The Utica Comets Thread | Part 39

[RobertKron]

You don't get it. They should have signed them both. Chaput gets the NHL contract that he has and Hensick would have been on an AHL contract just like he was on last season a la O'Reilly and much cheaper. You can carry more than six vets, but only play 6 in a game. Chaput and Megna were in Vancouver. When they were in Utica there would have been 6. Pelletier wasn't even here yet. He arrived after the other two were called up.

Hensick, Bancks, Hamilton, Archibald, and Robak would be 5 and as it is they now have 5 with Pascal. At the worst Pascal gets signed and they have 6 vets. Gaunce's return doesn't matter he's still on an ELC. Megna and Chaput look to be settled for the season. Deadline deals make it even more of a done deal. Even if fate were to bless the Comets and they both come back. You sit 2 and let injuries and call-ups take care of it as they usually do.

It's called depth. There are no roster limits in the AHL. Toronto had 14 scratches in the game tonight. Utica had 7 and one was Pelletier. The Comets played 4 vets. The Leafs are taking care of their AHL club. The Canucks not so much.

Hensick was on an NHL deal last year, and signed with the Reign early in free agency.

Beyond that, I'm not even sure what you're arguing about. No kidding they should have carried more depth. Even with the guys they had on board, though, they actively chose - on multiple occasions - not to get Chaput or Megna back down to the AHL.

 

[orcatown]

As they say "every dog has his day" and Comets finally manage to get some revenge on the Marlies.

Liked

Bachman - really tested when the game was tied and had to be excellent to prevent game slipping away.

McEneny - shot on the fourth goal and pass on the last goal were highlight reel stuff. Continues to show very well. Ability to move up on offense and to make the pass out of zone look major league. Played with Pedan and there were times of confusion in their end but overall defending by the pair was pretty good against a very good Marlie forecheck.

Been commenting about McEneny for a while now and believe once again the is the best prospect on the team. Not that there is a lot of competition here. However, needs another year at this level IMO.

Another point here is there seems to have been, under Gillis, an Ontario scout that came up with some good pick-ups such as Hutton and hopefully McEneny. Not sure who this was. Probably got canned by Benning and co. b/c they didn't want anyone around making them look bad and, after all, he was from the Gillis regime. Also, the Canucks seem to gone away from picking up undrafted Junior players (with the exception of the poor signing of Sautner).

Pedan - again very physical and that helped beak up the the Marilies' cycle and clear the area around net. Also, most effective defenseman on the many PK opportunities. Yet passing still the major issue. Timing of his passes needs to improve. Better than he was at knowing when to skate with the puck and when to move it but still could improve here as well. But IMO a positive in this game

Zelewsk -does a lot of little things that help the team. Has the skating ability to support the play and move puck thru the mid ice zone. Has to cover back for Carcone and Rendolic defensively.

Hamilton - along with Bancks was important in finally dealing with the Marlie PP. Scored a good goal and good at breaking up and getting Comets onto offense. Was one of his better efforts of the season.

Did Not Like

Grenier - virtual no-show. Did nothing all game. Has disappeared over the last while.

LaBate - just back off injury but he was very poor with the puck and late getting in on the forecheck and not coming back well. Cut him some slack but he can't help the team playing like this

Cassels - yes he scored when he tipped in a Pedan shot (lucky here as the goalie got tied up with his own player cutting across the crease) but otherwise showed little and was mostly chasing the play. Hardly touched the puck during the game. Was left groping on the first couple of PKs and had had to be replaced by Zelewski. Even if you were watching for Cassels you could hardly find him. Played with Virtanen and line unable to come up with much of a forecheck and spent a lot time in their own end.

Other Points

Robak and Shields back in the line up and that helped stabilize things on the back end.

Corrado didn't look like anything special. Tied up in his end too much. Really the same Corrado that we saw. Tries to rush the puck and does a have some speed coming out of his zone. Can look good but generally leads to getting pushed to the outside and then having to make difficult pass as you are getting pushed into the boards. Moreover, not quick enough to avoid getting tied up in battles in his own end which often he is not strong enough to win (see Subban here). Has a good point shot but so do a ton of players at the pro level. Don't think the Canucks lost much here and the hand wringing about losing him on waivers probably wasn't necessary.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Hensick was on an NHL deal last year, and signed with the Reign early in free agency.

