Lang, Vaskivuo removed from Komets roster

Guys and gals, no matter how you spin this, it is NO good.

The prudent thing is to wait until the whole story comes out, but who out there feels comfortable about this situation?

My fear  (and my "gut" feeling) is that they are gone (probably off to Europe or to force a trade) and this team is disintegrating right before our eyes.  For the Komets to remove them from the roster is a serious and permanent dilemma.  Very few circumstances would lead the mgmt to delete them from the roster except for a parting of the ways.

I'm not sure how the Franke's are going to recover from this.  I'm not sure how the hockey team recovers from this.  I'm pretty sure that the followers are going to stay away in droves.

If they are removed due to the owners that by far is the dumbest thing they have done to date. Also the article on ice chips said they had travel issues and were going to be in the lineup when they returned today

Just read on social media they quit, Garys phone number is 260-mis-take if anyone would like to call and complain. Im hoping this is just a glitch or something.

My guess is that for some reason they are not expressing yet, the players don't want to be here, and the Komets are likely attempting to work out a trade. That's what usually is happening when no one is talking.

I'm sure we'll find out more at the game.

so those 2 guys quit?  might be hard to play with half a roster.....is it graham that the players do not want to play for?

WOW

Seems like a house cleaning to me....Lang, while a prolific scorer never appeared to be totally committed to playing up and down the ice....Vaskivuo was certainly not living up to the potential he set for himself early on and always appeared a bit slow.

More poower to them if these guys were disruptive....time will tell.

Well somewhere along the line one has to determine the common denominator.  I'm afraid it is the coach.  While the GM cannot afford to succomb to pressure from the players and still maintain any control or any respect, there has to be a reckoning.

Unfortunately my money is already in their hands.  If I were a walk-up customer, I would not attend any more games for quite a while.  Probably extending into next season as well, as they would have to prove to me that everything has changed.  Season ticket renewal's are coming very soon.  How can anyone justify this expense when reaping this kind of entertainment?

This is pretty serious stuff.  I am having a hard time remembering (in any sport) this kind of mutiny occuring.  Be rest assured that this is a mutiny and is something that I never could have imagined here with the Fort Wayne Komets.

One thing we all understand is leverage.  Even if the Franke's have a time period to make trades, why would anyone offer anything of equal value?  This is just a mess. 

Two things now.  1) They must find a coach whose respect, popularity, and knowledge can pull themselves out of this.  It won't be easy, but there is a guy in Kalamazoo who might be able to pull it off.  Are they willing to bear the embarrassment?  2)  In order to have any credibility with whatever fanbase is left, they must offer (even more) discounts for walk-up sales and substantial rebates for the season ticket holders on next year's tickets.

Shame on Lang and Vaskivuo.  They must holster part of the blame, also.  I'd be very careful if I were another GM.  Maybe they'd quit on me also.

Thanks to the captain and head coach the Titanic has begun its decent.

If those two are trying to force a trade, they are showing an incredible lack of professionalism.
There stock just went way down, and they ultimately will not succeed at AHL or beyond because of lack of character notwithstanding their talents.

How can we spin this one? Seems like a lot of guys don't want to play in Fort Wayne. This is not saying much for the Komets as an organization.

Who do you think they can bring in to replace those guys? And a trade would be so one sided if anyone would do the deal to "help out" the Frankes.

I do feel sorry for Shrock. His being named Captain might have been the last straw. He deserves better. He may not have been the best choice but he is by no means the absolutely wrong choice.

As I sign off for the last time thanks to the loyal posters who put up with my "experting" .  I will sit back and read what the "real" experts have to say about this one. 

You people make me sick always wanting to blame the coach or management 1st. Nobody really knows what happen it could have been the players . If you don't like what is going on then don't go anymore all you every do is complain on here. This city is lucky to have this team and I will always support them thru thick and thin that is what a TRUE KOMET FAN does

Good comments all around.  While I think Lang and Vaskivuo, if they did quit or however it was tendered to the organization, show a true lack of team spirit and professionalism (as mentioned earlier)....again, I am not sad to see them go.

I do not think Graham will be replaced....this may be like other sports....lets look at what we have, trade if we have to...play with that til mid season or a little beyond....if not working....totally clean house and get in all new players, who wish to play here for say a few years....giving up on this year and possibly next

Lets face it...we cannot always expect this team to do well...past history has shown we can and have recovered...but it is going to be a while.

As to season tickets be reduced or additional gimmees....IMO - do not see that happening....I will continue to go and purchase tickets....it is fun to watch for the most part.

Sorry for this overshadowing the C for Schrock....sad way to start.

I will say one thing for Blake that I can't say about the other reporter. He is actually a journalist and doesn't speculate about the unknown. The other reporter has started a fire storm on Twitter and doesn't even know the story. Meanehile, the small band of commenters who call themselves bloggers are up in arms about something which probably is not even true. ALAN and others knock it off.  The Frankes should charge you for trying to single handely take down the gate for up coming gates. Let's hold comment until we know the true and complete story thank you.

Does anyone else remember the good old days when Christmastime meant that the Komets would start making their move up the standings?  "Wait for Christmas" was the cry! 

Now we just cry.

Chaulk is with the Wings in Reading so nothing is gonna happen on that front, but I'm sure he is having trouble keeping a straight face as this story is getting bigger and bigger. 

Anonymous, aren't you the one who wrote, "thanks to the captain and head coach the titanic has began its descent" ( I spelled the last word correctly for you).

Yes Alan how astute of you to recognize I wrote the Titanic comment. I can't begin to thank you enough for your assistance with the inaccurately spelled word. You are an invaluable resource that apparently thinks rather highly of yourself.

   Some of the post that I have sat here and read the last hour, are exactly why I no longer visit the blogs on a daily basis.  If it's not complaining about the coach or captain, it's whining about the league, or ticket prices, or Icy.  Komet fans have become spoiled, and it's not a good look for them.  

   Now I don't attend as many games as I use to, but I get to about 10 or so a year.  In those 10 games, including the finale last year in which the Komets had nothing to play for, all I see Shrock do is play his tail off.  I've never seen the kid take a shift off.  That being said, he's not going to be the most skilled player on the ice.  A captain doesn't have to be.  A captain has to be the hardest working, and most respected, and judging by the actions of these 2 guys, I highly doubt that they commanded the same respect as the way Shrock does.

   As far as Graham goes, this is old hat for Komet nation.  Calling for Puhalski's head because you couldn't stand the dump and chase.  Every year, it was time for Sims to go, since he couldn't win a league with more then 6 teams in it.  Even people crying foul on this instance, and praising Sims, were riding him out of town town for years.  

   I guess this is what society has become.  To much CNN and Fox News.  The negativity is always placed on the forefront of things.  I get that times change, but if you are a part of a team, quitting should never be an option.  You aren't just quitting for yourself, you are quitting on every member of that team.  In hockey, it's even more detrimental then other sports.  You have to have the back of your teammates, and if you don't, you shouldn't be on the ice with them.  Full buy in is needed with a hockey club. 

   "But Jerad, they were 2 of the top forwards in the league."  I don't care how good you are, or how many points you throw on the board, if you can't can't function within teams rules and concepts, that's not the fault of the coach or GM.  There is a way to handle things, and a way not to handle things.  I understand times have changed, and people expect upper management to conform to the standards of the henchmen, but that just isn't the way things work in the real world.  To many Chiefs and not enough Indians on this roster.