After a slow start to the season, Lenni Hameenaho is starting to fill the net. This posts updates Hameenaho’s turnaround and all other prospect news.

A Bright Spot in Another Bad Week

Hameenaho scored in back to back games this week, his first two goals of the season. The first goal came Tuesday night in a 6-2 loss to Syracuse.

Defenseman Ethan Edwards also scored his first pro goal in that game.

Lenni Hameenaho’s second goal of the season would come Friday night on a great individual effort shorthanded.

The Comets would go on to lose that game 4-3 in a shootout, the lose again 3-2 in OT on Saturday. Overall, it was a rough, but improved, week. The Comets as a team have been next level awful this season, sitting one point ahead of the Springfield Thunderbirds, tied for the second worst team in the AHL and in dead last for worst goals per game. In this environment, it’s no wonder that just about everyone on the team is struggling. However, Hameenaho seems to be turning a corner after an adjustment period. As the top forward prospect currently in Utica, that’s a positive sign.

What has gone wrong with the Comets? On paper, they should be thriving offensively, but some veterans have really struggled and others have missed games due to recalls from the glut of injuries to the Devils. Thomas Bordeleau, who seemed to be a potential call-up option when he was acquired, has only 3 points in 11 games after a 38 point season for the San Jose Barracuda last year. 32-year-old veteran Ryan Schmelzer has only 2 assists in 13 games, playing mostly top line center minutes after a 23 goal, 44 point season last year. Top-scoring winger last season, Brian Halonen has played well, but has only suited up 5 games (2 goals, 1 assist) due to an extended call-up to New Jersey. Similarly, offensive-defenseman Seamus Casey has only played six games (three points) due to injury and a brief recall.

Overall, the only Comets who have played well offensively with any consistency are Xavier Parent (7 points in 13 games) and Angus Crookshank (6 points in 12 games). Even that, Crookshank’s production is much lower than last season’s 40 points in 62 games for Belleville and Parent is only roughly on pace to duplicate last year’s totals. I’d add to this list second line center Matyas Melovsky (5 points in 13 games), who has been solid for a first year pro. That’s about it. With Halonen and Casey returning to the lineup, at least the Comets didn’t get shutout this week. That’s an improvement. So, there’s that. Ultimately, in this writer’s humble opinion, the Comets need a productive top line center, or to move Crookshank to the pivot and drop Schmelzer down to the third line until he finds his offensive touch again.

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