Tbf Utica is something like 25-19-4 since their brutal start. So still not worldbeaters but not quite as bad as the record suggests either. For whatever reason Hershey has struggled a lot against them the last few years.
Does Stevenson just stink now?
Interesting timing for them to scrap the most economical season ticket plan in the midst of such a poor season at home.
Defense. Badly. With Mac up in DC all year, Osipov getting dealt on Black Friday (ironically BECAUSE there was a logjam at the time), Ness out for the last month or so, and HHA and Day both leaving a few months back they're quite depleted right now. The likes of Jon McDonald and Andrew Perrott are getting sweaters almost every game. I agree with HB13 that Chesley would be an immediate upgrade right now. Offensive depth wouldn't hurt because, like HB13 also said, every time they get healthy they lose another player or two, but scoring hasn't been a huge issue since December. But still, they essentially iced two fourth lines last night (and still scored four goals, though).
Certainly not making me reconsider my decision to not upgrade. My daughter is using every trick she knows to try to change my mind, though! Other than opening night, I don't recall being at another sold out game this season and last night was our 12th. Oh well.
I don't want to undersell those guys. They've all grown on me. Saulnier is fast and has a good shot, Strome has deceptively good hands (just cement skates that hold him back), and Smith I agree has been better than expected. There's been plenty of times this year when the fourth line is far and away their best of the night, and they're all more than just plugs. But they're definitely not guys you want to rely on either (which they have way too much this year)
Oh wow. he was on a two way contract. Was his new deal both ways as well?
