The Utica Comets | 2020-2021 Thread
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Or was it Jasek, haha? And then Jasek with a good chance off the Baertschi feed on the 2 on 1 (or was it Santini?)
Numbers 8 and 9, but the Rochester announcers could not tell them apart.
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Joshua with 2 nice efforts. Rochester back into the Utica end and give up possession.
Uitca comes up the ice and loses it in the Amerks end.
Baertschicomes back in with Jasek, passes to Jasek alone in the slot and somehow he doesn't score.
Rest of the game in the Comets end and the Amerks skate themselves into a last shot situation and Gillies stops it or it missed the net. Couldn't tell. No matter that's it for the OT.
Uitca comes up the ice and loses it in the Amerks end.
Baertschicomes back in with Jasek, passes to Jasek alone in the slot and somehow he doesn't score.
Rest of the game in the Comets end and the Amerks skate themselves into a last shot situation and Gillies stops it or it missed the net. Couldn't tell. No matter that's it for the OT.
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Shootout time.
1. C.J. Smith goes for Rochester and scores with a deke.
Lind for the Comets and is stopped. Not much of a chance.
2. Quinn for Rochester. Turns Gillies inside out and scores. What puck handling!
Anas for Utica- Scores! a nice deke.
3. Sebastian Dea can win it here.
Another excellent deke and scores. Rochester wins 4-3
All 3 Amerks scored.
Utica lost this one in the OT 3 breakaways and Jasek all alone in the slot.
1. C.J. Smith goes for Rochester and scores with a deke.
Lind for the Comets and is stopped. Not much of a chance.
2. Quinn for Rochester. Turns Gillies inside out and scores. What puck handling!
Anas for Utica- Scores! a nice deke.
3. Sebastian Dea can win it here.
Another excellent deke and scores. Rochester wins 4-3
All 3 Amerks scored.
Utica lost this one in the OT 3 breakaways and Jasek all alone in the slot.
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1440
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My Canucks prospect take aways:
Lind: Very frustrating player to watch. Has lots of skill, but tries to do everything himself. Takes everyone on 1 on 1 and took a lot of bad-angle shots when he could have waited to make a pass. Looked very lost without the puck in the first OT shift and did not get a second. Made several nice plays and had some glorious chances though. Good offensive instincts, but selfish and lack of attention to details. Lots of giveaways in the neutral zone.
Gadjovitch: Limited skill, but works hard. Sort of the opposite of Lind this game. Good positioning in front to pot the rebound on the PP.
Jasek: Probably the best of the prospects tonight. Got the first goal on a tip in the high slot on the PP and was dangerous all night. Was absolutely robbed at least twice by Luukkonen (who was the best player on the ice by some distance). Not a flashy player, but every time I watch him he looks solid (Leivo might be a good comparable). The most NHL-ready of the bunch.
Lockwood: Thought his line with Focht and Gadjovitch was good. They kept it simple and fore-checked well.
Focht: Similar to Lockwood. Made some nice passes on the PP. If he can put on some weight and improve his skating a little he has a shot at the show. The puck-skill and game-sense is there.
Woo: Didn't notice him much, but I was mostly paying attention to the forwards.
Lind: Very frustrating player to watch. Has lots of skill, but tries to do everything himself. Takes everyone on 1 on 1 and took a lot of bad-angle shots when he could have waited to make a pass. Looked very lost without the puck in the first OT shift and did not get a second. Made several nice plays and had some glorious chances though. Good offensive instincts, but selfish and lack of attention to details. Lots of giveaways in the neutral zone.
Gadjovitch: Limited skill, but works hard. Sort of the opposite of Lind this game. Good positioning in front to pot the rebound on the PP.
Jasek: Probably the best of the prospects tonight. Got the first goal on a tip in the high slot on the PP and was dangerous all night. Was absolutely robbed at least twice by Luukkonen (who was the best player on the ice by some distance). Not a flashy player, but every time I watch him he looks solid (Leivo might be a good comparable). The most NHL-ready of the bunch.
Lockwood: Thought his line with Focht and Gadjovitch was good. They kept it simple and fore-checked well.
Focht: Similar to Lockwood. Made some nice passes on the PP. If he can put on some weight and improve his skating a little he has a shot at the show. The puck-skill and game-sense is there.
Woo: Didn't notice him much, but I was mostly paying attention to the forwards.
WTG
December 5th
I was honed in on Woo.
