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2026-27 Comets Roster Tracker

2026-27 Utica Comets Roster Tracker

Jul 3, 2026

Latest Transactions 

  • 7/10/26 - Tristan Ashbrook (F) signed to one-year AHL contract

  • 7/7/26 - Justin Pearson (F) and Cristophe Tellier (F) signed to one-year AHL contracts

  • 7/6/26 - Jakub Malek (G) re-signed to two-year, two-way contract

  • 7/6/26 - Ben Steeves (F) re-signed to one-year, two-way contract

  • 7/3/26 - Amadeus Lombardi (F) signed to two-year, two-way contract

  • 7/3/26 - Jeremy Brodeur (G), Jack Malone (F), Eamon Powell (D), Gabe Klassen (F), Zach Gallant (F), Seth Eisele (G) - Signed to one-year AHL contracts

  • 7/2/26 - Ryan Schmelzer (F) - Signed to AHL Contract

  • 7/1/26 - Xavier Parent (F) re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract 

  • 7/1/26 - Marc McLaughlin (F) re-signed to a one-year, two-way contract

  • 7/1/26 - Nico Daws (G) re-signed to a two-year, two-way contract 

  • 6/30/26 - Jeremy Wilmer (F) – Unrestricted free agent signed to a one-year AHL contract * 

  • 6/30/26 - Angus Crookshank (F) – Traded to Florida Panthers; New Jersey Devils receive Ben Steeves (F) 

  • 6/23/26 - Etienne Morin (D) acquired from Calgary Flames

 

Players Under Existing Contracts with New Jersey 

  • Shane Lachance (F) – Entering second year of a two-year entry-level contract 

  • Matyas Melovsky (F) – Entering first year of a two-year entry-level contract 

  • Cam Squires (F) – Entering second year of a three-year entry-level contract 

  • Josh Filmon (F) – Entering third year of a three-year entry-level contract 

  • Lenni Hameenaho (F) – Entering second year of a three-year entry-level contract * 

  • Mikael Diotte (D) – Entering third year of a three-year entry-level contract 

  • Ethan Edwards (D) – Entering second year of a two-year entry-level contract 

  • Seamus Casey (D) – Entering third year of a three-year entry-level contract * 

 

Restricted Free Agents  

  • Topias Vilen (D) – Tendered qualifying offer from New Jersey

 

Unrestricted Free Agents 

  • Dylan Wendt (F) - did not receive qualifying offer

  • Brian Halonen (F) - signed with Boston Bruins

  • Jonathan Gruden (F) 

  • Mike Hardman (F) 

  • Nathan Legare (F) 

  • Kyle Criscuolo (F) 

  • Tag Bertuzzi (F) - signed with Grand Rapids Griffins

  • Colton White (D) - signed with Columbus Blue Jackets

  • Dennis Cholowski (D) - signed with New York Rangers

  • Austin Strand (D)  

  • Dmitry Osipov (D) 

  • Calen Addison (D) - did not receive qualifying offer

  • Tyler Brennan (G) - did not receive qualifying offer

 

Players Under AHL Contracts with Utica 

  • Jack Malone (F)
  • Ryan Schmelzer (F)
  • Tristan Ashbrook (F)
  • Gabe Klassen (F)
  • Zach Gallant (F)
  • Justin Pearson (F)
  • Cristophe Tellier (F)
  • Charlie Leddy (D) – Signed an AHL contract with the Comets through the 2027-28 season.
  • Eamon Powell (D)
  • Seth Eisele (G)
  • Jeremy Brodeur (G)

 

Editorial   

Justin Pearson (F) – The 28-year-old winger is set to enter his fourth professional season having spent his entire career with the Cleveland Monsters (AHL). During the 2025-26 season, Pearson tallied a career-high 25 points (12g, 13a) in 56 games. The Nashua, NH native is undrafted and played five seasons of collegiate hockey, four years at Yale University and one year at UConn where he recorded a combined 79 points (36g, 43a) over 129 games.

