Komets General Manager David Franke said today that forward Justin Hodgman has been invited to the Chicago Blackhawks' training camp starting Sept. 11. Hodgman has already signed a contract with the Blackhawks' AHL farm team in Rockford and could end up there or with Toledo of the ECHL.
"You can get to a higher level from Fort Wayne," Franke said. "Sometimes it's just tough convincing the players and the agents, but you can advance paying in the IHL and in Fort Wayne."
Franke also said the Komets are going to add forward Michael Uvodich to the training camp roster as part of their affiliation with Evansville of the AAHL.
In other notes:
* The Komets will not have a formal affiliation this year with Norfolk of the AHL.
* I asked Franke about what he's heard of Olivier Legault and Mathieu Curadeau and he said he hasn't heard anything recently. Legault will not be coming back to the Komets, and Curadeau's rights are owned by Dayton. Franke said no other IHL team has approached him about Legault's rights. I have calls in to both players.
Comments
Just talked to Olivier. He is negotiating with Kalamazoo and something might be announced within the next week.
Well I suppose that would be the best way for him to irritate a lot of Komets fans. LOL.
Lots of good luck to both guys. They deserve it very much!
I'm a k-zoo fan=Lets go wings
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Legault is turning to the Darkside....Darth Jaramir Legault.
I hate the Wings.
I have an autographed Legault card and a kitty kat named smokey, I call her pokey and she likes to eat pounce. I like birdies too.
I'm sure Legault will look just as dapper sitting in Kzoo's stands and he did in the stands at the Jungle. He just won't have as nice of a scoreboard to watch up there.
mightbite- Legault will be the guy in the stands with red and blue hair. I understand you don't get much news in Kazoo, sorry about that.
Burgee you need to back to the doctor. I think he needs to up your medication.
Blake- Any truth the new Commissioner could be Dennis Hextall or Rob DeGagne? Both would be more than qualified. I think Hextall would bring instant credibility with his playng experience. I think DeGagne played in the League a while back.
Legault will score 15 to 20 goals with 250 PIMS, with a coach that will use him right. I'm ready.
mightbite: There is a portion of a show called SportsNation on ESPN where they ask the question: "Fannish or Foolish?" There is NO WAY you can possibly think Legault's production was where it was due to how Sims "used" him. That statement seems to be pretty "foolish". As for the 15-20 goals... pretty "fannish".
You may have 467 Legault hockey cards and 27 of his jerseys, but him scoring that many goals is pretty lofty IMO, unless his new coach "uses" him on a junior hockey team where he can throw everyone out of the way.
I could be being foolish myself, I just don't recall ever seeing him have even decent puck-handling skills or any bursts of speed to get down the ice. He was cool to watch pound people every once in awhile on the ice. He was much less cool to watch sit in the stands. He didn't play because of injuries and just not being as good as the others that were available to be on the ice at the time. I'm sure if he was healthy and as much of an awesome player as some say, Coach Sims would've been the first to put him on the ice at the perfect time. Again, just my opinion.
Just who is the coach in Kazoo? Wade Welch, Paul Picard OH! I know, Nick Booooland. His biggest problem in the ECHL will be the same one he had in the IHL. I'll bet he brings at least 3 hankeys to the game to soak up all of the tears he sheds. The original "Crying Towel" had to be named after him. I could care less about who he plays or when they play or sit in the stands. I have always wanted the best for any former Komet. I still do. The last thing I am going to do on this blog is cheer on the Kwings.
I agree Dschebig. I'm not saying I want anything bad to happen to Legault, I just don't see him running up any scoreboards or stat sheets.
I agree with RunningKomet on the Legault situation. A nice player to have on your team if you have the roster room but once the roster gets full he will not do enough of the other things to get playing time. OK, before I post this next thought let me make it perfectly clear that I do not care about Kalamazoo in the least little bit. They are gone and good luck to them. I want to point out something, however, and I'm pretty sure I will get some sh*t about it. So here goes..... for a franchise that desperately wanted out of the IHL, they sure have signed a lot of ex-IHL players. The IHL must not have been too bad in talent because they are putting together an "IHL" roster to play in their new league. It's just an observation on my part-nothing else. As far as Nick Bootland is concerned, I think this season will go far in determining just what kind of coach he really is.
i think i even said it back when we were discussing training camp last year that legault could be the odd man out and i really liked the kid, but he was and still is a project. great size above avg fighting skills but unfortunatly he has below average speed and even worse than that stick handling skills. hes a great guy and a credit to himself for sticking around like he has but he needs a season or two maybe in evansville where he can get some experience and see if he can improve. with the ks his injuries never gave sims a chance to give him steady work to improve until the playoffs and thats not the time to gamble on getting some reps.
I heard Dan Price is moving back to Fort Wayne and has been invited to camp.
I stirred the Komet Nation= HA-HA
Blogfoul, Mightbite (and your little dog too) 2 min instigation, 5 min unsportsmanlike, 10 min misconduct and a game misconduct, Schebig 10 min misconduct, go to box and feel shame, Alan 10 min unsportsmanlike (starred profanity), Hit - game misconduct just because your Hit.
JUST SAY NO TO DAN PRICE!!!!!!!!!!!
Isn't he of veteran staus anyway? Where would he fit if he was worthy?
Gross misconduct, 5 min. attempt to injure,indefinite suspension= for mightbite/ I thought Dan Price was selling cars at prefered auto?
Anyone have a guess on who might make the AHL teams? Or is this a ridiculous topic that will get shot down too?
doubtful for them to make it but at least they are getting a chance to be seen. thats what the whole invite thing is about.
I say none of them stick in the AHL. But that is good news for us.
Chuckitt HIT that one right on, exposure, you get a chance to dance and need to bring your a game and skate till you puke
none of them will make the A.H.L.
I hate to admit this, really. Burgee you are right on the money with chuckitt. Now go take you meds.
I thought I was wrong once but it turned out I was right as usual.