From a Komets press release:
The Komets announced Tuesday their protected list as submitted to the ECHL following the 2014-15 season.
One goaltender, seven defensemen and 13 forwards are on the list.
The list of 21 players includes goaltender Pat Nagle, defensemen Drew Daniels, Connor Kucera, Ian Barteaux, Cody Sol, Mikael Tam, William Lacasse and James Martin and forwards Brett Perlini, Mike Embach, Matt Lowry, Paul Crowder, Christian Ouellet, Shawn Szydlowski, Matthew Pistilli, C.J. Severyn, Scott Fleming, Dean Ouellet, Marcus Power, Eric Faille and Kaleigh Schrock.
Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:
1. Signed an SPC in 2014-15 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR
2. Signed an SPC in 2014-15, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR
3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR
4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR
5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2014-15 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR
6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.
Protected lists may exceed 20 players.
The ECHL also announced that teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 3pm ET on June 13 and that teams must submit their Season-Ending Roster by 3pm ET on June 15.
Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2014-15.
Comments
Who is Marcus Power?
Kid they scouted and signed last year who went back to juniors out of Lake Erie camp.
protecting Scott Fleming and Dean Quellett is showing a card in the Komets hand for next year.
I don't know for sure (maybe someone out there can help educate me), but the Komets need to complete the "futures" trade to Gwinnett (for Guggenberger) by June 13th. If a player is involved, do the Komets need to provide Gwinnett with a list? If so, I'm assuming the list can only include players they have protected but I'm not sure how many players are on that list for Gwinnett to pick from. It may be important because it seems to me that there are some guys on this "protected" list that may not be in the Komet plans for next season at all, some are very important, and some that would be surprises if they had any interest in Fort Wayne.
Per a past post of mine, all players on this newest list (including Perlini and Kucera) are included. The one player missing was Guggenberger (who is signed to play in Australia during the summer).
Speaking of Guggenberger, he's the guy the Komets obtained for the "considerations". I'm hoping he is being considered for camp.
The toughest thing to wrap my mind around is this; during the exit interviews could there be any wink/wink agreements, are players like D. Ouellett and Scott Fleming just temptations for Gwinnett to pick from, and until the Komets announce their affiliation how hard is it to have any plans regarding a roster?
Any help or ideas?
Both Perlini and Christian Ouellet are still young men. Both still newbies to the pro-game. I would like to see both stay. Perlini ramped up his game near the end of the season.
I always like CJ too. Some of these guys cannot do it alone in the league ( like Heard and Pistilli can) but you put them on a line that gels and they start to produce. All three guys mentioned can build up that 2nd and or 3rd line with quality solid play.
Alan, I hear what your saying but know no answers. Good Questions though.
What about Kyle Thomas?
I doubt that either Ouellet or Fleming are seriously in the Komets' plans for next year. They were on the protected list, I suspect, because they could be. Ouellet didn't play anywhere last season, so I assume he's gotten on with his post-hockey life. Fleming seemed like a key component for the Fife Flyers (AKA the Euro-Komets - 5 former Ks on the roster) last season and I think he was an assistant captain. Not clear why he would give that up to ride the bus in the "E" for less money unless he's seriously homesick.
Kyle Thomas was fun to watch last year, but he really didn't contribute that much. Wouldn't be surprised to see him back as a fill-in, though, when we succumb to the customary injuries and call-ups.
I doubt Fleming and Ouellet are on the protected list because " they can be". Wives or girlfriends can get homesick too.( children??) The only logical reason is that they may have inquired at the end of this season about playing next season. ( Think the Komets Protected Marino and Auger at the end of last year 2013-2014 also)
I like Thomas and could see him as a 3rd line guy or 10th forward next year. Would bring him to camp and see how it shakes out.
Of the first and second year pros, I would look and see who made the most strides since starting as a pro. Since you can only keep 4 vets, those diamonds in the rough can become your bread and butter later on. Based on increasing production and making fewer mistakes as they get seasoned.
Looks to me as if the Komets protected all the playoff roster guys (with the exception of Clarke, and the AHL contracted guys). I have strong doubts about wanting Christian Ouellet and C.J. Severyn. Not real sure about Lowry coming back either. On defense I'd be willing to part with Barteaux and Lacasse. Schrock's "veteran" status still haunts him and the team.
Admittedly, without knowing the reason for this list, it may mean little to nothing at all. The next couple of lists will tell us more...and the affiliation or lack thereof should offer some insight on their decisions.
Just between you and me, I liked the Guggenberger trade when it was made (unusual for me because I hate "future consideration" trades). But it got complicated when he got hurt and Nagle was sent back to the team. My thinking was, and still is, that Guggenberger gave the Komets some insurance in goal from AHL teams calling up Komet goaltending. (In a way, kind of like the Kalamazoo situation with Joel Martin).
Somewhere along the line the Komets are going to have to create a list of 8(?) to have exclusive ECHL negotiating rights. But, I believe, they can sign players and announce those signings after June 15th. They can stretch their "protective lists" out by getting players under contract.
Maybe my mind is muddled on these protected list dates. But I'd still like to see about four or five good, young forwards , skilled forwards brought in.