Just talked with Komets' GM David Franke who saw the games in Roanoke and Richmond over the weekend.
"I thought we played with a real sense of urgency,'' Franke said. "I thought everybody played hard. We had our best weekend of the year, and I think the changes we made are going to pay off.''
During the trip, the Komets rode nine hours from Fort Wayne to Elmira, then eight hours to Roanoke, three hours to Richmond and 10 to Danbury before riding home for 14 hours because of a snowstorm. The team didn't arrive until 10:30 a.m. today. For the rest of the season, the Komets' longest road trip will be seven hours to Missouri.
Turns out Kelly Miller will be back in town on Wednesday and plans on playing this weekend. He's on a 14-game tryout contract and after that the team must either sign him to a regular contract or release him.
"We liked how he played on the road trip, and he's going to get an opportunity to stay with the team,'' Franke said. "It will depend on his play. The thing I like about him is that he's a natural center, and that allows David Carpentier to play on the wing where he's more comfortable.''
That will mean the Komets need to make even more roster moves this week.
Lance Galbraith will be at practice on Tuesday and will be in the lineup Friday.
"He's worked out his situation to the best that he can, and he's anxious to get going,'' Franke said. "He's assured us he's glad to be back.''
Comments
I'm really happy Kelly Miller is sticking around...
I really liked the line combos they had going this last weekend..can't wait until Friday.
GO KOMETs
You have to hope all this time spent on the road will help the team bond, something they have not really had a chance to do with all of the player moves. Of course it sounds like more moves are coming. I for one think that if the team is playing well, Kean and Brujic are the ones to get cut. Why bring them back and ruin chemistry once again?
Tony E, Brujic has already been traded Rumble and Kean are the ones on the IR as of right now. I think it shoudl be Worlton and Rumble, Worlton doesn't play normal shifts and where has Rumble been all year??? Who's to say he will be back any time soon???
Get rid of Kean, are you crazy?!?!? He was an All-Star last year and can put up good numbers and help out defensively and on the power play.
I agree with AJ. Kean (if he stays healthy) is definitely a keeper. (Let's just hope he doesn't turn into another Shane Kenny though.) I don't know much about Rumble; I haven't seen him play yet. I say, show Worlton the door. In my opinion, he's a waste of space on the bench!
I agree on reputation Kean is a quality player. The problem this entire season has been "reputation" Guys who have reputations for producing haven't. Kean has been hurt parts of the last 2 seasons.
Not his fault of course but it makes him a liability. Speaking from experience I can tell you that the effects of a concusion can be years long. My point is, if the team is winning without him you might need to consider moving him. The old saying that you don't lose a job because of injury is bogus these days because teams are under salary cap and roster limit restrictions. The Komets have two weeks to tell how well the team gets along without him. If they are playing well I would assert that trading him (no need to release him because teams will want him based on his reputation)might not be a bad idea. If the team has not bonded and are not winning then it would make sense to bring him back.
Thanks Cassidy :-) I meant Rumble, not Brujic. So many names this year lol