Yup. Take bigger swings than that.
Devils team discussion (news, notes and speculation) - season begins!
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Yup. Take bigger swings than that.
- Dec 20, 2018
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I appreciate people politely ignoring how my non-proofread posts are just jumbled hot messes at times.
My original post was one sentence long and a lot went wrong lol.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
That line was probably beat up a bit the last few games and needed these days off. Hence Timo not skating today.
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Kreider is a gym freak and those guys tend to last longer. Panarin is also too skilled to really fall out of relevancy.
Zib is similar to a lot of those top6 forwards that fall off a cliff at 30. He's already showing his age.
One sentence long posts and you. Name a more iconic duo.
1st off the Comets have been a wasteland in terms of centers. They have never really had an established #1 since the Devils came to Utica. In '21-22 the team was powered by an abundance of high quality forwards that really only needed a center to win faceoffs and feed them puck at some point on every rush and to also help dig pucks out of the corners and off the end boards for them. The forwards did the rest.
eg. Chase DeLeo, A.J. Greer, Fabian Zetterlund, Alexander Holtz, Nolan Foote, Joe Gambardella. They were the the wings on the top 3 lines. Their centers were Frederik Gauthier, Bryan Flynn, Ryan Schmelzer, Nate Scharr until he was traded to Montreal, Aarne Talvitie, and at times DeLeo filled in as the #1 C.
That was the best center group that Utica has ever had. As the talent on the wings fell off from season to season the Comets have been on a continuous decline from season to season until you see what's there now. The centers are not good and the forwards cannot drive offense.
Last year '23-24:
- Kyle Criscuolo (C) - 16/26/42 #4 in scoring. Left in free agency and is playing with the Charlotte Checkers and has produced 7/9/16 in in 13 GP. He's playing at a near 90 PT season pace. Comets couldn't use that could they? NJ neglected to offer him a deal.
- Shane Bowers (C) - only played 43 games with Utica due to time in NJ. He proved he could score if someone gave him the puck and Criscuolo did, but his 10/4/14 showed he was never a productive player. 0/3/3 13GP this season backs that up.
- Ryan Schmelzer (C) - Was the team's leading scorer with 18/34/52 72GP (the only Comet to play every game). He has mainly centered Beckman and Foote. Theyhave been the 1st line and Foote (4/5/9 12 GP) was tied for the scoring lead with Casey at 9 pts each. Beckman has put up 2/4/6 in 8 GP.
- Dowling (C) - 14/26/40 in 57 GP last season. Was 2/2/4 in 6 GP before the Devils called him up. He was the only true AHL talented Center on the roster and he was an ideal #2.
- Filip Engaras (C) - 6/6/12 53 GP was an Adirondack Thunder player that the Comets had to play for most of the last 2/3 of the season because there was noone else.
He's back this season 1/0/1 5 GP but was injured and was just reactivated. Will play their next game on Friday. He is not going to be a point producer and has centered the 4th line with Legare and Laberge. It's the energy line used to check the opponent all over the ice, forecheck, backcheck, muck things up.
Nolan Stevens (C) - He was picked up in a deal with Grand Rapids at the halfway point. He was nothing special producing2/6/8 in 25 GP. He is currently playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden where he has put up 7/14/21 i n 16 GP
- Xavier Parent - (anywhere up front) 15/30/45 71 GP, #3 in scoring has just entered the lineup due to a preseason ankle/foot injury.
- Joe Gambardella - (LW/C) 9/20/29 Was hampered most of the season with a knee injury which he played with through most of his 61GP. Like Parent just entered the lineup after off season knee surgery.
- Brian Halonen (RW) - Split last season between Utica and NJ. 20/9/29 in 35 GP. He has always had a shoot first mentality which hurts his line. This season 5/2/7 in 13 GP. 3 of the 5 were on the PP and 2 of those were 2 man advantage goals. Another was a shorty. He has been ineffective 5 on 5 due to his no pass until no other choice exists style.
- Max Willman (LW/C) - Last season 12/10/22 in 33 GP due to a large amount of time in NJ. This season he has been a complte flop. 1/2/3 13GP
I think that Halonen, Bowers, and Willman are crybabying it due to having been cut by NJ.
- Graeme Clarke (LW) - 25/24/49 in 67 GP. #2 inscoring and #1 in goals. Traded to Minnesota for Adam Beckman in the summer. Both are guys that their parent clubs took a pass on and hoped a change of scenery could incentivise them to pick up their games to become NHL players instead of high profile AHLers. In AHL Iowa Graeme is 1/1/2 in 6 GP. Beckman is doing better in Utica. So far Utica won the move. Lots of hockey left.
