Patrick Williamstheahl.com writer
Can Comet Utica pull it apart?
After no doubt starting the season in the first 13 games, the Comets have eliminated their own scrambles to compete in the Calder Cup playoffs.
Utica finished the third quarter of their 2024-25 schedule with a 4-1 win over Syracuse on Friday night. Their fifth and final playoff position in the North District was eight points behind Belleville and sixth place.
Although Utica’s season series with Belleville is over, the Comets will face Syracuse five times starting Wednesday.
Friday’s victory limited the wild days of the New Jersey Devils. Before the NHL trade deadline, the Devil made four deals that affected the Utica roster. Here comes Daniel Spridge From Seattle, Marc McLaughlin From Boston and Jonathan Gruden From Pittsburgh, Daniil Misyul,,,,, Chase Stillman and Adam Beckman left.
Spring, McLaughlin and Gruden were all assigned to Utica, making them eligible to skate during the regular season, if they make it to the Calder Cup playoffs. Considering the devil’s damage this week – Dougie Hamilton,,,,, Jack Hughes and Jonas Siegenthaler Everything is falling – the comet hit unscathed.
Spring tore the NHL chances with Coachella Valley Firebirds, amassing 11 goals and 25 points in 19 games. And if he does join the Comet at some point, he will be a big push for a team that ranks No. 30 with 2.69 goals in the AHL.
Meanwhile, Gruden and McLaughlin both established two-way forwards with NHL experience, including McLaughlin’s 12 games against Boston this season. Gruden, 24, played 42 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton (7 goals, 6 assists), while McLaughlin, 25, scored 14 points (5 goals, 9 assists) in 34 games against Providence.
Of course, in a meandering season, if the playoff berth is to be secured, the Comets have a lot of work to be done to ensure playoff berths. They made a coaching change in the 0-10-1-2 game, Ryan’s parents replace Kevin Dineen On November 6, since finally entering the victory column on November 22, the team has scored 23-15-3-0, the third best record in the northern section. Third grade career Brian Halonen The second consecutive season was a 20-goal scorer. Nolan FooteAfter most of the injured 2023-24 season, the team’s leading 38 points is the highest in their careers. And rookie defenseman Seamus Casey Come back after being eliminated for nearly two months.
The Comets’ final 18 games included five meetings with Syracuse, and two games against league-leading Laval next weekend, with a family and home against Hershey in late March. Ten out of 18 are located in the center of Adirondack Bank, and the Comet is 8-0-1-0 in the last nine outings.
There is still a long climb in front of them. But Comet has a chance now, and it didn’t seem to be all of this four months ago.
During the fifty years in the American Hockey League, Theahl.com writer Patrick Williams currently covers the NHL.com and Flosports leagues and is a regular contributor to Siriusxm NHL New Network Radio. He won the AHL’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for his outstanding league coverage in 2016.
