1 period.

At 7:32 of the 2nd the Monsters were awarded another PP on a ridiculous tripping call to Legare on what was actually a very good play by Nathan. He had been knocked to the ice outside the blueline in front of his own bench and his stick was gone. He scrambled to his feet. The puck carrier was about to skate up the middle and Nathan without a stick cut him off face to face and leveled him with a hard shoulder to his chest. No leg or hip contact and the guy went down over Legare's body. Nothing even resembling a trip. When nothing is going a team's way over several games (11) the inevitable would follow. At 9:18 with Legare still in the box the Monsters scored their 2nd PP goal of the game and made it 2-0.

Almost like the hockey gods said enough of this crap and at 12:37 Tre Fix - Wolansky was charged with spearing, assessed a 5-minute major and ejected. The Comets were granted the best chance possible to get back into this game. They started out with 3 shots right off the face off, 2 one timers by Halonen and a point shot by Vilen (I think, maybe Nemec). All 3 saved and the puck was cleared. The Comets spent most of the rest of the PP trying to get into the zone, set up if they got there, retrieving the puck from their end after it was cleared several times, missing the net or flubbing shots, and trying to prevent the Monsters from scoring shorthanded at least 3 times. In short they pissed away the 5 minutes.

Period 2 ended 2- 0 Monsters.

Comets would have to really take it to the Monsters in the 3rd. Well they didn't even come close to it. In the previous 2 periods the Comets outshot the Monsters 20-15. In the 3rd, a period they had to score at least twice while shutting out their opponent, they were outshot 16-7 and outscored 2-0 resulting in loss leaving the shutout for the 3rd time this season and chalking up their 12th game without a win.

In that 3rd period in a scramble in frong to the net Misyul gained possession and slid the puck back to Daws to freeze it. At a speed of maybe 1 MPH or less it trickled right through Daws's knees and into the net for the 3rd goal at 11:05.

At 15:56 a long shot got past Daws as it often has in games past. He seems to just quit when he concludes it's over. Not a good trait for a goalie period , but especially for a guy who is working to become NJ's #2 next season.

It makes no sense to try and describe the breakdowns, scoring problems. positional errors, player weaknesses, lack of chemistry between line members, weaknesses some players reveal showing they are simply not AHL level players, lack of speed exhibited by most of the players when compared to opponents they are either attempting to beat or catch up to, and obvious absence of hockey IQ in most of them. It turns out to be the same old same old.

Simply put this not a good hockey team. Doing the best they can do and giving everything they have, they cannot muster enough to win most of the games they will play. It's really hard to say that as a team they lack the skills it takes to be successful as they are constructed as a team. There are a few players who stand out among the rest as guys who have what it takes but cannot do it by themselves and some are only hurting the team and themselves by trying to do that. Casey, Nemec, Foote, Misyul, Vilen, and Beckman stand out as guys who would be outstanding to very good on a team with comparable players. Halaonen is a guy who is trying to do so much by himself and it's not working. Willman is pretty much in the same boat.

Parent playing in his 1st game was very noticeable in his tenacity and effort on the boards, in 1 on 1s, the back and fore check, driving the net, and making accurate crisp passes, The attention the Monsters were paying to him backed this up. He was a thorn they had to pluck and they harangued him all game long.

In summary, this team has maybe half of what they need personnel wise. That's very unlikely to change and NJ is probably going to take their best as the season progresses due to issues with the parent club. So, I'll give you the lineups, scoring, SOG, and high lights of any player when they occur.

Over and out.
 
Last edited:

My3Sons

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How does Dan MacKinnon still have a job? He assembled a roster that has now lost 12 straight games to start the season but yet he made sure that his son has a roster spot to play in the AHL. The optics alone should get him demoted or fired.
Something tells me he’s not really the decision maker.
 

tailfins

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Something tells me he’s not really the decision maker.
In what way?

I don't think he was told not to find any centers. He went and signed Colton White despite the Devils having LD prospects. White is making $250k this year and $275k next year. Jayson Megna was available and signed a similar two year AHL deal. Kyle Criscuolo signed a 1 year deal with the Checkers.

