The big news of the day regarding the Vancouver Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Utica Comets, was that center Mike Zalewski and Richard Bachman were signed to new contracts. Both are expected to spend the majority of the 2016-17 season with the Comets, but they could, under certain circumstances, see some NHL time as well. Which brings us to the question: how much sense does it make for a franchise in Vancouver, British Columbia, to have their AHL affiliate in Utica, New York?
Jeremy Davis of Canucks Army discussed that topic, while Canucks Army writer Jackson McDonald explored whether or not Vancouver has a real second line.