- Chase Stillman (RW) - Last season he produced 14/10/24 in 54 GP. This season he is 1/1/2 in 12 GP.
That's the gist of last season to this up front. The players added this season do not play center with the exception of Jack Malone:
- Jack Malone (C) 1/0/1 10 GP Is not an AHL level center, but is forced into the lineup due to call-ups and injury.
- Mike Hardman (LW) - Haven't really seen what this guy can do 1/0/1 in 5 GP. He's injured.
- Dylan Wendt (RW) - He is not AHL material. 0/2/2 in 5 GP. Currently in Adirondack.Josh Filmon
- Josh Filmon (LW) - 0/0/0 8GP. Josh looks lost at the AHL level. Was recently sent down to Adirondack. Maybe he can find his game down there. He was not ready for pro hockey at this level
All NJ basically did was re-sign what was here other than Criscuolo (too small for NJ at 5'9"/178, but he was the highest producing recruit for the '23'24 season.
They made a trade with Clarke for Beckman.
Signed college free agent Dylan Wendt to a 2-yr ELC which at the moment looks like a poor move.
Signed Hardman after Chicago let him go, a .52 PPG AHLer in 169 GP.
Signed collge player Jack Malone to a 2-yr AHL deal. That contract is looking bustworthy at the moment. Still early to decide, but he has done nothing.
Signed RD Mikael Diotte to a 3-yr ELC. He played 5 games with Utica recording 1A. He has been sent to Adirondack.
Not a whole lot of heavy lifting by NJ. Fitz was too busy shoring up the Devils and gave no license to anyone else to construct the Comets. So when they were ready, there wern't any good ones left.
Or those who were didn't get sold on Utica.
eg. Chase DeLeo, A.J. Greer, Fabian Zetterlund, Alexander Holtz, Nolan Foote, Joe Gambardella. They were the the wings on the top 3 lines. Their centers were Frederik Gauthier, Bryan Flynn, Ryan Schmelzer, Nate Scharr until he was traded to Montreal, Aarne Talvitie, and at times DeLeo filled in as the #1 C.
That was the best center group that Utica has ever had. As the talent on the wings fell off from season to season the Comets have been on a continuous decline from season to season until you see what's there now. The centers are not good and the forwards cannot drive offense.
Last year '23-24:
- Kyle Criscuolo (C) - 16/26/42 #4 in scoring. Left in free agency and is playing with the Charlotte Checkers and has produced 7/9/16 in in 13 GP. He's playing at a near 90 PT season pace. Comets couldn't use that could they? NJ neglected to offer him a deal.
- Shane Bowers (C) - only played 43 games with Utica due to time in NJ. He proved he could score if someone gave him the puck and Criscuolo did, but his 10/4/14 showed he was never a productive player. 0/3/3 13GP this season backs that up.
- Ryan Schmelzer (C) - Was the team's leading scorer with 18/34/52 72GP (the only Comet to play every game). He has mainly centered Beckman and Foote. Theyhave been the 1st line and Foote (4/5/9 12 GP) was tied for the scoring lead with Casey at 9 pts each. Beckman has put up 2/4/6 in 8 GP.
- Dowling (C) - 14/26/40 in 57 GP last season. Was 2/2/4 in 6 GP before the Devils called him up. He was the only true AHL talented Center on the roster and he was an ideal #2.
- Filip Engaras (C) - 6/6/12 53 GP was an Adirondack Thunder player that the Comets had to play for most of the last 2/3 of the season because there was noone else.
He's back this season 1/0/1 5 GP but was injured and was just reactivated. Will play their next game on Friday. He is not going to be a point producer and has centered the 4th line with Legare and Laberge. It's the energy line used to check the opponent all over the ice, forecheck, backcheck, muck things up.
Nolan Stevens (C) - He was picked up in a deal with Grand Rapids at the halfway point. He was nothing special producing2/6/8 in 25 GP. He is currently playing in the HockeyAllsvenskan in Sweden where he has put up 7/14/21 i n 16 GP
- Xavier Parent - (anywhere up front) 15/30/45 71 GP, #3 in scoring has just entered the lineup due to a preseason ankle/foot injury.
- Joe Gambardella - (LW/C) 9/20/29 Was hampered most of the season with a knee injury which he played with through most of his 61GP. Like Parent just entered the lineup after off season knee surgery.
- Brian Halonen (RW) - Split last season between Utica and NJ. 20/9/29 in 35 GP. He has always had a shoot first mentality which hurts his line. This season 5/2/7 in 13 GP. 3 of the 5 were on the PP and 2 of those were 2 man advantage goals. Another was a shorty. He has been ineffective 5 on 5 due to his no pass until no other choice exists style.
