The Utica Comets, now AHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils, will begin their season this afternoon. With the change of affiliation, the Devils’ organization will hope it brings a jump start to their farm team’s performance. The last time their AHL-level team made the playoffs was the 2016-17 season when the affiliate was named the Albany Devils. In total, the Devils’ farm team has only made the playoffs three times in the last 11 years. Is this the year the streak is broken?

Well, the organization’s prospect pool is one of the richest its been in team history. Several of these individuals will play for Utica this season. Making a team that is usually impossible to watch, worth paying close attention to. This despite the 7-20-1-5-2 record Binghamton (AHL) posted in its final year of existence last season.

To try to break the streak, the AHL club will have a new coaching staff. Kevin Dineen, who was a splendid hire, replaces Mark Dennehy and Ryan Parent was also brought in to join fellow assistant coach Sergei Brylin who has been with the organization. Dineen most recently coached the San Diego Gulls (AHL), the Anaheim Ducks affiliate. He he posted a 56–36–9 record over two seasons in charge of the Gulls but then was replaced. He was also head coach of the Florida Panthers from 2011-2013 and was on Joel Quenneville’s staff in Chicago from 2014 to 2018 as an assistant.

Utica is scheduled to play a full 72-game schedule in the AHL’s North Division. This year, the league instituted a new playoff format which allows for 23 of the league’s 31 teams to make the playoffs. Four of the North Division’s seven teams will make it. Utica will have the fend off the likes of Buffalo’s, Columbus’, Montreal’s, Ottawa’s, Tampa Bay’s, and Toronto’s affiliates for one of the four playoff spots.

The Roster

As it stands right now, the Utica roster consists of 15 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders. The full roster, which is courtesy of the AHL website, is below:

Forwards:

#7 Chase De Leo, #9 Alexander Holtz, #10 Bian Flynn, #12 Tyce Thompson, #13 Patrick McGrath, #15 Joe Gambardella, #16 Nate Schnarr, #17 A.J. Greer, #20 Fabian Zetterlund, #25 Nolan Foote, #26 Ryan Schmelzer, #44 Luke Stevens, #77 Aarne Talvitie, #90 Jesper Boqvist, #92 Graeme Clarke

Defensemen:

#2 Michael Vukojevic, #5 Robbie Russo, #22 Reilly Walsh, #23 Tyler Wotherspoon, #38 Jermey Groleau, #82 Nikita Okhotiuk, #88 Kevin Bahl

Goaltenders:

#33 Akira Schmid, #35 Nico Daws

Players to Watch

Forwards

Alexander Holtz, Jesper Boqvist, and Graeme Clarke

Of course, close eyes will be on the 2020 seventh overall pick, Holtz. After a strong camp and preseason, Holtz demotion was a surprise to some. However, thanks to being sent down Holtz will be given much more ice time in a top line and top power play unit role. Something he would not have gotten at the NHL-level. If the preseason and where he was drafted was any type of indication, the sniping winger should light it up against much lesser competition. It may not be long before we see Holtz back at the NHL-level.

Boqvist quietly had himself a very solid preseason. This will be his third season playing at the AHL-level. Time is most likely ticking in terms of the chances the Devils are going to give Boqvist. A fast start may lead to another, and most likely final chance as he has shown his tendency to excel in the minors. Nonetheless, if something does not change quick, his time with the organization my be dwindling.

Clarke was originally not suppose to play professionally last season. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the Canadien junior system, he signed and played with Binghamton (AHL) last season. Clarke had 18 points in 31 games which was good for the second best point-per-game pace of any Binghamton skater. His goal scoring abilities, specifically on the power play, was impressive. Clarke has a chance to prove he is one of the Devils’ more underrated prospects in their system.

Nolan Foote, Tyce Thompson, and Fabian Zetterlund

Each Foote and Zetterlund had solid years for Binghamton (AHL) as well last season. Zetterlund led the team in points last year (19 in 34 games played), while Foote led the team in point-per-game average (17 points in 24 games played). Foote is regarded as the higher-ranked prospect. However, after disappointingly not seizing a roster spot during a short look last season and in training camp, he will certainly be watched closely this year by the organization.

