Komets, Graham off to interesting start with roster

We keep reading these statement about affiliations working well for all 3 organizations. When will the Komets realize that as an ECHL club they aren't going to find a NHL team that cares? Seriously, they send players to the ECHL to develop, they don't care how many wins or loses the team has. Find a NHL team that has good scouting and a history of player development, you know.... like Anaheim. 

Can anyone explain why they did a qualifying offer to Schrock which automatically comes with a raise. Seems like a waste of money to give a guy a raise that was terrible last year. We all know he wasn't going to play anywhere but here so there wasn't any reason to give him a qualifying offer and an automatic raise. That's a terrible move by the GM especially with the salary cap going down. That extra 7.5% that #79 got could have been used to get a top line forward or top defensemen. I am not saying they shouldn't have signed him although that is debatable. It's just a terrible use of money towards the cap.

JC... terrible? really? how do you consider 20 pts and 160 plus penalty minutes terrible? im sure there are teams that would love to have a player like that as they are hard to find. obviously shrock didnt have the kind of season we hoped , but he was far from terrible. i think its a great signing , and not because he is a hometown kid. its because he brings intangibles that are hard to find in alot of different ways . ive sit back and read all the shrock bashings for awhile now.. the one thing all the seasoned pros here dont understand is that no player can fight every single game, not at the nhl level, ahl level, or any level. the human body just wont allow it. and unfortunately that is what fans expexct him to do . he has never been counted on to be a 40 goal scorer. this league will be back to its "normal" identity this year and i think we will see not much different than what we saw in the chl with exception of a little more speed. great signing ! keep up the hard work mr franke and coach grahm!

I'm real happy that the Komets have had conversations with Chris Auger.  I think it's important for them to get him.  Still, as much as I want him on the roster,  I think the Komets need to watch out for the "Frankie DeAngelis" syndrome.  That is, continually being patient with someone until it gets too late.  He either wants to sign or he doesn't.  I'm not saying that is happening, but waiting just takes precious time from other potential candidates.  In my opinion they should have protected Auger and not Schrock.  The logic of that roster move escapes me and tends to lessen my confidence in their decision making and team building.

Sorry, but I think David Franke needs to give up his "spirit of cooperation" dream when assessing affiliations.  The fact of the matter is the ECHL team is last on the list in the grand order of things, and will be last in consideration also.

Pardon me when I "roll" my eyes with the "better high end number players will be available later" jargon.  We hear that reasoning every year, and then later, we hear the "where will you find good players at this time of the year" excuse.

While re-reading my thoughts I have to admit that they sound a little negative.  I promise you that interpretation wasn't what I intended.  I think the article was really very, very good.  It gave us lots of pertinent information as you read it, and even more, especially when you read between the lines.

C'mon.  Let's get Auger under contract,  get Rizk signed, and give the season ticket holders a treat by signing Vaskivuo.

We need an offensive defenseman, and if Bryant Molle is out there, he would be a great addition to the blue line, too.

Goaltending is a huge part of the process.  Usually that position is one of the first filled by the Franke's.  Kind of makes you wonder what cards they are holding just not yet played, doesn't it?

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There are a lot of 20 pts and 160 Pims guys out there that would be less expensive and non vets. I hope he has a great year and provides leadership but he didn't deserve that big of a raise. On another note, hopefully they get Rizk signed.

lots of 20 pt / 160 penalty minute guys out there ? obviously you dont watch much hockey... and who says they are paying alot of money for him? perhaps he was being paid under value previously and a raise was in line. who would you suggest take his place? who do you suggest they fill the vet spots with?

Need to sign Aujer and Rizk....decision on Captain between Marino and Auger then?

Seriously, Schrock is hometown and the only face the Komets have leftover....absolutely they were going to sign him.

Goalies, hmmmm....lets hope we get better than what we were sent last year....Boucher as part-time goalie coach, Charlie in wings and a player to be named later?

Like the signings on D....seems we have size, skaters and toughness....can they assist in scoring....tbd.

heres a little of the breakdown JC ... 28 players in the echl had at least 20 points and over a 100 pims.. of those ,6 were on one team (utah) ... only 8 of the 28 had 150 pims or more with 20 points...the avg points of the 28 players was 34 pts , however only 15 players accounted for more than 30 pts a season. still think there are alot of proven 20 pt / 168 pim guys out there?  

