NHL UFA
Gauthier - injured for playoffs
Flynn - 'A'
DeLeo
Greer
White
NHL RFA
Thompson
Zetterlund - waivers eligible next season
AHL UFA
Schmelzer - Captain
Laberge - played all five playoff games
Irvine - healthy scratch for playoffs
Grasso - healthy scratch for playoffs
McGrath - healthy scratch for playoffs
Wotherspoon
Masonius - loaned to Fort Wayne for ECHL playoffs, not on AHL playoffs roster
Mitens
My thoughts on your list. If I had the checkbook.
NHL UFA:
- Greer is an absolute no brainer and give this guy a raise. At times he was the only Comet going. The 4-3 win in which he scored all 4 goals in mid-February when it was becoming obvious that the team was spiraling downward is the most glaring example. Leading the team in scoring during the playoffs is another just as bright. He is the leader the kids need to follow.
AJ finished the season tied for 2nd in scoring with Zetterlund at 52Pts.
- Deleo was far more effective on the wing than at center. He was forced into the role by the weeakness the Comets suffered at center since June when I, along with others on this site, was pointing out as the players being brought in reflected. Center depth was never acquired and as the season progressed it became more and more obvious. I thought we would see something at the TDL. Nope. How about the papered down center like Peterka. That would be Mercer. Nope. Schnarr traded. Gauthier out for the entire Rochester series and the Comets couldn't win a draw or be set up by a center after the Deleo line. 16 goals and 10 were associated with that line - Greer/Deleo/Zetterlund.
He did end up as the Comets leading scorer with 56 points, 35 of which came on assists which also led the team.
- Gauthier as a 3rd line defensive center vs a team's top line, 1st unit penalty killer and key face off man was extremely valuable to the Comets. There was not another center on the roster who could do any of this, period! In addition to all that he chipped in 32Pts in his 51GP after being sent back to Utica on 11/8 after playing 8 games in and out of the Devils lineup.
- Flynn could be done without. He was an okay bottom 6 forward, much better on the wing than at center, but there are better players out there than him. As an example, the Devils had Jankowsi in camp on a PTO and could have signed and sent him to Utica. They released him and Buffalo signed him. He split time with the Sabres and Rochester. He put up points with the Amerks at nearly a PPG pace (32GP/10G/17A/27 Pts). He also scored 4 goals for the Amerks vs the Comets in the playoffs. Contrast that with Flynn's 26 Pts in 61GP for the season and 1 goal in the Playoffs. I'd seek a better replacement. There are a lot more productive AHL/NHL journeymen to be had for the $280K they paid him. Compare that to the $175K they paid Gauthier and you see much better bang for your buck.
- White scored 3 goals for the Comets in the 6 games he played here. That number was the the total scored over the course of an entire season by each of the following: Vukojevic, Russo, Wotherspoon, Bahl, and Okhotiuk. Only Walsh scored more with 9.
Russo, who is already under contract for next season, broke out with 2G and 3A in his 4GP in the playoffs (suspended for game 4). No other D-man scored a goal in the playoffs.
It never hurts to have a D-man who can put up points a la Walsh as the team's 5th leading scorer.
Colton with only 231 GP between the AHL and NHL would not be considered a veteran by AHL rules and that would make him an excellent acquisition for the Comets. I have a feeling the Devils will not consider him in their D mix for next season, but he would be a guy available for an emergency call-up.
If I were the man making the decisions, I'd be locking these guys up as soon as possible.
Greer, Deleo, Gauthier 3 of the 5 veterans the Comets can play in a single game.
White is a Veteran Defenseman who has yet to play enough games to be considered a veteran under AHL rules.
NHL RFA:
- Thompson will be offered a QO and most likely be a Comet on opening night. man has this kid earned a good paycheck doing almost nothing. 36 Pro GP and already an RFA.
- Zetterlund will also be offered a QO and based upon his development is the forward most likely to move up from the AHL to the NHL. He is waiver eligible and would be a big risk to get claimed if waived.
