By Jay Flemma, Special to Facewash Magazine
This was big: the Vancouver Sun got a few minutes with Jim Benning, GM of the Canucks, as he talked about the Utica Comets, their fans, and the magical playoff run the team is making for the Calder Cup. Benning was in Utica for a game 7 shutout that has already taken on a magical glow not only in Utica, but in AHL playoff annals as only the 2nd Game 7 shut-out all time.
The last was in 1953.
Moreover, while the team “tries to bring an NHL playoff experience” as owner Robert Esche put it, the fans have responded better than anyone ever expected. The result is the hockey feel-good story of the year.
Let’s take a closer look at what Benning had to say and offer some analysis. (You can read the entire interview here.)
Question: What have you seen in Utica?
Answer: I’m pleased. We have a good combination of older, experienced players that are high-character players that work really hard. They’ve helped mentor our young kids. And for the most part, all of our young players have really improved over the course of the year. That was an invaluable learning experience last night for the young guys playing in Game 7. And our young guys have been the centrepiece of our winning. Two nights ago, (winger) Sven Baertschi had the puck on a string all night and had eight shots. Last night, Jacob Markstrom was outstanding.
Facewash Magazine React: Winning that crucial Game 7 in “instant classic” fashion may have been the by-product of that equally phenomenal winner-take-all against Chicago. On both nights, the fans were all you could ask them to be, a true NHL atmosphere. Travis Green agreed.
He’s right about Baertschi. Of the three critical pieces acquired late, he’s been the most outstanding on the scoresheet, but plucky, feisty Cory Conacher and gritty, hard-nosed Adam Clendening and his two-way talent have made clutch contributions too. Opposing players must hate Conacher more than Westeros hates Tyrion Lannister.
Puck on a string: you can say that about Cal O’Reilly too. Watching him do the stick-handling drills in practice is like watching a master magician doing sleight of hand. Now you see it, now you don’t.
Q And Jake Virtanen, your first-round draft pick last June, made his pro hockey debut at age 18.
A Jake played the last two games. He’s going to bring us speed and physicality (in the NHL). He was getting in on the forecheck and being physical. And when you watch him in practice, the thing you really notice about him is he can shoot the puck. He’s got a fast release and it’s a hard shot.
FACEWASH TRANSLATION: We’re not going to experiment with any new players…except this totally sick, freakshow-good prospect who skates as fast as laser light show, hits like a freight train, and is utterly relentless in his attack. Talk about thrown to the lions! “Welcome, kid. You’re playing Games 6 and 7 in the loudest barn in the league!” Kid came through in the clutch. He’s been clutch every shift.
Q What other prospects catch your eye?
A Hunter Shinkaruk had a good game last night. Over the year, he has gotten physically stronger. And Alex Grenier, over the course of the year, has improved quite a lot. He’s a big kid and can handle the puck. Brendan Gaunce has gotten better.
Q What about 2011 first-rounder Nicklas Jensen, who was a healthy scratch earlier in the playoffs?
A He’s in danger of falling in between (roles). He’s not the natural goal-scorer to play in the top six, and he has to round out his game better to play in the bottom six. The details in his game have to improve. To help us win, he’s going to have to be a Jannik Hansen-type player.
FACEWASH SAYS: Re: Shinky, Grenny, and Gaunce, that’s what we’ve come to expect. The blend of skill, speed, and relentlessness is the hallmark of Comets Hockey.
Re: Jensen, who scored 35 seconds into the game – I’m checking back with you now, Jim. How did that turn out?
Seriously, though. JENSEN DID WHAT COMETS DO: RESPOND!!!
They score a goal? RESPOND!
They win a game? RESPOND!
They push the Comets to the brink? RESPOND! RESPOND! RESPOND!
It’s a mantra, I tell ya. They ought to sell THAT on a white shirt in the merch store.
Q In two seasons under Green, the Comets are 82-51-18. Are you going to be able to hang on to your coach?
A Mike Babcock’s contract ($50 million from the Toronto Maple Leafs) changes the landscape. It’s going to make the cost of coaches go up so, as with players, you’re going to have to develop good, young coaches. Travis is going to be an NHL head coach one day. But there are a lot of experienced coaches changing teams (this spring).
Q You told us recently that your management team will make a decision before the draft whether to re-sign or trade backup goalie Eddie Lack. Markstrom’s NHL record is unimpressive. What makes you think he can play for the Canucks if you trade Lack?
A That’s part of why I’m down here now — to get a good look at Jacob Markstrom and see where he fits in. That’s what I’m trying to figure out right now. He showed me a lot last night, playing a real good game (35-save shutout) in a high-pressure situation.
FACEWASH ANALYSIS: Those are two huge off-season questions. Both Travis and Markstrom have earned their places already on the Greater all of Fame. The question is one either or both are gone, how do you maintain the momentum the franchise has now? We at Facewash think the answer is to keep the system as intact as possible, the obvious exception being that they Comets anemic power play need improvement.
Comets fans may consider themselves lucky they have Markstrom at all – he was called up to the parent club mid-season, and fans and pundits thought they’d seen the last of him in Utica. Other fans started a rumor that Marky was trade bait and that he was leaving town imminently. Shows you have to be careful where you go drinking, because with that as your news source, you’ll never want for moonshine.
The Comets host the Grand Rapids Griffins tonight for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals, before the series shifts to Michigan for Games 3-5 Thursday, Friday, and Sunday.
