The Utica Comets have announced that they’ve signed four players to contracts for the 2025-26 season. All four players saw time with the Comets last season.
Jeremy Brodeur- The 28-year-old goaltender spent five games with the Utica Comets last season going 4-0 with a 2.16 GAA and .923SV%, including picking up his first career AHL win. Brodeur spent the majority of the season in the ECHL with the Adirondack Thunder. He went 11-11-1 with a 2.89 GAA, .904SV%, and four shutouts. I would expect Brodeur to play a similar role in the organization that he did last year as he will likely be the first goalie called up if Utica loses a goaltender.
Jackson van de Leest- The 6’7 defenseman returns to Utica after loaned to the South Carolina Stingrays last March. He would see six games in Utica before heading to South Carolina. Van de Leest saw action in 49 ECHL games last season with the Adirondack Thunder and South Carolina Stingrays. He would put up three goals and 11 assists for 14 points. He had one assist in seven games during the 2025 Kelly Cup Playoffs. It was a crowded blueline last season in Adirondack and Utica so it will be interesting to see if a role opens up for the Kelowna, BC, native next season. I would expect him to start next season with the Thunder. He’s the only one of the four that got a two-way deal opposed to a one-way deal.
Dmitry Osipov- The Russian Defenseman spent joining the Comets in late November after coming over from the Hershey Bears in a trade. In 43 AHL games last season, he would put up one goal and five assists for six points. All of his points came as a member of the Comets. Osipov has played in 231 AHL games over the course of his eight-year career, putting up nine goals and 16 assists for 24 points while playing with five different AHL teams.
Austin Strand- The 28-year-old defenseman was another piece acquired by the Comets during the season as he came over from the Rockford Ice Hogs. In 60 games last season, he put up three goals and 15 assists for 18 points. Strand is the only one of the four players signed today who has prior experience in the NHL. He’s seen 26 games of action with the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings putting up three assists.
ITR 46: Offseason Chaos – Inside The Rink
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