Just got off the phone with him and his sole goal in coming to Fort Wayne is to win a title.
"There was a team in the Central League I was talking to and I was kind of leaning toward going to England, but this fell into my lap," he said. "I look at it as a good chance for me to win a championship. At this point in my career, that's what I want. Obviously there's a winning tradition in Fort Wayne, and I'm glad to be a part of it."
Komets GM David Franke said Brad MacMillan does not need more surgery on his right hand, just to lay off the heavy bag for a while to let it fully heal.
Now the Komets are looking for more rookies and some more scoring punch up front.
Here's some more updates on potential Komets from General Manager David Franke.
Konstantin Shafranov and David Hukalo: Meeting with both later this week and expect to re-sign.
Vince Taraninto: He's recovering from hip surgery and won't be able to play until November when the Komets will attempt to re-sign him.
Sean O'Connor: We've made him an offer, but I don't know what's going to happen there. He's looking at some teams in the ECHL. Franke, "I don't have a good feeling that he's going to be back."
Dylan Row: We have not made him an offer, and he's a free agent.
Rod Aldoff: Made him an offer but don't expect to sign him. Komets have offered to trade his rights within the IHL if he wants to play elsewhere.
Nick Boucher, Keith Rodger: Komets expect to get something done with them this week.
Rick Varone: It's between the Komets are going to Italy. Could take a couple more weeks.
Olivier Legault: Komets have made him an offer.
Justin Hodgman: Had a good rookie camp with the Blackhawks and don't expect him back.
Mitch Woods: Still talking to him and could find out this week.
Jake Pence: Sent him an offer but still expect him to go to Europe.
Comments
Just read some IHL press releases while sitting here tanning.
Looks like Bouchard and Robinson are shoe ins for the league mvp again this year, they just have to dress when in muskegon to get 4 or 5 points a game.
Gems fans talking trash in Gem press release, bring it on cake eaters.
NOW ANNOUNCE THE WOODS SIGNING.
I like all of this news so far.
I like Vince Tarantino coming back, I was impressed with him alot last year.
Woods coming back is big, he can add toughness and scoring.
I bet Varone is back.
I am excited by Keith Rodger coming back, I think this kid has a chance to be one of the best D-Men in the league and I think this is a tough-guy in the making too.
I wish O'Connor was back and signed, he would be a key player on this team.
I too think we need another goal scoring forward. A sniper type of guy. An Aquino or Bobby Stewart type of player. We add a guy like that to what we have coming in, and this team will be in great shape.
Things are looking great so far.
Vacation is over! I am back. Great signings while I was gone. If I really figured that going aways for a week caused all of them I would go away again. Just to make some of you happy! Flint news has got to happen real soon!
Thank you Blake for the update. It sure is nice to get some information on the status of the team. I like the idea that David Franke is looking for more "scoring punch up front." If you add Shafranov and Hukalo that would make five forwards who should get 20 plus goals. Doesn't sound good about O'Connor and Varone but these guys need to explore their options. Maybe it is just me but it seems as though this years team is more balanced at this point in the offseason than those teams in the recent past. The goaltending seems set, defense coming together, toughness, and established forwards. I'm sure that they will bring in some good young players. (Hey, I mean who had heard of Varone and O'Connor before last season?) Again, thanks Blake for staying up on everything.
did i miss the signing of woods????
Woods Speculation.....Woods Optimism......
What's going on with the other guy we got when we got the rights to Stayzer in the draft? I heard he was a pretty good sniper. Did I miss something or did he go elsewhere?
This team is definately shaping up great, add Woods and little more scoring (Aquino), and we should be a great team again. I had some questions about Stayzer, but after reading he wants to be here and win a championship, then im sold. If you want to play here, and have that ultimate goal then he should bust his butt and play all out which is a great thing to have...
Komets have been wanting Woods, even back last year.
Saidachev coming back is a nice surprise, didn't see that one coming. I too had some questions about Stayzer, hopefully he's gotten those balance problems worked out- but hey, if he's that excited to be here then I say welcome aboard!
mightbite: Yeah, but the roach motel league made sure that didn't happen. LOL. Oh, if only force of will alone were enough to make it so...
But yeah, good signings. Saidachev was a surprise, but someone did mention that possiblity. Hey, I always liked him. It was other fans who tended to gripe about him, as I recall.
Stayzer will become a fan favorite!! He is a team player, wants to be here, and has the ability to play forward or defense. I prefer him on the blue line because he will add toughness and muscle to a blue-line that was lacking that component last season. He can take a regular shift on defense and ease some of the burden on Mac in the fighting department.
Justin Cross? Anyone? Alan? Burgee? Information on this kid and what's goin on with him?
They're still talking to him. He has some other offers in the CHL.
He will go where the $$$$ take him.
OC is probably at the point where he wants to explore the other options then come back to the K's later on.
Aldoff would probably like to land in QC, isn't that close to home?
It would surprise me if woods came back.
Kind of waiting to see if any of the other teams pick up some good people from the downsizing fallout, fewer teams - more players scenerio.
2 things are for certain:
I've got a great tan and I'm a huge K's fan.
I wanna rock......Mr. Sister
forget aquino, i think he burned some bridges and hes now untouchable by the frankes or he would have been here last year.
What bridges did Aquino burn? I figured he just moved up because he was twice as fast as anyone else on the ice and was good with the puck. I was told he never would've been with the Komets in the first place except for the fact that he couldn't get a contract hammered out with the team that drafted him to his liking, so he came down a league. Not sure how much of that is true, but it was talked about as if it was common knowledge amongst the hockey gods in the lower arena.
he was property of the islanders and they never used him so they sent him here, that sent up red flags to begin with and then he couldnt catch on with anybody else last year and then hung around the fort a lot. we easily could have used him but for some reason we didnt which threw up another red flag. stories i heard were that he wasnt a good locker room guy and had a big ego. may not be true but thats what i heard. anybody else hear anything like that????
chuckitt--Ditto, I heard the same things about him. I hope they can work things out with Justin Cross. He is a real solid hockey player. I am hearing Aldolf really wants to stay retired. He went out a Champion, good for him. I think everyone will be impressed with Stayzer. It sounds like he is coming here to win! That is always the right attitude. Al Sims has a way about him that gets the very best a player has got to give out of him.
Still have to find someone to fight the monster Sawyer that Bloomington signed.
Thanks for the info, Chuckitt. I'd like to see him back because he was a solid player, but at the same time I wouldn't want to see any team chemistry suffer because of it.
mightbite: What's the deal with this Sawyer guy? He too much for Stayzer or MacMillan to chew?
i think its time for somebody to go in and clean up the ihl website and make it current. not a good pr move to have it not up to date when you are trying to move forward as a viable league!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saywer is TOUGH, was voted toughest in CHL. Check out some of his fights.6 ft. 6 in. 260lbs.
And why is he not wearing orange and black this upcoming season??
Hmmm... If this Saywer guy is anything like Cedrick Bernier, I'd rather Woods not come back just yet. Let Mac fight him.
Maybe Mr. Legault would have someone to dance with this season?
CHL site lists him at 6-3, 235.
http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/playerpage.html?playerid=1613308&seasonid=3080
hockey db.com lists him a 6'6" 240lbs/
Did anyone look at any of his other stats? I think there's a reason he's not in the CHL anymore. Maybe he should go to the UFC? Regardless, he definitely looks like a force to be dealt with.