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[Official] 2015-16 Utica Comets Thread


thejazz97

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1 hour ago, canuckledraggin said:

It looked like Gaunce Shinkaruk and Zalewski was a line today. Who was playing RW on that line? I only watched a little bit of the 3rd and I couldn't tell. Any way you slice it, those guys are showing lots of versatility.

Z was centering but face-offs on left side were taken by Gaunce and he did well at the dot.  That line was scary good tonight at both ends. That crew doesn't hesitate to get to dirty areas for goals.  

I think Cracknell has exceeded expectations this year, but you'd have to look hard to find somebody in pro hockey more of a surprise than Z right now.  He should be in the AHL All Star game this weekend.  

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11 hours ago, SILLY GOOSE said:

How cool would it be to see Guance/Z/Grenier transition together as a line to the Canucks next season?

It would be, but its highly doubtful... Zalewski will be right on the cusp of making the team next year, and management is high on Gaunce but Grenier has taken a step back recently. His inconsistency is holding him back from taking the next step to the NHL and he's got to step it up to keep pace with guys like Zalewski (who's vaulted himself into the conversation with a great year). He did just have an injury so that may explain some of it but the marker on him has always been his consistency. He is a late bloomer (and the talent is there) so there's still hope for him to improve, he's more of a wild card than the others though.

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A Gaunce/Zalewski/Grenier line definitely feels like something that could happen for the Canucks in the near future. But as stonecoldstevebernier said, it's highly unlikely they all come up next year together.

I believe since Grenier is waiver eligible that he'll be in the lineup. I don't see the Canucks wanting to risk losing him. He's likely the replacement for either Prust or Cracknell going into next season, as I believe some other NHL team will take a waiver on a young 6'5" winger in this day and age of the league... despite limited NHL experience. Hell, depending on how much his injury nags him, and if Prust is either traded or waived, Grenier could finish off the season with the Canucks despite his inconsistences.

If the Canucks keep Vey around and decide to marinate McCann in Utica next season, I could see Zalewski making a case for the 4C spot. The kid has really made a name for himself this season and definitely earned his NHL contract. It's hard not to want to put him in the conversation and I felt like he did have moments where he shined during his NHL callup earlier this year. I'm sure he'll be back in a Canucks uniform before the end of the season... and again, I do see Zalewski as an upgrade on a guy like Cracknell, that's for sure.

I think they'll really marinate Gaunce in the minors. Next year, I expect him to be a leader in Utica. He'd probably be up with the Canucks had it not been for Emerson Etem basically taking the roster spot he was going to have. I expect him to split his time heavily between the two clubs next season, with the 2017-2018 season being the season where Gaunce sticks with Vancouver.

On a side note, does anyone know how Alex Friesen has been doing? He's a scrappy short centre who I thought had a real chance at being the 4C this season in Vancouver. What's going on with him? And why has he been passed up on so many call up chances this season and last? -- I'm just curious.

Also, does anybody believe that either Travis Ehrhardt or Carter Bancks deserve NHL contracts next season?

 

 

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Prust will be gone and Zalewski may well take Cracknell's spot.  But I can't see all three making it up, as Dorsett will still be here.  Perhaps if Vey is moved, and maybe even Burrows but I think they keep him through next year as pne of the few remaining vets.  Grenier might be the one who ends up without a contract unless he shows really well the rest of the way this season.  Could just sign him to a two-way then see if he clears waivers.

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4 hours ago, Quantum said:

A Gaunce/Zalewski/Grenier line definitely feels like something that could happen for the Canucks in the near future. But as stonecoldstevebernier said, it's highly unlikely they all come up next year together.

I believe since Grenier is waiver eligible that he'll be in the lineup. I don't see the Canucks wanting to risk losing him. He's likely the replacement for either Prust or Cracknell going into next season, as I believe some other NHL team will take a waiver on a young 6'5" winger in this day and age of the league... despite limited NHL experience. Hell, depending on how much his injury nags him, and if Prust is either traded or waived, Grenier could finish off the season with the Canucks despite his inconsistences.

If the Canucks keep Vey around and decide to marinate McCann in Utica next season, I could see Zalewski making a case for the 4C spot. The kid has really made a name for himself this season and definitely earned his NHL contract. It's hard not to want to put him in the conversation and I felt like he did have moments where he shined during his NHL callup earlier this year. I'm sure he'll be back in a Canucks uniform before the end of the season... and again, I do see Zalewski as an upgrade on a guy like Cracknell, that's for sure.

I think they'll really marinate Gaunce in the minors. Next year, I expect him to be a leader in Utica. He'd probably be up with the Canucks had it not been for Emerson Etem basically taking the roster spot he was going to have. I expect him to split his time heavily between the two clubs next season, with the 2017-2018 season being the season where Gaunce sticks with Vancouver.

On a side note, does anyone know how Alex Friesen has been doing? He's a scrappy short centre who I thought had a real chance at being the 4C this season in Vancouver. What's going on with him? And why has he been passed up on so many call up chances this season and last? -- I'm just curious.

Also, does anybody believe that either Travis Ehrhardt or Carter Bancks deserve NHL contracts next season?

 

 

On Grenier: seems like he's developing along the lines of NHL15 where he takes until about 25 to develop into an effective fourth liner. I think that's next year for him. Thing is, I don't see how he bumps Dorsett or Etem from the line-up, so they might just hold him in the AHL paying him big bucks to be a leader on the team down there like Cal O'Reilly or someone similar.

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My best guess on the Comets forwards once Prust gets added to the lineup:

Shinkaruk-Zalewski-Grenier
Gaunce-Friesen-Archibald
Higgins-Hamilton-Bancks
Kenins-Cassels-Prust

It'd be great if they could get Blair Jones back soon, he could slide in for Cassels and then suddenly this forward group doesn't look so shaky. They may not be much of a threat to score but this is starting to look like a much more structured team than the one that couldn't buy a win not too long ago.

The x-factor is Higgins/Prust's motivation to play well and whether either could be dealt by the deadline. And of course, the good health of both clubs and whether the Canucks move a guy like Vrbata.

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