With a few resignings, the Utica Comets roster is starting to take shape. What could it mean for the Devils depth next season? Let’s take a look.
Over the weekend, the Utica Comets announced new AHL deals for goaltender Jeremy Brodeur, and veteran defensemen, Dmitry Osipov, Austin Strand, and Jackson van dee Leest. On paper, the contracts may not look like much. However, the Brodeur deal is particularly interesting given that it is one-way for the AHL. So, let’s look at the Comets team as currently projected starting in net.
Goaltenders
Goaltending looks to be a strength for the Comets next season. The aforementioned 28-year-old Jeremy Brodeur has played well as the starting goaltender for the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL the past two seasons, far outshining prospect Tyler Brennan. More impressively, Brodeur has also excelled in brief call-ups to the Comets, last year earning a 4-0 record, 2.16 GAA and .923 SV% in five AHL games for a Comets team that struggled to put it mildly. Brodeur has more than earned an opportunity to take the next step into a full time AHL role.
In February of 2023, I asked rather tongue-in-cheek whether it was time to start talking about Jakub Malek. The answer was yes then and it is certainly yes now as the Czech goaltender, who dominated the Liiga the past few seasons, is set to start his Northern American career in Utica. Malek has been a force in net just about everywhere he has played since the Devils drafted him, never drifting above a 2.23 in GAA or below a .903 SV% in any post-draft season. If Malek plays at that level for the Comets, he will quickly become the 1A in net.
That leaves the elephant in the room. Goaltender Nico Daws is on the last year of a two-year contract that is now a one-way deal to the NHL. Daws could certainly still be sent down to his full salary, and with the resigning of Jake Allen as the Devils backup netminder, the writing on the wall seems to be there for Daws. Will Daws be traded? Will Daws get picked off waivers if the Devils try to send him down? These questions are unanswerable at this moment, but the promotional signing of Brodeur seems to be, at a minimum, a hedge against these possibilities.
Daws has been a bit of enigma over the years, underperforming compared to just about every other platooning Utica goaltender, whether he be Akira Schmid or Isaac Poulter, but excelling in short stints at the NHL level. Last season, Daws was magical for the Devils in 6 games, posting an almost unbelievable 1.60 GAA and .939 SV%. It was a small sample size and Daws has stolen games at the NHL level before only to fade once the starts began compiling. “Goalies are voodoo” the saying goes and the netminder’s professional career has certainly been one of rollercoasters. It will be interesting to see where this transitional season winds up for Daws.
Forwards
As expected after posting the lowest goal totals in the North Division, the Comets forward corps have been given a bit of an overhaul. Gone are Nolan Foote, Shane Bowers, Adam Beckman, and Chase Stillman. Late season additions Cam Squires and Shane LaChance seemed more than ready for the AHL in short stints and will likely be key cogs in the Top 6 this year. Winger Lenni Hameenaho is coming over after a 20 goal, 51 point season in 58 games in the Liiga. The Devils also acquired either through signings or trades Angus Crookshank and Thomas Bordeleau, both offensive forwards. Josh Filmon also looks to earn a role with the club after a transitioning season in the ECHL. Lastly, prospect pivot Matyas Melovsky was signed to a AHL deal this summer after an 83 point season in his final year in the QMJHL that also earned him the Guy Carbonneau Trophy for the league’s best defensive forward.
There is a very good chance some of those players see NHL action this season, and some may even graduate fully, but overall, heading into camp, the Comets should be a bit more dynamic offensively this season.
DEFENSE
The blueline is getting crowded in Utica. Even if we assume Simon Nemec will graduate fully to the NHL this year (a likelihood but not a given once the Devils blueline is fully healthy), that still leaves prospects Seamus Casey, Topias Vilen, and Ethan Edwards, to compete with Colton White, Dennis Cholowski, Dmitry Osipov, Austin Strand, Jackson van dee Leest, and newly-acquired defenders, Jeremy Hanzel, and Calen Addison. If healthy, Mikael Diotte will also be in the mix after missing most of last season to concussions. Diotte was signed to a three-year, two-way NHL contract last summer after a strong season with the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the QMJHL that saw the 6’3’’ defender leading their blueline with 42 points in 59 games. So, the Devils clearly saw something in Diotte. Hopefully, this will be a healthier season for him.
Obviously, the injury to Jonathan Kovacevic will open up a stop at the NHL level at least temporarily and barring another Devils roster addition, at one of those defensemen above is likely to be the 7th D on the NHL roster. Jackson van de Leest is the only one of three defenders resigned this weekend on a two-way deal to the AHL/ECHL, so the plan seems to be for him to play most of the season in Adirondack if needed. Jeremy Hanzel, who was acquired in the Erik Haula trade, also played last season mostly in the ECHL for the Atlanta Gladiators and could certainly be sent down as well.
It will be interesting to see how the roles shake out. One would expect Seamus Casey to quarterback the top power play unit if he is not on the Devils roster. Increased ice time should also be expected for Ethan Edwards (23 years-old) and most-improved Comet last season, Topias Vilen (22-years-old). Also, look for Edwards and Vilen to both push for an eventual NHL debut sometime this season as a call-up, especially if the Devils unload one of their other defensemen as part of a “big swing.”
Your Take
That’s how the Comets team looks for now. We will know more after camp. Post your comments below.