I get that some fans in Utica are lamenting the loss of high-scoring forwards like Boucher, Goldy and likely Baertschi. And undoubtedly these popular players will leave a big hole.
But with basically a flat salary cap for the coming season and possibly beyond, there's going to be a flood of UFA's and RFA's hitting the market. They can't all go to the KHL. So if the Canucks are committed to icing a competitive team in Utica, they'll have a lot of lineup options at their disposal.
I also think the Canucks are building a prospect pool that has more depth than it's ever had. Guys like Lockwood, Michaelis and Rathbone from the college ranks; prospects like Woo and Focht from the WHL; and young guys like DiPietro, Lind and Juolevi who are maturing.
I also think that there's a good chance a veteran or two on an NHL salary will end up in Utica as they make way for kids like Hoglander, MacEwen and eventually Podkolzin.
So I'm still bullish on the 2020-21 edition of the Comets.
I have no doubt that Vancouver will supply the Comets roster filler. The talent level remains to be determined. I believe we will see a little movement by the NHL to extend rosters as the AHL will face the bigger question as to even having a 2020-21 season. The AHL is fan driven and if the arenas remain fan free, it can't function.
As to the large number of UFAs and RFAs, that happens every single season. This isn't going to be some kind of anomaly. My bet is that the high level players like Boucher, who recognize this AHL dilemma and don't have concrete information as to their future with NHL connections, there will be an exodus of the AHL's elite veteran talent. The announcement by teams such as Buffalo that they are going to concentrate on creating a roster heavy with ECL signings is another reason we will see more taking the Boucher option. As to the your KHL comment you are correct, but you ignore the fact that it's not the only league in Europe interested in signing North American talent.
As to the young Canucks ELCs you mention, let's look at that.
Vasili Podkolzin is a year away before he can even leave Russia and the Canucks fan base seems to be looking at him as the 2nd coming, who they have immediately penciled into the lineup. - Scratch 1.
Nils Hoglander will be playing in Sweden and he will be given said option every season until he makes the Vancouver roster. His numbers are far from promising that thus far. He is very young. Couldn't even turn pro this season if he was a Canadian Jr. - Scratch 2.
If Zack MacEwen expects to be a regular on an NHL roster, he better make it this year or he is looking at becoming a bubble player, period. Those guys only hold on so long, like Boucher, and they are done with any NHL expectations within that organization at that point. The parent club quits on them and moves on to younger or outside talent. He's nowhere near being a Boucher. Baertschi and Goldobin have already faced that issue and they had much better cracks at the show with a lot more talent than MacEwen has ever shown at either level. Baertschi is hanging on the last thread of his chance only because he is still under contract and as of now Benning hasn't found another way to get him out.
- Scratch 3.
Jack Rathbone is not even signed. Until he does he's not in the conversation. Again, like Podkolzin, he appears to be a Canuck based upon the fan base assessments. He has spoken openly about starting in Utica so he has a more realistic view on things. I will wait and see how this works out. - ?
Jett Woo, Carson Focht, Will Lockwood, Marc Michaelis will be Comets as they have no other options. Woo, Lockwood, and Focht are draft selections so they will get priority over free agent ELCs for ice time.
Jett Woo is following the trend for Canadian Jrs. and turning pro at age 20. He's had a decent career in Jrs. and looks to be a decent 2nd round selection. There have been some questions about him the past 2 seasons, but he still looks to have solid potential.
Focht was a 5th round selection. He was under a PPG player his last season. Those numbers would be great at the pro level, but not promising for a Jr. Lind was 1.7 PPG his last Jr season and he struggled mightily his first season in Utica, 17PTs/51GP. He was a 2nd round pick not a 5th. He was much improved his 2nd season, #6 in team scoring with 44PTs in 61GP. Those 2nd year numbers were aided in no small part by playing on lines with 2 of the following in varying combinations - Bailey, Goldobin, Baertschi, Boucher, Camper. We'll see how well he does without those stellar linemates. That will be a true indication of how far he has really come. He should become one of the top players aiding the development of his linemates as those now gone did for him. He is by no means a lock to be an NHL player.
