2017-18 Utica Comets Thread

[Noble 6]

46 minutes ago, stonecoldstevebernier said:

Your opinion's well informed so I appreciate it! Agree with pretty much everything you said.

 

If that group was fully healthy, I'd expect Molino to rotate in and out with Carcone (although Carcone finished really strong last year). Or maybe Hamilton, he's been a staple in the Comets bottom six for a few years now but receded somewhat last season. If he struggles out of the gate again, I wouldn't be surprised to see him scratched in favour of Molino/Cassels/MacEwen. There's really nobody you can take out in that top nine, its so stacked but of course it won't stay that way the whole year and guys like Molino and MacEwen will get their shots. Also going to be interesting to see how Cassels responds in a make or break year for him.

 

I think Brisebois is already a safer bet than Sautner who hasn't shown much in his first two years. Chatfield was also really impressive in the Memorial Cup. Cederholm is the dark horse for me because we haven't seen him for a while... I think he could add a valuable physical presence on the back end since thats an element Utica will lack.

 

For me, if it came down to Molino vs. Carcone for a regular spot in the lineup, I would choose Molino. I understand Carcone was was underwhelming for most of the year before putting it together near the end. I'd rather have Molino get that prime development time than Carcone, unless of course Carcone outplays him. 

 

It's nice to hear that Brisebois and Chatfield should get some decent playing time this year. Brisebois especially is someone who could turn into something for us. It'll be nice to follow his development this season. 

 

Thank you for all the information!

[Boudrias]

I doubt the Canucks risk losing Gaunce through waivers. Chaput would be that choice if it came down to picking between the two. 

[tyhee]

As will be easy to see, this is a long and detailed post.  It doesn't make for light reading and so I'd invite those readers who aren't in the mood to slog through player rosters player by player to skip it.

 

There is some enthusiasm about how strong the Utica Comets, the Canucks' main farm team, may be in 2017-18 as it looks like the Canucks may have considerable depth.

 

Certainly things are looking better than the last couple of years, but the possibility of losing some of that depth on waivers and the existence of the veteran rule in the AHL mean that things may be at least a little less rosy than might be anticipated.  Going through the players one by one and leaving out the expectation that the scouts were terribly wrong on a bunch of players that made it through 3 seasons without being drafted leaves the Comets with a forward group that, if things don't work out very well, could be a middling group short on AHL level depth-which seems a surprising conclusion given the overflow of NHL level depth.

 

Part of that is related to the AHL's veteran rule. There is a maximum number of veteran skaters than an AHL team is permitted to dress for any game. The limit is six skaters who started the season with more than 260 games played in the NHL, AHL, now-defunct IHL and any of the European Elite Leagues, with not more than five of those having more than 320 games played in those leagues at the beginning of the season. Those with over 320 games are called veterans, those with 261-320 are called veteran-exempt.

 

If the Comets have more than 6 players who are veterans (including one with 261-320 regular season games played) than at least one has to sit out each game.

 

To estimate the number of veteran slots available for Comets' forwards, I'm going to make a unilateral guess that since the Canucks have so many NHL calibre forwards, they'll keep 14 forwards and 7 defencemen (so 2 extra forwards and 1 extra defenceman) together with their two goalies to make their 23 man roster. Those 7 defencemen are overwhelmingly likely to include as six of them Tanev, Edler, Stecher, Hutton, Gudbranson and del Zotto, leaving one spot for which the leading candidates are Biega, Wiercioch and Juolevi. Holm is also a possibility and Pedan and Subban are long shots who have enough positives to rate a look.

 

If the Canucks have a player on injured reserve to start the season (and continually after that) they could keep Biega and Wiercioch as their 7^th defenceman and injury replacement (8^th) defenceman. It may be more likely that Biega or Wiercioch will find himself in Utica at least some time during the season, but if not, it leaves the Comets with Jamie Sifers (over 320 games, so a veteran) and Philip Holm (either not a vet or veteran-exempt with over 260 games, depending on whether his games in the Swedish Allsvenskan count towards veteran status) taking up one or two of the six available veteran spots.

 

[Note-the Allsvenskan is not the top league in Sweden so at least in theory it shouldn't count as an elite league.  Teams in that league can win promotion to the SEL and teams in the SEL can suffer relegation to the Allsvenskan, though, so I've seen it argued that the Alsvenskan should be counted as an elite league.]

 

That leaves four or five veteran spots on the Comets to be filled by forwards. If Biega or Wiercioch is also with the Comets (for example if Juolevi makes it, or at some time in the season the Canucks have no d-man on the IRL) then there would only be three or four veteran spots to be filled by forwards.  So the conclusion is that the Comets will have between 3 and 5 available spots each game for veteran forwards.

 

Next looking at the forwards, firstly those on Canucks' contracts.

 

Pretty much certainly, the two Sedins, Horvat, Eriksson, Baertschi, Granlund, Sutter, Gagner and Vanek rate to be on the Canucks' roster. That takes 9 of the 14 forward spots for the Canucks.

 

The main candidates for the remaining 5 spots are:

 

Derek Dorsett-an aging banger, cap hit $2.65 million, injured list last season, limited skill but has been a decent defensive forward at times and who supplies some grit to a team wich doesn't have it in abundance. I expect if he's healthy he'll be on the Canucks. If waived he may make it through because of his cap hit and if in the AHL he would be a veteran.

 

Anton Rodin-skilled, subject to waivers, on injured list last season after looking impressive in training camp. His ability is likely to depend on his recovery from injury. If he's healthy he rates to either make the Canucks or get claimed on waivers. For AHL purposes would be a veteran. 1 yr contract at $700K so no cap hit if he gets through waivers and is assigned to the minors.

 

Brock Boeser-rookie, showed enough in 9 games with the Canucks last season that many fans will be unhappy if he isn't in the NHL this season. On elc, no cap hit if assigned to Utica.

 

Nikolay Goldobin-about to turn 22 at the beginning of this season, waiver exempt, still on elc for this and one more season. Has been an effective AHL scorer who has been held back by concerns over his defensive play. Skilled enough to have a realistic chance of making the Canucks, though it is more likely he'll spend much of the season in Utica.

 

Brendan Gaunce-2 year deal at $750K per cap hit, subject to waivers this season. There was much speculation he might be taken in the expansion draft. He spent almost all of last season as a 4^th line checking winger, in which role he was effective defensively while producing essentially no offence. Despite last year's offensive numbers, his possession and defensive play was good enough that his chances of passing through waivers wouldn't be very good. He can be a useful, very low event, 4^th liner.

