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Tailing the Komets

Expansion draft won't happen this week

League officials originally hoped to hold the expansion draft on Friday, but it will likely be held next week. The hold-up is another potential expansion franchise, though no one will comment officially or answer specific questions about the state of a possible Quad City team.

"We will reconvene our annual meeting in the next 48 hours and finish up the annual meeting and have announcements to make at that point and time for firm dates on the scheduling meeting and some other announcements," Komets President Michael Franke said. "Any of the expansion stuff right now I can't speak to."

The league does have a couple of plans in place for the expansion draft. If it's for one team, the other five teams can protect 15 players and one goaltender; if it's for two teams, they can protect 13 and one. Only the players who were on a team's final roster at the end of the season are eligible for selection, and teams must protect any returning players they already have under contract.

The dispersal draft of Kalamazoo players will likely be held the same day.

Komets General Manager David Franke said he met with Guy Dupuis and Colin Chaulk today to discuss new contracts and will meet with Nick Boucher, Rick Varone and P.C. Drouin later this week. The Komets have already made an offer to Leo Thomas.

Posted in: Komets

Comments

Dschebig
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 11:04am

PLEASE LOOK BETWEEN THE LINES. The ECHL has posted it's schedule for the upcoming season. QC Reps.went to both of the league meetings. QC is not in their (ECHL) plans or on their schedule...Now look at the story out of QC and read between the lines and put 2 & 2 together. THe IHL hasn't finished their League meeting. Nor have they finished their schedule. Could it be that the "New" owner(s) of the QC team had some other important business to attend too thus causing the IHL to continue their meetings? I am just reading between the lines and using some good old common sense. You must believe me I have zero first hand information. Just very "old" logic.

Wendy
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 12:59pm

"If ECHL loses 3 teams they still have a league."

Barely. After adding K-zoo, they still only have 20 teams. They have to have at least 16 the way they are set up, and losing 3 would bring them down to 17. Sure, they technically still have enough teams to make a league even below that number, but you can't very well have Alaska playing south Florida on a regular basis, now can you? I don't think even the NHL could readily afford to do that. Somethings got to give. Now consider that they had 5 teams fold or suspend operations last season. You see my point.

ToeBlake
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 1:11pm

Chuckitt have nothing against the IHL or the Frankes I do hope it can survive but it is hard to have a reputable league when you have the situation in Flint that is on going and Kzoo bolting saying they wanted to be in a more "stable" league situation. The ECHL is a more "stable" league situation because they have more. If one or two teams leave the ECHL they are not going to fold, where if the IHL looses 2 teams that puts it in jeoprady. Yes minor league sports is a gamble but more importantly it has to be supported by the market that team occupies and in FW case it is well supported. In Flint's case it is not supported at all. The IHL has made the same mistake with Flint for 2 years now and they preach on how they were going to be diliegent in investigating markets and ownership groups. They have failed with the Flint situation. All I am saying is why do they need Flint? If it is just to have a league that is the wrong approach and it doesn't matter who they bring as owners, team president, or coach. We as K's fans can always look through our rose color glasses because what we have here. The main reason is because we support it and I have supported it for along time like most of you. But what I want to know is if the IHL fails, will the Frankes join a ECHL and I think that is a legit question to ask as someone who supports the K's not because I want them to join the ECHL but is it an option they would consider.

Alan
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 2:11pm

To ToeBlake. If the IHL would fail, the Franke family would move the Komets to the ECHL. I hope your question is answered. As long as minor league hockey exists the city of Fort Wayne will belong in some league. To me, though, that would be an action of last resort. I want to see the IHL succeed long term and I think we will know much more in the next 7-10 days. The Flint situation is a little confusing as we keep hearing everything is fine, yet we know the history, we know that the summer is passing and much needs to be done there, and we want them to be successful. We will also know if Quad City is in or out. The future look of the IHL is being determined right now.

Wendy
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 2:44pm

Well said, Alan.

chuckitt
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 4:45pm

you are correct sir!(homage to mr mcmahon) if the ihl folds the komets im sure will go echl but why wouldnt we want to support our own league with 8 vets to cheer every year with all teams within easy driving distanaces? the ihl doesnt need flint, but i hope that they survive but it will take owners who have envolvment in the team instead of calling it in from thailand. minor league hockey constantly changes. look at a standing sheet from 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989 and 1999 from the ihl and tell me what they all have in common? mostly that ft wayne is on all of them and no one else is or not even on more than a couple of them, so the league always changes and its not any different than right now. we need to stay the course and help develop a low cost entertaining league with solid ownership all within a few hours of one another. if it doesnt work then at least we tried the good fight and echl and its 4 vets and teams and players that we will never see will be the next chapter in komet hockey.

Dschebig
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 5:15pm

I am sorry but what happens to ECHL really doesn't mean a thing to me. It will not until the IHL desolves into nothing. I will continue to preach, yes! I said "preach" the fact that affordable hockey is played in the IHL. I like eight veterans. Yes, I want to see young rookies working their way either up or out of hockey. I want to see their hustle and desire. I want to see veterans who play hard and for the love of the game.

I believe that "ALL" of hockey needs to take a long look at their costs. I want all minor league teams to make some money. I really want Flint to succeed. If for know other reason than the people of Flint have been devastated enough by people who only wanted to say they own a hockey team. Those real fans in Flint have been through enough already. They deserve something to cheer about and for. Something they can take ownership with. Just like all of Blakes' bloggers have taken ownership of our Komets. Isn't that what we are really all about. The Franke family pays the bills, but we along with them have heartfelt concern for "OUR" teams success, both on and off the ice. Do I hear Amen? End of sermon, but I am not repentent.

Burgee
Wed, 06/24/2009 - 5:37pm

This just in, Todd Robinson traveling on NWA Flight 3191 collected 2 goals and 3 assists while flying over LC Walker arena at 6,250 feet, realizing that Robin Bouchard is usually within an arms length of Robinson the muskegon official scorer credited Bouchard with 5 assists and 500 bonus worldperks or skymiles whichever he chooses.

So if you take away all of his gimmies is he still the league MVP--NO! If you let him keep them is he--NO!

I am going back to tanning.

RunningKomet
Fri, 06/26/2009 - 8:16am

Any news anyone? Sorry, I just can't get into talking about the Cup taking a swim with a bunch of little kids...

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