Cristophe Tellier (F) – The 26-year-old forward is coming off his rookie season in which he registered 32 points (8g, 24a) in 58 games with the Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL). The Sherbrooke, Quebec native is undrafted and spent three seasons at Quinnipiac University and one season at Northeastern University, scoring a combined 69 points (20g, 49a) over 125 collegiate appearances.

Ben Steeves (F) – The 24-year-old winger spent the entire 2025-26 season, his second full professional campaign, with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) and led the club with 23 goals and 45 points. The Bedford, New Hampshire native is undrafted and spent two seasons at the University of Minnesota-Duluth where he posted a combined 62 points (45g, 17a) in 72 games. 

Amadeus Lombardi (F) – The 23-year-old forward wrapped up his third pro season with the Grand Rapids Griffins, finishing with a career-high 42 points (16g, 26a) in 47 games, while also recording three points in seven playoff games. The Newmarket, Ontario native tallied 161 points (63g, 98a) in 134 games over two seasons with the Flint Firebirds (OHL) prior to joining the pro ranks. He was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the fourth round (113th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft.

Lenni Hameenaho (F) – The 21-year-old right wing recorded 26 points in 37 games with the Comets as a rookie last season. In February, he made his NHL debut with the Devils and posted eight points (2g, 6a) in 33 games with the NHL club. It is uncertain but a strong likelihood that the Finland native will be with New Jersey to start the 2026-27 season.  

Jeremy Wilmer (F) – The Rockville Centre, NY native is undrafted and just concluded a four-year collegiate career. He spent two years at Boston University, where he was teammates with Shane Lachance for one season, and the most recent two years at Quinnipiac University, serving as an alternate captain this past season. The 22-year-old left wing recorded a career-high 41 points (15g, 26a) in 38 games in his first season with Quinnipiac.

Gabe Klassen (F) – Klassen, 22, split the 2025-26 season between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) and Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). The Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native appeared in 27 AHL games while also recording 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 38 ECHL contests. He was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the sixth round (171st overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Zach Gallant (F) – Gallant, 27, split the 2025-26 season between the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins (AHL) and Wheeling Nailers (ECHL). The London, Ontario native appeared in 39 AHL games, recording a goals and four assists. He also notched a goal and five assists in five ECHL outings. He was originally selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Etienne Morin (D) – The 21-year-old left shot defenseman was acquired from the Calgary Flames as part of a trade that sent former Devils' defenseman Simon Nemec to Calgary. Morin split the 2025-26 season between the Calgary Wranglers (AHL) and Rapid City Rush (ECHL). The Quebec native appeared in 42 AHL games, registering a goal and six assists. He also tallied a goal and two assists in seven ECHL contests with the Rush. He was originally selected by the Calgary Flames in the second round (48th overall) of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Seamus Casey (D) – The 22-year-old right shot defenseman has spent parts of the last two seasons with the Devils, recording a combined eight points (4g, 4a) over 16 total games. The Florida native was named to the AHL All-Star roster each of the last two seasons but was unable to attend due to injuries in both years. It is uncertain whether he will be with New Jersey or Utica to start the 2026-27 season.

Eamon Powell (D) -- Powell, 24, appeared in 23 games with the Charlotte Checkers (AHL) during the 2025-26 season, recording one goal and six assists. He also skated in four games with the Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL), posting three assists. Prior to turning pro, the Marcellus, N.Y., native played five seasons at Boston College, totaling 103 points (16G, 87A) in 170 career NCAA games, and served as captain each of his last two seasons with the Eagles. A product of the US National Development Program, Powell was drafted in the fourth round (116th overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2020 NHL Draft. The right shot defenseman is known for his agility and has been identified as a confident puck-carrier, a player who will likely fit in well with Head Coach Ryan Parent's systems in Utica. 

Seth Eisele (G) - Eisele, 26, spent the 2025-26 season in the Washington Capitals organization, appearing in games for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL) and Hershey Bears (AHL). Before beginning his professional career, the Lake Elmo, Minn., native played five collegiate seasons between Lake Superior State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha.

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