Franke assessing Komets' strengths and weaknesses

Trading or releasing Schrock would equal instant cap relief....

Oh look, there is JR1 giving his wonderful expert opinion about what is wrong with this team!

We are 3rd in the ECHL for our PK...He's part of the reason why we are 3rd, I have seen at least 3 PK killed at home where he single handedly out skated and out hustled everyone on the ice. But yes, as always you are all knowing when it comes to the Komets!

Yes Janice, stating that the Komets could get a ton of cap relief by getting rid of Schrock is enough to go all bat crud crazy....

Sorry to tell you that my comment is fact... he's one of the highest paid players on the team....all that for a 10th forward and penalty killer... Most team's do not pay that much for that type of player...

Do I think the Komets will trade him? No.

Do I (and many others) think they should? Yes.

No!! JR only 5 or 6 of you so called experts.

Not sure what all the negativity is all about.

look, im a shrock fan. would love to see him put the puck in the net more. love his hustle, his heart, and yes is PK. but the fact of the matter is, he is way over paid for his role to this team. (assuming he does make what people say he makes)

had he signed for much less, and stuck to his roll... i doubt JR or anyone would be saying release him, or trade him. this is a business. you cant have a guy like him taking up a vet spot, making that much money, and sitting on a third line not producing. that's just it. imagine what we could have with that cap space if we started the season without him? another marino? lang? a power foward? a sick Dman or TWO? think about it.

Exactly Booner...

And Anonymous (lol) you are fooling yourself if you only believe there are 5 or 6 people who think this way...

I love some how people call those who don't share their opinion, "experts".... Oh Ouch....Just makes most laugh...

No Thank You David. i don't do enought to be paid as much as you want to pay me. maybe ask JR want he thinks you should pay me. GOD I LOVE experts!!

I say trade him ..it would be the best thing the Komets have done all year ..skating like chicken with his cut off doesn't classify him as penalty killer ...and punching a guy in the back isn't classifid as fight but you schrock fans do ..trade him

you are over thinking this thing way too much. it doesnt take an "expert" to see the big picture. those type of players dont make a top 3 salary. re-read my first comment, and try to be realistic. what could we have without his salary cap hit? from the start... do you think we couldnt have signed someone better than Mr. Shrock? honestly. 

NO

Everyone wants to voice their option about Schrock. Is he the greatest player? No, but he is far from the worst. I think the real issue is that we have no defense on this team. There is no muscle to protect our leading scorers and players. Franke makes the comment that Marino and Lang can dish it out but when Marino was hit from behind by 6'3" Gimblett did anyone step up to the plate?! A hit like that could have taken him out for the season like Auger last year.  Think people should focus more on Kwiet and Pokulok. They do nothing to help our goalies and give away goals.

Kind of an interesting debate. 

I think Schrock played his best game of the year Saturday vs. Florida.  Interesting that he played a strong game defensively (especially on the PK) and didn't feel like he had to drop the gloves. 

I think it's interesting that David F. agrees that a power forward (who can play) is attractive.  I'm not sure that I'd let the salary cap stop me as I think there are a few players on the roster who aren't pulling their weight compared to their status and cap space.  Sometimes you need to be creative.  Still, him realizing the "need" is important to know and keep watch for.

Looking for a goaltender, too?  Not sure I saw that one coming.

I would like to see another solid, stay at home, clear the crease, type of defenseman. A power forward who can play, added to the above mentioned defenseman could make a ton of difference.

David F.'s comment about playing the puck struck a chord with me.  So many times we have seen the forwards miss the net on good scoring chances.  Sometimes it looks as if they are making the game too complicated instead of just firing away. 

I would be curious if the Franke's even spoke to the Kyle Kraemer people when he was waived by St. Charles a short time ago.  He was just announced the ECHL player of the week .

Alan, I took what David said and it all made good common sense to me. As to LKS, he has a role on this team that I think he does well filling. Im not comparing him to Peter Hankinson or  Ian Boyce because this league is below what they played but I think his role is similar to theirs. Back-check the other teams first line, contribute on the PK try to get 25-30 points( that part might be a stretch). He can fight above his weight but thats not his sole role. 

As to the other comments about a big power forward, if you look at the comment I made a couple three weeks ago I mentioned that most of the ripe fruit has been picked already. There are so many varibles with all players, that become available, that have to be looked at.  The examples over the past 23 years show that Dave Franke has found players. Its not magic every year but its more often then not. AND always as an independent.

