2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[tailfins]

The reassignments are underway.

• Igor Mburanumwe and Landon Sim have been released from their amateur tryouts.
• Andre Ghantous, Kevin O’Neil, Jace Isley, and Tag Bertuzzi are re-assigned to the Utica Comets (AHL) training camp.
• Dylan Wendt and Tyler Brennan have been loaned to Utica”
• Michael Hutchinson released from his PTO

Mburanumwe seemed to have some good highlights from the prospects camp. Too bad he didn’t stick. Would have thought he’d at least be good enough for Adirondack.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Mburanumwe seemed to have some good highlights from the prospects camp. Too bad he didn’t stick. Would have thought he’d at least be good enough for Adirondack.

Don't know where they got the idea for him. Maybe a favor to him or someone. He's released and that's probably the last we see of him. The Thunder were good last year and return their nucleus. They'll be forced to take what Jersey/Utica sends them. Don't think they had room for him.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Mburanumwe seemed to have some good highlights from the prospects camp. Too bad he didn’t stick. Would have thought he’d at least be good enough for Adirondack.

He was committed to McGill University and that seems to be his career path; taking advantage of his CHL package and basically getting his education for free. Beats traveling on busses in the ECHL for minimal pay.

 

[Bad Goalie]

He was committed to McGill University and that seems to be his career path; taking advantage of his CHL package and basically getting his education for free. Beats traveling on busses in the ECHL for minimal pay.

I was aware of the McGill U committment, but didn't know how he managed to get an invite to the rookie camp and then onto the Devils main camp roster. He wasn't drafted and ran out of Jr eligibility so chose University, as you say, over ECHL bus travel.

With Fitz's new fetish for size, Igor's 6'5" frame on a 20 -yr old with plenty of time to tack on some weight might have been the Devils' incentive to take a look.

 

[forceten]

With Fitz's new fetish for size, Igor's 6'5" frame on a 20 -yr old with plenty of time to tack on some weight might have been the Devils' incentive to take a look.

Eh, I think it's more a kink than a fetish.

 

[Bad Goalie]

 

[Bad Goalie]

With Filmon (UB), Vilen (UB), and Beckman already out with injuries, we can add Parent (LB) to the list. The New Jersey franchise appears to be built out of matchsticks.

 

[Louskoolaid89]

I believe every AHL game is now being broadcast live on Flosports!

 

[Bad Goalie]

NJ Comets 4 Vs Philadelphia Flyers 5
I think this was the lineup. At least these were the guys on the game roster.
Stillman is the only guy playing his off wing. He and Halonen would be a logical swap.
This was their 3rd game in 4 nights.

Stillman - Dowling - Labanc
Graham - Schmelzer - Halonen
Hardman - Engaras - Squires
Laberge - Malone - Legare


Zboril - Misyul
MacKinnon - Diotte
Van de Leest - Welinski

Poulter
Brodeur

Scoring:
Schmelzer (1) from Diotte (1) and Malone (1)
Lebanc (4) from Misyul (2) and Dowling (2)
Lebanc (5) from Dowling (3) and Hardman (1) PP
Lebanc (6) from Squires (1) and Welinski (2)

Poulter SA/29 GA/5 SV/24

PS
Willman, Beckman, and Melovsky did not dress, but skated this morning.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

NJ Comets 4 Vs Philadelphia Flyers 5
I think this was the lineup. At least these were the guys on the game roster.
Stillman is the only guy playing his off wing. He and Halonen would be a logical swap.
This was their 3rd game in 4 nights.

Stillman - Dowling - Labanc
Graham - Schmelzer - Halonen
Hardman - Engaras - Squires
Laberge - Malone - Legare


Zboril - Misyul
MacKinnon - Diotte
Van de Leest - Welinski

Poulter
Brodeur

Scoring:
Schmelzer (1) from Diotte (1) and Malone (1)
Lebanc (4) from Misyul (2) and Dowling (2)
Lebanc (5) from Dowling (3) and Hardman (1) PP
Lebanc (6) from Squires (1) and Welinski (2)

Poulter SA/29 GA/5 SV/24

PS
Willman, Beckman, and Melovsky did not dress, but skated this morning.

