yardbarker
The Syracuse Crunch have stumbled out of the gate, posting a 1-3-0 record through their first four games. Their latest setback was a 3-2 loss to the Belleville Senators on Oct. 10, in which the Senators netted the game-winner with just 25 seconds remaining. The team has dealt with lineup changes and inconsistent goaltending, contributing to a start that falls short of expectations.
Despite the early struggles, several prospects have emerged as compelling storylines.
Dominic James
Dominic James appeared in only four games for the Crunch during the 2025-26 season, but made an immediate impact with three goals and five points. His strong play earned him a call-up to the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he tallied 15 points in 43 games and became a reliable contributor. However, a freak workout accident just before the season began left him with a broken hand, sidelining him for the first two weeks of the NHL campaign. He is currently day-to-day and on track to return. To regain game sharpness after missing the preseason, James was sent to the AHL for conditioning. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper indicated that James will be back with the big club soon. In two games with Syracuse on Oct. 9 and 10, James did not record a point, but he appeared comfortable and is working his way back to full 60-minute form. Crunch head coach and general manager Joel Bouchard expressed his admiration for James, noting the differences between the NHL and AHL. Bouchard also mentioned that while the team looked good in practice, translating that into game chemistry is another challenge.
Jakob Pelletier
Jakob Pelletier is coming off a season in which he led the AHL with 77 points in 63 games. His professional journey has taken him from the Calgary Flames to the Philadelphia Flyers and, in 2025, to a three-year contract with the Lightning organization. At 25, Pelletier has found a home in Syracuse and is beginning to flourish. He is aiming to build on his league-leading campaign and has started well, recording two assists in four games. One of those assists came against the Senators when he spotted Nick Abruzzese streaking through the center of the ice between two Belleville defenders. Abruzzese converted the partial breakaway to tie the game at 2-2 before the eventual loss. Pelletier's playmaking and vision are key components of his game, though he is also capable of scoring goals. He will need to continue setting up Abruzzese, who is not shy about finding the back of the net.
Mads Sogaard
The Crunch overhauled their goaltending corps for the 2026-27 season, bringing in Mads Sogaard and Olivier Rodrigue. The two netminders have split the first two weeks, each making two starts. Rodrigue started the first game of the week on Oct. 9, a 7-1 loss. Unfortunately for him, that has been the theme in his two starts, as he owns a 6.69 goals-against average and a .784 save percentage. Sogaard, however, has been a different story. The defense appears more balanced in front of him, and the team seems more at ease with him in net. In the game against the Senators, Sogaard was instrumental in keeping the score at 3-2, making several desperation saves despite a few third-period breakdowns. If Andrei Vasilevskiy or Denis Hildeby were to go down, Sogaard would be next in line, and he has performed well enough in Syracuse to warrant consideration. At 25 years old, he could be a player to watch for the Crunch this season.
The Crunch will return to action on Oct. 17 when they visit the Rochester Americans.
Originally reported by yardbarker.