The Vancouver Canucks have been a much better NHL team this year, and that has trickled down throughout the organization.
At the beginning of the season, before injuries hit, the Canucks were near the top of the NHL, and their affiliates were also benefitting from the NHL club’s success. The Utica Comets boasted a roster with Sven Baertschi and Nikolay Goldobin, two NHL regulars, with the latter still in Utica. This effect trickled down even more, bringing high-quality players on NHL contracts to the ECHL affiliate, the Kalamazoo Wings.
Defenceman Mitch Elliot and goaltender Jake Kielly are both playing in Kalamazoo this year, something that would never have happened even two years ago.