Nothing too notable about his play but wasn't a liability when he was on the ice. Thought he was physical in the corners and transitioned the puck out of the zone well. Had a nice hit and broke up a rush with an active stick. Other than that, a decent game out of him. Doesn't look out of place compared to his peers.
But this is from 1 viewing. I'm sure if I'm off on something BG will call me out.
Nothing too notable about his play but wasn't a liability when he was on the ice. Thought he was physical in the corners and transitioned the puck out of the zone well. Had a nice hit and broke up a rush with an active stick. Other than that, a decent game out of him. Doesn't look out of place compared to his peers.
But this is from 1 viewing. I'm sure if I'm off on something BG will call me out.
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A simple fact is surfacing after the 5th game. The only Comets with real puck skills that can pass and keep an opponent on their heels is the Anas/Lind/Baertschi line. If Lind would learn to work with the other 2 this line would score a million goals.
Obviously that's sarcasm, but they would be in position to score every single time they were on the ice.
The rest of the lines are working their tails off, but rarely get anything out of their efforts other than bogging down the efforts of their opponents to get out of their own end. That's not a bad thing, but it's not producing a lot of scoring opportunities. The puck skills needed to make them dangerous are lacking. Their shots are weak and often off target. The passing that makes a line dangerous is not there. They pick a pass, make one pass to an open guy who just fires away or tries to muscle his way to the net and loses possession. They often take it right back and wind it up again. It's frustrating for them to fail and for me to watch. They are so close so many times and are mostly to blame themselves for not getting the grade A chances. When they do get them, snipers they are not. Most of the goals scored by these guys are in close and banged home. Garbage goals are fine, but if that's your MO then git 'er done.
The Comets have scored 18 goals in 5 games which isn't bad as you look at the number.
7 were on the PP.
2 were shorthanded on the PK.
1 was an empty netter.
1 was a shootout winner that counts in the team's goals.
That's 11 goals.
2 more are Lind's at even strength. That's the skill line again.
That makes 13 goals,
2 more are Gadjovich from the doorstep at even strength. I have made posts relating the fact that this is from where and how he will score. His PP goal was scored the same way and he had the empty netter.
Total goals are 15.
ES goals by the rest of the lines amounts to 3. However, Anas figured into to 2 of them.
The rest of this team has got to become more productive. They can't be a one line team.
Rathbone is supposed to be a puck moving D-man. This may be of great assistance to the offense as none of the current 6 are known for that part of the game.
Obviously that's sarcasm, but they would be in position to score every single time they were on the ice.
The rest of the lines are working their tails off, but rarely get anything out of their efforts other than bogging down the efforts of their opponents to get out of their own end. That's not a bad thing, but it's not producing a lot of scoring opportunities. The puck skills needed to make them dangerous are lacking. Their shots are weak and often off target. The passing that makes a line dangerous is not there. They pick a pass, make one pass to an open guy who just fires away or tries to muscle his way to the net and loses possession. They often take it right back and wind it up again. It's frustrating for them to fail and for me to watch. They are so close so many times and are mostly to blame themselves for not getting the grade A chances. When they do get them, snipers they are not. Most of the goals scored by these guys are in close and banged home. Garbage goals are fine, but if that's your MO then git 'er done.
The Comets have scored 18 goals in 5 games which isn't bad as you look at the number.
7 were on the PP.
2 were shorthanded on the PK.
1 was an empty netter.
1 was a shootout winner that counts in the team's goals.
That's 11 goals.
2 more are Lind's at even strength. That's the skill line again.
That makes 13 goals,
2 more are Gadjovich from the doorstep at even strength. I have made posts relating the fact that this is from where and how he will score. His PP goal was scored the same way and he had the empty netter.
Total goals are 15.
ES goals by the rest of the lines amounts to 3. However, Anas figured into to 2 of them.
The rest of this team has got to become more productive. They can't be a one line team.
Rathbone is supposed to be a puck moving D-man. This may be of great assistance to the offense as none of the current 6 are known for that part of the game.
Tucker/Santini have become a fixture.
Woo/Reinke has become the other. Both involve a veteran D-man providing cover and on ice mentoring/coaching a rookie.
Eliot has become a partner with Wesley. Both have played at this level before. Eliot was a 7/8 D-man in his rookie season last year and Wesley has been a pro for this his 5th season. More of that time was spent in the ECHL, not the AHL. This will be a task for Cull and Bannister to figure out.