 

Alex Burmistrov-versatile former 8^th overall pick whose career has been on a downward trend for several years, struggling in the NHL Now on a 1 year, $900,000 contract. Subject to waivers, was waived once last season and was claimed. Could well be claimed again if waived. Would be an AHL veteran if assigned to the AHL.

 

Reid Boucher-on a 1 year deal @ $687,500. Subject to waivers. Put on waivers three times last season and claimed every time. Showed enough offensive ability in limited NHL time that the chances are moderate or more that he'd be claimed again this season. Considered weak defensively. Would be veteran-exempt if in the AHL.

 

Jake Virtanen-on entry level contract, exempt from waivers. He's subject to a wide spread of expectations, all the way from some thinking he should play on the Canucks this coming season to others already labelling him a bust.  It would be hard to make a case against the thought he's been trending downward. He's likely to spend all or most of the season in the AHL unless he shows great improvement.

 

Michael Chaput-1 yr, $687,500 contract. Subject to waivers. Despite a fair level of success last season as a 4^th line checking center, there is a fairly good chance he could clear waivers. He's been an effective AHL player but has enough games in that he'd take up a veteran spot.

 

Jayson Megna-1 yr, $675,000 contract, subject to waivers, would be a veteran if assigned to the AHL. He's been a fairly effective AHL player, probably mostly a 2^nd liner and to the concern of some had the confidence of his head coach with the Canucks last season, sometimes playing more time and with better players than expected. I think there's a good chance he'd clear if waived.

 

There will be considerable disagreement about which players will fill in the five spots available. For the sake of illustration I'm going to choose 6 forwards for those 5 Canuck slots, to be on the roster, injured list or be lost on waivers. Feel free to slot in differently as you think best and look at who is left for the Comets. The idea is to see who is available to dress for the Comets.

 

For illustration I'll assume that Dorsett, Rodin, Boeser (similar results are obtained by using Goldobin or Virtanen,) Gaunce, Burmistrov and Boucher are not available to the Comets and the others are.  That leaves enough room for 14 forwards plus one on injured reserve.  Obviously, if more are on injured reserve, lost to waivers or otherwise unavailable, fewer players will be available to the Comets.

 

That leaves for the Comets, with 3 to 5 veteran spots available among the forwards (see defensive discussion above)

 

Chaput (vet)-a top 6 calibre AHL center, probably reasonable on the 1st line

 

Megna (vet)-a top 6 calibre AHL winger

 

Goldobin-a 1^st line calibre AHL winger

 

Virtanen (last season eventually settled bottom 6 at the AHL level, current level to be seen)

 

Griffen Molino-rookie, signed as an undrafted college player. Played 5 games with the Canucks, 0 pts, -2. Good speed. Hard to know what to expect-normal expectation as an undrafted rookie with good but not extraordinary college success is probably bottom 6 at the AHL level but some will have higher hopes.

 

Jonathan Dahlen-rookie from Sweden with right to return to Europe if he doesn't make the Canucks-so he may or may not be available to the Comets. It is reasonable to hope he'll be a top-6 forward in the AHL if he plays there this season, which seems questionable. I think he'll return to Europe unless he sees himself as rating to be high enough on the forward list to get a callup during the season, but with the competition for callups, he'll have to have an impressive training camp for it look at the beginning of the season that he'd beat out the others for a callup.

 

Joe Labate-a bottom six banger in the AHL who will be considered for callups to play the same role in the NHL.

 

Yan-Pavel Laplante-Drafted but unsigned by Arizona, signed after an overage QMJHL season by the Canucks, spent most of last season as a middle-six ECHL forward, unable to make a terrible Comets' roster.  Needs to improve to be considered AHL calibre.

 

Zach MacEwen-Signed this summer by the Canucks after going undrafted 3 times, then having an impressive breakout season as an overager in the QMJHL. Some are, with some reason, high on him.  Otoh he's still completely unproven as a pro and the Canucks haven't had much luck recently with undrafted forwards signed from junior (see Carcone, remember Dane Fox.) Could be anywhere from NHL surprise to ECHL level.

 

Cole Cassels-2013 3^rd rounder who joined the Comets the summer of 2015 after a very impressive Draft + 2 season that had quite a few posters on this forum pencilling him into the Canucks' lineup as a rookie pro. Struggled his first season as a pro after missing training time in the summer while rehabbing from injury. More concerning is his 2^nd pro season, in which he scored 11 pts in 66 games, being ineffective both offensively and, surprisingly, defensively. Hasn't shown anything yet as a pro to make one think he'll be an effective AHL forward-so far he's merely filled in the roster on a bad team.

 

Michael Carcone-Small, signed as undrafted 20 year old from the QMJHL, scored 5 goals and 13 points in 61 games. Weak on puck and ineffective last season, though with some improvement late in the year. Marginal AHL/ECHL level unless he improves.

 

And, on AHL contracts:

 

Darren Archibald-veteran winger, last season's top scorer with the Comets (with 47 points-it wasn't a good year for the Comets.)  Solid player in the AHL who is best suited to a 2nd line role but can play anywhere in the lineup.

 

Wacey Hamilton-veteran, forward, poor last season with 9 goals and 10 assists in 67 games. At his best an effective 3^rd line checker. Last year he just took up space.

 

Carter Bancks-veteran, last year was mediocre with 10 goals and 12 assists in 69 games, and -3.  Both Hamilton and Bancks regressed after signing 2 year AHL contracts the summer of 2016.

 

Alexis d'Aost-QMJHL signing, undrafted and no team gave him an NHL contract. Unless the scouts have made a large mistake he rates to spend his first year as a pro in the ECHL.

 

That is a total of 15 forwards available to the Comets. One of them, Dahlen, could easily return to Europe if he looks around and thinks there are two more players higher on the callup list than him (and with Goldobin and Virtanen there as well as having Chaput and Megna coming off seasons in the NHL that wouldn't be a stretch for him to think.)

There is room for some concerns.

 

1. There are only 3 to 5 veteran spots available for forwards, and this illustration has five forwards in those slots-Chaput, Megna, Archibald, Hamilton and Bancks. One or two could be unavailable every game. That 14 or 15 forwards available just became anywhere from 12 to 14 forwards available-barring injury to any of the Utica forwards or any callups to the Canucks. Even one AHL level injury (or another NHL callup) could potentially leave the Comets without enough forwards to field a team.  (Please don't suggest they dress Pedan as a forward.)  It appears to me that the Comets need more forwards-and they can't be players of veteran status. Signing more forwards who are of veteran status just means more veterans sitting out.

