Just talked to Komets General Manager David Franke, and he said the team is talking with forward J.C. Ruid, but a decision won't be coming before next week.
"I really don't know what he's going to do,'' Franke said. "We've talked to him two or three times and, in fact, I just got off the phone with him. He's considering going to Germany and talking to two or three other teams in our league as well, and told me he'd make a decision by next week.''
Ruid, 31, is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound forward who played for Komets coach Pat Bingham with Asheville in 2000-01, scoring 34 and 75 points in 74 games. He also played for Bigham in Adirondack in 2002-03, scoring 40 goals and 96 points in 71 games. With Wheeling in 2003-04, he scored 20 goals and 59 points in 48 games, also while playing under Bingham.
If the Komets sign him, that would give the team eight veterans with seven allowed to play each night.
"We're not talking to any other veterans right now,'' Franke said. "If he doesn't sign, we'll probably try to go find a non-vet for that spot.''
Even if Ruid signs, that does not necessarily mean the Komets would have to cut a veteran. It's possible, and probably likely, they would carry eight and use one as a supersub. Where else would they find a player on short notice during the season who might have all-around skills?
Franke said it's looking like the Komets will have 25 or 26 players coming to training camp which starts Oct. 2.
I know there have been questions about goaltender Daniel Ljung, but Franke said there's a reason he's coming to camp. Ljung already has a job at Culver Military Academy and could be used as the Komets' emergency goaltender during the season.
``We talked this summer and he just asked if he could come to camp,'' Franke said. "He is from Swedne and has played a lot in Europe.''
Comments
Bud I think the Davidson comparison is a good one.
Just because the Frankes admit that they are talking to Ruid doesn't mean he's close to signing with us. I remember last season when they wanted Campbell but he signed with Danbury. Then was the talks about Koehler and he signed with Adirondack. Then it was trying to get Sellars on board and he went to Danbury. Many times the Frankes downplay signings, but also they are much more open about what they are doing than other GM around the league.
So all offseason we've heard about the cap effecting the ability of the K's to sign top level players.... But now all of the sudden there's enough money to keep a vet in the stands drawing a check? When will the Frankes learn that they can't have it both ways?
JM- I think that these vets are finding that the money is now scarce everywhere. Those that wait are starting to find out they can't get what they asked for. Ask Larocque if he would mind getting close to what he played for last year (okay, bad example, but I think you get my drift.)
Tony-of course you can. I just the news of Sundin being on the ice more would be like icing on the cake.
Like Monkey, I fail to see the enamoration with Kelly Miller. Miller is no where as good as Davidson was. He can be useful, I suppose. But, I'm telling you right now -- if they ever sit a healthy Larocque and dress Miller I won't be happy.
Re Gilmour: Just keep your underage daughters away from Toronto now, I guess.
I guess there is nothing to like about a player who gives 100%, never takes a shift off, is one of the best penalty killers in the league, has a team first attitude, hits, fights when need be, is a good face off guy, and could have better point production if put in the right situations... Lets just throw this type of guy to the curb ( a guy with all the intangibles that us fans have been clamoring for) and bring in a bunch of premadonnas who cherry pick... All the good teams have one or two players like him. And to tell you the truth I would rather have a guy like Miller on this team than a guy like Rudenko who only seems to play well when he's in the right situation...
Ah, I get it. You guys are really afraid they'll sit a fighter to play Miller.
Nope, I like the way Miller plays...
I second JR...I love Kelly Miller on the ice....in a totally non-gay way. He plays balls to the walls every shift. The best teams in all of sports have guys that fit his characteristics. Guys that will do what are asked of them to make the team better. And I will point out one more time...I bet this particular coach will take better advantage of his line combinations and not screw around with guys so much. GQ had Kelly on a line with Galbraith and Luciuk for 3 or 4 games last year and they scored like mad...then you never saw that line again. I am sure all of yoy guys can give thousands of examples of GQ juggling the lines after guys were on fire and totally killed there momentum.
Kelly Miller is a must on this team. Team player....bottom line.
There are alot of tweeners that can play the same way. Stay or go I like Miller, I just question if the Frankes will see the value in having a vet sit the bench all the time.
This is about Port Hurons latest signing which is interesting....(Andrew Katzberg)
Yep, go look at the Flags roster and you will see a fairly tough team to put it lightly... Colt King, Needham, Olynyk, and now Katzburg to name a few off the top of my head. I wonder what the box scores of the Flags/Jackals games are gonna look like...
According to some....there is no rough play in this league anymore...or in hockey, period. I would bet that 8 out of 10 teams this year play a very phyisical style. I bet you can all guess 1 of the 2 that won't.