Beyond that, I'm not even sure what you're arguing about. No kidding they should have carried more depth. Even with the guys they had on board, though, they actively chose - on multiple occasions - not to get Chaput or Megna back down to the AHL.

"If they'd signed Hensick instead of Chaput, then they'd still be basically in the same spot today."

This was what I responded to, the "instead of Chaput". I know he was on an NHL last season. I meant to say he signed an AHL this season. So Benning would not have had to give up one of his precious 5 hoarded contracts. He could just as easily signed that AHL with the Comets which he openly wanted to, but Benning was apparently not amenable. I don't believe the Comets sign guys to AHL contracts without Vancouver agreements since Vancouver pays the salary. If I'm wrong about who pays, then perhaps his request was out of reach.

I agree they don't find it a priority to get their AHL guys back and that may be why Bancks and Hamilton got 2-yr AHL contracts as the Comets management wanted to hang onto them. The Vets Vancouver have signed have consistently gone down in salaries. Megna is an exception, but he is the only one to get a 1-way deal. Maybe Benning intended him to be the #1 call-up and he was. He's also received the best game day treatment up there.

 

[Bad Goalie]

As they say "every dog has his day" and Comets finally manage to get some revenge on the Marlies.

Liked

Bachman - really tested when the game was tied and had to be excellent to prevent game slipping away.

McEneny - shot on the fourth goal and pass on the last goal were highlight reel stuff. Continues to show very well. Ability to move up on offense and to make the pass out of zone look major league. Played with Pedan and there were times of confusion in their end but overall defending by the pair was pretty good against a very good Marlie forecheck.

Been commenting about McEneny for a while now and believe once again the is the best prospect on the team. Not that there is a lot of competition here. However, needs another year at this level IMO.

Another point here is there seems to have been, under Gillis, an Ontario scout that came up with some good pick-ups such as Hutton and hopefully McEneny. Not sure who this was. Probably got canned by Benning and co. b/c they didn't want anyone around making them look bad and, after all, he was from the Gillis regime. Also, the Canucks seem to gone away from picking up undrafted Junior players (with the exception of the poor signing of Sautner).

Pedan - again very physical and that helped beak up the the Marilies' cycle and clear the area around net. Also, most effective defenseman on the many PK opportunities. Yet passing still the major issue. Timing of his passes needs to improve. Better than he was at knowing when to skate with the puck and when to move it but still could improve here as well. But IMO a positive in this game

Zelewsk -does a lot of little things that help the team. Has the skating ability to support the play and move puck thru the mid ice zone. Has to cover back for Carcone and Rendolic defensively.

Hamilton - along with Bancks was important in finally dealing with the Marlie PP. Scored a good goal and good at breaking up and getting Comets onto offense. Was one of his better efforts of the season.

Did Not Like

Grenier - virtual no-show. Did nothing all game. Has disappeared over the last while.

LaBate - just back off injury but he was very poor with the puck and late getting in on the forecheck and not coming back well. Cut him some slack but he can't help the team playing like this

Cassels - yes he scored when he tipped in a Pedan shot (lucky here as the goalie got tied up with his own player cutting across the crease) but otherwise showed little and was mostly chasing the play. Hardly touched the puck during the game. Was left groping on the first couple of PKs and had had to be replaced by Zelewski. Even if you were watching for Cassels you could hardly find him. Played with Virtanen and line unable to come up with much of a forecheck and spent a lot time in their own end.

Other Points

Robak and Shields back in the line up and that helped stabilize things on the back end.

Corrado didn't look like anything special. Tied up in his end too much. Really the same Corrado that we saw. Tries to rush the puck and does a have some speed coming out of his zone. Can look good but generally leads to getting pushed to the outside and then having to make difficult pass as you are getting pushed into the boards. Moreover, not quick enough to avoid getting tied up in battles in his own end which often he is not strong enough to win (see Subban here). Has a good point shot but so do a ton of players at the pro level. Don't think the Canucks lost much here and the hand wringing about losing him on waivers probably wasn't necessary.

Unless a change has been made and AHL.com and the Utica stats page haven't noted it, Kunyk got that goal and not Cassels. That's how the Aud scorers got it and that's the way I saw it.

