Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Community

2016-17 Utica Comets Thread


Recommended Posts

10 hours ago, Beary Sweet said:

actually I think you may have a couple typos. Pelletier got a pair of goals and a helper while Zalewski notched a goal and a pair of helpers. but no worries. I agree though that the Comets have been super impressive to watch as of late. Green has the guys dialed into what he wants and expects from them and the team has delivered with wins in 3 of their last 4 games I think not sure. Jake also continues to show a positive improvement in his development as well getting 3 shots off. It's great that Green has let him go for goal when he has a chance to. Willie gave him the chances to play and shoot but gave him so little time to do it. so it's great to see him get that confidence to shoot and if he scores a few more points with some goals in there, Jake might be considered and be called up by Benning at some point during this season if we continue to have our injury woes. Bachman also looked like they had a good game. hope that the Comets keep this going. Go Comets!

What are your thoughts on Jake being on the 3rd line with Hamilton and Bancks? I really like the energy that line brings. They may not score every game. But these are the guys that will show Jake how to play that pro power grinding style that suits him. Jake could play higher in the line up, but this may be best for his development right now.

 

Also I want to give props to the entire Utica team. We're 500 again! It's well fought and earned. They have a true 1st line now, guys are starting to gel. And now they're back in the play off hunt. Almost like their parent club!! Very similar seasons so far with injuries etc.

 

Oh, and I know you've watched way more Utica games than me. I haven't been able to watch McEneny. He sure seems to be turning the corner doesn't he!? I really did not think this guy would pan out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, Attila Umbrus said:

What are your thoughts on Jake being on the 3rd line with Hamilton and Bancks? I really like the energy that line brings. They may not score every game. But these are the guys that will show Jake how to play that pro power grinding style that suits him. Jake could play higher in the line up, but this may be best for his development right now.

 

Also I want to give props to the entire Utica team. We're 500 again! It's well fought and earned. They have a true 1st line now, guys are starting to gel. And now they're back in the play off hunt. Almost like their parent club!! Very similar seasons so far with injuries etc.

 

Oh, and I know you've watched way more Utica games than me. I haven't been able to watch McEneny. He sure seems to be turning the corner doesn't he!? I really did not think this guy would pan out.

The line has been good, hard grinding and fore checking on the ice every shift. Of course, it would be nice if they were given more minutes but the Archibald-Valk-Grenier is just on fire so I can see why Jake hasn't been given 1st line minutes. Also when Jake has the puck, he has the ability to shield the puck while bursting out of his own zone which happened in the game few days ago vs Syracuse.  would be nice to see him do that more often as he can utilize his skillset more. Also McEneny has been progressing real well. I wasn't expecting much this season from him but he is doing well defensively while being able to chip in with the occasional goal from time to time when he has an opportunity to launch one from the point. he scored while chipping in a couple helpers last night and Green has given him more responsibility and he's taken advantage of it. Hope that he continues to develop as he could be a potential call up if the injuries get out of hand. Looking forward to catching the game tonight. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 minutes ago, Beary Sweet said:

The line has been good, hard grinding and fore checking on the ice every shift. Of course, it would be nice if they were given more minutes but the Archibald-Valk-Grenier is just on fire so I can see why Jake hasn't been given 1st line minutes. Also when Jake has the puck, he has the ability to shield the puck while bursting out of his own zone which happened in the game few days ago vs Syracuse.  would be nice to see him do that more often as he can utilize his skillset more. Also McEneny has been progressing real well. I wasn't expecting much this season from him but he is doing well defensively while being able to chip in with the occasional goal from time to time when he has an opportunity to launch one from the point. he scored while chipping in a couple helpers last night and Green has given him more responsibility and he's taken advantage of it. Hope that he continues to develop as he could be a potential call up if the injuries get out of hand. Looking forward to catching the game tonight. 

This is all great news to me man. Appreciate the update! Cheers!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 2017-01-15 at 0:30 PM, stonecoldstevebernier said:

McEneny has been a player that's caught my eye most games that I've watched this year. He's good enough positionally where he can hold his own, but right now he's paired with Sautner who hasn't been the same since returning from a concussion and that pair has been struggling, mostly due to Sautner. I don't notice his skating as an issue although at the same time he's not notably fast - he does like to push the play though, and join in on the offense when he can. There were a couple shifts yesterday where he was carrying the puck into the corners and passing it off before returning to his position at the point. Almost scored on a nice slapper but Halak just managed to keep it from crossing the goal line after it squeaked through him.

 

Its also obvious that Green sees the same improvements and trusts him. He was out for the final minute protecting a 2-1 lead yesterday which is how he wound up with the empty net goal. He also sees regular usage on the second powerplay unit, although the powerplay as a whole has been pretty dysfunctional for Utica lately.

Great to hear that McEneny's having something of a breakout AHL season this year. He was always going to be something of a long range, "project" type, but his success in Utica this season bodes well for him still having a development window that might eventually see him making the NHL (at least in a depth role). 

 

I've always liked what I've seen from McEneny when I've watched him play. So good to hear he's coming along.

