Utica Comets: 2026 Off-Season/Free Agency HUB
Utica Comets
Consider signing up for a subscription so we can continue to bring you exclusive first-reports, prospect features and stories from around the American Hockey League (AHL).
Quick. Easy. Support original journalism!
Written by: Ben Birnell
@BB_URSentinel on Twitter/X
The Utica Comets made a turnaround after an extremely slow start to the 2025-26 season, missing the AHL’s Calder Cup playoffs on the last day of the regular-season this spring with a result that was ultimately out of their control. (Rochester provided heartbreak for the Comets in securing the point it needed in a nail-biting final game of the regular-season vs. Hershey to secure the playoff spot.)
Comets coach Ryan Parent – in his first full season as the team’s head coach after taking over in November 2024 – referred to 2025-26 as “disappointing” with missing the playoffs for the third consecutive season.
Though, there were positive steps for some of the New Jersey Devils’ top prospects.
There’s intrigue in the lead-up to next fall’s 2026-27 season for the Comets following changes in New Jersey’s hockey operations management, including a new Utica General Manager (Braden Birch).
In the final days before free agency, a small group players who spent time with Utica – including team goals leader Angus Crookshank – and prospects such as Matyas Melovsky, Ethan Edwards and Mikael Diotte were under contract.
Given that aspect, it could mean plenty of new faces – there’s always change on AHL rosters – for a Comets team trying to be in the playoff conversation in spring 2027.