Agree LaBate won't be useful the way he played last night, but I WILL cut him some slack. It's been a long time since 12/31 when he went down. It took Z a good 10 games to come back from his injury and he looks real "gud" again and Joe will have to carried along as he reconditions. A double shift or a complete skip of a Cassels line won't hurt the Comets any and it will help Joe along with a little extra game time rest.

Pedan and Grenier both give some terrible passes. One of Grenier's was directly responsible for a goal last night. He passed the puck directly to the Marlie who scored. The passes they sometimes make show no understanding of the game especially in their own end. You just can't throw passes without looking into the middle of the ice in your own zone and they do it with a in inexplicable regularity. Pedan's dump out in front last night led to one of Bachman's good saves.
Pedan has a new one that's killing his play and that's an attempt to flip the puck over everyone out to center ice. The problem is he fails to get it up on most occasions and it's just a turnover at the points. I couldn't resist that immature play on words, LOL.

The Comets are a weaker team any time that Shields is out of the lineup. Sitting him to play Sautner or Nilsson ( there's $200,000 that could have been spent a lot better) just brings the team D down. Last night's pairs are the best IMO. Billins/Shields, Pedan/McEneny, and Robak/Subban. It creates a sound responsible guy with another who just might need covering up.

 

[orcatown]

Strange I never saw Kunyk do much at all but he ends up with a goal and 2 assists and end up first star. think that was bit of stat watching.

 

[Clinton Comets EHL]

Strange I never saw Kunyk do much at all but he ends up with a goal and 2 assists and end up first star. think that was bit of stat watching.

Agree. There literally was a gasp from the crowd when he was announced as the first star. Everyone in our section just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

I think he was shocked as well.

 

[UticaHockey]

Unless a change has been made and AHL.com and the Utica stats page haven't noted it, Kunyk got that goal and not Cassels. That's how the Aud scorers got it and that's the way I saw it.

Agree LaBate won't be useful the way he played last night, but I WILL cut him some slack. It's been a long time since 12/31 when he went down. It took Z a good 10 games to come back from his injury and he looks real "gud" again and Joe will have to carried along as he reconditions. A double shift or a complete skip of a Cassels line won't hurt the Comets any and it will help Joe along with a little extra game time rest.

Pedan and Grenier both give some terrible passes. One of Grenier's was directly responsible for a goal last night. He passed the puck directly to the Marlie who scored. The passes they sometimes make show no understanding of the game especially in their own end. You just can't throw passes without looking into the middle of the ice in your own zone and they do it with a in inexplicable regularity. Pedan's dump out in front last night led to one of Bachman's good saves.
Pedan has a new one that's killing his play and that's an attempt to flip the puck over everyone out to center ice. The problem is he fails to get it up on most occasions and it's just a turnover at the points. I couldn't resist that immature play on words, LOL.

The Comets are a weaker team any time that Shields is out of the lineup. Sitting him to play Sautner or Nilsson ( there's $200,000 that could have been spent a lot better) just brings the team D down. Last night's pairs are the best IMO. Billins/Shields, Pedan/McEneny, and Robak/Subban. It creates a sound responsible guy with another who just might need covering up.

LaBate needs to play a few more games before he is in game shape. He came off before his linemates almost all night long. His conditioning level didn't allow him to go full out for a complete shift. He will get back there.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Agree. There literally was a gasp from the crowd when he was announced as the first star. Everyone in our section just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

I think he was shocked as well.

It was definitely a first for him and could be the last. He should enjoy it while he can. Sure they had fun with him in the locker room.

He has skill around the net, but not enough strength or will to take the physicality it takes to go there. I just recently posted that he is a weak link with Pelletier and Virtanen.

Cassels moved up and took Pascal's spot and was barely noticeable as orcatown pointed out in his post and Jake didn't record a shot largely due to the fact that Cassels not only can't distribute the puck from the middle, he rarely ever has the puck in order to distribute it in the first pace.

Jake got knocked around pretty good last night. I think word is around about the high pick glory boy and every guy is taking a shot at him whenever they can.

Kunyk is one of those guys you only notice when he he is being erased from play after play, yet he has quietly amassed a point total that keeps him in the lineup.