Santini and Reinke are RDs.
Technically, so are Woo, Wesley, and Eliot.
Teves and Tucker are the only natural LDs.
Woo has been playing just fine on the left side.
I can say that I believe Santini, Tucker, Reinke, and Woo will be in the lineup nightly.
The situation with Rathbone offers Cull no options he must also be in the lineup. That's 5 of the 6.
Wesley, Eliot, and Teves are left for the final spot in the top 6. Teves hasn't played since game 2. If he's injured I haven't seen anything to say he is. Personally, I think he's the least talented of the 3, but my thought doesn't matter.
Santini
Reinke
Tucker
Woo
Rathbone
One of the rookies is going to be playing without a vet. I don't want to venture a guess as to who the 6th will be and which one will will be in the lineup with the least experienced partner. However, since you asked I'll go out on the limb, a very low hanging branch so I don't have far to fall.
If Rathbone shows the skill set he's supposed to have, it just might be Jack with Jett. That would mean Reinke will get the new partner and it just might be Eliot who has been playing the left side anyways.
Wesley and Teves become the depth. $700K in Teves as a depth AHL D-man. $400K more than the next best paid D-man on the team. #1Vancouver rookie D-prospect will make $70K as will the #2.
Lindgren
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I was honed in on Woo.
Nothing too notable about his play but was a liability when he was on the ice. Thought he was physical in the corners and transitioned the puck out of the zone well. Had a nice hit and broke up a rush with an active stick. Other than that, a decent game out of him. Doesn't look out of place compared to his peers.
But this is from 1 viewing. I'm sure if I'm off on something BG will call me out.
In what way was he a liability? Everything you say about him is positive.
Comments on the Wednesday game
Liked
Woo - had the one bad play were Crunch player read his pass and picked it off leading to a goal against. However, Woo was good for the most part. Like the way he quickly got the puck out of his end for much of the game. Makes the quick, immediate pass rather than skating with the puck. Good up ice support and forced the play in the Crunch when situation was there. Conservative player who works to keep the play in front of him and thinks defense first. Does not seem to have any problem with the physical side of the game.
Eliot - again showed good range and good speed. Competes hard and looked good in this game.
Gadovich - scored a couple and was good along the boards. Getting more physical.
Focht - like this player. Maybe he s does have the amplitude (overall speed and physicality) to make it in the end but he is a very smooth player. Really watches and see the play and constantly maintains good positioning. Good reads allow him to duck in and out of the play and he makes the right play consistently. Might end up being one of those AHL point getters who might lack enough game to get to the next level but right now showing well for a rookie
Others
Lockwood - speed immediately stands out. NHL speed for sure. Still feeling his way offensively
Baertschi - lacks much power on his shot. Played well enough but nothing like dominant
Lind - little better defensively but too much into forcing things with blind behind the back or dangerous cross ice passes. Line with him and Anas (probably team's best player) and Baertschi was dangerous at times but not finishing off plays.
Try to Thursday game later.
Liked
Woo - had the one bad play were Crunch player read his pass and picked it off leading to a goal against. However, Woo was good for the most part. Like the way he quickly got the puck out of his end for much of the game. Makes the quick, immediate pass rather than skating with the puck. Good up ice support and forced the play in the Crunch when situation was there. Conservative player who works to keep the play in front of him and thinks defense first. Does not seem to have any problem with the physical side of the game.
Eliot - again showed good range and good speed. Competes hard and looked good in this game.
Gadovich - scored a couple and was good along the boards. Getting more physical.
Focht - like this player. Maybe he s does have the amplitude (overall speed and physicality) to make it in the end but he is a very smooth player. Really watches and see the play and constantly maintains good positioning. Good reads allow him to duck in and out of the play and he makes the right play consistently. Might end up being one of those AHL point getters who might lack enough game to get to the next level but right now showing well for a rookie
Others
Lockwood - speed immediately stands out. NHL speed for sure. Still feeling his way offensively
Baertschi - lacks much power on his shot. Played well enough but nothing like dominant
Lind - little better defensively but too much into forcing things with blind behind the back or dangerous cross ice passes. Line with him and Anas (probably team's best player) and Baertschi was dangerous at times but not finishing off plays.
Try to Thursday game later.
Peen
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WTG
December 5th
Beauterham
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Love reading this topic, good to see a fanbase invested in their farmteam.
