No matter who shows up on the transactions page now, Komets General Manager David Franke isn't guaranteeing anyone a roster spot.
``We're going to have more good kids in training camp so there will be genuine competition for jobs this year,'' Franke said. ``Just because you have signed, there are going to be people looking for your job so you have to be ready to go. That makes for competition in training camp and brings out the best in everybody.''
The one thing we have to have is scoring on all three lines. We can't get it done with two line scoring and a checking line. Everybody has to chip in whether in a big way or a litle way. When we've been successful in the past, we've had offense from all three lines.''
Quick hits:
On Franke DeAngelis: Should know something by early next week.
Nothing new on Simon Mangos
Not talking with Brent Henley.
Hope to have the schedule ready to go mid-week next week.
Not sure on Apod right now. He's vacationing in Turkey. Sounds like Komets ahve cooled on
Offer out to both Molle and his brother.
``We probably are talking to at least two dozen players right now minimum that we're going to know something one way or the other in a week or two.''
Comments
As of when I spoke to Curadeau two weeks ago, he had not heard from the Komets. He Loves the city and the fans, and would come back if the situation were right for Fort Wayne and himself, which is not happening as of now.
No offense.....He might be a great guy and so on.....but the fact is he had an awful season last year, and he was being counted on as a topline player putting up topline numbers. He went all season struggling on the ice and most games was outplayed so badly he wasn't a factor. That is why so many questioned his effort and hustle.
I would guess the Komets are looking for an upgrade in his slot.
We all were pulling for him and rooting for him, he just didn't perform well.
I like OC and every year he improves as the season goes on. I would take him over my Buddy.
Hit,
Not arguing that Mathieu had a bad year. He would be the first to admit he had a bad year. There were a lot of things going on, and I am not making excuses for him. That is not what he would want. As fans we question every player, myself included, without knowing much of the facts. Mathieu is looking for a fresh start, and hopes the best for the Komets.
Thanks skate1241. Any word on where he may be looking to play next year?
So what are the facts?
Hit,
We'll blame your agreement with me on the heat! :)
I believe Curadeau played hard here when he thought it would gt him an extended stay in the AHL. Once that was clearly not going to happen he mailed it in.
Snuff Daddy is my homey.
WORD!
(Yeah people, I said it...WORD....! And I still like Miami Vice too!)
Thanks, mightbite. OC, Thomas, and Curadeau, huh?
Well, I've stated a few times before that I would like to see Curadeau come back. Too much talent and skill to just let go to another team. He's worth another shot (at least in my book). OC? A year ago I would've told you that OC might have been the best player on the ice during the last championship run. He didn't look that way last season, however. He would be one of the guys I would leave off this year's roster. Thomas? Leading goal scorer last season until he got hurt. He just didn't seem like he cared once he came back. Sometimes I get frustrated with him when he's on the ice. The hustle doesn't seem to be there as it once was. He's especially lackadaisical coming off the ice during a line change.
If you put a couple of snipers up front then all these signings would look better. However, with the firepower signed so far, it just smells like more of the same.
Bring back Brad Pawlowski
Give Tyler Fletcher another chance!
Eamon,
Just spoke with Mathieu today and he said he has heard from several ECHL teams. He did not give me any names.
Hit,
I asked Mathieu what he was ok with me saying as far as the Facts and he pretty much left that up to me. I will say that his Back was a major issue most of the season. He was told one thing by the Komet staff and finally went to a Chiropractor who told him the total opposite and was able to help with the pain. You also have to wonder why as the leading goal scorer on the Power Play, he was on the ice for less than 1/3 of the Power Plays. I know of several times last season he had to use another players stick because the wrong sticks had been ordered. that might not seem like a big deal but if you are a brick layer and have to use a plumbers tools, there may be some issues. At the end of last season he was asked if he would be interested in coming back and he said he would if somethings would be different, one thing in particular, and that did not happen, so he is looking elsewhere. He did stress that he loves Fort Wayne and the Frankes are a great family to play for, unfortunately this past season was just not what he (or us fans) had hoped for.
My personal belief, and I told him this, was that he listened to the fans to much, when they all praised him as the second coming of Chaulk, and when they got down on him. Fort Wayne is a great hockey city and he let the critics get to him, which I repeatedly talked to him about. We talked middle of the season about maybe he needed a fresh start somewhere else. ( Seems like a lot of players who got away from Sims last year did ok for themselves. Some were even willing to go sit in the stands with other teams then play here.)
Alan that hustle wasn't there with alot of the high profile vets for much of last year. It was non existant for the first half of the regular season and then come playoff time, our "smartest" players took penalty after penalty for clutching, hooking, interference etc.
So he blames his back...and his coach....interesting.
Oh...and he blames the equipment ordering.....
Lots of blame/excuses.
Funny how all of those things were there before he got his AHL look and he wasn't making excuses until he washed out of there.
Sorry, not buying it.
Snuff, I don't think the equipment ordering was the problem per se. I believe all the CHL players had to use a certain make of hockey stick (there may have been 2 makes). From personal experience that can be tough. Sounds like,as Skate Says, Mat had a lot on his mind. Can't play any game without a clear head.
Snuff,
You are the one person I KNEW wouldnt buy it. That is fine. I have picked up from you all year that you are not interested in the hockey or facts just selling your product. everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
Thanks for the response skate1241.