It is going to be interesting when Pellets comes back. With LaBate back in the lineup someone has to go and my bet is it's the water bug Carcone. However, if Hulak can be risen from the dead that leaves 4 guys for one game day slot, Kunyk, Hulak, Carcone, and Roy. I think Roy heads back to Alaska to join LaPlante. Carcone becomes a spare forward beside whomever doesn't dress between Hulak and Kunyk. Carcone's low production places those two above him.

Another injury throws that all out the window, but it would be nice to see how these guys can do with their full roster. That's full of course without counting Megna and Chaput who are not going to be back.

I wish the Comets could secure a playoff birth just to see how the Canucks would respond to that. If they are not in the playoffs do they paper Stecher? There are other guys there who could come down as well like Gaunce for sure and what about Tryamkin, Megna and Chaput? How about getting Gaudette to sign and bring him in as well. The middle is still very weak in Utica and the D could use a big boost as well. Cassels could be replaced in a heartbeat.

All pure poppycock unless the Comets make the playoffs.

 

[Clinton Comets EHL]

http://theahl.com/team-stats

Good thing there is no crossover / 5th more points than 4th or the NHL wild card version of the playoffs.

The top 5 teams in the Atlantic have more points than the first in the North.

No team in the North seems to want it much, although, the Marlies had gone 8-1-1 before last night. St Johns losing 2 in 2 nights to Bingo at home hurt their momentum. Bingo is playing much better and is 3-0-0 in season series vs Comets, I believe.

The fact the Comets scored 5 goals at home may bode well. it may be more garrett Sparks.

Loved the effort last night, 1st home win in over a month, the 9th of the year in 25 games.

 

[UticaHockey]

I'm listening to a live radio interview with Benning right now answering a question if he is concerned with the lack of scoring by Virtanen.

"Utica isn't a high scoring team"

"Jake needs the type of center that can get him the puck"

Well DUHHH

Why didn't you get some of these kind of players for Utica to play with your prospects?

 

[me2]

I'm listening to a live radio interview with Benning right now answering a question if he is concerned with the lack of scoring by Virtanen.

"Utica isn't a high scoring team"

"Jake needs the type of center that can get him the puck"

Well DUHHH

Why didn't you get some of these kind of players for Utica to play with your prospects?

What kind of centre would you even play Virtanen with? He doesn't seem a fit for a centre that wants the puck on his stick. Nor is he a fit for a goal scoring centre. Nor one that likes cycling/puck possession.

 

[Clinton Comets EHL]

What kind of centre would you even play Virtanen with? He doesn't seem a fit for degree that wants the puck on his stick. Nor is He a fit for a goal scoring centre. Nor one that likes cycling/puck possession.

Three-day strategy meeting; "prepared" for TDL(?), expansion draft <--- I tuned in as he finished talking about this

-Teams aren't yet sure if they're buying or selling

-Where do you stand, vis-a-vis the TDL? / "We still have some time, we want to see where we're at, at the TDL; we'll talk to players, get their thoughts, go from there"

-Are there teams that need someone exposable, where that can turn into an asset? / "Haven't gone through it too much with other teams, will focus on that at the end of the year, focusing more on TDL right now; seeing if we can swing deals for the long term"

-Hasn't approached players about trades (Burrows, Hansen?); want them to focus on the upcoming games; just wants them to focus on hockey; during the break (bye week?), we may have conversations with certain players

-Seller's market? / "Not a lot of teams selling right now; so many teams still in the hunt; teams are gonna wait right to the TDL to decide whether they're buyers or sellers"

-You were in Europe for scouting; what brought you there, what caught your eye? / "Went to U-19 tourney in Switzerland, watched three or four players; went to Sweden for U-18 tournament; draft does not have generational player, but will be a strong draft"

-Timothy Liljegren? How does he compare to Juolevi? Cornerstone defenseman? / "Could be; different style of player; dynamic skater; carries puck up ice; good point shot; could be a good PP player at the NHL level; saw him live, he had a good tournament"

-CHL overagers / NCAA free agents / "We scout them heavily; have a few CHL FAs in mind, NCAA FAs are important, that's where we got Troy Stecher; watched the Beanpot, watched Adam Gaudette, who is having a good season, gonna be a real good player for us; we want to be in the market for NCAA FAs"

-Zachary Aston-Reese? / "He's an interesting guy, real strong on the puck, good hands; there's gonna be a lot of teams in on him, we'll see where that ends up"

