Comets Highly Unlikely to Move to Abbotsford

[DeltaSwede]

“It all happened within a blink of an eye. That’s a good commentary on how things went.” – Laurence Gilman Vice President of Hockey Operations and Assistant General Manager for the Vancouver Canucks.

Starting from scratch last June, from an organizational and operational standpoint, the Comets entered the American Hockey League on the hurry. Modernizing a 50+ year old building known as The AUD, creating rooms where there were none, attracting a fan base that had to be sold on the product, and making believers out of the Vancouver Canucks that the Mohawk Valley was the right choice to develop their talent and future NHL players, left little margin for error.

As plans are in flow for producing a competitive product on the ice come this October, feedback from the parent club should always be welcomed and notes taken. Constructive criticism and suggestions are seeds of growth. By all accounts, from Gilman’s perspective, who’s job description includes being the chief negotiator of all player contracts and head of amateur scouting, the Canucks are pleased at how their relationship in Utica blossomed.

“The Comets’ staff and hockey operations did such a wonderful job. The hardest stretch was when (Comets) they didn’t win in their first 10 games,”Gilman tells.

With the inaugural season of the return of AHL hockey back in Utica now more than one month into the off-season, Gilman reflects on last June’s press conference at Aqua Vino’s Restaurant announcing the partnership between the Comets and Canucks. Gilman isn’t surprised at the level of success early on in the agreement. He recalls looking around the room flooded with media two and three deep as an “overwhelming response”, that exceeded his expectations.

The fan and community support for professional hockey coming home to The AUD after a 20-year hiatus couldn’t have been more evident, as the season wound down to its final two home games. Collecting a 3-2 win over the Toronto Marlies on April 18, capped off the next afternoon with a 2-0 shutout over Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, saw the Comets finish the season with 79 points; 35-32-5-4.

With the Calgary Flames relocating their AHL affiliate to Glens Falls for the upcoming season, five New York state opponents of the Comets will be within a two-hour bus ride from The AUD. The close proximity to Utica, as is likely the same line of thought with the other parent clubs playing the Comets, is a very attractive feature for Vancouver’s selection to be in the Mohawk Valley.

“This is precisely why we chose Utica; it’s in the heart of the American Hockey League,” Gilman, who has been with the Canucks since 2008, explains.

This should put to a rest the rumors of Vancouver wanting to have their top affiliate closer to the Pacific Northwest. With baseless rumors persisting throughout the season of the Canucks eyeing to shift their top affiliate to Abbotsford (once available), due to being less than 50 miles apart, Gilman presents a basic feature of the Utica-Canucks conection few observed.

“There’s a tendency for the affiliate to be in close proximity to the NHL club. Remember, 50 percent of the time both (teams) are on the road. When you put your team in a market closely situated to your rival (Glens Falls/Calgary), you garner more attention.”

The multi-year agreement between the Comets and Canucks is on solid foundation. With Vancouver announcing last month that Mike Gillis would no longer be the club’s president and general manager, and Trevor Linden brought aboard as President, it would be natural for some of the Comets faithful to wonder what, if any effect new leadership could have in Utica. Gilman is clear when stating that the Canucks roster is developed based on a model that is committed to developing talent, in an exceptional location (Utica).

According to Gilman, within a month’s time the Canucks should announce who their new General Manager will be. Nicklas Jensen, a mainstay for much of his 54 contests in a Comets uniform, skated 17 games with the parent club. Jensen is one success story of developing talent coming out of Utica that Gilman points to.

“He (Jensen) had no goals in this first 18 or so games. The coaching staff stayed committed with him. His skating pace improved, and (Jensen) came on to contribute on the NHL level.”

Darren Archibald, Frank Corrado, Pascal Pelletier, and Benn Ferriero are others who Gilman singles out as having made important contributions, to the overall growth of last season’s Comets team. Growth in Utica and next month’s NHL Entry Draft could have a connection. Gilman labels the draft as a process of “having a longer view” where they evolve.

“Players from Europe and college could go the AHL and Utica immediately,” Gilman said of the upcoming draft in Philadelphia.

Pleased with the coaching staff, pleased with how the affiliate went about their business, all signs point to a positive check-up, and healthy prognosis between the Canucks and Comets.

www.uticacomets.com

Since I don't live in Vancouver or in B.C to me having the farm team in Utica is nothing but a positive thing because as the article states "it's in the heart of the American Hockey League" meaning less travel.

