With free agency approaching and a recent increase in transactions affecting the Comets, I figured it was about time to get this thread going.
The Comets 2017-18 season came to an end in the first round of the playoffs, pushing the eventual Calder Cup winning Toronto Marlies to a deciding fifth game and falling in the series 3-2. Utica saw a number of exciting prospects test the waters late in the season, including Lukas Jasek, Kole Lind, and Jonathan Dahlen. All figure to be given ample opportunity this year with Utica who are poised to have the most young talent they’ve had in their lineup since their inception, as Olli Juolevi, Jonah Gadjovich, Petrus Palmu, and perhaps Adam Gaudette could join their ranks.
On the flip side, Utica currently faces some question marks at centre as well as being without a true #1 defenseman. Last year’s number one pivot Michael Chaput was flipped to Chicago for Tanner Kero, whose AHL numbers are slightly inferior to Chaput’s while being more of a proven NHL contributor. Cole Cassels did not receive a qualifying offer, and longtime Comet Wacey Hamilton has not been re-signed – although neither is a big loss offensively. Cam Darcy returns, but ideally he is a good #3 guy who can fill in as a #2 on occasion. There’s also the possibility that Adam Gaudette could spend time in Utica, or perhaps Zack MacEwen could be utilized at centre after spending most of his rookie season on the wing. Tyler Motte retains his ability to pass through waivers and could be an option if he fails to make the Canucks out of training camp. To me, the centre ice position is going to be more of a factor than ever this season with the large influx of young wingers – Dahlen, Lind, Jasek, Gadjovich, and Palmu will all be figuring out the pro game and they need skilled centres who can support them through the inevitable learning curve.
As of now, it appears that the tandem of Demko and Bachman will return in net, barring the Canucks moving Nilsson or Demko outplaying him in training camp. Evan McEneny will look to have a bounce back season after being sidelined for almost the entire 2017-18 campaign and will likely see some big minutes as he helps anchor what is shaping up to be a young defense group. They lack a true #1 but with McEneny, Sautner, Brisebois, Chatfield, and possibly Juolevi all on the roster, all will need playing time, and all have valuable pro experience under their belts already. Sifers is the lone vet on the back end, with Blujus returning as well to make 7 capable AHL defensemen.
COMETS THIS YEAR (as of 3/24):
31-29-6-2, 70 pts (6th in the North)
Top scorers:
Reid Boucher (49) 28-29-57
Tanner Kero (62) 24-30-54
Zack MacEwen (61) 20-28-48
Brendan Gaunce (52) 16-19-35
Evan McEneny (58) 8-23-31
CURRENT ROSTER: [*recalled, (+) injured]
Forwards:
#9 Lukas Jasek
#10 Tanner Kero
#11 Cam Darcy
#13 Kole Lind (+)
#14 Reid Gardiner
#15 Zack MacEwen
#16 Brendan Gaunce
#18 Vincent Arseneau
#19 Seamus Malone
#20 Tom Pyatt
#21 Brendan Woods
#22 Jonah Gadjovich (+)
#24 Reid Boucher
#28 Kyle Thomas
#34 Carter Bancks
#36 Wacey Hamilton (+)
#37 Dyson Stevenson
Defencemen:
#2 Evan McEneny (+)
#3 Stefan LeBlanc
#5 Jalen Chatfield (+)
#6 Ashton Sautner*
#7 Brandon Anselmini
#8 Dylan Blujus
#23 Luke Schenn*
#26 Jaime Sifers
#38 Matt Petgrave
#39 Colton Saucerman
#48 Olli Juolevi (+)
#55 Guillaume Brisebois*
#64 Jesse Graham
Goaltenders:
#32 Richard Bachman (+)
#33 Marek Mazanec
#49 Michael Leighton
IN THE MINORS:
Brendan Bradley
Ivan Kulbakov
Jagger Dirk
Yan-Pavel LaPlante (+)