Focht is in a category of other late round picks who have not done much for the Comets. I wish him the same kind of luck I have for every kid has been assigned here, but I'm not overly confident as to his chances. We have seen a plethora of much higher picks bomb out. Gadjovich, 2nd round, is following that track at this moment.
Lockwood, a 3rd round selection, is 22 and played 4 yrs of Division I NCAA hockey. That's not the norm for successful US college players. Most come out sooner, but he was injured and missed a large portion of season 2 leading to his decision to try and improve upon his 31 PTs/36GP Jr. yr. It didn't work out so well as Michigan had a down season with a large turnover and his numbers actually went down to 23PTS/33GP. He has decent size at 5'11' and 172 lbs, but the rock'em sock 'em style he has employed in the past led to his injury and it's not a good idea to play that way in the AHL with his body constructio and past injury. Again, we'll see. Rafferty was the only guy assigned to the Comets coming out of college who has ever sparkled. Keeping an open mind.
Marc Michaelis played 4 seasons at NCAA Division I Minnesota State U (Mankato). He put up better than a PPG over his 4yr career. He is from Germany and measures up to Lockwood in body size at 5'11" and 187 lbs. He was acquired as a free agent. He can play LW or Center. Based upon the Comets current roster of centers that may be his assignment. The last ones, Seamus Malone, Tanner MacMaster, and Griffen Molino did not find a lot of success there. MacMaster finally transitioned successfully to center in 2019-20, his 3rd pro season, with the Toronto Marlies, after having been traded there during the 2018-19 season for D-man Stefan LeBlanc. Keeping an open mind.
Teves and Eliot were also free agent ex-college players added to the roster last season and neither made much of an impression. Thus, other than Rafferty none of the college guys have done much of anything in the way of looking like potential good AHL regulars let alone NHL players.
DiPietro, and I believe Lind and Juolevi, will be Comets.
Mikey showed great promise and will be #1 this season, but the Comets will need a solid vet to back him up and share the load. Hopefully, that will be Louis Domingue.
Juolevi has yet to prove himself as a soild AHL defender. If he sticks with Vancouver, it won't be pretty.
Lind has to prove he can succeed in the AHL and put up top numbers without riding the coattails of dominant NHL forwards like he did last season. Other than maybe Bailey, all of those dominant guys will be gone.
Like many other AHL teams the Comets will be rebuilt again with a whole bunch of new guys. Their success will be based upon 2 things just like always. Number 1, their own personal innate talent and #2 the supporting cast acquired to help them succeed. That cast was there last year and in 2014-15. Not so much in the other seasons. The failure of prospects to develop here has been based on 2 major factors. Number 1, the poor quality of the secondary pieces most years and #2 the actual ability of the players themselves. If they don't have the talent, no support cast can change that. If you run down the list of prospects sent here and follow their careers from here you won't find huge success stories after they landed elsewhere.
And to those who insist that players don't want to play in Utica let me give you the lowdown from yet another Comet as he is leaving town. It is so consistent with the comments of those who have come and gone before them and the comments we get from new arrivals having been told what to expect here from those aforementioned players as well as those who have played here against the Comets. Players acquired to play here after having been a past opponent express how happy they are to be here, as an opponent they very impressed by the fan base and its treatment of the team and the amazing hockey environment on game night.
Reid Boucher,
"Obviously, it is the best 3 years of hockey I've played. All the records and stuff are nice, but the fan base and the way you get treated around the city it is just an awesome experience."
"I have absolutely zero bad things to say about the city of Utica, the people there and the fans and all my teammates throughout the years. It was an A-plus experience for me. It was definitely one of the best spots I've been for sure, if not the best.
"My family loves Utica. We've pretty much raised our first child there so far."
Boucher gained fan favorite status in Utica as his name was chanted during many games this season.
"It's awesome. There's not really a better feeling than when you get that kind of response."
at center.