Looks like someone did some research.

I agree with alot of the fans....regarding Schrock. Wish they would have went a different route. He has not proven he can play at this level. The hometown thing is cute and all but it's getting old. Really like him as a guy but not necessarily as a Komet anymore.

Of his 168 PIM's, 60% were for dumb crap that cost his team. 65 PIM's for fighting. Let's not compare him to legit heavyweight enforcers that can produce 20 pts. And he was a -10. 

I still wonder about Auger's health.  He was cut from his AHL tryout due to "lower body issues" prior to his actual on-ice injury which took him out for the entire season.  He has not played for a year, and I have to wonder about his fitness.

the stats speak for themselves jungle monkey ... put any spin you want on it. nobody said he is a heavyweight but he surley dont shy away from the heavyweights either... do the homework before running the yapper. only 8 players in the entire league with 20 or more points and over 150 pim.. and im sure they took their fair share of dumb ones (comes with the role) thats why the komets protected him and signed him.. he also has won championships...  like i said in a previous post, he brings intangibles that are truly hard to find .

Something to consider about Schrock last year: he couldn't work out all summer because of his broken hand which required surgery. I think that screwed up his timing and hands more than we know. He's already got an extra 10 pounds of muscle this year and is much, much better prepared physically. Plus, he is fully confident that Gary Graham is going to help make him a better player. Gary will be using a lot of two-man forecheck which will turn Schrock loose on that which is the perfect style for him.

He's got a lot to prove, he knows and accepts that, which is the perfect way for him to approach it. He also knows he doesn't have a roster spot guaranteed. Let's face it, Graham doesn't owe anything to anybody after last year. Do I think Schrock could get cut? No, not really, but I'm pretty sure he thinks it could happen which is all that matters. Will obviously be one of the biggest stories in training camp. I'm betting he approaches it the same way he did as a rookie.

Thank you for the advice regarding my "yapper". If you can't admit that Schrock was slow, missed open nets, and didn't play up to expectations last season, you're not able to see the issue with an open mind. 20 pts in 70 games? Klotz played 35 games and was on the same pace with pts and pims. Should the Komets bring him back and give him a raise? Oh, he doesn't bring the elusive "intangibles"? 

perhaps you didnt see my earlier post jungle monkey.. i said right in the post he probably didnt play to expectations. but what realistically are those expectations? please tell me? 40 goal scorer? 50 assist guy? 200 pim guy? i beg to differ with you on being slow.. missed an open net or two? yes, but what hockey player has'nt? again.. the stats speak loudly here! there were only 8 guys in the entire league with 150 plus pim and 20 pts or more. bottom line is he plays his role well and the stats prove that. blake , funny you mention the weight/ muscle gain as my son was at the rink last week and he called me after his skate and said he couldnt believe how much better shrock looked and that he didnt realize how good of shape he was in and how he had bulked up (in the right way) 

Wow, 3 months to go and we may have to separate the children here.

Funny thing though, I liked Klotz and Wheeler....must not know much I guess.

Please keep NHL goalies at that or the AHL level....lets hope we learned from last year...seems we have.

I'm one that questions the Schrock signing also.  Let me explain.

A veteran spot should be used with care, maybe even coveted.  The proof, I think, lies in the fact that the league only allows four.  For that reason, alone, I would be very careful that an important facet of my team was satisfied with each vet signing.  Now maybe it's important to have someone who'll stand up and fight.  I know it is and would never argue that Schrock would ever back away from a challenge.  ( Most of the time he is issuing the challenges)!  Could you find that same type of player without using your vet spots?  Probably I think you could.  Adding to the "vet" status is the fact that he was "protected".   There were others on this roster who I think should have been protected before Schrock.  Some who would do more things for the team to help them win.  It just seems a curious move by the front office. 

