great! but now we need to find some toughness to replace gagnon.
Blake Sebring
Tue, 08/27/2013 - 11:50pm
It's already there. You'll see it come out in the exhibition games.
indy ks fan
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 5:31am
"Teams that are successful in the ECHL are successful for a reason."
That reason is that they have affiliations with NHL/AHL teams in order to bring skilled players in.
Alan
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 10:21am
Cody Reichard's name appears on the Komet's roster which can be found on their website. I haven't heard or seen anything official regarding his signing. Anyone know?
By the way, the more I read about Gary Graham, the more I like him.
Alan
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 1:32pm
Boy! I bet this comment won't be a popular one.
In response to Indy K's Fan, there have been plenty of Kelly Cup Champions who have gone the "independent" route. Certainly it's easy to recognize the plusses that go along with an affiliation. Still, I think reasonable people can agree that there are minuses also. Most obvious to both is playoff rosters, and if you happen to be a receiving team or a gouged team.
I'm not smart enough to have the definite answer. My thinking is that I like the way this team is being built, I think it has the right ratio of defense and goal scoring ability ( although I would like to see another sniper, but admittedly I would never be satisfied), it has two very promising young goaltenders who have earned many accolades. I don't think "toughness" will be a concern and the youth, skill, and speed is really impressive.
When Gary Graham was named Komets Coach, I like many, had my doubts. My doubts were erased early on in the recruiting stages and I am 100% on board. Let's give him the chance he's worked so hard in obtaining.
Maybe , just maybe, we ought to give David and Michael Franke a "job well done" salute also.
RG2
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 2:22pm
Hey Alan, you are 100 % on the money regrading affiliates( IMO also) Its a double edged sword. It was my impression after the NHL lock-out was over that Norfolk kept at least 4-6 guys sitting in the stands when they could have sent a couple of them to Fort Wayne. For whatever reasons it has to be a two way street. If I were the Frankes, I would expect no less. They have won as independents for 23 years, why change?
At this point I have no problem with them going independent. I think it makes for better game to game continuity. There is also no reason they cannot get a player that is a veteren status sent from the AHL when that other ECHL affiliate(s) may already be filled with vet maximum. Same as back in the old IHL.
JR1
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 3:03pm
No affiliation can be much worse also.... Every AHL team can poach from your roster at any time....
And congratulations will be in order only when the potential on paper has been realized on the ice...imo
indy ks fan
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 5:20pm
I believe that all of the recent ECHL playoff champions have had NHL/AHL affiliations with the possible exception of Alaska. Over the years the Aces have won the playoffs twice but I believe that they were affiliated with the Blues when they won the first time. I could be wrong about that though.
I have never said that it is impossible to win a championship as an independent. It is rather unlikely though. As for last year's debacle with Anaheim/Norfolk, many on here believe that it was the NHL lockout that caused Anaheim/Norfolk to stop sending players. That may have been part of it but I don't believe for a second that the Franke's "our guys vs. their guys" comment didn't also factor into the Anaheim/Norfolk decision. It will be interesting to see how many players Anaheim/Norfolk will send to the ECHL this year.
For those who believe that no NHL/AHL affiliations are necessary, I would be interested in hearing who you believe will be putting the puck in the net this year. I see maybe one legit ECHL line. My second line has scored approximately five ECHL goals and includes two players who essentially did not play last year. The rest of the forwards under contract are third liners, extra players, and others who are simply not ready or good enough to play in this league. This team is needs skilled players and it appears that the Frankes want to close the door on the best way to gain access to these players. I just don't get it.
Blake Sebring
Wed, 08/28/2013 - 9:47pm
Las Vegas also made it to the ECHL finals a couple of years ago as a full independent.
AJ
Thu, 08/29/2013 - 12:11am
I really wanted an affiliate..just felt it's part of the Echl experience and the possible pros outweigh the negatives. At this point though..I don't really care. Sims voiced his thoughts on how important being affiliated is in this league..he got fired about a month later...Graham mentioned his desire for an affiliation in one of his first interviews as coach...since then he hasn't given much of an opinion on it...but when asked he gave a very similar view to David Frankes. So I really think David Franke would have to be genuinely excited about affiliations for it to be a positive experience for the Komets.
So I saw that Sims was hired as head coach for a junior team this week. Hope he has a great season. The lack of confidence the Frankes showed him last season had to have made his last few months here a toxic way to work. Good luck u!! Your fantastic Komets career filled with wins and championships is how you'll be remembered...this past season will be insignificant in a year or two.
Alan
Thu, 08/29/2013 - 11:39am
With the discussion regarding whether its best to have an affiliation or go independent, I think it may be important to bring to the table the fact that it has been 0ne year (to the day) when the Komets announced the Anaheim-Norfolk affiliation.
I'm only bringing this up because I have no idea what is being worked on (if anything) behind the scenes. Maybe all the affiliations are taken. Maybe not. I don't know. The fact remains it was this late in the off season last year before any relationship was announced.
In my mind the most important questions are:
Is Reichard signed?
Who are we losing off the roster paying off the Florida "futures"?
Who are we receiving in return for the Stockton "futures"?
hursttech
Sat, 08/31/2013 - 5:27pm
With all the affiliation/independent chatter going on I kept wondering the same question. When was the last time an independent won the ECHL Kelly Cup finals? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it has been 10 seasons since the last independent Kelly Cup champion.
2013 Reading--Washington
2012 Florida--Carolina, Tampa Bay
2011 Alaska--St. Louis
2010 Cincinnati--Nashville, Florida
2009 South Carolina--Boston
2008 Cincinnati--Nashville, Florida
2007 Idaho--Dallas
2006 Alaska--St. Louis
2005 Trenton--Philadelphia
2004 Idaho--Dallas
2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk--Independent
Although I am a fan of the Komets taking the affiliation route, I am looking forward to the K's breaking the 10 year independent champion drought.