- Max Willman (LW/C) - Last season 12/10/22 in 33 GP due to a large amount of time in NJ. This season he has been a complte flop. 1/2/3 13GP
I think that Halonen, Bowers, and Willman are crybabying it due to having been cut by NJ.
- Graeme Clarke (LW) - 25/24/49 in 67 GP. #2 inscoring and #1 in goals. Traded to Minnesota for Adam Beckman in the summer. Both are guys that their parent clubs took a pass on and hoped a change of scenery could incentivise them to pick up their games to become NHL players instead of high profile AHLers. In AHL Iowa Graeme is 1/1/2 in 6 GP. Beckman is doing better in Utica. So far Utica won the move. Lots of hockey left.
- Chase Stillman (RW) - Last season he produced 14/10/24 in 54 GP. This season he is 1/1/2 in 12 GP.
That's the gist of last season to this up front. The players added this season do not play center with the exception of Jack Malone:
- Jack Malone (C) 1/0/1 10 GP Is not an AHL level center, but is forced into the lineup due to call-ups and injury.
- Mike Hardman (LW) - Haven't really seen what this guy can do 1/0/1 in 5 GP. He's injured.
- Dylan Wendt (RW) - He is not AHL material. 0/2/2 in 5 GP. Currently in Adirondack.Josh Filmon
- Josh Filmon (LW) - 0/0/0 8GP. Josh looks lost at the AHL level. Was recently sent down to Adirondack. Maybe he can find his game down there. He was not ready for pro hockey at this level
All NJ basically did was re-sign what was here other than Criscuolo (too small for NJ at 5'9"/178, but he was the highest producing recruit for the '23'24 season.
They made a trade with Clarke for Beckman.
Signed college free agent Dylan Wendt to a 2-yr ELC which at the moment looks like a poor move.
Signed Hardman after Chicago let him go, a .52 PPG AHLer in 169 GP.
Signed collge player Jack Malone to a 2-yr AHL deal. That contract is looking bustworthy at the moment. Still early to decide, but he has done nothing.
Signed RD Mikael Diotte to a 3-yr ELC. He played 5 games with Utica recording 1A. He has been sent to Adirondack.
Not a whole lot of heavy lifting by NJ. Fitz was too busy shoring up the Devils and gave no license to anyone else to construct the Comets. So when they were ready, there wern't any good ones left.
Or those who were didn't get sold on Utica.
ZachaFlockaFlame
Registered User
- Aug 24, 2020
- 15,843
- 20,971
Got a fantasy noti that Timo was day to day until I saw it was just rest, almost died on spot when I got it 
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Got a fantasy noti that Timo was day to day until I saw it was just rest, almost died on spot when I got it
Well it's back spasms so it's not impossible he misses a game or two.
But I tend to think he will be in the lineup come Thursday.
I don't really think trading picks is why it's costing us. It's just shitty drafting and wrong philosophy imo since fitz took over
marchands an asshole though, and fitz doesn't want any of those
Richer's Ghost
Bourbonite
Yea even without the hot start with Nosen Id rather have him over March (id rather have march over tatar though). He's exactly what this team needed, march not so much
I mean in a vacuum sure Marchessault is better than Tatar but considering context it's a no brainer to me and I'd much rather not have Marchessault. Tatar's also gone under appreciated this year because his offense has dried up. The guy is still a great playdriver and one of the best on the team. Away from the 2 bums he's up 7-3 in goals with a 59% CF, 57% xG, 61% SCF, 56% HDCF. He needs to be moved back up the lineup. For 1.8 mil he's still a valuable piece and better than being saddled to Marchessault.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
Sometimes the best signing is the one you don't make. Marchy is one of those.
Noesen with Tatar on the cheap is the better offseason package.
As for the Labanc and hand-wringing about various JAG players. I don't think another soft scoring forward on our 4th line makes much, if any, difference with our current record.
Cap situation makes things difficult and as much as Fitz doesn't like deadline adds, I think he realized that in season was going to be when he could add more depth.
I doubt he waits all the way until the deadline though unless the prices are really that bad. Especially for a bottom 6 piece
Noesen with Tatar on the cheap is the better offseason package.
As for the Labanc and hand-wringing about various JAG players. I don't think another soft scoring forward on our 4th line makes much, if any, difference with our current record.
Cap situation makes things difficult and as much as Fitz doesn't like deadline adds, I think he realized that in season was going to be when he could add more depth.
I doubt he waits all the way until the deadline though unless the prices are really that bad. Especially for a bottom 6 piece