Meanwhile, Zetterlund is more of an underrated prospect in the system. He may have a chance to serve as a bottom-six goal-scorer one day. But, he will need to take another step forward this season for that to be likely.

Thompson got a flyer try-out in the NHL after completing a terrific college season. He scored 25 points in 25 games with Providence College last year. This before playing seven games with New Jersey and 11 with Binghamton (AHL). He did struggle in the NHL, but this was expected as the jump from NCAA to the NHL isn’t exactly easy. Like several top prospects, this will be a big season for Thompson, who should play as of the team’s better prospects.

The Veterans

The Devils’ organization smartly added some AHL-veteran help to fill out a roster that desperately needed it. They signed 33-year old Brian Flynn who has 275 games of NHL experience and 137 AHL games under his belt. Chase De Leo, who has 222 points in 365 AHL games, was also brought in. Finally, Joe Gambardella, who has 111 career points in 183 career AHL games, was also signed. These three will join A.J. Greer and Ryan Schmlezer, who also each have decent AHL experience, but have been with the club.

Defensemen

“The Young Four”

The Devils have a “big four” of their own home-grown prospects who will all enter their second year in the AHL. These four are Michael Vukojevic, Reilly Walsh, Nikita Okhotiuk, and Kevin Bahl. Each were drafted in either the second or third rounds. For this reason, they all have decently high expectations of what they should become.

Bahl is the highest touted of the three, but disappointed in the AHL last season and in his short-time with New Jersey last season. Walsh is the one with the highest offensive ceiling but needs work on his defense game. Both Vukojevic and Okhotiuk, who have not nearly been talked about as much as the other two, impressed more in their AHL stints last year. Each have the chances to become a nice contributor at the next level if their progression continues.

The Veterans

Like they did for the forward group, the Devils’ organization smartly added two veterans to an extremely young defensive core via free agency. Robbie Russo is a veteran of 358 AHL games and 19 NHL games. The 28-year old played with San Jose (AHL) last season and has four AHL seasons of 30-plus points under his belt. Tyler Wotherspoon signed with the organization via a professional try-out contract before training camp. He was rewarded with an AHL contract a couple days ago. Wotherspoon has 433 games of AHL experience and should help stabilize a defensive group that struggled mightily last season.

Goaltenders

The duo going into the season for Utica will each be rookies. Nico Daws was a third round pick by the Devils during the 2020 NHL Draft. He spent last year in Germany’s professional league (DEL) where he played in 10 games and posted a .898 save percentage. He played his junior hockey with Guelph Storm of the OHL and had a very nice draft year posting a 23-8-6 record and a .924 save percentage.

Akira Schmid was drafted back in the fifth round during the 2018 NHL Draft. He played in the USHL last year where he tallied a terrific .921 save percentage in 26 regular season starts and also had a .920 save percentage in four playoff starts. He will hope to build on that success in his first professional season of his career.

Possible Reinforcements

As many are aware, the New Jersey Devils are currently facing several injuries. For this reason, there are a couple guys that should join Utica once New Jersey gets healthier. Scott Wedgewood was suppose to be Binghamton’s number one last year but was thrusted into a NHL role. This due to Mackenzie Blackwood having injury and COVID-19 concerns and Corey Crawford retiring. Once Blackwood gets healthy, Wedgewood may return to Utica, which would help the two rookies mightily.

Colton White is another player who will likely find himself in Utica once Damon Severson and/or Ty Smith return. He has been with the organization the past few seasons providing stability to the then Binghamton (AHL) defensive core. Mason Geertsen and Christian Jaros are also currently with the big club. Each would have to pass through waivers to join Utica. So, they are not as likely to see AHL time right away, if at all.

Conclusion

The New Jersey Devils’ AHL affiliate teams have been a disappointment for a number of years. However, this year they have an experienced and successful head coach behind the bench to lead the way. In addition to this solid coaching hire, the roster is littered with prospects who rank near the top of an impressive Devil prospect pool. It won’t be easy, as the North Division is loaded with talent. However, if all goes right, the Devils’ AHL affiliate will have a real shot to get back to the post season for the first time in four years.

Note, you can follow along all year via our social media pages for Utica Comet (AHL) updates. We, for most games, provide game-by-game live updating on our pages.