Just because they're not officially sent down doesn't mean they're not Comets. Is staying up in the NHL training camp that detrimental? I presume the AHL coaches are there to guide them, still being in the NHL in name only.
I don't follow this. Of course they are still Comets. The point I have tried to make is that the Comets ave carried and are carrying the brunt of the Devils' preseason as NJ readied readied for Prague.
Prior to preseason game 1 both teams practiced every day.
1st 4 preseason games to be played in 6 days The rosters for all but game 4 were a mix of Devils and Comets.
9/22 Preseason 1- Devil's 2nd and 4th line
Bowers centers Palat and Noesen
Schmelzer centers Foote and Stillman -theoretically a Comets line
3 Top6 D
9/24 Preseason 2- Devils 2nd line
2 top 6 D
9/25 Preseason 3 - Top 2 Devils lines played this game.
3rd line centered by Dowling.
Macdermid with Parent and Stillman formed the 4th line resting the Devils 4th line who played in game 1.
2 top 6 D
9/27 Pregame 4 - Devils forwards comprised all 4 lines
Cotter centering # 1 with Hughes absent.
Foote took Cotter's spot on line 4.
2 top 6 D
That's it now off to Prague for some practices, but no games until OCT 4 & 5.
Comets will get 2 days between game 4 for rest? and practice. Then they will play 3 games in 4 days 9/30, 10/1, and 10/3. On 10/4 the Comets have their only preseason game vs the Syracuse Crunch on 10/4.
Would have to guess that Dineen gives them 10/5 for a break and to deal with their housing/etc. and then back to work on 10/6 to be ready for their season opener on 10/11 again against the Crunch in Utica.
5 days to get things straight.
1st who actually are the Comets and who heads out to Adirondack.
Who does NJ send down by 10/7. Those waiver eligible have to wait 24 hours before being assigned.
After getting that all straight, who skates with whom making up the Comets lines to start the season.
Who makes up the D-pairs.
Are their unhealthy guys in NJ who can't come down until they are game ready. That may determine a Thunder player stays here until such time that player is sent down.
I'm sorry. If you can't see that the Comets had a harder time during the preseason that's on you. That's my stance and I won't argue about it any further.