Loved Johnson's quotes about the Sadowy move this morning.
Our wingers have been a strength point in regards to depth. So it was a matter of filling a need (at center). It was my urgency and necessity in getting a center (that played a role)."
I guess he believes that Stevenson, Sorenson, and Pope have proven to be very effective forward depth.
So, Stevens was the answer to that necessary urgent need? I'm laughing my ass off. so, based on this latest quote from the "Ghost" the Comets weren't desperate for a center as long as his 2 heroes were still able to play center, Bancks (who isn't a center in the first place) and Hamilton, who hasn't lived up to his #1 position of 4th line center of an extraordinary forechecking line comprised of himself, Bancks, and Zalewski since 2014-15, but I'll give him the 2015-16 season as well. 36 GP by the 3 and a total of 4 points with Stevenson accounting for 3 of them and Pope none. Wow, what depth!
Comets have had an urgent center need every season Johnson has been here and he never acted once to remedy the situation. Early on in the '14-15 season the Comets team faced a center need and Henning promptly worked an AHL trade with Edmonton for Will Acton in exchange for Kellan Lain who was not producing as a 3rd/4th line center. While not being a great point collector, Acton was strong defensively and did pick up 19 points in his 45 GP. He was AHL experienced and played a complete 2-way game. I mention this deal because when Henning recognized a need he acted upon it. No one has doen that since he was fired in the summer of 2015.
Acquiring a center who was a press box center on a last place Atlantic Division Bridgeport team wasn't close to what the Comets needed and shows just how incompetent this troll is at his job. This quote shows just how out of touch with AHL hockey he is. "John (Stevens) has done well for us in penalty situations. He's been a great addition It was just something I needed to fill."
Oh, and Stevens first appeared in the lineup on 1/10 and has played in 9 games. During that swing the Comets are 4-5 and have surrendered 9 PP goals 5 of which have come in the last 3 games and he was on for 3 of them. That is not good penalty killing at all.
In total, he has been on the ice for 9 goals against in his 9 GP, while picking up 3 points. T
Meanwhile, Sadowy, who has been out with an injury since early January, was till leading the Wings with 17 goals and 34 points in 29 GP.
"Dylan is a high-scoring winger that Bridgeport had interest in to help out and be possible depth for them." Johnson said. Guess the Comets couldn't have used a high scoring wing when the roster was reduced and Sorenson and Pope proved not to be an answer of any kind. WE have to accept that ECHL players don't normally keep their scoring rates at the AHL level. In fact, most do just what Pope and Sorenson have done. Thus, it becomes imperative to try the other guys you have down there. When Conacher was here, the second the Zoo call-ups proved to be incompetent, he went scouting the ECHL and signed the best he could find to PTOs. They usually weren't scoring gurus, but they could play a strong defensive game and didn't hurt the team's cause and occasionally picked up a point here and another there and thus, chipped in offensively. Johnson signed 6 (maybe 7) guye this summer for depth and thus far the only one to prove competent up front, while not producing points, is Stevenson.
They knew what they had in D-man Petgrave from last season. He played in both losses to Belleville on the weekend. He was the 2nd unit PP point man and was on for a SHGA and one ES goal on Saturday.
The depth signed by Johnson was not AHL level depth. Thye are emergency caa-ups at best and should not have been counted on to fill an open spot for several games running. Those guys should be AHL level guys signed to the regular roster as players not in the daily lineup ,but capable of stepping in when called upon and holding up their end of the bargain. They are called AHL depth and they serve as reserve help all season long and will play a goodly number of games. Johnson signed one of them, Arseneau.