Regarding the rumors on Kevin St. Pierre and Colin Chaulk: Nothing official has been done and can't be announced until after the league meetings in Las Vegas the third week of June, accoridng to General Manager David Franke, who also cautions fans that, ``We're evaluating everything and there are going to be changes that will be made. How many I don't know. There will be a new look to the club next year for sure. Whether it invovles these other guys, we're not at that point yet.''
In other words, don't be shocked if it does involve these players, which is exactly what anyone could have told you the day after the season ended as well. These things happen when a team finishes sixth overall and gets knocked out in the first round of the playoffs.
This stuff could also be bargaining positions as well -- from both sides. It could also be an attempt by the team to cut down on salaries. Franke said he wouldn't be surprised if the UHL came down with fewer veterans for next year and a lower salary cap as well. He's not saying it's going to happen, but that it wouldn't shock him. These are things owners have to prepare for.
``We're evaluating,'' Franke said. ``The coach has been meeting with most of the players. All of the players who have left he has met with. He's meeting with the players who stay in town. Nothing has been cast in stone.'' As for the players, it would stink to see them leave, but Colin has been here for four seasons and Frenchy for three -- those are eternity numbers at Class AA hockey. Same with six years for the coach, and management has made clear it doesn't want to make a change there. So, what do you think? Somebody's favorites are going to go.
Comments
Why are they not afraid to possibly let the best player in the league go but yet afraid to make a coaching change? There are a lot of good coaches out there that you could replace Puhalski with. They say they want a new look. Well we've had new players before but the same old Puhalski kind of team. As long as he is around, you will have the same type of team and systems. I'm not saying he is a bad coach, his record proves that, but if they want to get a new look then they should find a new coach with a new philosophy. You CAN replace Chief. You CAN'T replace Chaulk.
I agree, Chaulk is our Most valuable Player by far!! I didn't mean to cause such a havoc, I just wanted to report want I thought I knew. If I am wrong (and I hope I am) I do apoligize. I was just shocked when I heard this, and thought the Komets fans have a right to know it also.
Scapegoats. This is terrible. Cut salaries? Keep guys like Hunter, Huckalo, and Carpentier around. They wern't worth the money they were paid last season. Instead they want to make Chaulk a scapegoat. And people still wonder why good players leave here to go to smaller teams.??...
Well if this league lowers the number of veterans and the salary cap (that nobody follows anyways) then plan on the attendance going down down down. This league is becoming a joke.
Chaulk is the type of player you build a team around...give him a goal scorer(Goodwin) and Galbraith...that line should do awesome next season...again...
Chaulk posted over on Justins blog, "that he is prepared to honor his contract with the Komets next season"
Keep Chaulk at all costs....he in my book is the franchise player of this team. Why not send Pulcrapski packing and bring in a coach that intends on bringing back an exciting brand of Komet hockey. I'd take a Dave Allison back in a heartbeat. This may be a very unpopular observation here...but Pulcrapski stays with the Komets because he is a "Yes Man" type of gut that allows the Frankes to run every aspect of this team right down to the locker-room and the bench. That is why coach will remain with this team as long as he wants to. I say allow Chaulker to play out his career here...and then make him the coach. Anybody have a better idea than that?
If you want to change the style of this team...you better look behind the bench first. Bottom line.
the uhl is shrinking teams which means more players could be available and they want to cut down the number of vets? what a stupid move. i say up the vet limit, up the salary cap and you could even add another mandatory rookie spot. add more teams in the midwest area and get rid of owners who dont know how or refuse to run a team properly. the next step would be to break away from the uhl and start up the old ihl just like the freedom did. get indy involved and how about south bend area? the uhl pretends to be an up and comming league but is run by people who cant even follow their own rules. frankes need to flex their muscles and get this league going in the righ direction or like i said restart the ihl. and by the way, you dont replace a chaulk and st pierre when both are eager to come back. what sucked on this team was the role players and rejects fromteams who were worse than the ks. keep the deserving vets and surround them with exciting guys. and why has our russian connections dried up?
Because they can't play for Pulhulski...they don't fit his system...like 95% of hockey players in the world don't. He would get rid of NHL all-stars if he didn't think he could mold them into his system. Let's search for a new coach. Then bring in players who are talented and want to play here. Keep Chaulk.
I have to disagree with this point. Is Chaulk replaceable. My answer to that is yes he is. Sooner or later he would retire or just decide not to play in Fort Wayne any longer, He would need to be replaced. He could suffer a carrer ending injury, once again he would need to be replaced. Or the ownership, management, and/or coaching staff feels there needs to be a change and feel Chaulk would not fit in that scheme, once again Chaulk would need to be replaced.
I'm not trying to say that Chaulk is not and has not been an invaulable member of this team and this city because he has. All I'm saying is that over the 54 years there's been hockey here, I'm sure there have been other players that fans say we cannot be replaced and yet they were.
I support the team first and the player second. If the decision is made that Chaulk and Frenchy no longer fit, then I wish them well and hope the Franke's can fill their shoes with good players.
Ask any other team in the UHL and they will all say that Colin Chaulk is a player that they would want on their team. Why would we give one of our opponents on of the top forwards in AA hockey? Not to mention one of the best, if not the best, face-off pleyers in the UHL? There is NO player in the UHL that I want to see the "C" on than Chaulk, period!!!
I think I would ask for a refund...
Granted, there comes a day in every player's career when he moves on or retires.
IT IS NOT NOW for Chaulk or St. Pierre!!!!
I sincerely hope it is only a rumor there is any consideration of trading either of these players or letting either of them go.
You only had to see (or be in) the line for Chaulk's autograph after he got hurt to understand how appreciated he is.
If Chaulk goes, I have a feeling a LOT of fans may follow.
