Thomas, 29, skated to IHL championships with the Komets in 2009 and 2010 and led Fort Wayne during the 2009-10 regular season with 33 goals. Last season Thomas posted 18 goals, 27 points and 70 penalty minutes in 50 games. During his Fort Wayne career of 182 games Thomas has amassed a total of 78 goals, 61 assists and 139 points. The Toronto, Ontario native has been the recipient of the Komets' Mr. Hustle Award in 2008-09 and was named Unsung Hero for 2009-10. Thomas will be entering his ninth career year since making his pro debut with Flint in the UHL in 2003-04 following a Continental Elite Hockey League championship with Detroit in 2002-03 when he led the Lightning with 42 goals and 84 points in 50 games. The Komets' preseason roster grows to 22 players with the addition of Thomas and includes 13 forwards, eight defensemen and one goaltender.
Comments
That takes care of the backup goalie situation.....
``Nobody better expect me to play hockey again,'' Franke said. ``I haven't played in five years, and I won't wear the pads again.''
Welcome back JOE!
Nice to see Leo return also! Hard working guy!
Hoping the Leo that returns is the Leo before his ankle injury. He just wasn't the same after...
Billy Welker is going to Huntsville SPHL
Geez....I bet Snuff is having a stroke. Guess what? I'm not sure I'd blame him.
By my count, this signing takes the last veteran spot. His attitude better be right the whole year and his effort to get to the bench during a line change better be a whole lot crisper.
Not at all sure about this signing.
VERY DISSAPOINTED IN THIS SIGNING!!! first drouin now thomas! neither give effort on a regular basis thomas is more a cherry picker who coasts around the ice. Hope they stick to their guns about no gurantee spots because his spot along with drouins should be far from secure. waste of a vet spot
I'm also not turning cartwheels over this signing. Of course, we keep being reminded that signing does not guarantee you a spot on the team. Leo runs hot or cold. You never know which Leo is going to show up. Leo did not make any effort on the ice unless it looked like a goal for him. Never hustled off the ice at the end of his shift. Don't understand this signing at all.
Wow, the good feelings I had so far for the way the roster was being put together with promising young players just came to a screeching halt.....
Do we need anymore proof than this signing that it seems proven AA scorers will not sign in Ft. Wayne???
It seems we cannot trust the Frankes word either.... 4-6 has grown to 10-12 returnees...
I've been a Leo fan during most of his time here; but agreed when it seemed like it was time for him to move on...
Ugh....
I'm happy Leo is returning. He was 2nd only to Lardner in goals scored last season, and led the team in goals the year before. He was one of the few forwards outside of Chaulk, Lardner, and Pattroso to register a + in +/-.
I think Leo's reputation before he was a Komet still haunts him. One slow skate back to the bench at the end of the shift and people are all over the guy. Its hard for me to compare him to PC as far as effort goes.
I would like to know what has changed from the beginning of the offseason to now? I dont want to hear the company line of nobody's roster spot is garuanteed either...
Why did they state that only 4-6 would return and now we are staring at 11 returnees from last seasons debacle of a team. We keep hearing that there is a glut of good players on the market with numerous AA level teams closing thier doors. So why have we seen so few sign here?
Looks like some centers are going to have to learn to play wing.
Looks like some centers are going to have to learn to play wing.
Could not agree more, KOMETS FAN. Very disappointing. We must really be struggling to sign any scorers. I can't believe this one.....wow
So with 1-0 Joe back, I'm assuming Bonez is leaving or is he falling back into Desmond's spot?
Write this down, take a picture, and remember this at the end of the year..... LEO THOMAS WILL LEAD THE KOMETS IN GOALS SCORED. Give me crap all you want right now, but I'll be proud of this declaration in April. He's going to be the player he was in 09-10, when he carried the team through the first half of the season. He was, arguably, the team MVP. Also, keep in mind that he was hurt and stuck on the 71% line all year. How many of us can skate well on 1 good leg? To those of you who don't like the signing, what would your reactions be if we resigned Brandon Warner? Honestly, just curious on your thoughts...
Let me say this....I haven't read anything on here other than Leo is back......
I agree with whatever Snuff says on this one.
I have no clue if he has responded at all yet either.
Wow.
Ok, I am up to speed on reading people's responses....
Last dude asked what everyone's reaction would be if they resigned Warner.....
