Year End Review of Prospects in Utica
Watched a lot of the Utica games this year although not very much of the playoff series with Toronto and would make the following comments about Canuck prospects in Utica
Demko – helped confirm the fact that he is the best prospect on the team. No reason to think that he isn’t on a path to becoming a legit NHL goal tender
Future: Should be on the Canucks next year and get significant amount of games. Needs to take the next step.
Brisebois – survived most of the year which is more than you can say for many on the Utica back end. Was the youngest player to play throughout the season and should be given credit for holding his own most of the time. Most positive aspect of his play was his skating and the good range he showed in his play. Most negative was his lack of aggression around his net. Also, he was tentative in asserting himself on offense. Mostly took a safety first approach and concentrated on keeping play to the outside. Looked decent when asked to play the point on the PP when others were hurt. Does have a decent frame and should be able to add some weight.
Future: Back in Utica for another year of development. Critical year for Brisebois since he needs to become a higher level player at this level. Needs to add strength and greater quickness and look more to join in on the offense. If he plateaus where he is, then doubtful he ever does much for the Canucks.
Chatfield – competes hard and shows a good burst of speed at times. But you wonder about upside. Does lots of things fairly well but nothing especially well. Got dinged a few times and the injuries slowed him up as the season went on. Not a big player and needs to be more productive offensively (7 points in 60 games isn’t going to cut it) and stronger around his net to be considered a legit prospect.
Future – back in Utica where he should play a top 4 role
Goldobin – fans have seen enough in Vancouver to get good handle on this player. In Utica he was elite player offensively (probably more than a point a game player). Yet in both Vancouver and Utica he lacked a complete game. Play off the puck was poor at times and he was prone to bad turnovers.
Future: Has to make Vancouver next year or be pretty much written off as a prospect. Might make a case that he could be jockeyed back and forth again but, if so, then you are more or less saying he isn’t developing.
Boucher – real elite AHL player and likely re-signed . If he can’t make the Canucks then Utica gets a player who may well lead the AHL in scoring.
Future: Must make the Canucks to be on any sort of track to becoming an NHL regular. Elsewise might be considered as add on in some trade scenario.
Cassels – plugs along and has made himself into a decent AHL player. However, lacks much speed, is a poor shooter and can’t distribute the puck when in tight quarters or when playing at speed. Just not very naturally talented. Is smart and plays in all areas of the ice and will grind it out. Yet despite effort loses a lot of puck battles and has trouble taking people off the puck. Ultimately Cassels is something like ex-Canuck prospect Alex Friesen.
Future: Certainly not a priority signing. Could see this management (which often seems to put character ahead of ability) giving him a one year deal but much better if Utica signed him. Can’t see him being anything of a loss if he goes elsewhere outside of losing some character.
Dalhen – hard to make much comment on the little we saw. But seems pretty obvious he lacks a complete pro game. Has some speed and dangles but these need to be of a superb nature to allow you to play in the NHL when you can’t grind out the play in the defensive zone and along the boards.
Future: Difficult seeing him making the Canucks next year but he should be good player in Utica. Long term future is very open question.
One general comment that could be made about Dahlen is that he is a lot like other Canuck pickups. All of Goldobin, Dahlen, Boucher, Leipsic, Carcone, Jasek, D’Aoust, and, to an extent, Molino, Lind and Motte (and even Baertschi and Granlund could fit into this class) are the types you get when you are making thin deals, signing free agents or drafting late. You end up with a bunch of fringe top 6 players which other team have decided lack the ability to play anywhere else in the lineup. Teams waive these types of players or move them in trades to get some immediate help. So even though you have a quantity of such players, it doesn’t mean you have much other than a bunch of redundant type of prospects. Poor organizations often end up in these circumstances.
McEwen – would say he had successful year. Showed some ability to score and produce points and was often good on the forecheck. His stick handling was generally good and he demonstrated, at times, the ability to make smart plays with the puck. Not as physical as you might have expected but strong enough to hold his own along the boards. Biggest issue is skating. He needs to pivot and turn more smoothly. At times, skated himself out of the play b/c of lack of better edge work.
Future: Next year again in Utica with hopefully a greater role on the team. Long term McEwen should get a real shot with the Canucks. If he can improve his skating and positioning he could be a decent NHL player although likely on the lower tier of being that. That said, he remains something of project.
Sautner - IMO the most improved player on the Comets. Biggest asset is his skating which is at, or close to, NHL caliber. This allows him very good ice coverage. However, there is little else that is above average in his game. He works hard around his net but still has trouble handling big forwards. He has little in the way of offense. His shot is no better than ok and he lacks the lateral movement that would open up better shooting lanes. His play making, even at the AHL level, is no more than decent. In the main, he does a good work man like job but there is little to suggest he can do more than this.
Future: His improvement this year gives hope that Sautner can continue to elevate his game. Still I don’t see him as NHL ready and it is probable that he returns to Utica where he starts as top 4 player. If he can continue to lift his game and assert himself more, then there is a good chance he gets time in Vancouver next year.