 

2. There are a lot of players who are unproven and could turn out to be space fillers. Unless several pan out well and some returnees improve, the 2^nd line could be suspect, the 3^rd line will be suspect and the 4^th line could be weak. So far outside of Chaput, Megna, Goldobin, Archibald, Labate, probably Dahlen if he's in Utica and probably Virtanen (at least as a 3^rd liner) we're relying on players who have been dismal as pros (at least recently) or who are rookie pros to fill out the roster. Probably it will work fine strength-wise, but nobody should expect that will be one of the strongest groups of forwards in the AHL.

 

Yes, it could all work out, but remember, not all the prospects turn out as hoped. Who would have expected Virtanen, Cassels and Jared McCann, as 2^nd year pros, to have such poor seasons? How did Carcone and LaPlante work out last season and overage scoring star Dane Fox work out earlier? It is the height of optimism to think most of these players will go undrafted from junior or from university and be good pros. I think the Comets could use some more help.

 

3. A smaller issue is that the top 6 might not be as strong as one would think normal given the NHL quality forward depth in the organization.  Of those 15-or 14- forwards, Chaput, Megna, Goldobin and Archibald are already shown to be top 6 forwards. Dahlen is a very strong possibility if he stays. Somebody will have to step up to make a good top 6. There are some candidates so there is a reasonable chance it will happen, but it isn't a sure thing and doesn't create as strong a group as one might hope, though the top 6 clearly would appear to be reasonable at the very least and certainly stronger than has been the case in Utica recently.

 

Hopefully the Canucks will sign someone more from a PTO or otherwise (who would not be a veteran by AHL standards-so fewer than 261 games in the NHL, AHL, defunct IHL and European Elite Leagues) to increase the total number of forwards with fewer than 261 pro games played.   Ryan White, recently signed to a PTO, would be a veteran by AHL standards so if he were with the Comets it would just mean another vet had to sit out, so while it would add some quality it wouldn't increase the number of forwards available to dress for the Comets in the event of injury on either the Canucks or Comets.  Another possibility is to make a trade from the veteran forward depth in which all or part of the return is a forward prospect.

[UticaHockey]

1 hour ago, tyhee said:

As will be easy to see, this is a long and detailed post.  It doesn't make for light reading and so I'd invite those readers who aren't in the mood to slog through player rosters player by player to skip it.

 

There is some enthusiasm about how strong the Utica Comets, the Canucks' main farm team, may be in 2017-18 as it looks like the Canucks may have considerable depth.

 

Certainly things are looking better than the last couple of years, but the possibility of losing some of that depth on waivers and the existence of the veteran rule in the AHL mean that things may be at least a little less rosy than might be anticipated.  Going through the players one by one and leaving out the expectation that the scouts were terribly wrong on a bunch of players that made it through 3 seasons without being drafted leaves the Comets with a forward group that, if things don't work out very well, could be a middling group short on AHL level depth-which seems a surprising conclusion given the overflow of NHL level depth.

 

Part of that is related to the AHL's veteran rule. There is a maximum number of veteran skaters than an AHL team is permitted to dress for any game. The limit is six skaters who started the season with more than 260 games played in the NHL, AHL, now-defunct IHL and any of the European Elite Leagues, with not more than five of those having more than 320 games played in those leagues at the beginning of the season. Those with over 320 games are called veterans, those with 261-320 are called veteran-exempt.

 

If the Comets have more than 6 players who are veterans (including one with 261-320 regular season games played) than at least one has to sit out each game.

 

To estimate the number of veteran slots available for Comets' forwards, I'm going to make a unilateral guess that since the Canucks have so many NHL calibre forwards, they'll keep 14 forwards and 7 defencemen (so 2 extra forwards and 1 extra defenceman) together with their two goalies to make their 23 man roster. Those 7 defencemen are overwhelmingly likely to include as six of them Tanev, Edler, Stecher, Hutton, Gudbranson and del Zotto, leaving one spot for which the leading candidates are Biega, Wiercioch and Juolevi. Holm is also a possibility and Pedan and Subban are long shots who have enough positives to rate a look.

 

If the Canucks have a player on injured reserve to start the season (and continually after that) they could keep Biega and Wiercioch as their 7^th defenceman and injury replacement (8^th) defenceman. It may be more likely that Biega or Wiercioch will find himself in Utica at least some time during the season, but if not, it leaves the Comets with Jamie Sifers (over 320 games, so a veteran) and Philip Holm (over 260 games, veteran-exempt) taking up two of the six available veteran spots.

 

That leaves four veteran spots on the Comets to be filled by forwards. If Biega or Wiercioch is also with the Comets (for example if Juolevi makes it, or at some time in the season the Canucks have no d-man on the IRL) then there would only three veteran spots to be filled by forwards.  So the conclusion is that the Comets will have 3 or 4 available spots each game for veteran forwards.

 

Next looking at the forwards, firstly those on Canucks' contracts.

 

Pretty much certainly, the two Sedins, Horvat, Eriksson, Baertschi, Granlund, Sutter, Gagner and Vanek rate to be on the Canucks' roster. That takes 9 of the 14 forward spots for the Canucks.

 

The main candidates for the remaining 5 spots are:

 

Derek Dorsett-an aging banger, cap hit $2.65 million, injured list last season, limited skill but has been a decent defensive forward at times and who supplies some grit to a team wich doesn't have it in abundance. I expect if he's healthy he'll be on the Canucks. If waived he may make it through because of his cap hit and if in the AHL he would be a veteran.

 

Anton Rodin-skilled, subject to waivers, on injured list last season after looking impressive in training camp. His ability is likely to depend on his recovery from injury. If he's healthy he rates to either make the Canucks or get claimed on waivers. For AHL purposes would be a veteran. 1 yr contract at $700K so no cap hit if he gets through waivers and is assigned to the minors.

 

Brock Boeser-rookie, showed enough in 9 games with the Canucks last season that many fans will be unhappy if he isn't in the NHL this season. On elc, no cap hit if assigned to Utica.

 

Nikolay Goldobin-about to turn 22 at the beginning of this season, waiver exempt, still on elc for this and one more season. Has been an effective AHL scorer who has been held back by concerns over his defensive play. Skilled enough to have a realistic chance of making the Canucks, though it is more likely he'll spend much of the season in Utica.

 

Brendan Gaunce-2 year deal at $750K per cap hit, subject to waivers this season. There was much speculation he might be taken in the expansion draft. He spent almost all of last season as a 4^th line checking winger, in which role he was effective defensively while producing essentially no offence. Despite last year's offensive numbers, his possession and defensive play was good enough that his chances of passing through waivers wouldn't be very good. He can be a useful, very low event, 4^th liner.

