Let's leave the coach, owner, player bashing to a minimum. We've pretty much said all that can be said and it's obvious that debate can't be advanced yet.
So pick your topic.
Let's leave the coach, owner, player bashing to a minimum. We've pretty much said all that can be said and it's obvious that debate can't be advanced yet.
So pick your topic.
Comments
Very true on all accounts Bob.
BTW I replied to your email but freaking AOL has been acting up. If you didn't get it let me know.
Tony, It hasn't arrived yet. I'll check again for it.
Maybe Tony accidently sent it US Mail...you may never get it...lol
Gheesh tell me about it!! Ebay and my website have been a nightmare over the last year because of the USPS
I agree with Hit...a change in coaching needs to be done, and before you go crazy Blake..I know its not gonna happen. Pulhalski has had his success here; but a new approach needs to surface in Fort Wayne.
Here's something to talk about. What are momet fans truely afraid of. All this non-sense about Chaulk and St. Pierre has gone way out of control. What exactly are Komet fans afraid of if these two are not back next year? Haven't the Komets survived for 50 years without these two, answer yes. Will the Komets not be as good without these in the lineup, most will probably answer no the Komets will not be as good. My answer is, I'll have to wait and see.
Whether or not Chaulk or St. Pierre are back is something we as fans don't have much control over, we can complain all we want, we can say that we'll never go to another game if these two aren't signed all we want, but in the end, unless attendance actually goes the way of Motor City and Missiouri, then the Frankes are going to run their team the way they want to.
And they're definitely bringing the coach back so get used to it. It's not going to change. It's their choice and they made it.
Guys with all of this talk about coach and his "system", remember every coach has one. Every coach teaches the game or wants it played his way. Either it works or it doesn't. There will always be players who will and will not work in a particular system. The players that do not fit in get shipped out. There will always be players who like and do not like the coach. That is sports. One 6th place season as part of a run that included a championship and 2 first place overalls does not mean the coach doesn't know what he is doing. Why not wait and see what he can do with a team built from scratch as next years pretty much will be? He has brought alot of success to Fort Wayne in the last few seasons. Last year was an injury filled chaotic season and yet the team managed to go from the basement to a respectable record and if not for injuries probably could have gone further in the playoffs. So unless I missed where the Komets finished last and players in open revolt paraded around Glenbrook Mall wearing nothing but their jock straps (ok maybe the ladies wouldn't mind that), and coach, sick of everyone asking him to act stupid behind the bench climbed up the WOWO fire escape in a purple King Kong costume, take a deep breath, enjoy the summer and have a little faith that this organization, one of the most succesful in all of minor league sports will continue to be just that.
Gee, I guess I missed the memo saying that I could not agree that a fresh look is needed in F.W. (which in my opinion includes the coach). Blake and Tony E., why dont you guys email me to tell me what my opinions are so they are not in conflict with yours... That way I can just sit in the stands come next season and watch the paint dry and be as happy as can be...
J.R. I don't think anyone said you couldn't have your opinion. It is a long standing tradition in sports to blame the coach everytime a team doesn't win a championship. If you think a new team (which is pretty much what there will be next year) with a new coach will solve everything, you are entitled to your opinion. I can tell you normally, that leads to a under .500 record the first year because nobody knows anybody.
Let me ask this. If you were the Komets, of the available coaches out there, who are you going to hire that you are confident could do a better job? Don't give me names of guys that already coaching teams. Just guys who were either fired, quit or are just not coaching today.
Tony, you get the award for most memorable mental picture--nothing short of alcohol is going to erase that from my brain today. Maybe you can get together with the Save a Chaulk foundation and turn some of those thoughts into a fund raiser. I refer, of course, to the Coach in a purple Kong suit idea. :-)
I would be happy to contribute $20 to keep Chaulk here, maybe twice that after a couple glasses of wine. And we all know that the Frankes have every right to make whatever decisions they deem necessary, and the rest of us have every right to be irritated and annoyed that two very popular/talented/valuable players might not be back next year. We've been around the blog block on this topic so many times I'm getting dizzy...
Anyone else see that Buffalo/Carolina game? I swear I thought it was being played in fast forward half the night. Amazing. I can't make up my mind which team I like more.
That's easy sparky, after the way Ruff acted back here in '93 it's Carolina.
Lol thanks Sparky. Scary thing is, I have never had a drink in my life (no joke and no real reason just never felt the need) and I come up with ideas like that LOL.
I really don't think this would be a case where the Komets are not willing to pay Chaulk the market rate. I think it might be a case of a hard cap coming and they not being able to pay him and still get quality players around him. Look at the NHL. EVERYONE was made to take a pay cut this year because of a cap.
And as Blake has said many a time. We have no clue as to what's going to happen so why be concerned with it. What Are Komet Fans Afraid OF?
Carolina it is! Ruff is kind of a, um, well you know. Actually I'm rooting for the Oiliers, so I just want the weaker of the two teams to win--and they both look scary good. I can't wait until MONDAY!!