Comments
great! but now we need to find some toughness to replace gagnon.
It's already there. You'll see it come out in the exhibition games.
"Teams that are successful in the ECHL are successful for a reason."
That reason is that they have affiliations with NHL/AHL teams in order to bring skilled players in.
Cody Reichard's name appears on the Komet's roster which can be found on their website. I haven't heard or seen anything official regarding his signing. Anyone know?
By the way, the more I read about Gary Graham, the more I like him.
Boy! I bet this comment won't be a popular one.
In response to Indy K's Fan, there have been plenty of Kelly Cup Champions who have gone the "independent" route. Certainly it's easy to recognize the plusses that go along with an affiliation. Still, I think reasonable people can agree that there are minuses also. Most obvious to both is playoff rosters, and if you happen to be a receiving team or a gouged team.
I'm not smart enough to have the definite answer. My thinking is that I like the way this team is being built, I think it has the right ratio of defense and goal scoring ability ( although I would like to see another sniper, but admittedly I would never be satisfied), it has two very promising young goaltenders who have earned many accolades. I don't think "toughness" will be a concern and the youth, skill, and speed is really impressive.
When Gary Graham was named Komets Coach, I like many, had my doubts. My doubts were erased early on in the recruiting stages and I am 100% on board. Let's give him the chance he's worked so hard in obtaining.
Maybe , just maybe, we ought to give David and Michael Franke a "job well done" salute also.
Hey Alan, you are 100 % on the money regrading affiliates( IMO also) Its a double edged sword. It was my impression after the NHL lock-out was over that Norfolk kept at least 4-6 guys sitting in the stands when they could have sent a couple of them to Fort Wayne. For whatever reasons it has to be a two way street. If I were the Frankes, I would expect no less. They have won as independents for 23 years, why change?
At this point I have no problem with them going independent. I think it makes for better game to game continuity. There is also no reason they cannot get a player that is a veteren status sent from the AHL when that other ECHL affiliate(s) may already be filled with vet maximum. Same as back in the old IHL.
No affiliation can be much worse also.... Every AHL team can poach from your roster at any time....
And congratulations will be in order only when the potential on paper has been realized on the ice...imo
I believe that all of the recent ECHL playoff champions have had NHL/AHL affiliations with the possible exception of Alaska. Over the years the Aces have won the playoffs twice but I believe that they were affiliated with the Blues when they won the first time. I could be wrong about that though.
I have never said that it is impossible to win a championship as an independent. It is rather unlikely though. As for last year's debacle with Anaheim/Norfolk, many on here believe that it was the NHL lockout that caused Anaheim/Norfolk to stop sending players. That may have been part of it but I don't believe for a second that the Franke's "our guys vs. their guys" comment didn't also factor into the Anaheim/Norfolk decision. It will be interesting to see how many players Anaheim/Norfolk will send to the ECHL this year.
For those who believe that no NHL/AHL affiliations are necessary, I would be interested in hearing who you believe will be putting the puck in the net this year. I see maybe one legit ECHL line. My second line has scored approximately five ECHL goals and includes two players who essentially did not play last year. The rest of the forwards under contract are third liners, extra players, and others who are simply not ready or good enough to play in this league. This team is needs skilled players and it appears that the Frankes want to close the door on the best way to gain access to these players. I just don't get it.
Las Vegas also made it to the ECHL finals a couple of years ago as a full independent.
I really wanted an affiliate..just felt it's part of the Echl experience and the possible pros outweigh the negatives. At this point though..I don't really care. Sims voiced his thoughts on how important being affiliated is in this league..he got fired about a month later...Graham mentioned his desire for an affiliation in one of his first interviews as coach...since then he hasn't given much of an opinion on it...but when asked he gave a very similar view to David Frankes. So I really think David Franke would have to be genuinely excited about affiliations for it to be a positive experience for the Komets.
So I saw that Sims was hired as head coach for a junior team this week. Hope he has a great season. The lack of confidence the Frankes showed him last season had to have made his last few months here a toxic way to work. Good luck u!! Your fantastic Komets career filled with wins and championships is how you'll be remembered...this past season will be insignificant in a year or two.
With the discussion regarding whether its best to have an affiliation or go independent, I think it may be important to bring to the table the fact that it has been 0ne year (to the day) when the Komets announced the Anaheim-Norfolk affiliation.
I'm only bringing this up because I have no idea what is being worked on (if anything) behind the scenes. Maybe all the affiliations are taken. Maybe not. I don't know. The fact remains it was this late in the off season last year before any relationship was announced.
In my mind the most important questions are:
Is Reichard signed?
Who are we losing off the roster paying off the Florida "futures"?
Who are we receiving in return for the Stockton "futures"?
With all the affiliation/independent chatter going on I kept wondering the same question. When was the last time an independent won the ECHL Kelly Cup finals? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it has been 10 seasons since the last independent Kelly Cup champion.
2013 Reading--Washington
2012 Florida--Carolina, Tampa Bay
2011 Alaska--St. Louis
2010 Cincinnati--Nashville, Florida
2009 South Carolina--Boston
2008 Cincinnati--Nashville, Florida
2007 Idaho--Dallas
2006 Alaska--St. Louis
2005 Trenton--Philadelphia
2004 Idaho--Dallas
2003 Atlantic City Boardwalk--Independent
Although I am a fan of the Komets taking the affiliation route, I am looking forward to the K's breaking the 10 year independent champion drought.