Was basically Comets versus Phantoms with a couple of NHL veterans for the Flyers and some 4-A players skating for NJ.

Goals for Labanc were nice but holes in his game (as well as in Zboril's) were also apparent.

Welinski might be a nice veteran presence for the Comets.

One thing noticeably missing was the "hard to play against" element that Fitz promised.

With the exception of the staged fights, the Devils were frequently pushed around and defeated in retrieval battles.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Was basically Comets versus Phantoms with a couple of NHL veterans for the Flyers and some 4-A players skating for NJ.

Goals for Labanc were nice but holes in his game (as well as in Zboril's) were also apparent.

Welinski might be a nice veteran presence for the Comets.

One thing noticeably missing was the "hard to play against" element that Fitz promised.

With the exception of the staged fights, the Devils were frequently pushed around and defeated in retrieval battles.

That was not the 12 forwards who will make up the Comets starting 12. I also think 3 games in 4 nights had taken its toll as well.

Also if that's the Comets top 6 on D, the Comets will be in big trouble.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Devils make first big cut.

Already reassigned to Utica were:
Andre Ghantous
Kevin O'Neil
Jace Isley
Tag Bertuzzi

Added to the list:

Jeremy Brodeur
Isaac Poulter

Justin Dowling
Filip Engaras
Joe Gambardella
Brian Halonen
Mike Hardman
Sam Laberge
Nathan Legare
Jack Malone
Xavier Parent
Ryan Schmelzer
Chase Stillman
Max Willman

Daniil Misyul
Will MacKinnon
Mikael Diotte
Jackson van de Leest

My thoughts on still to come:
Topias Vilen (injured)
Josh Filmon (injured)
Adam Beckman (injured)
Injured can't be sent down until game ready.

1 of Santeri Hatakka or Nick DeSimone
Shane Bowers
Colton White

Maybes:

The followig are on NJ PTOS.
It will be up to NJ to either sign or release them. If signed it will be up to NJ to decide whether to waive and send to Utica or keep. Zboril would be sent to Utica.
Kevin Lebanc - I believe he's the only one NJ might keep.
Jakub Zboril - I think they just might sign and send this guy to Utica due to how thin the Comets are on D.
Andy Welinski - I think he gets released.

The Devils currently have 14 forwards on their roster and Foote is not 1 of them.
They currently have 10 D-men. Zboril and Welinski will not remain there.
Hatakka is on Utica's list, but he is injured, as is Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce. So in reality at the moment the Devils have 7 healthy D-men counting Casey.

The Comets currently only have 4 health D-men in town and one of them is van de Leest and we saw enough of him last season to know he is no better than depth. White should be returned before opening day and hopefully Vilen is ready. That would still make only 6 and there are no more until something happens in NJ to free up one of Hatakka or DeSimone.

Look for Adirondack stand ins to be on the roster to start the season. What a shit show when before things got going the D was to be the Comets strong point. It looked like Colton White might actually be the team's 6/7.

The problem with the guys beyond Bowers and Foote is that Lebanc, Zboril and possibly Bastian (I doubt it) are of AHL Veteran status and the Comets already have 4. Only 5 can play at one time.

So, Utica will have 2 good keepers, no #1 center (AGAIN!!!!!!!!!) and that's with Engaras being #4, and a weak D to kick off the season. The future looks no better if even equal to last season as things get underway.

 

[Bad Goalie]

The Comets were scheduled to host the Syracuse Crunch tonight at the Adirondack Bank Center (Utica Aud). Syracuse is there and there is a game taking place. The Utica Comets are not participating. I would guess the majority of this team are going to be members of the .Adirondack Thunder.

The Comets played the last 4 NJ Devils preseason games as the Devils were in Prague. They wer posing as the NJ Devils. Most of the games saw a smattering of the actual NHL team and the rest were their prospects, ATOs, and PTOs. 3 of those games were played Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, 3 games in 4 nights.

The only players on tonight's roster to play in any of those 3 games were Wendt and Bertuzzi on Monday.

