2022 Utica Comets Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

The Utica Comets began the 2021-22 AHL season under a new NHL parent club in the New Jersey Devils. With that in mind, it makes sense that the Comets put together a hell of a start, setting an AHL record with 13 straight wins to begin the season. Utica then won the North Division crown, finishing 43-20-9 with 95 points and a .660 points percentage — the best in the Eastern Conference, as well. After a first round bye, the Comets fell to the Rochester Americans in the divisional semifinals by a count of three games to two in a best-of-five series.

Four players finished with over 50 points for Utica: forwards Chase De Leo (21G + 35A = 56 PTS in 55GP), Fabian Zetturlund (24G + 28A = 52 PTS in 58 GP), A.J. Greer (22G + 30A = 52 PTS in 53 GP), and Alexander Holtz (26G + 25A = 51 PTS in 52 GP). Greer was tied for second in the AHL in shorthanded goals (6), Holtz was tied for third in the league amongst rookie goal scorers (26), and defenseman Reilly Walsh finished sixth in scoring amongst AHL defensemen (9G + 34A = 43 PTS in 70 GP). The Comets used only three goaltenders all season: Akira Schmid (22-8-5 in 38 GP, 2.60 GAA, .911 SV%, 2 SO), Nico Daws (14-4-2 in 21 GP, 2.54 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO), and Mareks Mitens (7-8-2 in 17 GP, 3.31 GAA, .888 SV%).

(List accurate as of February 9th, 2023 at 3:05pm ET)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• Graeme Clarke – Second year of entry-level contract
• Nolan Foote – Second year of entry-level contract
• Joe Gambardella – Last year of standard, two-way NHL contract
• Alexander Holtz – First year of entry-level contract
• Aarne Talvitie – Last year of entry-level contract
• Brian Halonen – Signed a two-year, entry-level contract on March 27
• Garrett VanWyhe – Last year of two-year AHL contract signed on April 12
• Samuel Laberge – Signed a two-year AHL contract extension on June 21
• Ryan Schmeltzer – Signed a two-year AHL contract extension on June 21
• Nick Rivera – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on June 24
• Mason Geertsen – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13
• Jesper Boqvist – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 22
• Tyce Thompson – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on August 2
• Fabian Zetterlund – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on August 10

Defensemen

• Kevin Bahl – Last year of entry-level contract
• Jérémy Groleau – Last year of entry-level contract
• Nikita Okhotyuk – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Robbie Russo – Last year of standard, two-way NHL contract
• Michael Vukojevic – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Reilly Walsh – Last year of entry-level contract
• Jarrod Gourley – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on June 24
• Tyler Wotherspoon – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13

Goaltenders

• Nico Daws – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Akira Schmid – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Mareks Mitens – Signed an AHL contract extension on June 21

* – Contract includes European Assignment Clause, detailed in Article 11 – 11.19 of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement — “The SPC of any Player may contain a clause that provides that, in the event his NHL Club Loans the Player to a club outside the NHL, during the period of such Loan, the Player shall have the option to be Loaned to a club of his choice outside North America.”

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Chase Stillman – First year of entry-level contract (played for the Sudbury Wolves & Peterborough Petes of the OHL in 2021-22)
• Nick Hutchison – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on June 24 (played for the Manitoba Moose & Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers in 2021-22)
• Sebastian Vidmar – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on June 24 (played for the ECHL’s Adirondack Thunder in 2021-22)
• Jack Dugan –  Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13 (played for the Henderson Silver Knights in 2021-22)
• Brian Pinho – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13 (played for the Hershey Bears in 2021-22)
• Xavier Parent – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 18 (played for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL in 2021-22)
• Nolan Stevens – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 18 (played for the Iowa Wild & Springfield Thunderbirds in 2021-22)
• Noah Corson – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on August 1 (played for the Chicago Wolves and ECHL’s Norfolk Admirals in 2021-22)
• Zach Senyshyn – Signed a one-year AHL contract on October 3 (played with the Ottawa & Belleville Senators and Providence Bruins in 2021-22)

Defensemen

• Dylan Blujus – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 18 (played for the Milwaukee Admirals and ECHL’s Florida Everblades in 2021-22)
• Filip Bratt – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 18 (played for AIK in HockeyAllsvenskan and Väsby IK in HockeyEttan in 2021-22)

Goaltenders

• Isaac Poulter – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on June 24 (played with the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL in 2021-22)

DEPARTURES

Forwards

• A.J. Greer – Signed a two-year, one-way NHL contract with Boston on July 13
• Chase De Leo – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract with Anaheim on July 14
• Frédérik Gauthier – Signed a one-year contract with HC Ajoice of the Swiss NL on August 2
• Patrick McGrath – Signed an AHL contract with the San Jose Barracuda on August 3
• Tyler Irvine – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Cleveland Monsters on September 1
• Brian Flynn – Retired (noted as not returning to the Comets before training camp)

Defensemen

• Shakir Mukhamadullin – On loan, as entry-level contract has European Assignment Clause; signed a one-year, two-way contract with Salavat Yulaev Ufa of the KHL on July 14 (played in three playoff games for Utica in 2021-22)

(Special thanks to CapFriendly and Elite Prospects for all the contract terms and definitions for this offseason player tracker!)

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Other 2022 AHL Off Season Trackers :

Pacific

• Abbotsford Canucks

• Bakersfield Condors

• Calgary Wranglers

• Coachella Valley Firebirds

• Colorado Eagles

• Henderson Silver Knights

• Ontario Reign

• San Diego Gulls

• San Jose Barracuda

• Tucson Roadrunners

 

Central

• Chicago Wolves

• Grand Rapids Griffins

• Iowa Wild

• Manitoba Moose

• Milwaukee Admirals

• Rockford IceHogs

• Texas Stars

 

North

• Belleville Senators

• Cleveland Monsters

• Laval Rocket

• Rochester Americans

• Syracuse Crunch

• Toronto Marlies

• Utica Comets

 

Atlantic

• Bridgeport Islanders

• Charlotte Checkers

• Hartford Wolf Pack

• Hershey Bears

• Lehigh Valley Phantoms

• Providence Bruins

• Springfield Thunderbirds 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins