Rob Esche is optimistic about the Utica Comets' upcoming season.

Following a frustrating and disappointing campaign compounded by a number of factors that ultimately saw the team finish outside of the American Hockey League’s postseason, the Comets president and former NHL goaltender points to the work the parent Vancouver Canucks have done this summer to help the team.

“I look at the changes they’ve made up top and it is going to push players down here,” Esche said earlier this week. “I look at the players they’ve signed down here. They’ve made a commitment to the fans and both teams.”

It has been a busy offseason for the organization, which has had its share of struggles in recent seasons. While the Canucks addressed their own needs on the blue line, other free-agent signings — including forwards Justin Bailey, Tyler Graovac, Francis Perron and goaltender Zane McIntyre as well as bringing back Utica’s leading scorer Reid Boucher — could likely have an impact on the Comets.

At the AHL level, defensemen Dylan Blujus and Stefan LeBlanc are set to return and Carter Camper, a top veteran center, was signed. Additional depth for the Comets — an area that hadn’t been as much of a focus in a few other seasons — has been addressed. However, change is inevitable in the turnover-prone AHL and the team will be without top scorers Tanner Kero and Brendan Gaunce as well as other players from last season.

There is the hope that younger prospects can continue to improve. Esche also said Trent Cull is “dialed in” entering his third season as the Comets head coach.

“It is just a different feeling,” said Esche, who agreed to a six-year extension affiliation agreement with Vancouver last December. “I think the commitment level (is different). Everything in sports is always a top-down push. I just feel that Vancouver has done a terrific job of filling the roster and filling our roster. ...

“You don’t develop anybody without winning. You can throw kids on the ice all you want every game, but a winning culture duplicates itself at the next level. Vancouver realizes that.”

Despite last season’s rough outcome, the Comets remain a favorite team in the area. The team has about 3,400 season-ticket holders, Esche said. That’s a similar number to recent seasons. Capacity at the Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium was listed at 3,917 last season, meaning there will be some tickets available to the general public when they go on sale this fall.

Esche said the Comets organization continues to improve in various areas heading into the seventh season in the AHL.

“I’m a very harsh critic on myself. I’m a very harsh critic of the organization,” said Esche, who noted the need to better connect fans and players in the area.

Besides its normal home and away uniforms and the green alternate that debuted in the team’s third season, Esche said the team is set to wear a specialty jersey for the Veterans Day game — a Monday, Nov. 11, afternoon affair against Syracuse — as well as during the Save of the Day Foundation games.