The rest of tonight's roster (player and where he played last season) are:
Forwards -
Zach Bannister (Adirondack rookie/yr 2 Adirondack 24/25)
Keanen Stewart (Mercyhurst Univ. Senior/Adirondack Rookie 24-25))
Ryan Francis (3rd-yr pro/ last yr Ontario AHL 19GP/Trois-Rivieres ECH 57 GP/Signed with Adir 24-25)
Patrick Polino (5th-yr pro with 36 AHL GP/last yr Cincinatti ECHL/signed with Adirondack 24-25)
Ryan Conroy (NCAA Yale and 9GP Adirondack/Adirondack rookie 24-25)
Alex Young (NCAA Ariz St Univ and 7GP Adirondack/Adirondack rookie 24-25)
TJ Friedmann (2-yr pro AHL Utica 5GP and ECHL Adirondack 26 GP/Adirondack 2nd yr 24-25)

These 5 were in NJ for the Devils preseason camp and are signed to AHL contracts with Utica for the 24-25 season
Kevin O'Neil (3rd-yr pro 9 AHL GP/last yr AHL Hershey 4GP and ECHL South Carolina Stingrays 63GP)
Tag Bertuzzi (3rd-yr pro 3 AHL teams10 GP and 4 ECHL teams 118 GP)
Jace Isley (2nd-yr pro AHL Utica 7 GP and Adirondack 55 GP/Signed an AHL contract with Utica 24-25)
Andre Ghantous (NCAA Northern Michigan SR and ECHL Adirondack 10 GP and AHL Utica 3 GP)
Dylan Wendt (NCAA Western Michigan Univ. Junior and AHL Utica 5 GP)

D-men -
Brendan Less (3rd-yr pro ECHL Adirondack 44 GP/Adirondack 24-25
Darian Skeoch (5th-yr pro all in the ECHL with 4teams 145GP, Adirondack 46 GP/Adirondack 24-25)
James Marooney (5th yr SR at NCAA u of St. Thomas)/ Adirondack Rookie 24-25)
Taylor Ford (6th yr Sr McGill Univ.) /Adirondack Rookie 24-25)
Kurt Gosselin (4th-yr pro AHL Rochester 8 GP5 and 5 ECHL teams 147 GP/Adirondack 24-25)
Ryan Wheeler (3rd-yr pro ECHL Adirondack 61GP/Adirondack 24-25

Goal -
Tyler Brennan - Was in the NJ preseason training camp.
Played the whole game vs the Crunch tonight and gave up 3 goals in the 1st and 3 more in the 2nd in a 6-1 Comets loss.
David Fessenden (NCAA Canisius SR)/Adirondack rookie24-25


Brodeur played and won vs the Rangers on Monday.

Only Wendt and Bertuzzi played in NJ in any of those 3 games in 4 days. Both played in Tuesday's game vs the NY Rangers and were assigned to Utica on Wednesday.

Poulter played 2 periods and Brennan played 1 vs the Rangers on Tuesday. Brennan was also assigned to Utica on Wednesday.

Poulter played the whole game vs Philly on Thursday with Brodeur backing up.

The Comets will practice and await the remainder of NJ's roster selection to find ou who will be added to the Utica roster.

There will be a couple more when Pesce, Hatakka, and L Hughes are back assuming nobody else is hurt. You and me could easily be made asses with that assumptuion.

 

[Bad Goalie]

No chance for Lebanc. He just signed with Columbus.

Too bad. Whether he signed with Jersey to play with the Devils or was assigned to Utica as the Jersey first recall, it would have meant another player for the Comets. With him gone the chance of that NJ extra player coming down shrinks greatly.

 

[My3Sons]

No chance for Lebanc. He just signed with Columbus.

Too bad. Whether he signed with Jersey to play with the Devils or was assigned to Utica as the Jersey first recall, it would have meant another player for the Comets. With him gone the chance of that NJ extra player coming down shrinks greatly.

If he got a one way deal with Columbus above league minimum he needed to take it. He will get much better opportunity there.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Lebanc signing with Columbus now leaves an opening for Foote on the NJ list of 14 forwards.