AHL UFA -
Irvine
Grasso
McGrath
There are much better AHL UFAs than these 3. I'd let them seek their ceiling elsewhere. If they can do no beter than the ECHL, I might consider giving them an AHL contract and reassigning them to Adirondack but only as Desperation Emergency needs, not as the actual team depth.
- Schmelzer was the team captain and according to all involved a good one. He can play the wing and would not have to be a center. Talvitie is already signed. Gauthier would be #3. That's the 3/4 centers. Schmelzer should not be above those 2 and play wing until needed due to injury. If they can see a way to bring back their captain and keep him out of the top 3, but use him on the wing, I do it.
Masonius I wish the best.
Wotherspoon was the Comets leader in +/- at +26. He would be valuable to help kids. The question is who will the "kids" be.
Certainly not Russo or White.
My guess is Walsh will be back and a key on the right side. For the first half of this season he was under Wotherspoon's wing.
Later on his partner switched up a lot;
Ok became a frequent partner
Vuk began to be seen there withsome frequency
Bahl also came into play
From this I think they are no longer seeking to shelter him
Ok and Bahl will be in line to find their way to NJ. That has a lot to do with what Fitz does to deal with Suuban's RD this off and what they decide to do with Smith on the left side.
The consensus among those who don't count, HF posters, is correct the devils have to find a 3rd veteran RD.
If per chance Subban signs for another season on a NJ discount or they acquire the vet RD, that ends a lot of speculation. We know Hamilton and Severson on the right and Siegenthaler and Graves on the left are pretty much locks. Subbie or the newbie would make the top 3 on the right.
If they GIVE Smith a rope to either hang himself or tie himself to the the top 6 and he succeeds they only thing they require is a depth 7 or 7&8 based upon their decision on how many F/D they keep.
Utica looks to have Walsh, Russo, Vukojevic, Groleau.
The decision of what to do with Bahl, Okhotyuk, and White determines what they do with Wotherspoon. Of course what they do with the guys up front also figures into to the availability of veteran spots on the roster which Tyler would require.
The desperate need foir a quality full-time AHL level 1st line center would use up a Vet slot. That guy is more important than a Vet D-man if Russo and White and Walsh can fill that slot. Somebody currently in the line applying to end up in NJ will likely be in Utica - Ty Smith, Kevin Bahl, Nikita Okhotyuk.
Gambardella, already signed for next season, becomes a VE this coming season. His 15 games played with Edmonton in 2018-19 pushes him into the VE status by 2 games.
Mitens I'm sure will be back as #3 unless hey have something different in mind with deals and free agent signings. Also have to realize that Mitens is a free agent and could possibly get a better offer.
All of the free agents can opt for greener pastures an d that green is $$$.
So considering players I have suggested the Comets need for next season this is how they stack up considering Veteran/Veteran Exempt status for next season.
Greer - Vet
Deleo - Vet
Gauthier - Vet
Wotherspoon - Vet
Russo - Vet already under contract
Gambardella - Veteran Exempt already under contract.
That's 5 Vets and 1 Vet Exempt. It's the maximum number allowed on a game night roster. That looks okay except it's missing that crucial #1 center.
They can add the center that has accrued Veteran status and dump one of the Vets listed above. Based on team need Wotherspoon would be the odd man out.
OR
They add the center and keep 1 vet out of the lineup on a game by game decision. If it were to end up Wotherespoon again, based upon the daily roster the Comets had a vet missing for a game very frequently. You go with the odds.
OR you find a center with the necessary talent that has not accrued the 321+ games between the NHL, AHL, and European top level leagues e.g. KHL, SHL, Liiga.
The 3rd would be a real huge find and i don't like your chances, but it's possible. he best way it can happen is to find a kid thaty another team hasn't got room for that is still looking for at least a 2-way to prove he is still NHL material. The better find would be a European player who has less than the 321+ but was never drafted, never ventured to NA, but has blossomed into a very successful player in his homeland whose numbers could be very good in the AHL.