I'm not against the White signing, but if the issue was that he was given a limited budget, it's still on him to use it well. @Bad Goalie has covered the decision-making previously. Sure, more money could help. But, the real issue here was lack of planning and forethought.
 

Triumph

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Oct 2, 2007
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The Utica Devils were always going to be not good given their budget, goaltending, and lack of forward prospects - I don't care what kind of defense they're playing, goalies should stop more than 86% of the shots against. With a 1st line center, they'd be better, and MacKinnon absolutely deserves the ax at the end of the season if things don't turn around, but the largest culprit is the drafting - Nico Daws is the only player from the 2020 draft down there, 2019 yielded Beckman via Clarke, Legare (via Thompson via Durandeau), and Misyul - that's not enough.
 

My3Sons

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In what way?

I don't think he was told not to find any centers. He went and signed Colton White despite the Devils having LD prospects. White is making $250k this year and $275k next year. Jayson Megna was available and signed a similar two year AHL deal. Kyle Criscuolo signed a 1 year deal with the Checkers.

I'm not against the White signing, but if the issue was that he was given a limited budget, it's still on him to use it well. @Bad Goalie has covered the decision-making previously. Sure, more money could help. But, the real issue here was lack of planning and forethought.
I'm skeptical that the NJ management just left it up to MacKinnon. The way NJ makes decisions is "collaborative". Allegedly the ownership ask for daily reports on things. Beyond just a budget I'm skeptical that Fitz isn't involved with this. Maybe they give MacKinnon some sort of budget but you don't see some sort of pro scouting involved with signing players? You think they just let MacKinnon go out and do what he wants without input and oversight? Maybe but I doubt it. The lack of centers is a problem at the NHL level not just the AHL level.
 

tailfins

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The Utica Devils were always going to be not good given their budget, goaltending, and lack of forward prospects - I don't care what kind of defense they're playing, goalies should stop more than 86% of the shots against. With a 1st line center, they'd be better, and MacKinnon absolutely deserves the ax at the end of the season if things don't turn around, but the largest culprit is the drafting - Nico Daws is the only player from the 2020 draft down there, 2019 yielded Beckman via Clarke, Legare (via Thompson via Durandeau), and Misyul - that's not enough.

When you say "that's not enough," I'm not sure if you mean quantity or quality.

For quantity, I'm not sure that's fair. Okhotyuk, Mukhamadullin, and Holtz were traded. Gritsyuk is overseas (as are Hameenaho, Orlov, and Malek).

For quality, I agree. Nemec and Casey have potential top 4 upside. Outside of them, though, Utica has no potential NHL top 4 LD, top 6 forwards, and it's looking like no starting goaltender. Not great.
 

Guttersniped

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The Utica Devils were always going to be not good given their budget, goaltending, and lack of forward prospects - I don't care what kind of defense they're playing, goalies should stop more than 86% of the shots against. With a 1st line center, they'd be better, and MacKinnon absolutely deserves the ax at the end of the season if things don't turn around, but the largest culprit is the drafting - Nico Daws is the only player from the 2020 draft down there, 2019 yielded Beckman via Clarke, Legare (via Thompson via Durandeau), and Misyul - that's not enough.


I agree that it’s much more difficult without drafted talent but signing better FA prospects and attracting better UFA talent is how the top teams keep their farm teams respectable year after year.

We’ll need to throw around more money around next off-season if they hope to get anyone to play at that misery factory next year. I don’t see how they can turn it around without stepping up in free agency.

The budget isn’t an excuse to me, the Devils failed to signed better players for the team.

We’re spending 1.265m on six players to get 3G 7A in 12 games.
Laberge - 90k
Legare - 85k
Schmeltzer - 220k
Bowers -220k
Willman - 300k
Hardman - 350k

Time to put on the big boy pants and give out some +500k deals to get better UFA forward talent down there instead of bragging about keeping the 4th line of a non-playoff AHL team together.
 

Bad Goalie

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Something tells me he’s not really the decision maker.
That maybe so, but he said he had to let DiNeen go. Spoke like he was the one that fired him.g

I agree that it’s much more difficult without drafted talent but signing better FA prospects and attracting better UFA talent is how the top teams keep their farm teams respectable year after year.