If Pesce is ready on opening day in NJ, as they are saying is very possible, that would give them 8 D. That's not counting the 2 PTOs, Zboril and Welinski. Those 2 have to be decided upon by OCT. 7 unless either decides on their own to accept an offer from elsewhere. Otherwise they will wait for the Devils to find a solution for them (waive, sign and assign to Utica)or release them.

Putting it simply they cannot carry 14 forwards and 8 D. Either 1 of the forwards or 1 of the D has to go. My thoughts are it will either be LW Foote or RD DeSimone. If I had to go out on a limb, I'd say it will be DeSimone and they go with 7D. Many Jersey fans think it will be Foote and they'll go with 13F.

Hatakka is still with NJ as are Beckman, Filmon, and Vilen. They are injured and won't be eligible for reassignment until they are game ready.

Shane Bowers, Daws, and Colton White have also not been reassigned.

We'll have to wait upon the Devils return to Jersey for management to reach a decision on all of these players.

If he got a one way deal with Columbus above league minimum he needed to take it. He will get much better opportunity there.

Absolutely. That's a no brainer.

 

[tailfins]

Lebanc signing with Columbus now leaves an opening for Foote on the NJ list of 14 forwards.

If Pesce is ready on opening day in NJ, as they are saying is very possible, that would give them 8 D. That's not counting the 2 PTOs, Zboril and Welinski. Those 2 have to be decided upon by OCT. 7 unless either decides on their own to accept an offer from elsewhere. Otherwise they will wait for the Devils to find a solution for them (waive, sign and assign to Utica)or release them.

Putting it simply they cannot carry 14 forwards and 8 D. Either 1 of the forwards or 1 of the D has to go. My thoughts are it will either be LW Foote or RD DeSimone. If I had to go out on a limb, I'd say it will be DeSimone and they go with 7D. Many Jersey fans think it will be Foote and they'll go with 13F.

Hatakka is still with NJ as are Beckman, Filmon, and Vilen. They are injured and won't be eligible for reassignment until they are game ready.

Shane Bowers, Daws, and Colton White have also not been reassigned.

We'll have to wait upon the Devils return to Jersey for management to reach a decision on all of these players.


Absolutely. That's a no brainer.

I believe Pesce has played the left side before, so my guess is that he'd slot into the spot Casey's been filling (vs bumping Nemec or Kovacevic out).

IMO, Casey needs to play regularly wherever he is. Meaning, the Devils should either rotate him and Nemec in NJ (possible), or they send him down to get big minutes in Utica.

My personal preference is Utica - just because I think Casey will benefit more from playing top pair / all situations minutes vs lesser competition than he will playing sheltered minutes in the NHL. But, that's not a call I get to make.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Justin Dowling
Ryan Schmelzer
Joe Gambardella
Colton White
All 4 of these guys have to clear waivers and it's most likely they will again.

A player is considered a VET if he has played in 321games or more at the NHL, AHL, and recognized European elite Leagues (e.g. KHL, SHL, LIIGA, ELH, Del, NL)
Only 5 players of this status may participate in an AHL game.

A Veteran Elite player (a player who has played between 261 games and less 321 in the list of leagues above.
1 VE may be in the lineup with 5 VETs. More than 1 VE may participate as long as the total of VETs and VEs don't exceed 6.

I have been hoping the Devils would hold off on this final VET spot for GD center. If they don't, Lebanc would be a good choice at this late date unless they can pick up a better choice released from another NHL franchise.

Zboril hasn't even been a good AHL D-man.
Andy Welinski has played exclusively inthe AHL the las t 3 seasons with a total of 5 different teams and was signed by the Devils to a PTO which if sent to Utica would be his 6th to start season 4.

Both of these guys would qualify as Vets and neither is one for whom you want to give up that spot.

Oh, and goalies are immune to this rule.

Disagree on Welinski. Doesn't have the offensive flashes of Zboril but with the depth New Jersey has, depending on who joins the Comets when Luke Hughes, Pesce and the rest of the injured D eventually return, there should be more than enough players to fill that role. A veteran presence would be nice.

