deja-vu

Cool! It works. We'll definitely do more of this. For one thing it will keep Dave busy and out of trouble. LOL.

Is that Dean and Dean?

That's pretty funny. I think people tend to get a little excited about losing the first game. It's too bad that the Ks didn't play like they normally do so we could see how we really stack up against the CHL's best. Oh well. We play them again later. Maybe the Ks will show up then.

A few thoughts to share 48 hours after game 1.

I've had a little time to think about Saturday's game. Granted, it was only the first game of the season and just a "snapshot", not a total gallery, of the year. But, "snapshots" can be revealing and I believe it did portray some weaknesses.

The first thing that bothers me is not so much the 4-0 loss to Rapid City as the combination of that loss with the 6-1 loss to Dayton in the last preseason game. Now most years you could explain that loss away with the fact that new players are being given the chance to see what they could do to make the team. Not this year. For the most part the entire defense and goaltending is back. Certainly the forwards are responsible for the team's defense too but I'm concerned with the results of a combination of 10 goals allowed in two games.

Everyone seems to think that this team is loaded with offense and I haven't seen that yet. Three great scoring chances against Rapid City and all three stuffed by the goaltender. ( Even if all three scored it still would not have been enough). Question is this- do the Komets have the right stuff and were just beaten by a "hot" goaltender or do we need more help? ( I have been consistent in calling for another sniper and asked Blake whether the K's had spoken to John Mori and was told they could not afford him. Hmm, maybe the money hasn't been spent the right way. Don't know, but I am wondering).

I am real hesitant to think that this affiliation is going to solve all the problems. Please remember that the NHL does whatever is best for the NHL team first. Springfield is supposed to send two players to Fort Wayne. Maybe they will help. It just depends on a lot of things.

I'm not really sure if practice is the answer. After all, they are practicing against themselves. As someone else pointed out, you can't teach speed.

As I write this I am sure someone will call me "negative" ( as it does come across that way). I don't think I'm being so much "negative" as I am very "concerned".

Only one game in. However I agree with Al Sims as he stated the K's were beaten in every facet of the game. Maybe they were out-General Managed too. If that were the case it would be the first time in many years and I would hate for that to be true.

It isn't time to pamic, of course, but it is time to be prepared ( I said prepared) to make some unpopular choices if need be.

I think something else is in the works with this affiliation. I think we'll be in this league this year and maybe next. After that, the AHL. Only makes sense. We're number one/two in attendence year in and year out in all of minor league hockey. Fort Wayne is a lot closer to Columbus than Springfield is. Kind of like Grand Rapids is close to Detroit, Rockford is close to Chicago, and Peoria is close to St. Louis. Columbus is in this division and the Frankes have a pretty good relationship with the Blue Jackets. Of course this is all speculatory...

A lot of things have changed in 59 years. I think it's time we move on...

I dont see the AHL because neither Guy nor Warner can play at that level and we all know the Komets would not survive without either of them. Guy has been great for a lot of years, but unfortunately it's just time.

I think the picture is bigger than that. We will have our favorites at any level. The CHL alone maybe too much for someone like Guy. Great guy and good player, but if he gets called for two hooking penalties per game this season, he'll be doing good.

My only concern is the fact that we play the former IHL teams the most. And those teams consist mostly of former IHL players. So the Komets will never really get into a rythym of playing CHL quality teams and may still continue with the little slower IHL ways. Thus making it hard to adjust to the CHL style of play that they need.

Good point, Chad.

Rob, I don't know who you are but I think you are on to something.

A person whom I won't name but you'd all recognize told me that one of the byproducts of this affiliatiom could be an "avenue" to the AHL.

Now before everyone gets all excited, remember I said "could", not "would" or anything more possible than that.

I have known this for a few days and wasn't going to post anything about it except Rob has speculated on it. Heaven knows we don't need to open the "AHL" discussion anymore than we have the last few years.

There is absolutely nothing set in stone.

Lets see how all this develops.

Just thinking... how good is Springfield going to be this year?
Are two players who can't cut it in Springfield going to be that much a talent upgrade over the two guys they replace on this roster.... Guy and Legault probably aren't going anywhere so who gets cut?

That's funny, those are two of some that I would cut. Businesswise, slower guys are going to cost. That was evident Saturday. The IHL is dead. So are the days of clutch and grab. Nothing against guys like Guy or PC or any of those that have been around a while, but this is a whole other ball of wax. These teams we're going to face aren't playing the old-timer hockey. It had it's run, and it was nice, but you have to admit, when it's over, it's over. This league has billed itself as a developmental league, and it shows. It's like the Ks have been behind in times and now are rudely awakened only to find out what they've been missing. It's a faster paced world of hockey, evidenced by the no-touch icing, and the quickness of the skaters showcased.

Good Points.

Maybe this is the avenue to something bigger.

I am more worried about now though. I like big picture like the next guy, but this season, first. and I agree with all that is said here.

My question is this, something I have thought about today...

Can this team be fixed? Can a simple change in style or system fix what happened on Saturday. And Chad makes a great point.....we play the old IHL teams the majority of the season, and will we really know if we have fixed anything while playing those teams?

Is it system? Is it players? Is it lack of conditioning? Is it lack of desire?

Or is it all of the above or some combination of some.

It was one game. But I thought that one game exposed the Komets. Defensemen were dead exhausted in the 3rd period trying to keep up with the pace. We had no answer for that team.

Wonder if lines might take some tinkering to figure this thing out??? Maybe you can't have a line with Multiple slow skaters on it. Maybe it needs to be a mixture of players on each line to make this work. I will experiment with lines for you.....let me think this out....LOL

Oh, that was Art Saltsberg and Dean Pantazi......

Man I miss those guys. Awesome job they did. They were perfect at mixing local sports with national/regional stories and giving callers a chance to call in and start great conversations. I miss them so much. It was awesome having IU, PU, ND coverage and getting info that we normally don't get now.

I think they should be back on the air. Where do I sign the petition to get them back?

WOWO made a huge mistake letting that thing go. Huge Mistake.

I'm with Hit. Art and Dean set the standard with WOWO SportsTalk. But, Blake, I don't think these projects will keep Dave out of trouble.

LOL. Then we'll have to try something else.
That was Dave's brother, BTW.