Happy to read Sam Anas is doing good, but what are your views on Tucker, Reinke, McGing and Nolan Stevens? I'm especially interested in Tyler Tucker's development from a 7th round pick in 2018 to one of the better defensenmen in the OHL last season. Always wondered how his skillset (and especially his skating) would translate to the professional level.
The Blues have a lot of injuries ATM, we're probably missing 5-ish forwards next match (our taxisquad basicly consists of only Hofer and Walman), so I wouldn't be surprised if we'd call up one or two out of Anas, Nolan Stevens and/or Walker. It's a shame Scotty Perunovich is out for the season, would've loved to see him with the Comets this season.
EDIT: Barbashev is going to be out for a while, so Walker has been called up. Bit surprised we didn't called up Anas.
Happy to read Sam Anas is doing good, but what are your views on Tucker, Reinke, McGing and Nolan Stevens? I'm especially interested in Tyler Tucker's development from a 7th round pick in 2018 to one of the better defensenmen in the OHL last season. Always wondered how his skillset (and especially his skating) would translate to the professional level.
The Blues have a lot of injuries ATM, we're probably missing 5-ish forwards next match (our taxisquad basicly consists of only Hofer and Walman), so I wouldn't be surprised if we'd call up one or two out of Anas, Nolan Stevens and/or Walker. It's a shame Scotty Perunovich is out for the season, would've loved to see him with the Comets this season.
EDIT: Barbashev is going to be out for a while, so Walker has been called up. Bit surprised we didn't called up Anas.
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There's really no chance it is intended to be. Canadian travel restrictions got tighter a week ago and, hockey not being declared essential, if the Canucks want to recall Rathbone, an American citizen, it seems to me he'd have to quarantine for 14 days if he can still get in at all.
@UticaHockey
Any word on Rathbone's whereabouts?
Has he left Vancouver? I would hope so.
Is he in Utica? If yes, when was his arrival?
If yes, what's the quarantine status (# of days he's been in town). If he was negative upon arrival, as he should have been upon departure from Vancouver, his time in the hole would be 3 days and a negative on day 4 let's him out to join the team. I know Cull won't put him on the ice if he hasn't proven to Cull he's in game ready shape.
Nothing in the papers, which we can never hope for again as the status of that paper for local up to dates on anything is trash. KTV has nothing new either. This dark shadowy stuff is ridiculous. The official announcement of his assignment to the Comets was Thursday, Feb. 18.
Any word on Rathbone's whereabouts?
Has he left Vancouver? I would hope so.
Is he in Utica? If yes, when was his arrival?
If yes, what's the quarantine status (# of days he's been in town). If he was negative upon arrival, as he should have been upon departure from Vancouver, his time in the hole would be 3 days and a negative on day 4 let's him out to join the team. I know Cull won't put him on the ice if he hasn't proven to Cull he's in game ready shape.
Nothing in the papers, which we can never hope for again as the status of that paper for local up to dates on anything is trash. KTV has nothing new either. This dark shadowy stuff is ridiculous. The official announcement of his assignment to the Comets was Thursday, Feb. 18.
only thing I saw about his re-assignment was that he should be available for their next game Feb 26 as long as he tests negative
Thanks.
That's the way I had it figured out based upon the official Vancouver assignment date according to TSN. The point of my post is that there has been no official anything in Utica other than he had been assigned here. This team has been a community fixture for 7 seasons. Then since Covid the coverage has just plain sucked.
This is season 8 and their coverage should be over the top since there are no crowds allowed. They have purchased AHL.TV for all of the Comets season ticket holders and are televising every home game on local TV. the problem is that this season goes until May 14th. They only play 32 games and they have already played 5 of them. That means 27 games to be played in 80 days. That's 53 days without any serious PR.
This city has had a love affair with the Comets and to keep the flame alive they have to make the team more known to the public. Right now only the die hard fans can even name off the entire roster. Most people could trip over them in the streets and wouldn't have any idea who they are. That's not the way it has been every prior season. There has to be a lot more ingenuity in that building downtown. A 2-minute blurb on TV nightly news sport cast on game night and the day after and an up close and personal article in the local newspaper maybe once a week isn't cutting it. Hell, there hasn't even been an article actually reporting on any game they have played this season. Their own website isn't even kept up to date on things.
Folks say I am whining? This just very poor PR for the city's best and only pro sports franchise functioning at the moment.