Nobody is AFRAID of anything other than shelling out $600 bucks a seat to be bored again with Puhalski at the helm.
If the Komets wanted to pay Chaulk they would. Over the table under the table. This is not a cap issue.
Legitimate concern JM.
So you would prefer the Komets stoop to paying someone under the table?
Stoop? Are you serious? I'm sure the Komets have never done such things...
Blake.....????? Is there any evidence that the Komets have paid players under the table or tried to get around the salary cap?
Folks are calling the Komets cheap and now you think they pay players under the table?
Something isn't making sense.
Puhalski = boring hockey
My gosh I want something to get crazy about other than the poor officiating. How many games last year did you come away from with anything other than wether the K's won or lost??? A handfull maybe??? The guys we are ranting and raving about coming back are the guys who worked their tails night in and night out. The Frankes have put exciting teams on the ice before, we're just asking for another one.
Fellow Bloggers: I just picked up the new Real Estate and Homes mag that came out yesterday....in the listings for a small firm on the north side of town it shows a photograph of Frenchy as one of their new realtors. The bio for him on their website states that Kevin has made Fort Wayne his permanent home. I would like to view that in a positive light....I hope that some of you will also. If you want to see for yourself, go to: www.thevisionrealtygroup.com
You know, maybe I should ask for a cut of the commission too! LOL! I have a 85 lb lab that is waiting for "daddy" to let him out....no hockey playoff 2nite and my wife is mad because her White Sox are losing.....I'm ready for the weekend!
JR and JM helped make my point. If the Frankes; god love them, who are wonderful for doing what they have for this town and for hockey; want to make a real change, why not change the concept of this team and shoot for the moon. How many dog-on players have we gone through in the past 6 years that the Chief has decided don't fit his mold. Just look at this past season. The guys that came in and out of the revolving door. Are there any good players left that are willing to put up with that crap?
Another great point by both JR and JM...who really gets excited at the games with the product that has been thrown together on the ice anymore? A fresh outlook on things would go a long way. It would definitely get lots of hockey fans in this town interested that have been disapointed of late. How about a team that plays with spirit and intensity. We need a team of talented "characters." Entertainment at the MC next season would be a plus.
And for the record...the only guy of the two that I have lobby-ed for to return is Chaulk. I think a new look between the pipes is in need. Go young and talented there. I never said that Komet Hockey would come to a sudden end if Chaulker left the team...I just think it is a mistake to lose a guy of his caliber. Think about us losing Venedam this past season...did that not hurt us bigtime this year? Who would take him back this year...a show of hands please!!!
One thing HS is that players feel the need to want to come back. Unless I'm missing something Venedam made a choice to go someplace else. He didn't intend to keep playing in Fort Wayne.
JM-So you're saying Komet fans ARE afraid of something and that being watching boring Puhalski hockey, well guess what, Komets fans have been doing that for the past 5 years and they'll do it for another year at least. I think it's something deeper then that. I think that Komets fans are afraid without Chualk and St. Pierre the K's will have no chance to compete in this league, that the K's might even be the worse team in the league. While I agree they have been decent players and you can argue decent leaders, I believe they are replaceable. The K's might field a bad team but the Frankes will make sure that doesn't happen too many times in a row.
I can't speak for all Komet fans, Greg. However I am not afriad that without Chaulk we will be the worst team in the league. I actually think that their are better captains out there. There is a guy playing in Texas that I would love to see wear the "C". I think its more of an issue of respect as far as Chaulk is concerned. The guy has busted his tail for us for years and now they want to nickel and dime him out of town. As far as Frenchy, as much as I like him I'm pretty happy with that move.
Good Word has it that last year Venedam and Puhulski had words in the playoffs which weren't too friendly...and Venedam thought it not be in his best interests to play here with the current coaching arrangement. That is all I will say.
I highly doubt they would be nickel and diming Chaulk out of town. Do you have any doubt that if he came back he wouldn't be the highest paid player on the team? C'mon, they have never been cheap owners as Luciuk pointed out during the season when comparing them to Muskegon and Kalamazoo. There's a reason so many players -- Guy, Soupy, Corpse, Pokey, Hurd, etc. -- come back to play here again.
Did anybody hear that Edmonton's Rexall Centre has scheduled a Dora the Explorer show scheduled the same night as game 6 of the finals?
I was listening to Mike & Mike this morning and they said this would be the second time in the playoffs could have a conflict with that show - Ottawa actually moved a game to avoid the conflict.
Just throwing this out - if you were the manager of a building like MC, what would you do if you had scheduled a concert or ice show and also had the need for the space for a hockey game? I thought it was an interesting conflict for an NHL team.
Also, who are you picking for the cup?
I don't really like either one, but I guess I'd rather see Edmonton win - likely underdog, number 8 seed. To me, it was bad enough that Tampa Bay won it last time. Carolina has a great team, but I don't want to see another warm climate team winning the cup.
Arena's can't predict when hockey playoffs are going to affect their building so they just schedule events as they come. It's up to the league to work around building schedules.
My Pick:Oilers in 6.