-Eastern Seaboard kids like Aston-Reese get lots of attention from NYR and Boston / "we'll see where that ends up"

-Another Baertschi/Granlund-style trade? / "That's what we went over in our scouting meetings; some teams have depth in a certain position, we have depth in a certain position, that's step 1; then I call the GM and ask him if it's a fit and we go from there; there hasn't been a lot of trades made in the NHL this year with the expansion draft; we're gonna do everything we can to make the team better in the long term"

-Jake Virtanen? / "Trevor and Stan Smyl watched him after the Boston game; they're happy with his progression; he's skating real good; he's making progress and we just have to be patient with him"

-His production is a bit concerning / "They don't have a high-scoring group, he needs a centreiceman who can get him the puck; he's getting his chances, getting his shots, playing the right way, the scoring is going to come"

-Ryan Miller re-signing? / "We're gonna see how the rest of the season plays out; we talked about it in our scouting meetings; he's been real good for us and we're just going to see how the rest of the season plays out"

-Markstrom as #1 goalie without a mentor? / "He's at that age where goalies come into their own; next season he's gonna get his opportunities to show what he can do; he's ready to handle #1 goalie loads"

-Curtis Valk? / "The type of guy who is very smart, competes hard; always seems to be involved in the play, getting pucks, making plays; not very big but size doesn't hamper his play; we'll see"

-Bo Horvat as future captain? Does that make sense? / "It does to me He's got that natural-born leadership in him; plays the right way and competes and works hard; I think he'd make a good role model for our good players coming in; Bo is learning a lot from Henrik; we'll see when his time comes"

-Bo and Sutter playing tonight? / "They took warmup, I hope so"

 

[FroshaugFan2]

Shows how little he cares about building the Comets roster. It's like Benning doesn't realize that HE could get them a playmaking center and more offensive talent.

 

[MS]

I'm listening to a live radio interview with Benning right now answering a question if he is concerned with the lack of scoring by Virtanen.

"Utica isn't a high scoring team"

"Jake needs the type of center that can get him the puck"

Well DUHHH

Why didn't you get some of these kind of players for Utica to play with your prospects?

Shows how little he cares about building the Comets roster. It's like Benning doesn't realize that HE could get them a playmaking center and more offensive talent.

The level of idiocy and incompetence in play with Benning is spellbinding at times. Like, you couldn't make this stuff up. It's like watching a trainwreck, if the train was carrying a circus.

 

[mathonwy]

What kind of centre would you even play Virtanen with? He doesn't seem a fit for a centre that wants the puck on his stick. Nor is he a fit for a goal scoring centre. Nor one that likes cycling/puck possession.

A good veteran one that can bark orders at Jake and tell him where to go and what to do.

 

[go comets]

Three day stategy meeting = what do you guys want for lunch.....

 

[Rotting Corpse*]

Shows how little he cares about building the Comets roster. It's like Benning doesn't realize that HE could get them a playmaking center and more offensive talent.

Maybe he actually doesn't realize this.

Like does he know that many ahl teams have their own general manager but his doesn't?

 

[PM]

Maybe he actually doesn't realize this.

Like does he know that many ahl teams have their own general manager but his doesn't?

I believe Henning and Gilman managed the Comets in Benning's first year. It's almost like he completely forgot to replace them when he fired them for no good reason.

 

[Bad Goalie]

I believe Henning and Gilman managed the Comets in Benning's first year. It's almost like he completely forgot to replace them when he fired them for no good reason.

I have posted at least 100 comments to this point this year alone. Henning was the Assitant GM and Director of Player Personnel.

Weisbrod is the ASSt. GM

Stan Smyl is the Senior Advisor to the GM. and Director, Player Development.

Some guy named Ryan Johnson is Director, Player Development.

No one has Henning's second title which undoubtedly connected him to Utica. Benning has made sure any "no guys" were dumped. Only "yes men" exist on his management team. That way he controls absolutely everything. So what has happened in Utica in regards to player acquisitions falls directly in Benning's lap. To make the statement that Utica has no play making centers and that's what Jake needs to score, thus explaining why he isn't scoring and therefore there shouldn't be a concern is absolutely beyond any form of belief. GO GET HIM ONE!@!Q! How stupid can this man be???