 

Alex Burmistrov-versatile former 8^th overall pick whose career has been on a downward trend for several years, struggling in the NHL Now on a 1 year, $900,000 contract. Subject to waivers, was waived once last season and was claimed. Could well be claimed again if waived. Would be an AHL veteran if assigned to the AHL.

 

Reid Boucher-on a 1 year deal @ $687,500. Subject to waivers. Put on waivers three times last season and claimed every time. Showed enough offensive ability in limited NHL time that the chances are moderate or more that he'd be claimed again this season. Considered weak defensively. Would be veteran-exempt if in the AHL.

 

Jake Virtanen-on entry level contract, exempt from waivers. He's subject to a wide spread of expectations, all the way from some thinking he should play on the Canucks this coming season to others already labelling him a bust.  It would be hard to make a case against the thought he's been trending downward. He's likely to spend all or most of the season in the AHL unless he shows great improvement.

 

Michael Chaput-1 yr, $687,500 contract. Subject to waivers. Despite a fair level of success last season as a 4^th line checking center, there is a fairly good chance he could clear waivers. He's been an effective AHL player but has enough games in that he'd take up a veteran spot.

 

Jayson Megna-1 yr, $675,000 contract, subject to waivers, would be a veteran if assigned to the AHL. He's been a fairly effective AHL players, probably mostly a 2^nd liner and to the concern of some had the confidence of his head coach with the Canucks last season, sometimes playing more time and with better players than expected. I think there's a good chance he'd clear if waived.

 

There will be considerable disagreement about which players will fill in the five spots available. For the sake of illustration I'm going to choose 6 forwards for those 5 Canuck slots, to be on the roster, injured list or be lost on waivers. Feel free to slot in differently as you think best and look at who is left for the Comets. The idea is to see who is available to dress for the Comets.

 

For illustration I'll assume that Dorsett, Rodin, Boeser (similar results are obtained by using Goldobin or Virtanen,) Gaunce, Burmistrov and Boucher are not available to the Comets and the others are.  That leaves enough room for 14 forwards plus one on injured reserve.  Obviously, if more are on injured reserve, lost to waivers or otherwise unavailable, fewer players will be available to the Comets.

 

That leaves for the Comets, with 3 or 4 veteran spots available among the forwards (see defensive discussion above)

 

Chaput (vet)-a top 6 calibre AHL center, probably reasonable on the 1st line

 

Megna (vet)-a top 6 calibre AHL winger

 

Goldobin-a 1^st line calibre AHL winger

 

Virtanen (last season eventually settled bottom 6 at the AHL level, current level to be seen)

 

Griffen Molino-rookie, signed as an undrafted college player. Played 5 games with the Canucks, 0 pts, -2. Good speed. Hard to know what to expect-normal expectation as an undrafted rookie with good but not extraordinary college success is probably bottom 6 at the AHL level but some will have higher hopes.

 

Jonathan Dahlen-rookie from Sweden with right to return to Europe if he doesn't make the Canucks-so he may or may not be available to the Comets. It is reasonable to hope he'll be a top-6 forward in the AHL if he plays there this season, which seems questionable. I think he'll return to Europe unless he sees himself as rating to be high enough on the forward list to get a callup during the season, but with the competition for callups, he'll have to have an impressive training camp for it look at the beginning of the season that he'd beat out the others for a callup.

 

Joe Labate-a bottom six banger in the AHL who will be considered for callups to play the same role in the NHL.

 

Yan-Pavel Laplante-Drafted but unsigned by Arizona, signed after an overage QMJHL season by the Canucks, spent most of last season as a middle-six ECHL forward, unable to make a terrible Comets' roster.  Needs to improve to be considered AHL calibre.

 

Zach MacEwen-Signed this summer by the Canucks after going undrafted 3 times, then having an impressive breakout season as an overager in the QMJHL. Some are, with some reason, high on him.  Otoh he's still completely unproven as a pro and the Canucks haven't had much luck recently with undrafted forwards signed from junior (see Carcone, remember Dane Fox.) Could be anywhere from NHL surprise to ECHL level.

 

Cole Cassels-2013 3^rd rounder who joined the Comets the summer of 2015 after a very impressive Draft + 2 season that had quite a few posters on this forum pencilling him into the Canucks' lineup as a rookie pro. Struggled his first season as a pro after missing training time in the summer while rehabbing from injury. More concerning is his 2^nd pro season, in which he scored 11 pts in 66 games, being ineffective both offensively and, surprisingly, defensively. Hasn't shown anything yet as a pro to make one think he'll be an effective AHL forward-so far he's merely filled in the roster on a bad team.

 

Michael Carcone-Small, signed as undrafted 20 year old from the QMJHL, scored 5 goals and 13 points in 61 games. Weak on puck and ineffective last season, though with some improvement late in the year. Marginal AHL/ECHL level unless he improves.

 

And, on AHL contracts:

 

Darren Archibald-veteran winger, last season's top scorer with the Comets (with 47 points-it wasn't a good year for the Comets.)  Solid player in the AHL who is best suited to a 2nd line role but can play anywhere in the lineup.

 

Wacey Hamilton-veteran, forward, poor last season with 9 goals and 10 assists in 67 games. At his best an effective 3^rd line checker. Last year he just took up space.

 

Carter Bancks-veteran, last year was mediocre with 10 goals and 12 assists in 69 games, and -3.  Both Hamilton and Bancks regressed after signing 2 year AHL contracts the summer of 2016.

 

Alexis d'Aost-QMJHL signing, undrafted and no team gave him an NHL contract. Unless the scouts have made a large mistake he rates to spend his first year as a pro in the ECHL.

 

That is a total of 15 forwards available to the Comets. One of them, Dahlen, could easily return to Europe if he looks around and thinks there are two more players higher on the callup list than him (and with Goldobin and Virtanen there as well as having Chaput and Megna coming off seasons in the NHL that wouldn't be a stretch for him to think.)

There is room for some concerns.

 

1. There are only 3 or 4 veteran spots available for forwards, and this illustration has five forwards in those slots-Chaput, Megna, Archibald, Hamilton and Bancks. One or two would be unavailable every game. That 14 or 15 forwards available just became anywhere from 12 to 14 forwards available-barring injury to any of the Utica forwards or any callups to the Canucks. Even one AHL level injury (or another NHL callup) could potentially leave the Comets without enough forwards to field a team.  (Please don't suggest they dress Pedan as a forward.)  It appears to me that the Comets need more forwards-and they can't be players of veteran status. Signing more forwards who are of veteran status just means more veterans sitting out.