  I think Shawn S*%^%*65ski (sp?) may yet surprise everyone. I think he has more in him then what we have seen. When he is 100% and given a set role I think he could thrive( watch Buffalo yank him at this writing)  I also think Scott Fleming has great things to come. He still has some rust.  I enjoy watching him play. Kinda reminds me of a slightly smaller John Purvis.

 Im sure a few more things have to shake out but the recipe is there. Lets hope there is a ripe plum apple someone missed.

Schrock..yes...like to see him play...appreciate his aggressiveness...hometown boy and draw (as I have stated many times before)...is he overpaid....I, unlike the other coaches talking above, do not know his salary...but if it is high, maybe he should be asked to take a cut...it that is done in this industry

New goalie, hmmm...kind of like them both....but agree with Blake....they are both being asked to do to much with the team in front of them and will take them quite a while to get to where they need to be

Like Southorn....skates well, holds his position, and so far can score

As to shots on goal going wide...agree....seems we cannot hit the net from anywhere lately

Ah yes the "Power Forward" debate problem is they want something for nothing that is why they gambled on Firman and brought back Syro.  last year.  If they really wanted one they could find them but they really don't care to have otherwise one would have been here in the beginning.  As far is Schrock is concern don't know what he makes all is assumption based upon Vet status etc but they equate his value as to "draw" of fans and what he contributes in his defined role.   In the grand scheme of things if he is making the true value of what a vet pulls down in this leauge then his value is a little over stated.  The Lyon situation is still a little confussing for me because they gave up some cash for him and in some ways may have been a "Power Forward" type that add a little toughness and grit.  I am not all that sure that situation and how it played out was done right.   I think these next 5 games will be very telling as it pertains to what one can expect the rest of the year

OT: Look for the CHL to make a "Major Announcement" Wednesday. 

If Shrock is hogging cap space maybe just maybe Kwiet and Pokuloc is the best they can get?

lol. i said im a shrock fan. i said IF he makes what is said. i didnt say i "know". but if he does, you DONT pay a player like him that much. you think any role player in the NHL or AHL should make a top 3 salary on their team? do you think paying a guy not scoring, a third liner, that much will get you a championship? and saying they couldnt bring in someone better than Shrock at the start of the year, for less money too boot, is false.. homer statement. i get it, you may be a shrock fan. prolly your favorite player, but that doesnt mean if he makes as much as stated, that something shouldnt change. they need to win games. make playoffs. its. a. business. there is someone out there, a lot younger, hungrier, and trying to make his way up that could fill that roll for a lot less money. MY opinion.

John, that "major announcement"  sounded more like Ron Burgundy standing on the diving board and then after saying he had a "major announcement", he yelled CANNONBALL! and jumped in the pool.

  That press release was a bunch of jibberish. It only stated that the league was "in a position" to expand to two more teams.  Well, looking at the two they just expanded too, those and three other teams look like they are bleeding the owners dry. 1800 avg attendence for a new franchise wont get you anywhere nor be attractive to anyone else.  

 What they should have said was "our top 6 franchises will be merging into the ECHL next fall"  and leave it at that.      

CORRECTION: CHL announces that they will be announcing expansion. As soon as they announce it. End of announcement.

This is really interesting. I usually have to switch to Justin's blog to read the really animated opinions. To those LKS naysayers I say get over it. He managed a good contract, whatever you may think he gets per week. He does contribute to this team in the PK role, would be or should I say will  be better when his scoring starts to improve. Right now the antagonistic role he plays is improving.

Our Defense is improving during each game. I think Gary has to tweak the pairings to match the play of the upcoming opponent. Southy is a great acquisition. He can play the stay at home D-man position as well as being able shoot to create some good scoring chances(proved it with 2 goals on Saturday).

We have consistently been able to get some scoring chances from close in the zone, but have been denied good rebound and second or third efforts when there. We do need a couple of players that can shoot like Frankie D. And Jamie Milam, guys with good onetimers that can get into the back of the net or let our close in guys to chip it in. If we can just dominate the close shooting lanes, we can have high scoring games as before.

Lastly, if we can get our " Old jungle" back and get the crowd back into the game, that would be the biggest plus. I'm as enthusiastic as I always have been at games, but it's getting harder when no one else is into it.

Just my opinion. I have not nor will I give up on the Komets!! Good or bad, we're in for the long haul!