Just got off the phone with David Franke so here are some updates:
Kevin Reiter: The Komets are continuing to talk to him and are asking him to make a decision soon so they can go in another direction if need be.
Mario Larocque: Just got back from vacation and Franke plans on talking to him today. He has concerns whether Larocque is willing to take the money being offered under the hard cap.
When Bruce Boudreau played for the Fort Wayne Komets in the early 1990s, fans used to serenade him with ``Bruuuuuuuuccceee'' when the center made a good play.
Komets fans will get to work on their pitch again this season as the team is signing forward Bruce Richardson as a player-assistant coach. Though only 5-foot-9 inches tall and 180 pounds, Richardson, 29, is known for playing like he's much bigger, annoying opponents with his chirping, hitting and general belligerence.
Same discussion as at the end of Retired numbers. Here are some of the most recent posts:
But I'll bet every one of you had Jungle Love dancing around in your head last night, didn't you? LOL. ``Oh-wee-oh-wee-oh"
You're welcome. Bwah-hah-hah-hah!!!!
...and announced here last week, Jonathan Goodwin and Mike Dombkiewicz have now officially signed.
Here's what Komets General Manager David Franke had to say about each:
On Dombkiewicz: ``Mike came in at the end of last season and really gave us an offensive spark from the defensive position. We thought he was definitely one of the guys we wanted back, and he made it quite apparent to me before he left that this is where he wanted to play. I think he's going to find stability with our franchise.''
On another post a debate began about retired numbers, and the possibility of Colin Chaulk someday having his number 91 retired. The old rule was you had to play 10 years and they made exceptions for Steve Fletcher who played seven and one UHL game and for Reggie Primeau at eight years. I think they should stick with 10 years, which means Guy Dupuis would be a possibility and that is all until someone reaches that plateau again.
The Komets' current retired numbers:
This is going to run tomorrow.
Komets coach Pat Bingham has been on the job for three weeks and
he's spent most of that on the phone, talking to players from last year and
potential players. The News-Sentinel talked with Bingham about his plans and
hopes for the team.
Blake Sebring: All the players I talk to seem to be very excited
after talking to you.
I just got off the phone with Joe Franke who has been let go by the Komets after a 20-year affiliation as the team's equipment manager. Komets General Manager David Franke said both sides decided to move in different directions, and Joe Franke said that was exactly what each side decided.
``I have other things going on and, he wants to cut costs and go with a younger guy,'' Joe Franke said. "I'm not upset at all. The only thing I'm upset with, and they know this, is that they waited this long to tell me.''
Just got off the phone with defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz who said he was dropping his contact off at the Fed-Ex as we were speaking. He said he's taking a bit of a contract cut because of the salary cap, but he's completely happy to be returning to Fort Wayne.
``I had more money at other places, but I want to win a championship and Fort Wayne is the place to be,'' he said. ``Hopefully I've found a home. I love playing in Fort Wayne.''
Here's the deal on everybody I could think of:
So far, the Komets have signed Guy Dupuis, goaltender Kevin St. Pierre, forward David Hukalo and defenseman Kevin Hanson. General Manager David Franke said the Komets are also in strong negotiations with defenseman Mike Dombkiewicz and forward Jonathan Goodwin. Franke thinks there's a good chance both players could be signed by the end of the week.
