2024-25 Utica Comets and ECHL thread

[Call Me Al]

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?

that’s fair - a conditioning stint is completely reasonable but i assumed you want him down for the year. your reputation precedes you, my bad.

 

[Triumph]

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?

Because he's an NHL player and NHL players belong in the NHL. Conditioning stints for position players are exceptionally rare for a reason.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Devils make another cut.
As I said after the last big cut:

Shane Bowers
and
Colton White
and
Nico Daws
would be sent down after the Prague series.

I also said I was thinking we would see
Nick DeSimone. He becomes the 5th VET on the roster.

I hit the nail on
Nolan Foote
if the Devils kept 13 forwards.

So Utica adds
Bowers
Foote to their Forwards list

White
DeSimone
to their D-Corps

Nico Daws
joins Poulter and Brennan

No word yet on PTOs
Zboril or Welinski

Injured Hatakka, Vilen, and Filmon will be sent to Utica, but not until they become game ready.

 

[Bad Goalie]

The AHL has no number limits. The size of the roster is determined by the Head Coach in consultation with his coaches and maybe some input from the GM. The rest are sent to ECHL Adirondack or if not signed either given PTOs or released.

Right now (Injured players included) the roster looks like this.
Forwards:
Justin Dowling (VET)
Joe Gambardella (VET)
Ryan Schmelzer (VET)
Shane Bowers
Brian Halonen
Nolan Foote
Max Willman
Adam Beckman (has been returned)
Mike Hardman
Xavier Parent
Chase Stillman
Samuel Laberge
Nathan Legare
Josh Filmon (is expected to be returned 10/10 according to PuckPedia)
Filip Engaras
Jack Malone
Dylan Wendt

Andre Ghantous
Kevin O'Neil
Tag Bertuzzi
Jace Isley
All 4 have been assigned to Adirondack

D-men
Nick DeSimone (Vet)
Colton White (Vet)
Daniil Misyul
Topias Vilen (Is expected to return 10/22 /PuckPedia)
Santeri Hatakka (expected to return 10/10 /PuckPedia)
Mikael Diotte
Will MacKinnon
Jack van de Leest

There were 6 D who played in the Comets only preseason game with Syracuse on Friday.
- Brendan Less (3yr pro all with Adirondack 44GP 23-24)
- Darian Skeoch (5th yr pro with 4 ECHL teams, 46 GP with Adirondack '23-24)
- Ryan Wheeler (3rd yr pro, 61 GP with Adirondack '23-24
-Kurt Gosselin (5th yr pro and he did not play from "20-22, played 145 ECHL games and 8 with AHL Rochester/about to play his 1st season with Adirondack.
- The other 2 will,be rookie Pros this season

I don't see a lot of help from that lineup. Either up front or on D and right now it's not like Utica is going to be sending them much beyond maybe van de Leest.

 

[My3Sons]

The AHL has no number limits. The size of the roster is determined by the Head Coach in consultation with his coaches and maybe some input from the GM. The rest are sent to ECHL Adirondack or if not signed either given PTOs or released.

Right now (Injured players included) the roster looks like this.
Forwards:
Justin Dowling (VET)
Joe Gambardella (VET)
Ryan Schmelzer (VET)
Shane Bowers
Brian Halonen
Nolan Foote
Max Willman
Adam Beckman (has been returned)
Mike Hardman
Xavier Parent
Chase Stillman
Samuel Laberge
Nathan Legare
Josh Filmon (is expected to be returned 10/10 according to PuckPedia)
Filip Engaras
Jack Malone
Dylan Wendt
Andre Ghantous
Kevin O'Neil
Tag Bertuzzi
Jace Isley

D-men
Nick DeSimone (Vet)
Colton White (Vet)
Daniil Misyul
Topias Vilen (Is expected to return 10/22 /PuckPedia)
Santeri Hatakka (expected to return 10/10 /PuckPedia)
Mikael Diotte
Will MacKinnon
Jack van de Leest