I think that they do need to keep Chaulk. I also think that they need to bring back Hunter and Carpentier; they were worth the money; they had good seasons; granted Hunter got hurt a couple times, but when he played he was very good; I think Carpertier was one of our best rookies from last season and needs to be brought back again; We need rookies that can actually do something and we had a few that could and did do something; Like Koning, Milam, Bozoian, Lindsay, and Carpentier. We need Chaulk but don't cut the other good players out of this good chance to play for us again. One good guy isn't enough for the team;
This type of news is SICKENING!!!! If the Frankes are stupid enough to dump Chaulk and Frenchy, they are not getting anymore of my money. You can bank on that!!!! I have always believed that you cheer for what is on the front of the jersey, not what is on the back of the jersey, but at some point, ownership will be held accountable for their poor decisions in player selection and keeping a coach that is disliked strongly by both players and fans. If Chaulk and Frenchy are not back, I will get my hockey fix via the NHL Center Ice Package. I will not line the pockets of the Frankes anymore!!!!
I am a big believer that Chief must have some "dirt" on the Frankes at this point. I don't expect Justin or Blake to be totally honest in a public forum, but I will say this, both of them know how the players feel about Chief and the Frankes and it is not positive. If they don't know how the players feel, then they aren't asking enough of the right questions. Ask players "off the record" if you have to, but many fans have already ehard the stories right fromt he players mouths. Another sad day in Komet history is coming...
Komet Fan-If things are as bad as it sounds from the players point of view, why are we getting players like Guy back and Galbraith? Wouldn't the players speak to other players regaurding the franchise and say you may not want to play here?
Kometfan, you aren't saying anything new. It's been discussed here before. Bottom line: The Frankes own the team and they want to stick with their coach. That's their decision and their right. They have risked millions on this team so they get to call the shots. We all have bosses who have bosses who get to make decisions like that.
That doesn't mean they always have the right answer, but they do have the right to make the decisions.
If you care to protest, this is a forum for that, or writing letters to the editor or even writing them letters.
Do you guys actually think they like putting themselves through this type of thing? They try to do what they believe is best for the team and the league and live with those decisions.
As for myself, I'll reserve judgment until some actual facts are presented. All we have right now are rumors, which is one thing all three parties agree on. The rumors might end up being true, but unfortunately I lack the ability to read minds and wouldn't print that anyway.
Players have not liked playing for coaches for decades but they've done the job. If it's that bad, and the Frankes are sticking with Chief, then maybe it is time to move on for some players. I won't like that either, but it's part of hockey and part of life. This is obviously not going to turn into a him or us type of situation because the Frankes have already decided to pick
him.
Lastly, I don't believe it's my job to pick sides. It's my job to report facts and let you pick sides.
You the man BLAKE!!!!
Well said Blake
Well Blake I have my opinion and you have yours; I said nothing about the coach; I have no problems with our coach; I was just stating to JungleMonkey that Hunter and Carpentier were worth the money last season; I don't know what #23 and 37 they were watching then b/c it wasn't either one of them two if they say that those two weren't worth the money; and to you Greg why not bring back Guy and Galbraith; they were both really good assets to the team;
I was responding to Komet Fan who posted that most if not all the players don't have good feelings toward Puhalski and the Frankes. My question was if that were the case why can we get decent players like Guy and Lance, if the players hated the coach and the owners wouldn't they tell other players not to come play here. Wouldn't other players who have left warned others about the coach and the owners.
I don't have a problem with Guy or Lance(execpt when Lance takes stupid penalties).
Me as well.
Carp and Hunter did not have great seasons. Hunter scored some goals playing on the number one line. When he went to the second or third lines it was obvious that he lacked the skills to score alot of goals without someone like Chaulk to set him up. He's a decent player, but we could easily find a more skilled player to take his place. As far as Carpentier goes, he was average for a rookie. He's no longer a rookie, and not really worth a roster spot. There are hundreds of players like these guys out there. They are average and pretty one-demensional. They're both nice guys, just not guys that are going to help us become an elite team in this league.
Why don't we just do the smart thing and go to the AHL where we should be and let the NHL club call the shots. Someday you fans will understand what I'm talking about.
Does anyone know if Jack Prindle is coming back?
I talk to Jack about once a week and he's never mentioned anything about coming back. I think he's happy doing what he's doing.
Kometsfan, I'm gonna have to disagree with you. I know some of the players on a personal basis, and they have only ever said good things about the Frankes. I have never heard them say one bad thing about them. They like the Frankes and respect them and they love playing in Fort Wayne. Many of them have played for many different teams and they all say that the fans are the best and they all get treated well by the fans as well as management. They have only said positive things about the Frankes.
I went to the River Otter's website to check for any recent news and instead I am taken directly to the UHL website. I did not get anything like cannot find server, etc. I tried 3 times (last night & today) to make sure. I think this gives one a good idea of the situation out there.
This is to JungleMonkey I really think that you need your head examined b/c Hunter and Carpentier are both worthy of spots on our team again. Hunter was one of our hottest players before he got hurt and as for Carp, he had a good amount of goals for being a rookie and he played better than some of the players that we have had for a couple years. They were both good assets to our team. Carp stepped up his play during the playoff games even more than he had during the regular season. He was playing better than Lucuik, Goodwin, and Drouin our three good scorers.
My head examined? Carp better than Goodwin, Drouin or Luciuk? Please!
IT'S TRUE!!! I have asked several people that are season ticket holders and they totally agree with me. SO DEAL WITH IT!!!!
Well, if you have spoken to season ticket holders than I need no further proof. You must be right. Hell, lets get rid of Chaulk and make Carpenteir the team captain. He's the greatest player in the UHL.