We’ll need to throw around more money around next off-season if they hope to get anyone to play at that misery factory next year. I don’t see how they can turn it around without stepping up in free agency.

The budget isn’t an excuse to me, the Devils failed to signed better players for the team.

We’re spending 1.265m on six players to get 3G 7A in 12 games.
Laberge - 90k
Legare - 85k
Schmeltzer - 220k
Bowers -220k
Willman - 300k
Hardman - 350k

Time to put on the big boy pants and give out some +500k deals to get better UFA forward talent down there instead of bragging about keeping the 4th line of a non-playoff AHL team together.
 

My3Sons

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That maybe so, but he said he had to let DiNeen go. Spoke like he was the one that fired him.g
I don’t see MacKinnon doing anything Fitz doesn’t ok. At the end of the day the fish rots from the head down. The current mess in Utica may have MacKinnon as the figurehead but Fitz and the scouts who can’t find a center to save their lives are the real culprits.
 

Bad Goalie

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I know I said I was going to stop doing critical analyses of the Comets, but I would keep up to date on what's going on.

I haven't even been going to this page unless I saw someone had made a post. Today I checked AHL.com for roster transactions and was surprised by what I saw. Filip Engaras, Josh Filmon, and Will MacKinnon were all sent to Adirondack on 11/13, Wednesday. I would think that means Engaras is being sent down on a re-hab stint after his injury.

As to the other 2, it was an action that should have happened a while ago. Bertuzzi, while not a standout by any means, played a harder game in his 4 starts since his re-call than Filmon has played in any one of his 8. Filmon belongs in the ECHL where hopefully he can find his game at the pro level because it certainly wasn't happening in Utica.

The return of Parent to the lineup moves Filmon out. Hardman would send Bertuzzi back to Adirondack if he returns from what ails him.

Will MacKinnon is an ECHL player with the ability to fill in if necessary, not to be a regular game night roster player as he has been since day 1 He has no points and is a -9. He has been on the ice for 15 goals against, 10 ES and 5 on the PK.

PTO Andy Welinski is a 31-yr-old veteran with 326 AHL games under his belt, a .47 AHL PPG ,and simply a better player than Will. He also plays the right side instead of trying to patch LH MacKinnon into the #3 RD.

The problem up front is that if Filmon AND Bertuzzi go down, the Comets are really cutting it close. They would need to have Hardman and Laberge back in the fold. Neither played in the last game and Hardmann has been gone for some time now. With them back the Comets would have 13 forwards in house and the 13th would be Wendt who was sent down already and then brought right back due to a short roster. I think they keep Bertuzzi until either NJ finds an NHL 4th liner to make Dowling expendable and/or Gambardella is ready to return and or NJ finds a couple of better than what's here AHL level players to allow filmon to percolate with the Thunder. My hope would be Gamby is ready and Dowling comes back. I'd really like to ss the NJ thing happen by I'd die if I held my breath waiting.

The actual event will probably be Engaras is back by game time Saturday, Bertuzzi will hang around, and the Comets will continue to struggle along.
 
Last edited:

UticaHockey

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Feb 27, 2013
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I know I said I was going to stop doing critical analyses of the Comets, but I would keep up to date on what's going on.

I haven't even been going to this page unless I saw someone had made a post. Today I checked AHL.com for roster transactions and was surprised by what I saw. Filip Engaras, Josh Filmon, and Will MacKinnon were all sent to Adirondack on 11/13, Wednesday. I would think that means Engaras is being sent down on a re-hab stint after his injury.

As to the other 2, it was an action that should have happened a while ago. Bertuzzi, while not a standout by any means, played a harder game in his 4 starts since his re-call than Filmon has played in any one of his 8. Filmon belongs in the ECHL where hopefully he can find his game at the pro level because it certainly wasn't happening in Utica.

The return of Parent to the lineup moves Filmon out. Hardman would send Bertuzzi back to Adirondack if he returns from what ails him.

