* Schrock signing should be announced later this week. The Komets had to out-bid Toledo for him.
* The players who live in town are already skating, which is about the earliest I can remember.
* Supposedly, every free agent wants to go to Fort Wayne, Rapid City, Allen or Missouri, and those four teams are negotiating for every big-time player out there. Right now, everybody is pretty much talking to all the same players.
* Colin Chaulk is doing a lot of recruiting for the team, and he, Al Sims and David Franke are on the phones every day. Sims said he has made more than 250 calls to teams in juniors, colleges and Canadian universities so far.
* Komets have four spots in AHL camps with Worcester, Chicago and two in Hershey.
* Besides their protected list of Tab Lardner, Artem Podshendyalov, Dustin Molle, Craig Cescon, Frankie DeAngelis and Schrock, the Komets are also interested in signing Tom Mele. He's not on the protected list because he was a college-signee at the end of the season.
* They are also hoping to be able to talk to Dustin Molle's brother Bryant.
* I heard Matt Krug signed with Toledo, but I'm checking it.
* Nothing definitive yet on an affiliation with Columbus.
* Some of the players the Komets left unprotected have received interest from Evansville.
Might have more later.
Comments
Did Lardner retire or not?
And is DeAngelis staying or going overseas? And it sounds like Evansville is loading up. Of they were the worst team in the league so they need to do something. Who actually lives here in town to be skating already and are these players the Komets have signed but not announced yet?
Thank you, Blake. It's nice to have an update.
Forgive me everyone, but I've got to ask this question and I have to find a way to ask it without it sounding pessimistic.
The Komets scored 187 goals last year compared to 210 for Rapid City, 250 for Colorado, and 271 for Allen. In fact, the Komets scored the third fewest goals in the entire league last season ( although to be fair, three other teams were very close ). The komets have previously let it be known that they need to score more goals this year.
Why in the world aren't they signing and announcing proven goal scorers? Don't get me wrong. Chaulk and Shrock are great players to have but you can't stay the same and expect anything to be different.
I think its great that Chaulk, Sims, and Franke are burning the telephone lines. Do the work and see what is out there. It might result in a few diamonds coming into camp. However, there are scorers out there and no one can sign them all. Grab two or even three. If players from last years squad don't want to sign, so be it. Don't wait on them. Last years team failed.
A new mix is needed. One that can put the puck in the net.
My biggest fear regarding the Komets is their recruiting. The last few years the K's won and stood pat on their roster. Last year revealed a terrible weakness regarding bringing talent into camp. None of those young kids were kept very long.
If the K's have signed some of these guys and just haven't announced it, then I'm all wet. However, nothing done so far has made me feel a "changing of the guard" or make me optimistic.
How wrong am I?
Lardner is still expected to retire, David Franke said, but they want to protect his rights in case he changes his mind. Tab is on his honeymoon right now.
Frankie going to Italy is one of those things you guys convinced yourselves of without any proof. It just kept getting repeated until everybody believed it.
Komets say they have four-to-six additional signings already done but the paperwork has not been approved by the league so they can't make any announcements.
Also, Komet's won't have any formal affiliation with Columbus this year, but might try to get a couple of spots in the BlueJackets' training camp.
Alan what you worry about is fine but just because the first few signings are players we're familar with is okay. New players will be announced eventually. Patients is a virtue!
Franke on Frankie (try saying that three times fast): ``He's somebody who has a big target on his back for us. This is really where he wants to be, and we want him to be here."
I didn't convince myself Frankie was going to Italy but it was posted on here at one time and I didn't see anything to dispute that. I for one hope he stays for a long time. He's one of the best in the league. The Komets can't say that about too many players on the team from last year. And I agree with Alan. We need more scorers. I am sure the Komets are doing everything they can to make that happen.
What about Bloomington ? no coach-players or team name.
Gave money back to STH.
Doesn't sound too promising in Bloomington. I am guessing their playersare or would be free agents also if Bloomington doesn't play this year. That would be too bad since they had a good season last year until the playoffs. What a mess.
Would the Komets be interested in bringing back Neil Musselwhite? I thought he did well while here last year. Also what ever happened to Tim Haun? I remember searching the rosters of CHL and ECHL teams last year and didn't see him on any of them. I'm not saying bring him back but am just curious.
Haun retired from what I heard. And it was mentioned that he wasn't brought back because of being a distraction/locker room problem
http://hfboards.com/showthread.php?t=605615
Check this out & I want him on the Komets :(
Thanks, Blake!! You made my day, for sure, with all these updates. We're thrilled to see Schrock stay, no matter how far we had to bid. Awesome. I'm also glad to see Chaulk involved in the search for new players. I think he will be very good at that "working the phones" thing with the players. It's not like they don't know who he is and he won't be able to give them an honest "sell" of Fort Wayne.
A distraction? Thats one way of saying it. Lol...
Alan I have shared your fear for some time but I do believe that the changing of the guard will take place. I was hoping that change would include a new captain but I'll settle for a significant roster overhaul.
The captain is the reason there was ANY accountability at all last season. Clearly the coach wasn't making anyone accountable.
I'm glad Schrock is back, but hopefully they didn't overspend to keep him. Let's be honest here...he's a good solid hard-nosed 3rd liner. You can't pay him like a first liner...spending like that is unwise because that money has to come from somewhere with the salary cap.
Chaulk has also been one of our best recruiters during his time here.
Hit Somebody's up to date lines:
Chaulk, Drouin, Schrock
Mele, &&&&, &&&&
&&&&, &&&&, &&&&
Frankie D, &&&&
&&&&, &&&&
&&&&, &&&&
Boucher, &&&&
Not a bad point, andy. I'm just wondering if Fort Wayne really had to bid that much to outbid Toledo though. I wouldn't think Toledo would offer Schrock anything too outlandish since he isn't a hometown Toledo hero, like he is here. I would think their offer would be fair for a player with his abilities in some areas, and lack of abilities in other areas.
Does anyone know if Toledo was interested in our other Fort Wayne product and what price they offered for him?
Schrocky should make about 71% more than one of the players already signed.
I always wonder if theres a motive behind telling people that they had to outbid Toledo.. Kind of like the way Curdy got coined "the highest payed" player on last years team. It's almost as if they are being setup for fans to get all riled when they don't play up to "standards".
I don't think you'll have to worry about Schrock's play. He's one guy who brings whatever he has, every night.
But if we had to pay him sooooo much... we'll expect even more!
For what its worth I agree, Schrock is always 110%.. But public statements often cloud the judgement of fans...
"Lance Galbraith is the next Andy Bezeau."- Mr. Franke
Komets didn't say that JM, Schrock did.
Lance Galbraith is no Andy Bezeau. I'ts not even close.
Bezeau is 10 times tougher than Girlybraith.
Cescon signs with Komets :)
Delory played with the Mudbugs last season.......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5cAIuYPyr8
Did DeAngelis sign with Komets? I ask this only because I see his name on Hit's up to date lines. And if we did sign Cescon-fantastic!!!
Komets have signed 3 players Schrock ,Cescon & ?????????
They will be announced Thursday :)