2023 Utica Comets Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

The Utica Comets finished the 2022-23 season 4th in the North Division with a record of 35-27-6-4 and 80 points. They then swept the Laval Rocket in the first round of the playoffs before falling to the Toronto Marlies in the North Division Semifinals (3:1).

Special teams was a bit of a struggle for the Comets as they finished second-to-last in the league with a 15.8% power play and 27th in the league with 77.4% penalty kill. It’s safe to say the Comets did their best work at even strength. 

However, even though Utica’s power play struggled during the regular season, both forward Brian Halonen and defenceman Reilly Walsh led the team with five power play goals. Meanwhile, forwards Nolan Stevens, Brian Pinho, and Nolan Foote had four power play goals apiece. 

The star of the season was hands down forward Graeme Clarke, who led the team with 25 goals, 33 assists, 58 points, and 211 shots. 

It was a full team effort in the playoffs as 19 players notched a point.

(List accurate as of Sept. 20th, 3:10pm ET)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• Graeme Clarke – Final year of entry-level contract
• Filip Engarås – Last year of AHL contract
• Nolan Foote – Last year of entry-level contract
• Brian Halonen – Last year of entry-level contract
• Alexander Holtz – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Xavier Parent – Last year of AHL contract
• Ryan Schmeltzer – Last year of AHL contract
• Tyce Thompson – Last year of NHL contract (one-way)
• T.J. Friedmann – Signed a one-year AHL contract on April 11 (played for Utica on a PTO and Quinnipiac Univ [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Erik Middendorf – Signed a one-year AHL contract on April 13 (played with ECHL Adirondack on a standard player contract and Michigan State Univ. [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Timur Ibragimov – Signed a one-year AHL contract on May 16
• Joe Gambardella – Signed a two-year AHL contract on May 19
• Samuel Laberge – Signed a one-year AHL contract extension on May 23

Defensemen

• Šimon Nemec – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide)
• Topias Vilén – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide; played one playoff game with Utica and for Pelicans (Liiga) in 2022-23)
• Michael Vukojevic – Last year of entry-level contract
• Tyler Wotherspoon – Last year of two-way NHL contract
• Robbie Russo – Signed a one-year AHL contract on May 19

Goaltenders

• Nico Daws – Last year of entry-level contract
• Isaac Poulter – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on April 25

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Chase Stillman – First year of entry-level contract (played for the Peterborough Petes of the OHL in 2022-23)
• Shane Bowers – Acquired via trade from Boston for Reilly Walsh on June 26
• Kyle Criscuolo – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1 (played for the Grand Rapids Griffins and San Jose Barracuda in 2022-23)
• Justin Dowling – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1 (played for the Abbotsford Canucks in 2022-23)
• Eric Cooley – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 10 (played for the Chicago Wolves and Norfolk Admirals [ECHL] in 2022-23)
• Ryan Fitzgerald – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 10 (played for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2022-23)
• Yushiroh Hirano –  Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 10 (played for the Cincinnati Cyclones [ECHL] and Abbotsford Canucks in 2022-230
• Chris Tierney – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 14 (plated for Montreal, Florida, and Charlotte in 2022-23)
• Jace Isley – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on September 20 (played for the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL in 2022-23)

Defensemen

• Santeri Hatakka – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract (acquired via trade on February 26; played for the San Jose Barracuda in 2022-23)
• Daniil Misyul – Signed a two-year, entry-level NHL contract on May 1 (played for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl of the KHL in 2022-23)
• Colin Felix – Signed a one-year AHL contract on July 6 (played for the Reading Royals [ECHL] in 2022-23)
• Will MacKinnion – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 20 (played for the Reading Royals [ECHL} in 2022-23)
• Jérémy Groleau – Signed a one-year contract with Färjestad BK of the SHL on July 30
• Cal Foote – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on August 9 (played for Tampa Bay and Nashville in 2022-23)

Goaltenders

• Tyler Brennan – Signed a three-year, entry-level NHL contract on April 16 (played for the WHL’s Prince George Cougars in 2022-23)
• Erik Källgren – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1 (played for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marlies in 2022-23)
• Jeremy Brodeur – Signed a one-year, two way AHL contract on July 6 (played for the South Carolina Stingrays [ECHL] and the Manchester Storm [EIHL] in 2022-23)

DEPARTURES

Forwards

• Noah Corson – Given indefinite leave of absence from ECHL Adirondack on December 13, 2022 due to sexual assault allegations; was on two-way AHL contract in 2022-23
• Aarne Talvitie – Signed a two-year contract with TPS of Liiga on May 23
• Nick Hutchison – Signed a one-year contract with Västerås IK of HockeyAllsvenskan on June 2
• Mason Geertsen – Signed a two-year NHL contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on July 1
• Nolan Stevens – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings on July 3
• Brian Pinho – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the New York Islanders on July 5
• Nick Rivera – Signed a one-year contract with DEAC of Erste Liga on July 6
• Jayce Hawryluk – Signed a one-year contract with Bili Tygri Liberec of the Czechia
  Tipsport Extraliga on September 11

Defensemen

• Reilly Walsh – Rights traded to Boston for Shane Bowers on June 26
• Jarrod Gourley – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Calgary Wranglers on July 5
• Zackary Hayes – Signed a one-year contract with Vaasan Sport of Liiga on September 20 (was not extended qualifying offer on June 30)

Goaltenders

•  Zacharie Émond – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Laval Rocket on July 4

FREE AGENTS

Forwards

• Sebastian Vidmar – UFA (AHL); played majority of 2022-23 with ECHL Adirondack

Goaltenders

• Mareks Mitens – UFA (AHL); played in one game for ECHL Adirondack before season-ending groin injury in 2022-23

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

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Other 2023 AHL Off Season Trackers :

Links will be updated as articles are released.

Central

• Chicago Wolves
• Grand Rapids Griffins
• Iowa Wild
• Manitoba Moose
• Milwaukee Admirals
• Rockford IceHogs
• Texas Stars

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

Atlantic

• Bridgeport Islanders
• Charlotte Checkers
• Hartford Wolf Pack
• Hershey Bears
• Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Providence Bruins
• Springfield Thunderbirds 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

North

• Belleville Senators
• Cleveland Monsters
• Laval Rocket
• Rochester Americans
• Syracuse Crunch
• Toronto Marlies
• Utica Comets