I have told him for 2 years there is no play making center here and it has done nothing but hurt his prospects. Any hockey team needs 2 of them to provide the teams top 4 wingers the best opportunities to do what they are hired to do, SCORE. It doesn't hurt if one of the two can actually score himself.

I keep reading from his supporters that Jim KNOWS hockey. If he does, he would have made sure his prospects had the materials necessary to develop. I believe that would include 2 ******* play making centers so the wings aren't left to the their own devices to become their own centers like Grenier has pitifully been trying to do for 2 seasons instead of putting up large goal totals like his skating, hands, and shot got him to this level to do in the first place.

Nope, blame Green for his blue collar style as to the reason the Comets don't score and the prospects don't get to the NHL. It has nothing to do with the players acquired to work with those prospects to enhance their abilities to excel. DUH! You think?

We also have to realize Jim is so low on talent that the best prospects end up Canucks, ready or not. If there is one not there, but can get him someone to play up top, they get traded.

Henning did his job with the Comets and did it as well as any guy ever to hold such a position anywhere in the AHL. He was fired. Huh? Then he was not replaced. Even a bigger HUH?

Henning acquired one of the league's premier veteran centers in Cal O'Reilly. He found an aging Stanley Cup winning D-man who wanted to stay in the game to act in a mentor/on ice player coach type capacity in Kent Huskins. Lastly he acquired a top notch puck moving, PP QB, #1 D-man in Bobby Sanguinetti. The Cancucks had 3 good rookies coming in, as well as a few prospects with a year under their belts and these guys were acquired to lend to their development.

The Comets had a great second season. Thank you Lorne.

Kent retired. Cal and Bobby were not tendered attractive offers to re-sign. They never even tried to find a guy of Kent's level of play and years of invaluable wisdom. They did not replace the #1 D with a guy near Sanguinetti's level. They never replaced Cal with any center at all.

In spite of the failure to acquire a play making center, Hunter Shinkaruk blossomed into one of the league's top goal scorers and he was traded. Okay, that's hockey. However, he was never replaced with even a warm body for the rest of the season. Same thing after trading #2 RW Nicklas Jensen. The team played 2 AHL quality players short for the rest of the season. The Comets replaced them with ECHL PTOs. I have been reading lately that Utica is Vancouver's *****. Could be, but the ASPCA would have arrested Benning for animal abuse by now.

Fact of the matter is that a season and a half later they still haven't been replaced since the Canucks don't have any forward prospects of that skill level to assign here. So they should have looked for a couple prospects other teams had available that were falling down their list because of the franchise's depth or any other reason. Those would be guys like Baertschi or Pedan whom they got in just that way when Henning was here. There are also AHL vets available every year because they are always free agents and shop themselves to the highest bidder. They are hockey mercenaries a la TJ Brennan.

There is no excuse for not fitting guys like this into the AHL family on an annual basis. Then you don't come off looking like a total dumb *** when asked about a top prospect's failure to score after 30+ games in the AHL with an answer like Benning gave about the farm not having any play making centers to provide that guy with what he needs to score.

They aren't here because he didn't get any and failed to appoint a guy to his management team to help do that at the next level down. You know the place where you are supposed to be growing your future? Not much down here to worry about and I think that was Jimbo's reasoning in the first place. Why pay talent to work with the kids you don't have anyways. You know the ones you are supposed to be finding somewhere in the world since your development pool has evaporated into a couple inches of stagnant water. I know the number of Vancouver prospects was small when Benning arrived. I know he has traded some more away. I know he has traded draft picks which is normally how you get the prospects in the first place. That's all the more reason he should have had people on his staff scouring the rinks around the world for guys who could be acquired for his 2 minor league teams that might have been passed by or are on the downward slide of their careers, are too small for the NHL, aren't good enough skaters for the NHL, aren't physical enough for Jim's liking, but could all be decent hockey players at the AHL level. They could at least form a nucleus of guys to better aid the prospects they do have until which time the flow of prospects increases to load up the farm the way it should be with promising future talent. I can't be the only person who can figure this out. That's what owners hire these guys for. The farm is an integral part of the system. Ignoring it will only bite you in the ***** down the road.

The Marlies had 14 guys on their roster that were scratched Wednesday night. Most of them were kids, not vets. The Comets scratched John Negrin, Marco Roy, Derek Hulak, Tom Nilsson, Ashton Sautner, and Pascal Pelletier. See any budding stars there? See any strong veteran talent that can be key in developing kids. This is a list that if you were giving them away, most franchises would pass.

 

[Tobi Wan Kenobi]

What kind of centre would you even play Virtanen with? He doesn't seem a fit for a centre that wants the puck on his stick. Nor is he a fit for a goal scoring centre. Nor one that likes cycling/puck possession.

Keller is the kind of centre you'd like to have him play with

 

[Rotting Corpse*]

Maybe Jim Benning is actually a master troll.

"Utica has no good centres. " lmao, that's actually hilarious. But at the same time we have enough young talent. Who needs Jared McCann when you have Wacey Hamilton?

Utica has no centres.. Hahaha oh God that's good.

 

[Rotting Corpse*]

Jake needs a playmaking center. Utica doesn't have any of those. What a shame. Lmao, oh God I'm crying that's so funny.

 

[VanJack]

Jimbo needs to sign both Boeser and Gaudette and get them to Utica for the last month....but my guess is that doesn't happen even if he does sign them both.

But look at what a stint in the AHL playoffs did for Werenski in Columbus?....could have played in the NHL for big money on a lottery team, but went to Lake Erie instead and won a championship....now being mentioned as one of the NHL's top rookie d-men.

 

[UticaHockey]

Jimbo needs to sign both Boeser and Gaudette and get them to Utica for the last month....but my guess is that doesn't happen even if he does sign them both.

But look at what a stint in the AHL playoffs did for Werenski in Columbus?....could have played in the NHL for big money on a lottery team, but went to Lake Erie instead and won a championship....now being mentioned as one of the NHL's top rookie d-men.

Agree with everything you said. Adding Zach Werenski at the end of the season was probably the main reason why Lake Erie went on to win the Calder Cup. They were a good team but not a great team during the regular season but went on a tear during the playoffs and Werenski was a big part of it.

If the Comets can sneak into the playoffs Boeser and Gaudette could be a big help.

 

[Bad Goalie]

Agree with everything you said. Adding Zach Werenski at the end of the season was probably the main reason why Lake Erie went on to win the Calder Cup. They were a good team but not a great team during the regular season but went on a tear during the playoffs and Werenski was a big part of it.

If the Comets can sneak into the playoffs Boeser and Gaudette could be a big help.

They could actually be here early enough to help that sneak you are talking about happen, but aren't you afraid Green would go with his trusted vets?

I'm not. They have to get here early enough for Green to refit the lines. It's not actually a lot of work. 2 lines remain the same and he adds a wing to the newcomers. Only a third line should need constructing.

Gaudette becomes #1 Center right off the bat and Boeser is the #RW. I'd try Jake on the LW with them while there was still some regular season left.

You leave Valk's line alone. It now becomes #2.

Labate/Hamilton/Bancks should be going well by then as Joe will be back in shape.

That leaves the following group form which to build the new line:
Zalewski
Cassels
Pelletier
Rendulic
Hulak
Kunyk

The NHL will be done and the papered guys should be coming down. God **** it JIM get it done this season!!!!!!!!! Gaunce and Stecher should be automatics.

Gaunce moves right back in. Gaunce, Z, and you pick the other one.
Z or Gaunce can go to center or both can play wings if you take a center out of that list.

Frankly, I'd try Gaunce/Pelletier/Zalewski first thing. If Pascal can work out he has the best 2 players on the list to work with.

Carcone and Roy would be in Alaska if this were to all play out. Brett McKenzie and Brisebois could also be here depending upon how their Jr teams do in the playoffs. A nice crew of backups to work with.

Is Stecher in the mix? He should be. One of Billins/Shields leaves and Stecher moves in. If they keep playing like they are at the moment, Pedan or Subban could get a rest as well. Maybe that would be the kick in the *** both of them need to kick it up another notch where it needs to be for any hope in the playoffs.

All of this would happen during the remainder of the regular season. If the above doesn't work out, then lines have to be rearranged to find something that does. Those 4 guys (Gaudette, Boeser, Gaunce, and Stecher) make this a whole different team. Of course Gaudette and Boeser have to come out and that's not etched in steel.