It’s been a rough season for the New Jersey Devils, and the same is true for their American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Utica Comets. While the Devils have the second-worst record in the Metropolitan Division, the Comets have the worst in the North Division and are 12 points behind the second-worst team in the division. “We didn’t have a great start this year either,” Comets head coach Ryan Parent mentioned in a conversation with Hockey Hot Stove.
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The Comets, while at the backend of a rough season, have shown throughout it that they have individual players who can turn themselves into key NHLers for the Devils. There’s a good chance the Devils retool at the trade deadline, and with that, a few spots will open up on the NHL roster, especially on the defense.
The Devils can call up a few prospects to give the blue line a fresh look. Will it be better because of the youth movement? Only if they round out their game.
Edwards & Vilen Have Become Intriguing Names
Ethan Edwards took time to develop and make his mark at the AHL level. He grew up in Alberta and spent a few years in the Western Hockey League (WHL) but is now a key part of the Comets defense, especially at the point.
His goal against the Hartford Wolf Pack on Friday night broke the ice and led the way in a 2-1 win. “He’s been scoring, he’s going to be a mobile puck-moving defenseman,” Parent noted after the game. Edwards has nine goals this season and is slowly putting himself on the Devils radar. “He has a lot of runway if he takes advantage of it,” Parent added.
Edwards has taken up the spotlight lately but Topias Vilen is also a young name to watch. The 23-year-old defenseman has been on the Comets for a few seasons now, yet remains a steady part of the blue line and another player the Devils might call up.
Calen Addison’s Road Back to the NHL
It wasn’t long ago that Calen Addison was a regular in the NHL. He has 152 games under his belt, including 72 in 2023-24 with the Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks. With 50 points as well, the question some hockey fans will ask is what happened to Addison?
Addison also has been around for a while but it’s easy to forget how young he is. Yes, he’s not a prospect but at 25 years old, he’s still learning the defensive position. “He’s one of the guys who falls into the veteran type we bought in to stabilize the backend,” Parent noted on Addison, a defenseman who is viewed as a veteran yet still has room to improve.
Addison has stepped up for the Comets and is one of their bright spots. He’s been a key player at the point and improved significantly on the defensive end. So, maybe after this season, he’ll find his way back in the NHL. “We want to give guys every opportunity to get back so he’s in a position where he’s relied upon in every situation, and the defensive side is what we’re trying to work on to get him back into the NHL,” Parent added.
Where The Comets Defensemen Must Improve
The Comets have a lot of skilled defensemen. The irony is two-fold as the NHL team has plenty of skill on the blue line and the AHL team lacks the stay-at-home options to round out their unit. The Comets must defend, and they’ve struggled to do so this season.
It’s the message Parent is sending to the players, where they must defend if they want to make it to the NHL team. “Do you want to be competing here or do you want to look at the voids you can fill?” is what he’ll often say to the defensemen. It makes the latest, while tough, a step in the right direction.