 

2. There are a lot of players who are unproven and could turn out to be space fillers. Unless several pan out well and some returnees improve, the 2^nd line could be suspect, the 3^rd line will be suspect and the 4^th line could be weak. So far outside of Chaput, Megna, Goldobin, Archibald, Labate, probably Dahlen if he's in Utica and probably Virtanen (at least as a 3^rd liner) we're relying on players who have been dismal as pros (at least recently) or who are rookie pros to fill out the roster. Probably it will work fine strength-wise, but nobody should expect that will be one of the strongest groups of forwards in the AHL.

 

Yes, it could all work out, but remember, not all the prospect turn out as hoped. Who would have expected Virtanen, Cassels and Jared McCann, as 2^nd year pros, to have such poor seasons? How did Carcone and LaPlante work out last season and overage scoring star Dane Fox work out earlier? It is the height of optimism to think most of these players will go undrafted from junior or from university and be good pros. I think the Comets could use some more help.

 

3. A smaller issue is that the top 6 might not be as strong as one would think normal given the NHL quality forward depth in the organization.  Of those 15-or 14- forwards, Chaput, Megna, Goldobin and Archibald are already shown to be top 6 forwards. Dahlen is a very strong possibility if he stays. Somebody will have to step up to make a good top 6. There are some candidates so there is a reasonable chance it will happen, but it isn't a sure thing and doesn't create as strong a group as one might hope, though the top 6 clearly would appear to be reasonable at the very least and certainly stronger than has been the case in Utica recently.

 

Hopefully the Canucks will sign someone more from a PTO or otherwise (who would not be a veteran by AHL standards-so fewer than 261 games in the NHL, AHL, defunct IHL and European Elite Leagues) to increase the total number of forwards with fewer than 261 pro games played.   Ryan White, recently signed to a PTO, would be a veteran by AHL standards so if he were with the Comets it would just mean another vet had to sit out, so while it would add some quality it wouldn't increase the number of forwards available to dress for the Comets in the event of injury on either the Canucks or Comets.  Another possibility is to make a trade from the veteran forward depth in which all or part of the return is a forward prospect.

Excellent review of the potential Comets roster and the challenges that the AHL veteran rule presents.  Benning may have stocked up on NHL depth but I've been saying since July that he didn't do enough to add AHL depth.  There could very well be two or three solid players that will be sitting in the press box each game while they are forced to play AHL/ECHL tweeners because of the veteran rule.  Hopefully it will limit the number of games that Wacey Hamilton and even Carter Bancks play.

 

If Benning's plan is to let the kids (Boeser and Goldobin) develop in the AHL while they plug the NHL lineup with short term vets then the Comets will have the chance to be a very good team.  If the kids are in the NHL on a 29th or 30th place team and Utica has a surplus of vets watching from the stands this team will not be nearly as good as many Canucks fans are thinking they will be.

[aGENT]

36 minutes ago, UticaHockey said:

Excellent review of the potential Comets roster and the challenges that the AHL veteran rule presents.  Benning may have stocked up on NHL depth but I've been saying since July that he didn't do enough to add AHL depth.  There could very well be two or three solid players that will be sitting in the press box each game while they are forced to play AHL/ECHL tweeners because of the veteran rule.  Hopefully it will limit the number of games that Wacey Hamilton and even Carter Bancks play.

 

If Benning's plan is to let the kids (Boeser and Goldobin) develop in the AHL while they plug the NHL lineup with short term vets then the Comets will have the chance to be a very good team.  If the kids are in the NHL on a 29th or 30th place team and Utica has a surplus of vets watching from the stands this team will not be nearly as good as many Canucks fans are thinking they will be.

I think they have left open one forward spot for a kid (or one of Rodin/Boucher) to duke it or for. The rest of the kids will be in Utica (or Europe etc). 

 

Baer, Horvat, Eriksson 

Sedin, Sedin, Granlund

Vanek, Gagner, ______

Gaunce, Sutter, Burmistrov

Dorsett

 

That blank spot gets filled with one of Rodin, Boucher, Boeser, Goldobin, Dahlen or Virtanen. 

 

@tyhee, I also disagree we'll be carrying 14 forwards or that Juolevi will be 7th D. OJ either makes the top 6 or he goes back to London/to Europe. My guess would be Wiercioch and Biega as our 7 and 8 D's. He might get 9 games if somebody is injured. 

 

I think they rotate Gaunce/Dorsett out depending on their health/readiness. Either/both could even see a conditioning stint giving another player a temporary opportunity. 

[stawns]

6 hours ago, Boudrias said:

I doubt the Canucks risk losing Gaunce through waivers. Chaput would be that choice if it came down to picking between the two. 

No chance Gaunce goes to Utica, zero.

[stawns]

11 minutes ago, J.R. said:

I think they have left open one forward spot for a kid (or one of Rodin/Boucher) to duke it or for. The rest of the kids will be in Utica (or Europe etc). 

 

Baer, Horvat, Eriksson 

Sedin, Sedin, Granlund

Vanek, Gagner, ______

Gaunce, Sutter, Burmistrov

Dorsett

 

That blank spot gets filled with one of Rodin, Boucher, Boeser, Goldobin, Dahlen or Virtanen. 

 

@tyhee, I also disagree we'll be carrying 14 forwards or that Juolevi will be 7th D. OJ either makes the top 6 or he goes back to London/to Europe. My guess would be Wiercioch and Biega as our 7 and 8 D's. He might get 9 games if somebody is injured. 

 

I think they rotate Gaunce/Dorsett out depending on their health/readiness. Either/both could even see a conditioning stint giving another player a temporary opportunity. 

I doubt they risk Rodin going through waivers.  I truly think they believe there's something very good there.  If that were an option, he likely wouldn't have signed another deal

[aGENT]

8 minutes ago, stawns said:

I doubt they risk Rodin going through waivers.  I truly think they believe there's something very good there.  If that were an option, he likely wouldn't have signed another deal

Personally, I have him penciled in that blank spot. If Boeser et al want a spot, it's likely him they'll need to beat. 

[stawns]

50 minutes ago, J.R. said:

Personally, I have him penciled in that blank spot. If Boeser et al want a spot, it's likely him they'll need to beat. 

I agree there.  For me, Boucher is the real wild card in the deck.  I liked his game last year and thought he looked ready to be a full time NHL player........it's going to be a fun camp and pre-season, that much I'm sure of.

[GrandpaCanuck]

Couldnt find it in the forums anywhere, but i wanted to watch a number of comets games this coming season. How many are televised? And where can we tune in?

[UticaHockey]

21 minutes ago, GrandpaCanuck said:

Couldnt find it in the forums anywhere, but i wanted to watch a number of comets games this coming season. How many are televised? And where can we tune in?

Other than occasional road game that is televised by the home team none of the Comets games are on TV.  The only legitimate method of watching is AHL Live which is a paid streaming service.

[86Viking]

Any update how those renovations turned out for the Aud?

[UticaHockey]

8 hours ago, Yotes said:

Any update how those renovations turned out for the Aud?

Still ongoing.  The targeted completion is October 20 and the Comets first home game won't be until November 1st.

[Stierlitz]

 

[R3aL]

On 9/2/2017 at 9:51 AM, tyhee said:

As will be easy to see, this is a long and detailed post.  It doesn't make for light reading and so I'd invite those readers who aren't in the mood to slog through player rosters player by player to skip it.

 

There is some enthusiasm about how strong the Utica Comets, the Canucks' main farm team, may be in 2017-18 as it looks like the Canucks may have considerable depth.

 

Certainly things are looking better than the last couple of years, but the possibility of losing some of that depth on waivers and the existence of the veteran rule in the AHL mean that things may be at least a little less rosy than might be anticipated.  Going through the players one by one and leaving out the expectation that the scouts were terribly wrong on a bunch of players that made it through 3 seasons without being drafted leaves the Comets with a forward group that, if things don't work out very well, could be a middling group short on AHL level depth-which seems a surprising conclusion given the overflow of NHL level depth.

 

Part of that is related to the AHL's veteran rule. There is a maximum number of veteran skaters than an AHL team is permitted to dress for any game. The limit is six skaters who started the season with more than 260 games played in the NHL, AHL, now-defunct IHL and any of the European Elite Leagues, with not more than five of those having more than 320 games played in those leagues at the beginning of the season. Those with over 320 games are called veterans, those with 261-320 are called veteran-exempt.

 

If the Comets have more than 6 players who are veterans (including one with 261-320 regular season games played) than at least one has to sit out each game.

 

To estimate the number of veteran slots available for Comets' forwards, I'm going to make a unilateral guess that since the Canucks have so many NHL calibre forwards, they'll keep 14 forwards and 7 defencemen (so 2 extra forwards and 1 extra defenceman) together with their two goalies to make their 23 man roster. Those 7 defencemen are overwhelmingly likely to include as six of them Tanev, Edler, Stecher, Hutton, Gudbranson and del Zotto, leaving one spot for which the leading candidates are Biega, Wiercioch and Juolevi. Holm is also a possibility and Pedan and Subban are long shots who have enough positives to rate a look.

 

If the Canucks have a player on injured reserve to start the season (and continually after that) they could keep Biega and Wiercioch as their 7^th defenceman and injury replacement (8^th) defenceman. It may be more likely that Biega or Wiercioch will find himself in Utica at least some time during the season, but if not, it leaves the Comets with Jamie Sifers (over 320 games, so a veteran) and Philip Holm (either not a vet or veteran-exempt with over 260 games, depending on whether his games in the Swedish Allsvenskan count towards veteran status) taking up one or two of the six available veteran spots.

 

[Note-the Allsvenskan is not the top league in Sweden so at least in theory it shouldn't count as an elite league.  Teams in that league can win promotion to the SEL and teams in the SEL can suffer relegation to the Allsvenskan, though, so I've seen it argued that the Alsvenskan should be counted as an elite league.]

 

That leaves four or five veteran spots on the Comets to be filled by forwards. If Biega or Wiercioch is also with the Comets (for example if Juolevi makes it, or at some time in the season the Canucks have no d-man on the IRL) then there would only be three or four veteran spots to be filled by forwards.  So the conclusion is that the Comets will have between 3 and 5 available spots each game for veteran forwards.

 

Next looking at the forwards, firstly those on Canucks' contracts.

 

Pretty much certainly, the two Sedins, Horvat, Eriksson, Baertschi, Granlund, Sutter, Gagner and Vanek rate to be on the Canucks' roster. That takes 9 of the 14 forward spots for the Canucks.

 

The main candidates for the remaining 5 spots are:

 

Derek Dorsett-an aging banger, cap hit $2.65 million, injured list last season, limited skill but has been a decent defensive forward at times and who supplies some grit to a team wich doesn't have it in abundance. I expect if he's healthy he'll be on the Canucks. If waived he may make it through because of his cap hit and if in the AHL he would be a veteran.

 

Anton Rodin-skilled, subject to waivers, on injured list last season after looking impressive in training camp. His ability is likely to depend on his recovery from injury. If he's healthy he rates to either make the Canucks or get claimed on waivers. For AHL purposes would be a veteran. 1 yr contract at $700K so no cap hit if he gets through waivers and is assigned to the minors.

 

Brock Boeser-rookie, showed enough in 9 games with the Canucks last season that many fans will be unhappy if he isn't in the NHL this season. On elc, no cap hit if assigned to Utica.

 

Nikolay Goldobin-about to turn 22 at the beginning of this season, waiver exempt, still on elc for this and one more season. Has been an effective AHL scorer who has been held back by concerns over his defensive play. Skilled enough to have a realistic chance of making the Canucks, though it is more likely he'll spend much of the season in Utica.

 

Brendan Gaunce-2 year deal at $750K per cap hit, subject to waivers this season. There was much speculation he might be taken in the expansion draft. He spent almost all of last season as a 4^th line checking winger, in which role he was effective defensively while producing essentially no offence. Despite last year's offensive numbers, his possession and defensive play was good enough that his chances of passing through waivers wouldn't be very good. He can be a useful, very low event, 4^th liner.

 

Alex Burmistrov-versatile former 8^th overall pick whose career has been on a downward trend for several years, struggling in the NHL Now on a 1 year, $900,000 contract. Subject to waivers, was waived once last season and was claimed. Could well be claimed again if waived. Would be an AHL veteran if assigned to the AHL.

 

Reid Boucher-on a 1 year deal @ $687,500. Subject to waivers. Put on waivers three times last season and claimed every time. Showed enough offensive ability in limited NHL time that the chances are moderate or more that he'd be claimed again this season. Considered weak defensively. Would be veteran-exempt if in the AHL.

 

Jake Virtanen-on entry level contract, exempt from waivers. He's subject to a wide spread of expectations, all the way from some thinking he should play on the Canucks this coming season to others already labelling him a bust.  It would be hard to make a case against the thought he's been trending downward. He's likely to spend all or most of the season in the AHL unless he shows great improvement.

 

Michael Chaput-1 yr, $687,500 contract. Subject to waivers. Despite a fair level of success last season as a 4^th line checking center, there is a fairly good chance he could clear waivers. He's been an effective AHL player but has enough games in that he'd take up a veteran spot.

