Anybody want to Open Blog?

I really have no idea. I would guess CHL, but I don't know if that means paying an expansion fee or not. That could be the big question. If the ``IHL'' teams leave, what does that mean for the CHL? And I know all about other teams supposedly only signing on with the CHL, but if the other IHL teams leave, they are screwed because there's no way they can make it without those close partners.

If a Midwest conglomeration is ever going to happen, it might be next summer because some ECHL teams have an option to get out if they choose. I don't know if they will.

A lot depends on the economy.

No, I don't mind that you went there at all. I've been thinking about it a lot, and I don't see an obvious or good answer.

Right now, everybody might be too afraid of the economy to start the discussion.

I think we all know the answer is C) pretending you didn't go there, Hit....LOL....

Alan writes the novels on this blog. Blake publishes his. ;)

As for fighting during the scrimmage, the coaches were encouraging it because I don't think they wanted anyone to feel too comfortable. They both talked about it before they went at it so it wasn't like one jumped the other. There was a lot of hitting in the scrimmages, too. Not playoff game hitting, but a lot more than usual for a scrimmage.

I wish there were a way to get in with K-zoo, Toledo, Chicago, Cincy, Wheeling.

I like those teams better than Dayton, QC, Bloomington, Eville.

Eville hops on when we jump over, and that would make one heck of a division.

The "IHL" teams in the CHL outside of FW and maybe Eville (jury is out)....are in TROUBLE. We need them to be stroing and successful. It can't go on another year for 2 of those teams.

I agree, tough to tell.

EVERYONE is in trouble. Why do you think Kalamazoo is charging for parking? Look at the attendance numbers in the ECHL and they're all nuts. They truly aren't any better off. Just because someone is in a different league, doesn't mean they are any better off. That's the really tough part and maybe the incentive to start another IHL/Midwest league. I don't know the answer because there really isn't one out there right now.

I am still wondering if the Komets brass has the guts to cut an established player for a younger player with alot of upside???

I wonder who the K's are looking at now to replace Beech since it seems Gelinas decided not to sign???

The next league isn't always necessarily any better just like the next new player isn't always any better than the one you got rid of.

I really think they do have the guts. It may not happen this week, but it could definitely happen by Thanksgiving. I'm not sure you want to play opening night in front of 10,000 with 13 nervous kids in the lineup, either.

I think they have the guts if they think it's the right call. I don't know if they will, however. Then again David Franke talked about having 11 or so developmental players. Those spots have to come from somewhere.

I would take 13 nervous kids making adrenaline mistakes over vets making lackadaisical mistakes....

So far, the vets have been going hard every day in practice. I think that first practice where Al had the last guy in do a lap really changed the whole dynamic. There's a lot of guys flying around in practice.

Who do you think is more likely to be cut based on what you've seen... PC, Leo, Danny L?

If the minor league owners use their brains instead of their egos they will do what baseball has done and regionalize. The AHL should go back to being an north eastern league. With St Johns already getting their team back it is time for Moncton and Halifax to do so as well. The CHL (or whatever you call it) should be a central AA league. The ECHL should go back to being an eastern league and teams west of the Mississippi should form a western league. The insanity of a AA hockey team ever travelling across 3 time zones is apparent to the babbling drunks of Pontiac Street.

"JR1 Says:

October 18th, 2011 at 9:45 pm
I would take 13 nervous kids making adrenaline mistakes over vets making lackadaisical mistakes

I don't have a gut feeling on that, either, JM. Leo is playing right wing now. I think those guys know they are the ones being looked at so they are busting it every day. Can Rizk score?

You know it might come down to what they want to do in other positions, too. Say they want to go after a goalie with more of a rep or a veteran defenseman. Then you might need to free up some money for those things as much as a roster spot. That could affect things as much as anything.

It's all interlocking in a bunch of ways.

Right, snuff, just like if minor league owners had any brains then they wouldn't be minor league owners, now would they? ;)

I dont know Blake, all we heard last off season was how hard these guys were working getting ready for the younger, faster CHL and we ended up with the same old, lazy starts from the previous seasons....

I guess the proof will be in the pudding; but I'm tired of the same old retreads and want some fresh faces come Saturday...

I hope they don't make the mistake of letting a future star like JM Rizk or Stephon Thorne go to keep a guy like LEO or PC who might make it to Thanksgiving, or might be the last year they play.

That would be stupid.

Let's roll the dice this time, sack up, and let some new players show us what they have.

And then what happens if they can't score? You've gotten rid of two solid scorers at the AA level for something that might not happen. The kids look good, but they are unproven. It's a delicate balance.

Understood. I know each of the 3 brings something different to the table as well. Is Thorne a shoe-in?

Again, everybody wants the back-up quarterback or the next player on the waiver wire, but sometimes those aren't any better than what you have. It's a very tricky thing. Until those guys actually show up and sign a contract, you never know what could happen. Right, Mightbite? A lot of guys say they are coming or whatever, but they never show up. Until they show up, they aren't actually coming.

Gosh I would think so JM. Al has been raving about the kid, especially his physical play. He stunned everybody in the scrimmages with his shots, especially the goalies. He was also always in front getting banged and giving it right back. He really stood out. Just like Bryant Molle. Rizk is intriguing because he looks like he can do a little bit of everything. He is so well prepared he's like a three-year pro.

What happens if Leo and PC dont score? What happens if they take a 'rest' after making the roster?

There will always be questions.....and no one will ever be 100% happy with the answers..

So the question is do you stay with the group that thinks change is a dirty word, or do you side with the group that thinks outside of the box???

Thanks for the insight, Blake. Calling it a night.

Have a good one, JM.

See I don't think they'll be allowed to. I think that's one of the reasons David Franke has said they aren't finished looking yet. They don't want anyone to get comfortable this year. Chaulker was talking about that today after practice. I think they'll bring in anyone who they think is a better player than what they have ... as long as they can fit them in under the cap.

If you think about it, JR, this is pretty outside the box for the Komets. Whether you or I believe they will get rid of a regular player, those regular players definitely believe it and are pushing pretty hard. I can see a huge difference in practice. Even Al is talking about how they'll be so much younger this year, and he said that to me today. The vets know they really have to produce right away or they'll be gone. It's almost like they are looking for a good reason to get rid of the vets versus keeping them in some respects.

I think I hear some changing of opinions.

I was getting the impression with what AL was saying and what was being reported that they really liked this young group of players they have brought in this time around and that this is the best group they have in camp in long long time...

Why all the nervousness now?

Why do these guys always wet the bed 2 or 3 days before the roster comes out.

Or did they ever have it in the plans to do anything other than just re-sign Leo, Pc, and especially Brandon Warner.

To me this is awful decision making and awful preperation on their part.

They didn't have enough D-Men to come to camp to battle for positions so when Mangos decides not to play....they just add BWs to the roster and everything is fixed?

Maybe someone else understands this better than me....but if they let Star players in the Highest Junior Levels of Hockey go by the wayside and justify it with guys that were crucified last season....speechless.

I think alot of you bloggers and fans out there might have alot to say about things.

Where was the tough decisions and competition in this camp?

Where was it?

When you see it every day on the inside, you can sense the pressure the vets are under.

Blake the question is, is this team talented enough to nurse a project player like Kiyaga without hurting the team? That team did an excellent job of putting Arthur into situations where he could excel by the end of that year he was a servicable 6th-7th d-man. Could they do the same with one of the young guys they have that might already be more talented than Arthur was?