There were 6 D who played in the Comets only preseason game with Syracuse on Friday.
- Brendan Less (3yr pro all with Adirondack 44GP 23-24)
- Darian Skeoch (5th yr pro with 4 ECHL teams, 46 GP with Adirondack '23-24)
- Ryan Wheeler (3rd yr pro, 61 GP with Adirondack '23-24
-Kurt Gosselin (5th yr pro and he did not play from "20-22, played 145 ECHL games and 8 with AHL Rochester/about to play his 1st season with Adirondack.
- The other 2 will,be rookie Pros this season

I don't see a lot of help from that lineup. Either up front or on D and right now it's not like Utica is going to be sending them much beyond maybe van de Leest.

No Grahame or Melovsky?

 

[Bad Goalie]

No Grahame or Melovsky?

Returned to their respective jr teams.
Graham - Kelowna WHL
Melovsky - Baie Comaeu QMJHL

 

[Guttersniped]

Someone might be available.

Chase, baby

 

[Guttersniped]

Returning Players:
FORWARDS
Ryan Wheeler 27 LW/LHD
Ryan Smith 27 C/RW
Andre Ghantous 25 RW
Alex Young 23 C/RW
TJ Friedmann 26 RW/C
Jace Isley 22 C/LW
DEFENSEMEN
Brendan Less 26 RHD
Ryan Conroy 23 LHD
Darian Skeoch 27 RHD/RW
GOALIES
Tyler Brennan 21 G

New Players:
FORWARDS
Chase Brand 25 C (NCAA)
Kevin O’Neil 26 RW (Two-Way AHL deal)
Zach Bannister 25 F (NCAA III)
Tyson Gilmour 26 C (PTO, NCAA III & Doug Gilmour’s son)
Ryan Francis 22 RW/C (had AHL deal w/ Ontario)
Patrick Polino 29 C (trade)
Keanen Stewart (NCAA)
Tag Bertuzzi 23 C/RW (trade, Two-Way AHL deal)
Shaw Boomhower 25 LW/C (ECHL)
DEFENSEMEN
Kurt Gosselin 29 LHD (trade)
Ty Gibson 21 RHD (WHL)
Taylor Ford 27 LHD (USports)
James Marooney 25 LHD (NCAA)
GOALIES
David Fessenden 26 G (NCAA)

 

[Bad Goalie]

Returning Players:
FORWARDS
Ryan Wheeler 27 LW/LHD
Ryan Smith 27 C/RW
Andre Ghantous 25 RW
Alex Young 23 C/RW
TJ Friedmann 26 RW/C
Jace Isley 22 C/LW
DEFENSEMEN
Brendan Less 26 RHD
Ryan Conroy 23 LHD
Darian Skeoch 27 RHD/RW
GOALIES
Tyler Brennan 21 G

New Players:
FORWARDS
Chase Brand 25 C (NCAA)
Kevin O’Neil 26 RW (Two-Way AHL deal)
Zach Bannister 25 F (NCAA III)
Tyson Gilmour 26 C (PTO, NCAA III & Doug Gilmour’s son)
Ryan Francis 22 RW/C (had AHL deal w/ Ontario)
Patrick Polino 29 C (trade)
Keanen Stewart (NCAA)
Tag Bertuzzi 23 C/RW (trade, Two-Way AHL deal)
Shaw Boomhower 25 LW/C (ECHL)
DEFENSEMEN
Kurt Gosselin 29 LHD (trade)
Ty Gibson 21 RHD (WHL)
Taylor Ford 27 LHD (USports)
James Marooney 25 LHD (NCAA)
GOALIES
David Fessenden 26 G (NCAA)

This was primarily the roster that played for the Comets vs Syracuse in the Comets only preseason game.