UticaHockey
Registered User
I haven't seen anything from any of the local media on Twitter where they usually put out updates on Comets practices. Another note is that the Blues have had a rash of injuries and have called up Nathan Walker and Dakota Joshua.
I knew about Walker, but not Joshua. However, I haven't checked the NHL player movements in 2 days since I was Migraine kept off the computer. H-m-m-m, with the very limited numbers they had up front to begin with They are only an injury away from having to play Robby Jackson and then it's a D-man up front and they only have 2 of them extra.
What's with Teves? Heard anything about him or has simply been a healthy scratch?
UticaHockey
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bandwagonesque
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He’s one relatively obscure prospect being assigned to an AHL team. I’d venture to say this kind of activity pretty obviously wouldn’t be covered the way you suggest in any AHL market.
UticaHockey
Registered User
I would expect the Blues to call up a defenseman next or claim someone off waivers (Tampa Bay placed Luke Schenn on waivers today so maybe he can get a chance to play with his brother).
@ bandwagonesque
Boy! Are you wrong. That's the only way I can put it. You are commenting on something you actually know nothing about.
Any Comet news in Utica has been covered inside out. This is an avid hockey base that many would call rabid. Rathbone would normally be big news in this hockey town. The grape vine would be flying with info about this kid. People would be dying at having to wait 8 days to see him play.
By the time the season ticket holders reached their seats, which is the majority of the building (I believe it's only 450 seats that are available to the public and many of those are gone the first day regular tickets go on sale before the first game has even been played.) most would be well aware of who he was, his position, where he played before here, many would have his last season's college #s and some would even have his college career numbers, his home town, size. handedness, and some the color of his hair and eyes, LOL. Lord knows what some others would have dug up. It wouldn't take long for the grape vine to fill in information missing from those that needed it to enable avid every follower to be caught up on every detail by puck drop. Word spreads like wildfire.
You have to understand, these guys live in this community. Utica is not a large city. These players will mix among the population at grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, walking paths, movie theaters, and will have fans as neighbors in their apt. buildings, in the neighboring houses, and on the streets where they live. They are, for the time they are here, Utica residents. Guys like Bancks and Bachman called it their second home. Their wives live here and become friends with other hockey wives and girl friends, but also the women they meet in their neighborhoods and connect with in their kids schools. They actually LIVE here, not just occupy a space for a few months. Most of these guys are record in other stops after Utica saying how welcome they felt here, how warm the people were, and how they are very friendly and helpful, but don't bother the guys in public, They treat them like any other resident in the community. This attitude trickles down nfrom the GM, coaches, training staff, equipment people, to the players and their families and/or close connections.
Boy! Are you wrong. That's the only way I can put it. You are commenting on something you actually know nothing about.
Any Comet news in Utica has been covered inside out. This is an avid hockey base that many would call rabid. Rathbone would normally be big news in this hockey town. The grape vine would be flying with info about this kid. People would be dying at having to wait 8 days to see him play.
By the time the season ticket holders reached their seats, which is the majority of the building (I believe it's only 450 seats that are available to the public and many of those are gone the first day regular tickets go on sale before the first game has even been played.) most would be well aware of who he was, his position, where he played before here, many would have his last season's college #s and some would even have his college career numbers, his home town, size. handedness, and some the color of his hair and eyes, LOL. Lord knows what some others would have dug up. It wouldn't take long for the grape vine to fill in information missing from those that needed it to enable avid every follower to be caught up on every detail by puck drop. Word spreads like wildfire.
You have to understand, these guys live in this community. Utica is not a large city. These players will mix among the population at grocery stores, restaurants, shopping centers, walking paths, movie theaters, and will have fans as neighbors in their apt. buildings, in the neighboring houses, and on the streets where they live. They are, for the time they are here, Utica residents. Guys like Bancks and Bachman called it their second home. Their wives live here and become friends with other hockey wives and girl friends, but also the women they meet in their neighborhoods and connect with in their kids schools. They actually LIVE here, not just occupy a space for a few months. Most of these guys are record in other stops after Utica saying how welcome they felt here, how warm the people were, and how they are very friendly and helpful, but don't bother the guys in public, They treat them like any other resident in the community. This attitude trickles down nfrom the GM, coaches, training staff, equipment people, to the players and their families and/or close connections.
BG,
I purchased my own AHL.TV
Never received anything about them paying for 3500 sth's ahl.tv. I don't believe there was anything on website but could be wrong.
The coverage and pr has been awful.
Can't figure it out.
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