 

Just to add to what's already been posted, here are a couple interesting quotes from HFBoards user "orcatown" (who regularly contributes detailed game reports over there), from McEneny's last game:

 

McEneny - continues to emerge as a good prospect. Strong both ways and really beginning to push the offensive side of his game. Skating very well and showed good range in his play and smart puck movement. Delivered some good shots on net with one sneaking thru for a goal. Couple of others tipped in. Probably the best player in this game. Looks to me like he is beginning to carry Sautner.

 

Note here that Subban has fallen well behind McEneny as a prospect. These constant demands that Subban should be given a chance to come up, made all the time on CDC, ignore this. At present, McEneny can skate every bit as well as Subban, especially laterally, has more range in his play and is much sounder defensively. Honestly, people should watch these games before they start tossing around these opinions about Subban around. Subban going to the all star game is strictly a result of stat watching and actually has little basis in how he plays in comparison to the other Utica defensemen.  
 

It's a shame that Subban apparently had a poor outing and continues to struggle with some aspects of his game (at least according to reports like this one), but the comparison to McEneny is intriguing nonetheless. The suggestion that McEneny, at his size, has comparable skating ability to Subban can only be seen as a positive (as it relates to McEneny anyway). Sounds like his mobility has really improved.

 

Also interesting to see McEneny referred to as a superior prospect to Subban. Again, setting aside the negative implications for Subban, this is positive news that we have a player with McEneny's attributes who remains a "prospect" with legitimate development potential and who might very well still have a chance to become an NHL player one day.

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, Nuxfanabroad said:

He's got some size too, doesn't he?

Listed at 6'2 and 200-215, depending on the source. However, according to those staff only roster sheets that got leaked at this year's training camp (the one's that confirmed Tryamkin weighed 265), McEneny checked in at 6'3" and 223 lbs. He definitely looks bigger to my eyes than he's generally listed on the hockey stats websites (although even his lowest listed measurements would be still be considered "NHL size").

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Utica win yet again tonight vs St Johns in the 2nd half of a back to back 3-1 and push their record over .500 after a pretty impressive stretch by the team going 7-2-1 in their last 10. Jake is starting to get on a bit of a roll again as he gets an apple on Hamilton's marker while getting 3 shots off which is great to see from him. He's young and he's only going to get better. Rendulic got on the score sheet and it was his 3rd of the season. Hope that he starts to get going. Kunyk also got his 5th goal of the year tonight.  Strange that Green didn't go with Demko since it was a back to back but I guess he wanted to go with the hot hand and Bachman certainly looked good making 32 saves. Hope that the Comets keep this nice winning streak they have going. Go Comets!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, Hutton Wink said:

Sautner looked much-improved coming out of camp compared to last year.  Is it him regressing or McEneny just finding his way?  Nicely working his way up from being a free agent signing to a year in the 'Zoo to rounding into shape in the AHL.

Sautner got knocked out in a game earlier this year and has been a little off ever since he came back from the concussion. How much of that is actually due to the concussion is anyone's guess; it could be that the time off where he wasn't able to skate or exercise put him a few steps back when he returned. Regardless, McEneny has surpassed him by far and I'd agree with the sentiment that he's also surpassed Subban in terms of  playing a complete game (Subban obviously still has the offensive edge).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

56 minutes ago, Beary Sweet said:

Utica win yet again tonight vs St Johns in the 2nd half of a back to back 3-1 and push their record over .500 after a pretty impressive stretch by the team going 7-2-1 in their last 10. Jake is starting to get on a bit of a roll again as he gets an apple on Hamilton's marker while getting 3 shots off which is great to see from him. He's young and he's only going to get better. Rendulic got on the score sheet and it was his 3rd of the season. Hope that he starts to get going. Kunyk also got his 5th goal of the year tonight.  Strange that Green didn't go with Demko since it was a back to back but I guess he wanted to go with the hot hand and Bachman certainly looked good making 32 saves. Hope that the Comets keep this nice winning streak they have going. Go Comets!

Great win by Utica. Saint Johns is directly in head of them in the standings. A BIG 2 points. I'm really loving the fight both Canucks and Comets have this year. Very similar challenges. Lots of new faces on both teams. Glad Rendulic got a goal, I was expecting big things from him. He showed so well in pre-season. Also nice to see Cassels get an apple as well.

 

Grenier, Valk, and Archie. What a great first line for Utica. They've needed some guys to gel and they finally have it. Would really like Vancouver to sign Valk, the kid deserves it. He's stuck around our system for years. Injuries, getting sent to the ECHL over and over, playing as a spare player while getting called up to Utica. He has finally forced his way onto the line up for good. He has earned every bit of ice time he gets!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 1/12/2017 at 8:04 AM, UTICANUCK said:

Told you folks the sky wasn't falling in Utica.  Since my Jan 5th post telling you the team wasn't playing that bad and the majority of fans were a patient lot, the Comets have won three of four including a tough road win at Hershey.   Last night was a Markstromesque performance by Demko, an encore to a similar performance in the Hershey-win.  Demko was tremendous last night and stole this one for us making several huge saves throughout and even added an assist on the OT winner.  While Jake didn't score, he was absolutely flying out there and if he plays like that everynight it's only a matter of time before good things happen.  The offense was provided by the usual suspects - Grenier, Archie and Valk.  Grenier opened the scoring with 5th regulation goal in the last five game and his 12th of the season.  Archie closed it with his 10th goal and 3rd-OT winner this year.  Archie has been a great-two-way player this season.  I think early in his career he was being groomed as an enforcer, but since abandoning that goal he's become a complete player.  Clock is ticking on Grenier, has size and skills, and could still be servicable in the NHL.  Strange-but-true:  Tom Sesito is a local product so we get news on him and he has scored 4 goals in 4 games with Scranton Wilks-Barre including a Gordie-Howe-Hat-Trick to start the streak.   Proof the Utica crowd is at the top of it's game:  There was a trivia game during a stoppage and when a picture of Meryl Streep popped up on the screen there were thunderous boos throughout the arena. 

 

5-game road trip on tap including two in St John's, a team that's had our number.  Still time to make a move in the standings and this would be a good time.

What did Streep ever do to 9000 Uticans?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Haven't been able to catch the Comets recently other than on the radio and some iffy AHL video broadcasts, but during losing streak Pat Conacher and Travis were insisting the team was a playoff team.  If Bachman and Demko stay hot, watch out, the Comets have 4 balanced lines and the emergence of McEneney without Pedan around has been a big help.  Can't wait to see them back home soon they have played well on the road.  Good to have Zalewski back.  The Aud is going to have some jump.  Maybe we get Rodin for a conditioning stint.  Sautner has more to give hope his eggs didn't get scrambled with that last injury.  

 

Grenier having a solid year so far.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Streep dissed the incoming Republican President during her Golden Globes speech.  While NY State is overwhelmingly Democratic, the politicians have historically taken the taxes from the hardworking folks in Upstate NY and used them Downstate (NY City, Long Island).  Many here are hoping for a change.  In the 60's and 70's Utica was nearly double in size and was thriving.  The hardworking people and natural resources remain to become great again.  The Comets have been a ray of hope for this somewhat depressed area and the folks here are very loyal and extremely generous.  Utican's are well-educated and know hockey.  In the 70's and early 80's we had 11 cable channels and one was CKWS out of Kingston.  . We grew up with Hockey Night in Canada (besided our own minor league Comets).  The boos for Streep were pretty strong but not as strong as they were when John Brophy and the Long Island Ducks would come into town, or when Torts brought his Virginia Lancers to the Aud.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, Attila Umbrus said:

Great win by Utica. Saint Johns is directly in head of them in the standings. A BIG 2 points. I'm really loving the fight both Canucks and Comets have this year. Very similar challenges. Lots of new faces on both teams. Glad Rendulic got a goal, I was expecting big things from him. He showed so well in pre-season. Also nice to see Cassels get an apple as well.

 

Grenier, Valk, and Archie. What a great first line for Utica. They've needed some guys to gel and they finally have it. Would really like Vancouver to sign Valk, the kid deserves it. He's stuck around our system for years. Injuries, getting sent to the ECHL over and over, playing as a spare player while getting called up to Utica. He has finally forced his way onto the line up for good. He has earned every bit of ice time he gets!

He's our Johnny Hockey!! :) Reel him in Jim.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

COMETS WIN FIFTH STRAIGHT

JAN 18, 2017

St. John’s, NL - The Utica Comets won a season-high fifth straight game to improve over .500 for the first time this year with a 3-1 victory against the St. John’s IceCaps at the Mile One Centre.

The teams skated to a scoreless first period as Richard Bachman turned aside all 11 shots from the IceCaps. Yann Danis stopped eight shots in the stanza that included three Comet power plays.

Michael McCarron opened the scoring with his fifth of the year at 2:23. Chris Terry and Josiah Didier assisted on the goal. Wacey Hamilton tied the game at 6:13 with a rebound goal after Carter Bancks and Jake Virtanen each had an attempt on goal. 46 second later, Borna Rendulic picked the glove-hand corner of Danis to give the Comets a 2-1 lead. Darren Archibald and Cole Cassels assisted on the goal to conclude the period’s scoring. A double minor penalty was issued to Bobby Farnham in the closing minute of play. The Comets power play extended into the third period.

18 seconds into the period, Cody Kunyk extended the Comets lead with this fifth of the year. Colby Robak sent the puck into the offensive zone and Kunyk buried the puck after it bounced to the slot. In the final two minutes of the game, Danis was pulled for the extra attacker. Bachman and the Comets were able to fend off the last attacks and win the game.

Bachman stopped 32 shots to win his fourth straight game and improve his record to 8-7-1. Danis made 22 saves as his record moved to 6-3-3.

The Comets tallied one power play goal on five chances and killed all three penalties.

The Comets complete the five-game road trip on Saturday night in Syracuse against the Crunch. The game can be heard live on 94.9 KROCK and viewed on AHL Live.

For the latest Comets news visit www.uticacomets.com or follow the team on Facebook (www.facebook.com/uticacomets), Twitter (@UticaComets), Instagram (@UticaComets), Snapchat (@UticaComets) and the Comets YouTube Channel.

BACK TO ALL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...