Will MacKinnon is an ECHL player with the ability to fill in if necessary, not to be a regular game night roster player as he has been since day 1 He has no points and is a -9. He has been on the ice for 15 goals against, 10 ES and 5 on the PK.

PTO Andy Welinski is a 31-yr-old veteran with 326 AHL games under his belt, a .47 AHL PPG ,and simply a better player than Will. He also plays the right side instead of trying to patch LH MacKinnon into the #3 RD.

The problem up front is that if Filmon AND Bertuzzi go down, the Comets are really cutting it close. They would need to have Hardman and Laberge back in the fold. Neither played in the last game and Hardmann has been gone for some time now. With them back the Comets would have 13 forwards in house and the 13th would be Wendt who was sent down already and then brought right back due to a short roster. I think they keep Bertuzzi until either NJ finds an NHL 4th liner to make Dowling expendable and/or Gambardella is ready to return and or NJ finds a couple of better than what's here AHL level players to allow filmon to percolate with the Thunder. My hope would be Gamby is ready and Dowling comes back. I'd really like to ss the NJ thing happen by I'd die if I held my breath waiting.

The actual event will probably be Engaras is back by game time Saturday, Bertuzzi will hang around, and the Comets will continue to struggle along.
The Comets announced on social media that Gambardella will play tonight.
 

Bad Goalie

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The Comets announced on social media that Gambardella will play tonight.
Good news! I see that announcement was made on the same day (11/13) the other 3 were sent down. It had to be something like that for them to send down Filmon. I'd still guess that Engaras is on a re-hab stint. He is a better player than Malone.

From my point of view Wendt should be down there as well. Bertuzzi plays harder than him as well.

Do you have any info on Laberge? He was scratched last game as well. A healthy scratch in order to play Wendt didn't make sense.

Also what's the deal with Hardman?

If all 3 of Gamby, Parent, and Hardman are in the lineup the team at least as the best of what they have on the ice.

If NJ does something about their 4th line center, Dowling would get sent back officially giving the Comets lineup the best of what they were given for the season. Dowling is the best center of the weak center core they have. As far as centers go Bowers and Malone do nothing to give their wings chances to score goals.

Maybe the Comets could win a few games with their best on the ice at one time. Maybe?????????
 

Megaterio Llamas

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Tonight's game is against the hated Syracuse Crunch.

The first period will be brought to you by Joe Tahan's Furniture.

Visit our showrooms in Yorkville, New Hartford, and Rome for all your fine furniture needs. ;)
 
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Bad Goalie

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11/16/2004 Syracuse Crunch at Utica Comets

Forwards:
(34) Beckman (26) Schmelzer (25) Foote
(5) Gambardella (15) Bowers (61) Stillman
(67) Parent (20) Willman (24) Halonen
(48) Bertuzzi (13) Malone (11) Legare

D-Pairs:
(6) White (17) Nemec
(83) Vilen (22) Casey
(93) Misyul (32) Welinski

Goal - (50) Daws

Scratches:
(37) Wendt - Healthy
(79) Laberge - Inj
(39) Hardman - Inj


Final score -
Syracuse 2 Utica 0

SOG:
SYR - 11 8 7 = 26
UTC - 7 9 9 = 25

Scoring - NONE
Shut out for the 2nd straight game.

Daws played a strong game.

Nemec and Casey moved the puck, skated it up the ice, made nice passes that no forward could convert when they actually got off a shot, but couldn't do everything.

Parent pays like he's 6 feet + and the guys who are should be ashamed of themselves.

Same old same old from a group of marginal forwards at best and some who are less than that who force the D to keep bailing them out and a goalie who can't stop everything.

Current record 0-10-1-2 or for those who want to call a spade a spade, 0-13. There is no North American professional hockey team with a worse record.

I had enough faith in both people’s innate ability to detect sarcasm and the Comets’ awfulness to not bother adding one.
:nod: Gotcha
 

PizzaAndPucks

New Jersey Angels diehard
Nov 29, 2018
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I usually watch the highlights on YouTube for every Comets game but this season i think I've watched them 2 to 3 times at most. No big performances from any of the goalies and the lack of scoring by any potential future NHLer outside of Casey makes me not want to even watch anything Comets related.
 

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