Speculation: Utica Comets lineup

[StrictlyCommercial]

Guessing the Utica lineup definitely involves guessing the Canucks lineup, so here goes. I really think either the Canucks or Utica will add 1 more forward to either bump Santorelli to Utica or to bring a Top 6 centre to Utica.

Canucks:
Sedin-Sedin-Burrows
Booth-Kesler-Hansen
Higgins-Schroeder-Kassian
Santorelli-Richardson-Weise
Sestito

Hamhuis-Bieksa
Garrison-Corrado
Edler-Tanev
Weber-UFA

Luongo
Lack

Utica:
Pelletier-Hamill-Jensen
Archibald-Ferriero-Blomstrand
Stuart-Lain-Mallet
DeFazio-Friesen-Grenier
Pacan

Andersson-Tommernes
Polasek-Biega
Blain-Mullen
Sauve-Guimond

Eriksson
Cannata

ECHL:
Anthony-Tochkin-Myron

Negrin

Corbeil

 

[Royal Canuck]

Curious to see what everyone thinks Uticas starting lineup will be. Here's my take:

Archibald - Hamill - Jensen
Grenier - Pelletier - Ferriero
Blomstrand - Lain - Mallett
Kenins - Friesen - Stuart
de Fazio

Andersson - Corrado
Tommernes - Mullen
Sauve - Polasek
Blaine - Biega

Eriksson
Cannata

Corrado might make Canucks, but it seems better for his development to play top pairing minutes in AHL, then bottom pairing in NHL. Santorelli could be down here too, but I think he makes the Canucks as 13/14 forward.

I think Lain deserves Top-6 Minutes, other than that your line-up isn't too bad.

 

[me2]

I think Lain deserves Top-6 Minutes, other than that your line-up isn't too bad.

Based on what?

 

[pahlsson]

Based on what?

based on his great offensive production on the wolves last year

 

[MS]

I think Lain deserves Top-6 Minutes, other than that your line-up isn't too bad.

?!? Say what?

 

[Burke's Evil Spirit]

I think Lain deserves Top-6 Minutes, other than that your line-up isn't too bad.

Not to single you out specifically but good lord do Canucks fans overrate Lain. Aaron Volpatti had a better track record of production than him.

 

[Shareefruck]

Not to single you out specifically but good lord do Canucks fans overrate Lain. Aaron Volpatti had a better track record of production than him.

100% agreed

 

[vanuck]

Is Biega even a quality AHL defender?

I haven't seen him play. I just worry about hoping his production travels with him from Rochester. We've already seen what kassian and hodgson look like in both systems and production wise it is night and day.

I agree Sauve doesn't belong up the lineup, but Grenier has top 6 talent and I'd rather see him there than the 4th line. Waste of a contract if they just want to use him as a checker.

Yeah, I thought the whole point of owning your farm team was so that veterans don't necessarily take all the top 6 / top 4 spots. No better opportunity than now to give Grenier that opportunity.

 

[Derp Kassian]

Yikes that Utica lineup looks weak.. Hopefully the ability to control prospects more will result in better development though.

 

[Hodgy]

Not to single you out specifically but good lord do Canucks fans overrate their prospects. Aaron Volpatti had a better track record of production than him.

Fixed.

 

[ZKass The Bass]

Yeah, I thought the whole point of owning your farm team was so that veterans don't necessarily take all the top 6 / top 4 spots. No better opportunity than now to give Grenier that opportunity.

You pair experience with youth.

 

[Wisp]

I'd love if we could sign Zach Hall to the farm team. Good playmaker for Jensen.

 

[PetterssonSimp]

I think Lain deserves Top-6 Minutes, other than that your line-up isn't too bad.

He's a late blooming David Steckle IMHO. He doesn't show enough skill to be an NHL scorer or even an AHL scorer. But his size and skating will allow him to be an effective 4th liner maybe. If he continues to be a face off specialist he may get a look in the NHL just for that reason and the Canucks lack of anyone good on the draw in the bottom 6.