That is all press release garble. Has a team ever signed a guy and said "this player will bring wimpness and timidness to our team"?
I also hope PH has a heck of a penalty kill because they will need it!
What I wonder is how many games they might actually come close to winning.
Blake, different subject; but do you know the outcome of the BD-South game 2nite...
Blake, with all of that "skill" they are signing, maybe 25?
Noah Ruden grew up about 15 minutes from me and was a respected youth Goaltender who played at Michigan. But he was not the starter there so he hasn't played alot the last few years. Scott Hay kept the flags in many games last year and still lost twice as many games as he won. What will a rookie goalie be able to do with what might be a less talented and slower lineup in front of him.
BD 20-0.
Thanks Blake.....
If the K's do sign Ruid and they had to cut one vet due to money concerns, who would you cut and why ???
It's tough to say at this point which vet could get cut. After all, most of these vets have not played for the Komets before and we can't truely say who has the most talent for the money.
Voorhees coming from SP and Rudenko's lackluster last season and injuries may be a gamble, or they may be a big contribution. Dupuis (whom I'm a fan of) may not be as good this season due to age. I don't think Miller is on the way out. Then again, I wouldn't be suprised if he did. It's all too hard to say until preseason starts.
Personally I don't know if it's a good idea if we carry 8 vets. with the talent we have in the vets and tweeners, I don't know if that would leave enough room for a safe number of rookies to be on the team. But that's Bingham's call I suppose.
JR --
I just can't think of any game last year when Kelly Miller was the game breaker.
A vet who "could have better point production if put in the right situations"?
Fine, but a vet player should be the one who CREATES those situations for others, not be someone who must be paired with a great supporitng cast to produce.
Don't get me wrong, I hope he does well, I just don't see him as a be-all. end-all.
I understand this might be an interesting topic, but I don't want to go there on this blog at this time. I don't want to get into discussing the merits or this or that player now because we don't know what we're talking about at this time (and some would say any time. LOL).
I just don't think this is something we should be doing on this blog at this time.
Thanks
At the risk of sounding like a jerk..... where was this when Galbraith was getting ripped last year? Or when Worlton, Guinn, or anyone else was getting torn up on this blog. I enjoy Miller's abilities. But they can't be discussed here? I'm a confused Blake... help me out.
Skate, I was just backing up what Hit said that when Miller was on a line with good linemates he was putting up some points. When he was stuck on a line with Hukalo, and Frawley he wasnt... I mean how many points did Chaulk have when that idiot would put Frawley and Rumble on his line... I can remember countless times when it seemed like he was the only guy trying out there. I'm not trying to change your mind, I'm just saying that every good team has one or two guys like him that give it all up for the team. Hopefully we have found enough good rookies and tweeners that can take up scoring slack if he's stuck on the third line.
Blake, Exactly why is this not a good subject to be discussing ??? I didnt ask anyone to trash any of the eight vets (potentially) I just asked who you would cut if you had to. This entire offseason all we have done is speculate signings, talk about what we think this team needs, etc... This is no different, a few of these players we know a few we dont. I was just trying to spark some conversation...
JM, because then we had something to base it on, actual games played. The games have not been played yet. Twenty games into the season, this would be OK. I don't think it is now. There's not enough information to back it up so it would get personal on who likes this player as a person versus that person. That's not the kind of debate I want to have on this blog at this time. It's totally irrelevant at this time. It would not be 20 games into the season or even after seeing how players perform in training camp.
Two things: The Komets only have seven vets signed, and have said publicly they are only looking at one other vet, and they are not sure that vet will sign so it's a moot point. Second, there's no indication yet, that they won't keep eight vets if they do sign eight.
If you want to have a discussion on whether they should keep eight vets, I don't have a problem with that, just leave the personal names out of it. Sorry, that's the way I feel, and I get to make the rules here.
If you want to discuss that aspect of it, I don't have any problem with that. Just leave the players' names out of it please -- at this time.
So instead of Tailing the Komets why not re-name it the Talk about only what Blake wants to talk about or else.....
This would ahve been NO different than what we've talked about all offseason. So I guess we can no longer give our opinions on any more signings of rookies or first time UHL players unless you have actually seen them play live...is that it??? So how many players does that leave us on the current roster that we can comment on.....
OK, look at it this way, what could possibly be accomplished by having that discussion? What benefit is there on this specific discussion?
All I'm saying is there must be something more relevant and more interesting to talk about.
I guess I'd be more open to it if I didn't think it would turn into a personal think with some folks making attacks on players. But I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Go ahead, but I reserve the right to kill it if it does.
And BTW, did you know that was the true name of any blog anyway? LOL.