 

Jayson Megna-1 yr, $675,000 contract, subject to waivers, would be a veteran if assigned to the AHL. He's been a fairly effective AHL player, probably mostly a 2^nd liner and to the concern of some had the confidence of his head coach with the Canucks last season, sometimes playing more time and with better players than expected. I think there's a good chance he'd clear if waived.

 

There will be considerable disagreement about which players will fill in the five spots available. For the sake of illustration I'm going to choose 6 forwards for those 5 Canuck slots, to be on the roster, injured list or be lost on waivers. Feel free to slot in differently as you think best and look at who is left for the Comets. The idea is to see who is available to dress for the Comets.

 

For illustration I'll assume that Dorsett, Rodin, Boeser (similar results are obtained by using Goldobin or Virtanen,) Gaunce, Burmistrov and Boucher are not available to the Comets and the others are.  That leaves enough room for 14 forwards plus one on injured reserve.  Obviously, if more are on injured reserve, lost to waivers or otherwise unavailable, fewer players will be available to the Comets.

 

That leaves for the Comets, with 3 to 5 veteran spots available among the forwards (see defensive discussion above)

 

Chaput (vet)-a top 6 calibre AHL center, probably reasonable on the 1st line

 

Megna (vet)-a top 6 calibre AHL winger

 

Goldobin-a 1^st line calibre AHL winger

 

Virtanen (last season eventually settled bottom 6 at the AHL level, current level to be seen)

 

Griffen Molino-rookie, signed as an undrafted college player. Played 5 games with the Canucks, 0 pts, -2. Good speed. Hard to know what to expect-normal expectation as an undrafted rookie with good but not extraordinary college success is probably bottom 6 at the AHL level but some will have higher hopes.

 

Jonathan Dahlen-rookie from Sweden with right to return to Europe if he doesn't make the Canucks-so he may or may not be available to the Comets. It is reasonable to hope he'll be a top-6 forward in the AHL if he plays there this season, which seems questionable. I think he'll return to Europe unless he sees himself as rating to be high enough on the forward list to get a callup during the season, but with the competition for callups, he'll have to have an impressive training camp for it look at the beginning of the season that he'd beat out the others for a callup.

 

Joe Labate-a bottom six banger in the AHL who will be considered for callups to play the same role in the NHL.

 

Yan-Pavel Laplante-Drafted but unsigned by Arizona, signed after an overage QMJHL season by the Canucks, spent most of last season as a middle-six ECHL forward, unable to make a terrible Comets' roster.  Needs to improve to be considered AHL calibre.

 

Zach MacEwen-Signed this summer by the Canucks after going undrafted 3 times, then having an impressive breakout season as an overager in the QMJHL. Some are, with some reason, high on him.  Otoh he's still completely unproven as a pro and the Canucks haven't had much luck recently with undrafted forwards signed from junior (see Carcone, remember Dane Fox.) Could be anywhere from NHL surprise to ECHL level.

 

Cole Cassels-2013 3^rd rounder who joined the Comets the summer of 2015 after a very impressive Draft + 2 season that had quite a few posters on this forum pencilling him into the Canucks' lineup as a rookie pro. Struggled his first season as a pro after missing training time in the summer while rehabbing from injury. More concerning is his 2^nd pro season, in which he scored 11 pts in 66 games, being ineffective both offensively and, surprisingly, defensively. Hasn't shown anything yet as a pro to make one think he'll be an effective AHL forward-so far he's merely filled in the roster on a bad team.

 

Michael Carcone-Small, signed as undrafted 20 year old from the QMJHL, scored 5 goals and 13 points in 61 games. Weak on puck and ineffective last season, though with some improvement late in the year. Marginal AHL/ECHL level unless he improves.

 

And, on AHL contracts:

 

Darren Archibald-veteran winger, last season's top scorer with the Comets (with 47 points-it wasn't a good year for the Comets.)  Solid player in the AHL who is best suited to a 2nd line role but can play anywhere in the lineup.

 

Wacey Hamilton-veteran, forward, poor last season with 9 goals and 10 assists in 67 games. At his best an effective 3^rd line checker. Last year he just took up space.

 

Carter Bancks-veteran, last year was mediocre with 10 goals and 12 assists in 69 games, and -3.  Both Hamilton and Bancks regressed after signing 2 year AHL contracts the summer of 2016.

 

Alexis d'Aost-QMJHL signing, undrafted and no team gave him an NHL contract. Unless the scouts have made a large mistake he rates to spend his first year as a pro in the ECHL.

 

That is a total of 15 forwards available to the Comets. One of them, Dahlen, could easily return to Europe if he looks around and thinks there are two more players higher on the callup list than him (and with Goldobin and Virtanen there as well as having Chaput and Megna coming off seasons in the NHL that wouldn't be a stretch for him to think.)

There is room for some concerns.

 

1. There are only 3 to 5 veteran spots available for forwards, and this illustration has five forwards in those slots-Chaput, Megna, Archibald, Hamilton and Bancks. One or two could be unavailable every game. That 14 or 15 forwards available just became anywhere from 12 to 14 forwards available-barring injury to any of the Utica forwards or any callups to the Canucks. Even one AHL level injury (or another NHL callup) could potentially leave the Comets without enough forwards to field a team.  (Please don't suggest they dress Pedan as a forward.)  It appears to me that the Comets need more forwards-and they can't be players of veteran status. Signing more forwards who are of veteran status just means more veterans sitting out.

 

2. There are a lot of players who are unproven and could turn out to be space fillers. Unless several pan out well and some returnees improve, the 2^nd line could be suspect, the 3^rd line will be suspect and the 4^th line could be weak. So far outside of Chaput, Megna, Goldobin, Archibald, Labate, probably Dahlen if he's in Utica and probably Virtanen (at least as a 3^rd liner) we're relying on players who have been dismal as pros (at least recently) or who are rookie pros to fill out the roster. Probably it will work fine strength-wise, but nobody should expect that will be one of the strongest groups of forwards in the AHL.

 

Yes, it could all work out, but remember, not all the prospects turn out as hoped. Who would have expected Virtanen, Cassels and Jared McCann, as 2^nd year pros, to have such poor seasons? How did Carcone and LaPlante work out last season and overage scoring star Dane Fox work out earlier? It is the height of optimism to think most of these players will go undrafted from junior or from university and be good pros. I think the Comets could use some more help.

 

3. A smaller issue is that the top 6 might not be as strong as one would think normal given the NHL quality forward depth in the organization.  Of those 15-or 14- forwards, Chaput, Megna, Goldobin and Archibald are already shown to be top 6 forwards. Dahlen is a very strong possibility if he stays. Somebody will have to step up to make a good top 6. There are some candidates so there is a reasonable chance it will happen, but it isn't a sure thing and doesn't create as strong a group as one might hope, though the top 6 clearly would appear to be reasonable at the very least and certainly stronger than has been the case in Utica recently.