[kesler#17]

Why would you want to raise them on short travel. If they want to be good for the canucks I'd rather get them used to the travel schedule

[Rounoush]

Why would you want to raise them on short travel. If they want to be good for the canucks I'd rather get them used to the travel schedule

Not true. As you can see from this map of the locations of all of the AHL teams, the travel would be much worse if they were in Abbotsford.

[timberz21]

That is why we have we have 23 player on the roster. Chances that we need an emergency call-up right before a game, is very slim. Might happen 1 or 2 times during the whole year.

And most of the time the call-up is for 1 game only, and jetlag or travel is not really a problem for 1 game/day only.

The only advantage is the Vancouver fanbase could see more of their prospects play, but at the same time it would split the fan base with Giants, Blazers and Rockets.

[ice orca]

Not true. As you can see from this map of the locations of all of the AHL teams, the travel would be much worse if they were in Abbotsford.

This.. better competition in the heart of the AHL with less travel.

[tas]

This.. better competition in the heart of the AHL with less travel.

i think you guys missed his point. he was saying that having he farm team in abbotsford would get the prospects used to the rigors of the canucks travel schedule.

that said, i think doing everything possible to have the prospects play at the very top of their game and build their confidence should be the first priority, and if playing in a city that limits your travel helps that, then great.

[timberz21]

This.. better competition in the heart of the AHL with less travel.

I think it has more to do with less travel, more money saved. We all know how AHL franchise are not really making any money. An abbotsford franchise would have way more expenses and not necessarily more revenues.

[Salmon Arm Canuck]

The big thing I noticed is that, in the article, Gilman had in his responsibilities "Head of Amateur Scouting". Was/is this true and will that change now that GM JB is on board considering what's been said widely about his ability to find talent?

[Nino]

Why would you want to raise them on short travel. If they want to be good for the canucks I'd rather get them used to the travel schedule

Almost all the teams are out east, they would have to travel out east for almost all there games. It's a little different then the Canucks travel.

[-SN-]

I think it has more to do with less travel, more money saved. We all know how AHL franchise are not really making any money. An abbotsford franchise would have way more expenses and not necessarily more revenues.

Additionally, less time travelling means more time practising and conditioning, which is fairly important for player development.

[tas]

Almost all the teams are out east, they would have to travel out east for almost all there games. It's a little different then the Canucks travel.

they also don't travel by charter.

[Armada]

No thanks, I like what is in Utica and the fans seem fantastic.

[Boudrias]

Rumours of a west coast AHL division seem to have died off. It is the only way I could see Vancouver moving their Comets out west. A AHL division in the west, especially with the Canucks in the NHL Pacific division, would make a lot of sense. Same time zone as SJ, LA, ANA, PHX and one zone from EDM and CAL. Not likely as there would be a lot of contracts with existing arenas back east.

I like the Comet location in Utica. Not only does it reduce travel but it also puts the org in close proximity to the USA college programs.

Could be a great recruiting tool.

[Brick Tamland]

Trevor was in Abbotsford last week discussing his new gym that is opening. When asked, he said he felt another team would occupy the Abbotsford arena before they would be ready to move the team. Sounds like there were discussions but the timing would not work.

Abbotsford is close to getting a whl team either through expansion but most likely relocation.

[MJDDawg]

Not a surprise they're staying since they just signed that 5 year deal.

As pointed out by several posters already, they are in the heart of AHL territory, and less time travelling means more time practicing.

There is apparently a move afoot to create an AHL Western division by some NHL teams starting in 2015. I'd think that the Canucks will be more than happy to continue in Utica for there next 5 years, then take another look at the logistics.

[TOMapleLaughs]

The AHL looks to have abandoned western expansion anyway.

[Dogbyte]

We had a great first year in Utica where there has been a lot of buy in. Why ruin that?

[RobGVee]

Calgary Blows. That is all.

[elvis15]

Not a surprise they're staying since they just signed that 5 year deal.

...

Yup, once that was signed there was little chance they'd be moving to Abbotsford unless there was a straight swap of franchises with the Flames. Even then, they took a year to build a brand in Utica so to change that to a whole new team with new jerseys, logos and colours made it even less likely they'd move only a year into the Utica agreement.

Basically, we already knew a move wasn't going to happen once they couldn't figure it out last summer with Abby/Calgary.

[TheOgRook]

Additionally, less time travelling means more time practising and conditioning, which is fairly important for player development.

Exactly! As many wise hockey minds have said, at this level their skill level is obviously high, the things they need to develop are in body and mind... Get stronger faster and more confident, confidence possibly being the most important.