Ha Ha Ha ha Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha......
I wouldn't put it past 'em at this point.
We make excuses for PC and Leo for their pith-poor performances last season, but we let a younger player that can actually play in this league in OC goto Evansville. Don't tell me we can't afford him. Look at their roster. How are they affording any of their guys? They are fitting them in nicely.
We are gonna have some pretty awful lines this year. All centers and non scorers on every line.
Let me take a deep breath.
I have to totally agree with JR on his comments.
Let me simply paraphrase the Komet/Franke line: "We are only bringing back 4 players from last season." Then it was 4-6, then it was 6-8, then 8-10, now 11? And counting?
I can go back and get the exact statements on this blog and JC's blog where they said it.
It isn't so much about what they say. It is more about who they have brought in. Where are the scoring forwards we needed???
Why have we basically abandoned the idea of bringing in a group of different and younger players to compete for spots on this team?
I just don't see competition here.
Hit Somebody's "Soon To Be Famous" Lines:
Chaulk, PC, LEO
Smith, Auger, Schrock
Lapointe, Mele, Thorne
Warner, Krug
Frankie, Cescon
Milam, Mango
Molle, Molle
Boucher, Sims
Partly serious, partly joking...I hope anyway.
I personally think that Snuff should endorse my topline and figure it into his advertising budget.
I just heard Snuffy fall off his chair....LOL
JR's lines:
Chaulk, Schreiber, Laird
Thomas, PC, Hurd
Lapointe, Schrock, Salvucci
Worlton, Legault
Cescon, DeAngelis
Mangos, Milam
Molle, Hillworth
Shaunessy
Boucher, Tabaracci
Why in the heck not..... Lets bring them all back!
Video specialist = Warner
Team Photographer = Boyce
PA = Chin
Score keeper = Fletcher (sorry Dennis)
David Frankes intern horn blower = Warner's Dad
Goal judges = Phillips, MacDonald
No more one night gigs at the beginning of the season for Komets old timers..... Put them to work!
You forgot Bertram and Adam Lewis.
I heard Woods is on his way back too. You think they could edit that soundbite he had "look-out IHL, I'm back" Could they put the C in the place of the I???
They could top this whole thing off and bring back Mr. Personality....GQ.
I couldnt negotiate good enough cooperation from the fire department to bring Bertram and his pink hair back... Sorry, Hit...
I will add GQ as the K's media relations director though....
I still have him in my basement, just need to dust him off.
Hope my dogs haven't taken any liberties on his leg....???
I don't need to say a word on this. Other than welcome back Joe.
They let O'Connor go and bring back Leo. Don't get it! I would of rather had Curadeau back. O'Connor was one of our best players at times last year and Leo was non-existent. Yeah I know he hurt his ankle, but unless he is willing to be the guy who stands in front of the net and takes and gives a pounding or get the garbage goals, this is a wasted signing. I remember last off season when Leo stated that since Chaulk wasn't coming back he was ready to step up and be a leader. How did that work out? Don't get me wrong I have a lot of respect for Leo and hope he does well this season, but if they sign Apod thats two-thirds of last years team resigned. And still no proven goal scorers or decent backup goalie to be found.
I think we are all ahead of ourselves. I didn't hear anybody crying when they signed Lapointe. This isn't going to be the big goal scorer everyone wants to hear but I will take him on my third line any day. Shrock, Leo & Thorne could be a fun 3rd line to watch. I will give everyone the fact that he loafs at times but there will be too many young guys in camp to push him. By the way I don't think him & 71% should be mentioned in the same breath, if he is on the 3rd line & has 50 points, his #'s don't lie, he might just make some of you proud.
Agree with the fact we shouldn't have let OC go to E-ville but who knows what happened behind close doors?
Think this roster is shaping up nicely..
We need another good goalie & two good goal scorers whether they are young or old. Maybe a tough guy that can contribute in all facets & this roster will be ready to go...
What? They signed Leo....
And you want 2 goalscorers too?
LOL
Sheesh...I see a repeat of last season all over again. I am having nightmares, and I am not even sleeping. AHHHH!
What about Bobby Phillips he was the best true defenseman we had all year. Bring him back if your going to bring back guys.
bones is the one leaving, and Reiter signed over seas today too. I think they need to go after Mori or Bedard and they need to get a decent back up to push Boucher or he is going to look real bad.