New comers are:
Ty Gibson
Chase Brand
Tyson Gilmour (PTO)
Shawn Boomhower

The Comets in the NJ camp now in the Thunder camp are:
Tag Bertuzzi
Jace Isley
Andre Ghantous
Kevin O'Neil
Tyler Brennan
The 1st 4 all have AHL contracts while Brennan has NJ ELC. That reduces the number of players on the Utica Camp Roster. Ridiculous to call kit a training camp considering the fact that they open their season on Friday at home vs the Syracuse Crunch.

 

[Bad Goalie]

View attachment 913135
Someone might be available.

Chase, baby

I'd still love the Devils to reach out and get this guy to Utica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He'd be the #1 missing center even if it's second position to LW.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Utica's definite skaters currently in Utica.
Forwards:
Shane Bowers
Justin Dowling
Ryan Schmelzer
Filip Engaras
Nolan Foote
Joe Gambardella
Brian Halonen
Max Willman
Adam Beckman
Mike Hardman
Xavier Parent
Josh Filmon
Chase Stillman
Sam Laberge
Nathan Legare
Jack Malone
Dylan Wendt
I very much doubt that Dineen will carry 17 forwards

D-men:
Daniil Misyul
Nick DeSimone
Mikael Diotte
Colton White
Will MacKinnon
Jackson van de Leest
Still waiting on:
Topias Vilen (he's day to day with projected return 10/22)
Santeri Hatakka (projected return10/10, but don't know if that means NJ or Utica)

Goal:
Nico Daws
Isaac Poulter

We are also still awaiting what NJ will do with Zboril and Welinski.

 

[HBK27]

Where's Brodeur?

Assuming he'll split time with Brennan in Adirondack?

 

[Bad Goalie]

Where's Brodeur?

Assuming he'll split time with Brennan in Adirondack?

He is not listed as a member of the Thunder training camp.

Utica has not officially released a list of who is in Utica.

However, Brodeur was announced as in Utica on 10/4/24 by the Rome Sentinel.

 

[Bad Goalie]

The Utica Comets might just as well take down their website as they never put anything important on it beyond the roster which they fail to keep updated and game results the next day.

Then they post meaningless crap which really doesn't inform the fan base of anything worthwhile.

They post more on Twitter/X and Facebook.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

The Utica Comets might just as well take down their website as they never put anything important on it beyond the roster which they fail to keep updated and game results the next day.

Then they post meaningless crap which really doesn't inform the fan base of anything worthwhile.

They post more on Twitter/X and Facebook.

Pretty much the same as the Devils' social media - it is more promotional than informative; relying mostly on low paid interns rather than professional broadcasters or writers.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

This was primarily the roster that played for the Comets vs Syracuse in the Comets only preseason game.

New comers are:
Ty Gibson
Chase Brand
Tyson Gilmour (PTO)
Shawn Boomhower

The Comets in the NJ camp now in the Thunder camp are:
Tag Bertuzzi
Jace Isley
Andre Ghantous
Kevin O'Neil
Tyler Brennan
The 1st 4 all have AHL contracts while Brennan has NJ ELC. That reduces the number of players on the Utica Camp Roster. Ridiculous to call kit a training camp considering the fact that they open their season on Friday at home vs the Syracuse Crunch.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Filmon, Beckman and Vilen still in NJ on injured non-rostrer and Hatakka on injured reserve. Thus, they are not on the active Comets roster even though the Comets have listed them on their official Comets 2024025 roster on their website. Technically they are not there. When they become game ready they can be reassigned and the roster spots can be affirmed.

Based upon this the Comets have a total of 15 forwards and 6 D-men listed on the roster for Friday night. Dineen had better have at least 1 more D-man in town right now. They will still practice tomorrow (Wednesday) and have short skate on Thursday. Anything can happen between now and Friday and they also play at home on Saturday.