 

[Bad Goalie]

If he got a one way deal with Columbus above league minimum he needed to take it. He will get much better opportunity there.

Absolutely. That's a no brainer.

I believe Pesce has played the left side before, so my guess is that he'd slot into the spot Casey's been filling (vs bumping Nemec or Kovacevic out).

IMO, Casey needs to play regularly wherever he is. Meaning, the Devils should either rotate him and Nemec in NJ (possible), or they send him down to get big minutes in Utica.

My personal preference is Utica - just because I think Casey will benefit more from playing top pair / all situations minutes vs lesser competition than he will playing sheltered minutes in the NHL. But, that's not a call I get to make.

Yeah, it's not your call. Too bad though, I know a building full of STHs and paying customers would be on your side.

This is really the right call if they are not going to give him regular time in the top 6. In Utica he would be #1 RD with either Misyul or Vilen on his left. He would be the #1 PP QB. Would get PK time. Would be on the ice in all important situations. NJ can't give him that and it would prepare him for such next season and have him available for any right side Call-up dut prior to that.

I think that's NJ's plan anyway when Luke returns as long as the top 6 including Casey are all healthy. They are protecting him and giving him limited ice time vs the huge amount he would get in Utica. It would also give him a chance to develop some leadership qualities for his future.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Disagree on Welinski. Doesn't have the offensive flashes of Zboril but with the depth New Jersey has, depending on who joins the Comets when Luke Hughes, Pesce and the rest of the injured D eventually return, there should be more than enough players to fill that role. A veteran presence would be nice.

Agree, but they will both be veterans by AHL rules and only 5 can play and they together would make 6 forcing someone else already being counted upon out of the lineup. Unless you can guarantee White isn't better than one of them and Dineen would dare to put him in the well watching through the glass, it's not the best idea to sign them both.

In hind sight, an old coach of mine used to say, "Ah Hell, someone's bound to get hurt."

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Given the emergence of Kovacevic and the pending return of Pesce, plus the veteran presence of Dillon, what are the odds of both Nemec AND Casey spending time in Utica to "marinate"?

Wouldn't mind Hughes starting there once he returns from his injury but given the optics and organizational politics that doesn't seem likely.

 

[My3Sons]

Given the emergence of Kovacevic and the pending return of Pesce, plus the veteran presence of Dillon, what are the odds of both Nemec AND Casey spending time in Utica to "marinate"?

Wouldn't mind Hughes starting there once he returns from his injury but given the optics and organizational politics that doesn't seem likely.

Maybe a conditioning stint?

 

[Guadana]

Given the emergence of Kovacevic and the pending return of Pesce, plus the veteran presence of Dillon, what are the odds of both Nemec AND Casey spending time in Utica to "marinate"?

Wouldn't mind Hughes starting there once he returns from his injury but given the optics and organizational politics that doesn't seem likely.

Zero. I still don't believe that they can send Nemec to AHL. He is good overall, he is good in details. I believe they will prefer to stay with defensemen in the roster or give Casey the most and biggest major role in AHL than send Nemec to AHL to learn nothing there and spoil relationships.

 

[Call Me Al]

Given the emergence of Kovacevic and the pending return of Pesce, plus the veteran presence of Dillon, what are the odds of both Nemec AND Casey spending time in Utica to "marinate"?

Wouldn't mind Hughes starting there once he returns from his injury but given the optics and organizational politics that doesn't seem likely.

“optics and organizational politics” - we have two LHD on the roster right now and hughes had 47 points last season. the mental gymnastics required to say he shouldnt be in the nhl…

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

“optics and organizational politics” - we have two LHD on the roster right now and hughes had 47 points last season. the mental gymnastics required to say he shouldnt be in the nhl…

From what I've heard he is likely to be out of the lineup for another month or so. Assuming the Devils are playing well, with a defense corps of say Dougie-Dillon, Siegs-Pesce and Kovacevic with one of the other veterans, why wouldn't it benefit both Luke and the Devils for him to play 6-8 games with Utica until he is back to top condition?