I am led to believe that MC wanted a coaching change if he were to return to the Komets?
Did I read into that right?
Like I said before....MC was a great player the first go around with the K's and played great in K-Zoo....but when he came in last season things just weren't connecting. It is nothing personal in saying that. I hope players don't take fan criticism personal. We see the play on the ice and we all react to that aspect. It was obvious that he either wasn't physically well, or he wasn't well mentally. And we had heard all season his back was bad. I guess the one thing I questioned all year was....if his back was that bad, why didn't someone make the decision to allow him to rest for 3-4 weeks and get treatments. That would have made alot more sense to me than to continue sending him out to not only screw the back up, but also to screw his confidence and mental ability up too.
I wish him the best of luck. Always loved his style of play, especially the first go around here when he would pound guys into the boards every shift, go hard to the net, and body up as a defender and take his man out of the game. MC has the skill and talent. In fact 2years ago, he showed me alot when he came back from the AHL and looked like a man on a mission to get back there. That is why last season just was a shock to me to see him look so bad.
Thanks again for your comments. Whether people want to buy into them or not....everyone has the right to share their opinion and give insight where they feel they should.
My guess is that this will go over like a turd in a punch bowl.....oh well.
Hit,
I am not saying you did read into that correctly or not, but you are a smart person. By no means was he trying to force the Frankes into doing anything. As far as the back issue he was lead to believe that it was an issue with needing to build up more muscle in his back. So this lead to harder workouts in the Gym, Extra time on the ice etc. when he went to the Chiropractor it was explained that the muscles were pinching a nerve and he needed to let it rest. That was when he sat out a few games. As far as listening to the fans, we had several talks about this. I told him in a city like Fort Wayne, he could have had 50 goals and people would still find an aspect of his game to complain about. He just needed to ignore them. unfortunately he had issues doing that. I really yelled at him when he told me he had been on here just before playoffs last year. I think the bad start of the year just snowballed all year long. I certainly do not see him having another season like that this year.
Last question.....a loaded one.
What position did you play in orange and black?
I might be way off....but maybe not.
Thanks again for the insight.
Hit,
If that was directed at me, I am an overweight sales guy here in Fort Wayne. I set in upper 201. That is the closest I have ever been to a Komet's game. my 5 year old son is a better hockey player than me=)
Ok....
For some reason I thought there was some connection between you and a player, maybe a player married your sister, or something like that......
Maybe I am thinking of someone else.
I say NO, OC, Thomas & #94
But like I said you will like who they have signed :)
How about a hint.
Is it someone you will like Mighty?
what does Snuff sell???????
Beer ? jerseys?
Is that your hint mighty?
Just a little tidbit on the Curadeau situation. I have had a bad back all my life. Had back surgery 12 years ago due to a dislocated disk. Had to have a cadaver bone put in to fuse the vertebrae together. So I understand what its like to have a back back. But I have been told by 2 chiropractors and my back surgeon that it is actually medically impossible to pinch any nerve in your back. Its just what any doctor will tell you when he thinks he might know what the problem is but isn't sure. So what Curadeau was told to him may have been wrong by his chiropractor. It may have been another issue, but not a pinched nerve. Not knocking him. Just that he got bad advice about his condition. He probably needed to see a neurologist. But if he definitely isn't coming back than I would like to see OConnor come back. But I agree about Thomas. He looked bored.
How about the fact that Curadeau (rightly or wrongly) was touted as a replacement for Chaulk...Curadeau was a third liner his first go around with the Komets. Let's be honest here. When you are a third liner, you are mostly playing against the other teams third line. A lot easier to put points up in that situation than in Chaulk's situation; playing against the other teams FIRST line. Bottom line, Matt is a supporting player-he is not a leader. He proved that this season, when he was expected to lead, he failed. A leader doesn't complain about things going wrong, they find a way to overcome them.
Skate with your comments towards me you have lost any sense of credibility.
I challenge you here and now to post any example of me trying to sell anything here.
Your statement that I don't care about hockey or facts are laughable.
The fact is I hit a nerve and I am glad. Your friend coasted through last season and only turned it on during the playoffs when he must have been thinking about next years contract wherever he is going to play. The excuses you presented here whether they really came from him or from your imagination are just that,excuses. Nothing changed as far as how this team does things from the time before he left for the AHL and the time he came back. The only thing that changed was his level of play. The facts including his statistics prove that.
Now if you have nothing to offer but to attack me in an attempt to defend your friend please go ahead. But it does nothing to bolster your position.
BTW, Some good and valid points by Hit, Kometkrazy, Andy and Mike.
I can buy he might have been playing injured although how did he suddenly get better during a portion of the playoffs when he knew other teams would be watching?
I can buy a stick he isn't used to makes it harder to play though every hockey player I know owns a couple of extras just in case.....
I can certainly understand how hard it is to do any job (including running my business) if you have extra stuff on your mind.
However he needs to take responsibility for this stuff. Not blame the coach, the line he was playing with etc.
I have been critical of Chaulk especially for the penalties he took last year during the playoffs. But one thing I will say for him is when he messes up, he takes responsibility. I have even seen him take a hit for things that were not his fault because that is what a leader does.