McEneny – like others got wiped out by taking continuous brutal hits. Did start the season well and was key loss for the Comets.
Future: Seemed on track to get some time with the Canucks but now his future is clearly clouded. Will probably need a long stretch in Utica to hopefully get his game back.
Carcone – real up and down season. There were times when he was an effective offensive player and his production helped get the team through some rough patches. Scored some very nice and critical goals But, at other times, disappeared and accomplished very little. At his best, Carcone showed excellent speed and came up with some highlight goals. However, he often did not move the puck effectively and showed a need to better scheme his offensive efforts. Lots of his plays were one-offs when rushing or moving the puck and his play commonly lacked flow – such in the cycle game. (It should be noted however, that Carcone like the rest of the wingers had little to work with at center) Lastly, defensive play remains an issue with Carcone.
Future: Carcone showed enough to think that he could carve out an alright minor League career. However, there are too many holes in his game to have much belief that he is NHL material. He could still surprise but he needs to start showing more, soon.
D’Aoust – not actually signed by the Canucks but more or less in their system. He played a feisty game and produced a reasonable amount of offense. Got banged up and faded late in the season but overall had fairly successful season. One drawback is that the Canucks have so many players like him and he is probably not as good as many of those players.
Future – Should be re-signed by the Comets. Has some upside – at least at that level.
Molino – very poor start to the season but after a return from injury had a very good run. His speed made him a constant threat to break away and also allowed him to harass the other team into mistakes. However, other teams took note and began to take out Molino hard leading to long term injury. Season never did get back on track. Ultimately Molino looks like a lesser version of Motte.
Future: Appears too slight to stand up to the banging at the pro level. Likely not signed.
Jasek – came late in the year and almost immediately became the best offensive player on the team. (others like Boucher were in Vancouver) Showed good quickness and an ability to get in to scoring areas. Injury shortened his season.
Future – Limited sample size but showed as much offensive potential during that time as any younger player on the team. Needs to add weight and develop better chemistry with line mates. Hopefully has good season in Utica next year. Hard to get along term read on this player ATM
Lind – only got into a few games and wasn’t able to get much done. Could see he struggled with the size and quickness of pro hockey. Looked like he was really feeling his way and often not on the same page with his teammates. Did show an ability to see the play but needed to be quicker and more deceptive in making plays. Obviously not ready for the quick sticks in the pro game. Speed appeared adequate but needed to think the transition game quicker.
Future – Will almost certainly be a learning year in Utica next year
LaPlante – remains a wonder how this player got a pro contract. Supposedly a tough guy but frequently hurt when he tries to be tough. Has minimal hockey skill (and that’s being kind) and rarely in sync with the rest of the team.
Future – Might have trouble making Kalamazoo
LaBate – had a horrendous developmental season. Was expected to provide some push back but had trouble keeping healthy enough to stay in the lineup. When he did play he looked clumsy and was very poor with the puck. Constantly seemed to fighting the puck and taking himself out of the play.
Future – Can’t see him being re-signed by the Canucks. Utica might look to sign him if they know that his injury prevented him from being more effective. More likely they don’t however.
Cederholm – played briefly and poorly.
Future – None in NA.
Stewart – played only two games but that was long enough to show he didn’t have clue about playing defense.
Future : Team can finally get rid of him.
As to the rest I don’t consider the Wiercoichs or Megnas as prospects.
Other comments about the team
Has be beaten to death but the ultimate truth about the Comets is that they must be one of worst team at center in the AHL. They must stop dinking around with marginal 4th line checkers like Hamilton, and ECHLers like Darcy or some PTO and bring in vets that can distribute the puck and facilitate the younger players. Efforts towards this need to be started by Canucks now (although it’s more likely management is too concerned with holiday plans and arranging alumni golf events to be very active her). Maybe look to Europe or even signing a decent NHL free agent center with the idea of getting him to Utica.
As far as the defense goes a lot of problems were obscured by the play of Demko. Yet if they can retain what they had at the end of the year, get Joulevi up to speed, have McEneny come back fully healed and get a better vet than Sifters, they should be ok.
Think Cull has be congratulated for getting as much out of the team as he did. Rarely has a team gone through as much as the Comets. Throughout the year they were often overmatched but through hard work and sticking to Cull’s system they became at least a playoff team. In this, players like Cassels need to be given some kudos. He sort of typified a team that lacked ability and seasoning but which came to play every game.
I think much of this was done in spite of the lack of help from the Canuck brass. I think that was really shown in the way the Canuck management did little to protect the team from being run. In many games, they had no toughness in the lineup and other teams took advantage and put many Comets on the injury list (which became incredible for a good deal of the season). This situation was ignored throughout much of the season. This, among many other things, again helps illustrate the pathetic nature of Canuck management in terms of their primary farm club.