 

Hopefully the Canucks will sign someone more from a PTO or otherwise (who would not be a veteran by AHL standards-so fewer than 261 games in the NHL, AHL, defunct IHL and European Elite Leagues) to increase the total number of forwards with fewer than 261 pro games played.   Ryan White, recently signed to a PTO, would be a veteran by AHL standards so if he were with the Comets it would just mean another vet had to sit out, so while it would add some quality it wouldn't increase the number of forwards available to dress for the Comets in the event of injury on either the Canucks or Comets.  Another possibility is to make a trade from the veteran forward depth in which all or part of the return is a forward prospect.

Such a detailed post nice 1.

 

Hit us with your expected/projected line up!

[Guile]

On 9/11/2017 at 8:36 AM, R3aL said:

Such a detailed post nice 1.

 

Hit us with your expected/projected line up!

I, too, would love to see a lineup guess. I've seen a few of the Utica regulars toss up theirs, and I was wondering what their opinion is regarding mixing youth and vets. For example, looks like Chaput is (on paper) the best centreman for the Comets this season - perhaps he plays with two younger guys, like Goldy and/or Jake (as a LW plz) and/or Dahlen, if they're all available. That might leave Molino with Archibald on his left wing and one of the three players I just mentioned on the other, and would give each of the top lines a "veteran" AHL player - one who has shown at least one season of quality play, plus a lot of speed and skill. That seems the best mix to me, rather than having a vet line and youth line. 

 

Two seasons ago, the Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen line seemed to be getting some love and attention, but I think Bo played some of his best hockey last year with Burr on his wing - a hard-working experienced guy who grinds and battles. IMO that is something that should be mirrored in Utica, but again, I'd love to get the take of some of the folks who watch their games regularly.

 

As a side note, that philosophy may also apply to a guy like Zack MacEwen who's looking to break into the AHL - if he manages to grab a starting spot at some point this season, could be on a fourth line with Bancks or Hamilton, even the two of them rotating in and out of the lineup due to the limits on number of dressed vets - perfect mentors that can teach him how to wear down opposition and play that bottom six role. Thoughts?

[UticaHockey]

1 hour ago, Guile said:

I, too, would love to see a lineup guess. I've seen a few of the Utica regulars toss up theirs, and I was wondering what their opinion is regarding mixing youth and vets. For example, looks like Chaput is (on paper) the best centreman for the Comets this season - perhaps he plays with two younger guys, like Goldy and/or Jake (as a LW plz) and/or Dahlen, if they're all available. That might leave Molino with Archibald on his left wing and one of the three players I just mentioned on the other, and would give each of the top lines a "veteran" AHL player - one who has shown at least one season of quality play, plus a lot of speed and skill. That seems the best mix to me, rather than having a vet line and youth line. 

 

Two seasons ago, the Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen line seemed to be getting some love and attention, but I think Bo played some of his best hockey last year with Burr on his wing - a hard-working experienced guy who grinds and battles. IMO that is something that should be mirrored in Utica, but again, I'd love to get the take of some of the folks who watch their games regularly.

 

As a side note, that philosophy may also apply to a guy like Zack MacEwen who's looking to break into the AHL - if he manages to grab a starting spot at some point this season, could be on a fourth line with Bancks or Hamilton, even the two of them rotating in and out of the lineup due to the limits on number of dressed vets - perfect mentors that can teach him how to wear down opposition and play that bottom six role. Thoughts?

I'm not sure what Cull's philosophy will be but Green always preferred to mix the kids in with a veteran on a line.  You would pretty much never see three young prospects placed together on the same line.

 

It's hard to make any predictions about what the lines will be until we know who stays in Vancouver and who gets sent sent down.  If a few vets get sent down the Comets will be over the limit of the number of veterans that can dress per game leading to a lot of healthy scratches.  If that is the case Hamilton and Bancks may find themselves watching from the press box quite often which wouldn't be a bad thing.

[Guile]

1 minute ago, UticaHockey said:

I'm not sure what Cull's philosophy will be but Green always preferred to mix the kids in with a veteran on a line.  You would pretty much never see three young prospects placed together on the same line.

 

It's hard to make any predictions about what the lines will be until we know who stays in Vancouver and who gets sent sent down.  If a few vets get sent down the Comets will be over the limit of the number of veterans that can dress per game leading to a lot of healthy scratches.  If that is the case Hamilton and Bancks may find themselves watching from the press box quite often which wouldn't be a bad thing.

Hopefully the combo of Green's influence with the big club filtering down to Utica, where I imagine he'll keep in touch with Cull a fair amount, and having Ryan Johnson as the permanent GM having a huge say in the way the kids are deployed, should help create a consistency that we probably didn't have last year. As mentioned before on these boards, that consistency should ease the transition of injury call-ups into our lineup as well.

[aGENT]

1 hour ago, Guile said:

I, too, would love to see a lineup guess. I've seen a few of the Utica regulars toss up theirs, and I was wondering what their opinion is regarding mixing youth and vets. For example, looks like Chaput is (on paper) the best centreman for the Comets this season - perhaps he plays with two younger guys, like Goldy and/or Jake (as a LW plz) and/or Dahlen, if they're all available. That might leave Molino with Archibald on his left wing and one of the three players I just mentioned on the other, and would give each of the top lines a "veteran" AHL player - one who has shown at least one season of quality play, plus a lot of speed and skill. That seems the best mix to me, rather than having a vet line and youth line. 

 

Two seasons ago, the Baertschi-Horvat-Virtanen line seemed to be getting some love and attention, but I think Bo played some of his best hockey last year with Burr on his wing - a hard-working experienced guy who grinds and battles. IMO that is something that should be mirrored in Utica, but again, I'd love to get the take of some of the folks who watch their games regularly.

 

As a side note, that philosophy may also apply to a guy like Zack MacEwen who's looking to break into the AHL - if he manages to grab a starting spot at some point this season, could be on a fourth line with Bancks or Hamilton, even the two of them rotating in and out of the lineup due to the limits on number of dressed vets - perfect mentors that can teach him how to wear down opposition and play that bottom six role. Thoughts?

Assuming the kids are sent downI'm hoping we see something like this for Utica's top 6:

 

Goldobin, Chaput, Boeser

Dahlen, Megna, Virtanen

[aGENT]

Glimpses and hints at a Utica roster...

 

 

Boeser may be replaced with Boucher (if he clears) and Dahlen likely takes Rodin's spot. Also obviously OJ won't be on D either but probably not far off.