The forwards are all right they have 3 extras. The D has none and the D-lineup is not exactly inspiring:
Misyul
DFeSimone
Colton White
Mikael Diotte (He wasn't close to stellar in NJ. Probably gave the puck away more than he connected on pass attempts.)
Will MacKinnon (We know what we have, but he would not have been top 6 had NJ not suffered issues with Pesce, Luke, and Nemec. Those setback shone a light on Casey and he excelled.)
Jack van de Leest (we also know what we have with him as well. he would definitely not have been top 6. Without the issues expressed just above he would have been Adirondack bound.)

Our 6 would have been Casey, Misyul, Vilen, Hatakka, DeSimone, and White, a very fomiddable D-corps. MacKinnon and Diotte would have been in competition for #s 7/8 and van de Leest would be with the Thunder.

So, one player's misfortune is another's opportunity. It's up to those given that opportunity to step up. We'll very quickly see how that goes. We know Syracuse will be a physical, hard forechecking team. If certain D-men can't handle that pressue. It will be a tough row to hoe for Daws tomorrow night. The forwards will have to be super effective on the backcheck and with their coverage in the D-zone. Lazy backchecks and weak defensive coverage will spell doom for the Comets.

 

[Guttersniped]

Filmon, Beckman and Vilen still in NJ on injured non-rostrer and Hatakka on injured reserve. Thus, they are not on the active Comets roster even though the Comets have listed them on their official Comets 2024025 roster on their website. Technically they are not there. When they become game ready they can be reassigned and the roster spots can be affirmed.

Based upon this the Comets have a total of 15 forwards and 6 D-men listed on the roster for Friday night. Dineen had better have at least 1 more D-man in town right now. They will still practice tomorrow (Wednesday) and have short skate on Thursday. Anything can happen between now and Friday and they also play at home on Saturday.

The forwards are all right they have 3 extras. The D has none and the D-lineup is not exactly inspiring:
Misyul
DFeSimone
Colton White
Mikael Diotte (He wasn't close to stellar in NJ. Probably gave the puck away more than he connected on pass attempts.)
Will MacKinnon (We know what we have, but he would not have been top 6 had NJ not suffered issues with Pesce, Luke, and Nemec. Those setback shone a light on Casey and he excelled.)
Jack van de Leest (we also know what we have with him as well. he would definitely not have been top 6. Without the issues expressed just above he would have been Adirondack bound.)

Our 6 would have been Casey, Misyul, Vilen, Hatakka, DeSimone, and White, a very fomiddable D-corps. MacKinnon and Diotte would have been in competition for #s 7/8 and van de Leest would be with the Thunder.

So, one player's misfortune is another's opportunity. It's up to those given that opportunity to step up. We'll very quickly see how that goes. We know Syracuse will be a physical, hard forechecking team. If certain D-men can't handle that pressue. It will be a tough row to hoe for Daws tomorrow night. The forwards will have to be super effective on the backcheck and with their coverage in the D-zone. Lazy backchecks and weak defensive coverage will spell doom for the Comets.

Not sure why you’re crapping on Diotte specifically.

Defensemen this preseason:

Spoiler: Pre-Season Time on the Ice

Lol, poor Hatakka only played 11 minutes but 5 of them were on the PK.

The AHL is a development league, Diotte is there to develop.

DeSimone had the 5th most PP assists among defensemen the last time he was playing full-time in the AHL. He was 8th in points.
2022-23:
65 GP 8G 38A 46 points
65 GP 4 PPG & 21 PPA

So DeSimone can help the power play.

You’re obviously not wrong about Van De Leest, who should be in Adirondack.

An organization with more respectable depth would have MacKinnon as the fringy tweener and Van De Leest as a full time ECHLer.

Colton White lol.

Hatakka getting injured after 11 minutes of pre-season play doesn’t make me optimistic about his ability to stay on the ice, and that’s a bummer.

So reinforcements will be Vilén.

As to your last point:
The lack of skill is a worry, but I don’t think effort will be a problem at all. The line-up is full of guys trying to make it as NHL 4th line grinders.