The word "intangibles" was thrown around a little loosely, I think.  To me, intangibles for a forward, means a lot of things.  For example, how well do you play the defensive zone?  What is your percentage winning faceoffs?  Are you ever used and, if so, what is your success rate in shootouts?  Statistics scream that a forward who has ten goals and ten assists with a minus ten rating in 69 games isn't all that special,  especially when you combine the above mentioned factors. 

He is a fighter...and from Fort Wayne.  These are his two biggest attributes.  I certainly can't answer this for anyone else but if he were not from Fort Wayne, would you feel the same loyalty to him?  Only you can answer that question.

I don't think it's a bad thing to question any of this.  Poor Schrock has come to the point in his career where his tenure will start to be a burden to his future in hockey.  I hate the fact that minor league hockey has penalized good hockey players for the simple fact that  they have been successful  and survived a few years of  playing.

Gary Graham has some mysterious plan to make Schrock better.  I hope so, but at the same time why hasn't it happened before.  There are some things you just can't teach.  Maybe he can get him in the right situations, but you'll have to forgive me if I'm skeptical.  One thing seems for sure.  This is a make or break year for Schrock as a Komet. 

This is my reasoning, trying to use logic while keeping emotion out of it.

I would love it if both of them fool me and prove me wrong.

Schrock is not an

ECHL player. He was ok in the UHL and the bogus IHL, but if he wasn't a fighter and from Fort Wayne, he'd have never been on the roster.

During the St. Patty's Day weekend, the decision was made to change up the lines, and Schrocky went out and got a hat trick IIRC, then inexplicably, they changed them back. You have to not only look at the player, but how he was used. 

no emotion here alan. and could care less where shrock was born.. the facts state his signing and the reasoning from the frankes bringing him back. he is a role player and one of the best at his role in the echl. seriously...ONLY 8 PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE WITH 20 OR MORE POINTS AND 150 PLUS PIM! there were very few plus/ minus players in ft wayne last year on the plus side. also go thru all the team stats in the league and you will be surprised to find how many of the 28 players on the list of 20 pts / 100 plus pims that are minus' . he is not a super star.. he is not a sniper.. he is a simply a role player that does bring alot of intangibles such as drawing penalies , winnng championships , leadership, energizing the crowd, willing to drop the mitts with anyone in the league.. those are huge intangibles and i will take him on my team anyday of the week.. and yes! ive played the game! as far as a hometown kid .. yeah that makes him marketable but in no way does that play a factor in the stats . one thing all the people questioning his abilites do not understand is this league will be back to its normal self and kaliegh will fit right in..  

I cant belive that all the owners of hockey teams dont know about all the wisdom and knowledge being presented on this blog

Wow,  Jasper, best post I have seen in  a long time....it made me laugh....thanks

16 goals, 22 assists, 38 pts, 140 PIM, +6

There, those are my expectations of Schrock if he's going to be used in one of the 4 vet spots. 

only 2 players in the entire league had 150 plus pim and 38 pts or more.. those are pretty lofty expectations jungle monkey.. nothing wrong with that .. just saying

I am more interested in hearing about affiliation news.  I find it interesting that the Evansville website no longer mentions the Blues.  I saw that the Blues AHL affilitate, the Chicago Wolves, are going to send a player or two to Missouri of the CHL but I believe the Blues sent several players to E-ville last year.

It also appears that the Islanders, Toronto, Philadelphia among others do not have an ECHL affiliate.  It will be interesting to see what direction the Frankes go.  I would like to see two affiliations but I will not hold my breath for that to happen.

Add Jasper to the "thin skinned, how dare you say anything realistic about my heroes" ranks...  lol

The only reason Schrock is back is because you cannot have all the favorites leave in the same off season.....  Marketing suicide...

Schrock was a turnover machine last season.....  He got his butt handed to him more times than not last season....  He was ineffective on the forecheck because he could not beat guys to the puck nor did he have the size to take it away from them in the corners....  He holds on to the puck way too long at this level to be affective...    He is a glorified 10th forward who the Komets are wasting a valuable veteran spot and a raise on.

For my sake, as a fan, I hope he proves me wrong; but bothing I saw last season gives me too much hope that he will...

Schrock skating skills are on par with anybody in the ECHL. He might have a few other issues but his skating skills are not one of them !