How many times in the last week have we been reminded that the Fort Wayne Komets are the league leaders? I would suggest that those in the media who are harping on that fact be reminded that it doesn't make a squat of difference. How does this team look now? I would submit that the Komets need to worry more about their own Conference than to be looking at team standings in the Berry Conference.
As of today, Sunday January 15th.
Fort Wayne.........45pts (34 games played)
Quad City............43pts (34 games played)
Evansville............41pts (only 31 games played)
Rapid City............40pts (only 33 games played)
Missouri...............39pts (34 games played) and today's opponent)
Evansville, four points down have three games in hand. Rapid City, five points down have one game in hand.
Ironically I received my playoff ticket notice yesterday with money due by February 15th. Only the first four teams qualify and looking at everything now, the Komets probably won't qualify. So I'm going to hold on to my money for awhile.
Auger, Smith, and now maybe Schrock(?) all taken down by bad hits. Two concussions? What is the status of these players. I don't want a ten page medical report, just an update of their condition, an idea of when they may return.
Understandably there is a wave of anger by some Komet fans regarding toughness, about teammates standing up for other players, about sending a message to other teams so they would think twice about taking liberties with Komet players. Some have suggested the signing of Jason Goulet, recently released from Arizona, as an addition to add toughness to the team. Most of those who have suggested Goulet, have inferred that Al Sims has put a collar on the players regarding toughness. Lots of others have suggested the same thought regarding some of Sims' decisions.
My question is this. If the Komets did pick up Goulet, why does anyone think Sims would change his decisions or coaching style?. Quite frankly, the Komets have enough toughness in the lineup without Goulet. (Henley, B. Molle, Starenky, and a healthy Schrock come to mind).
Goulet played 22 games with Arizona picking up 60 minutes in penalties. Hardly enforcer numbers. I have also given some thought to the possibility of having him placed in front of the net during the power play. Again, 22 games only 2 assists. Arizona didn't use him in that role, why would the Komets?
No, I don't think he is the answer.
The real answer lies in the front office. These are the times when the GM earns his money. Now there are two of your top players out with concussions. Scoring has fallen to a very unacceptable pace, the division is rapidly catching up in the standings, and fans are getting restless. The defense is getting shredded and has been for a little time now. It has been "hidden" by the fact that Boucher has played so well, up until now.
My request would be for David Franke to make some bold moves. The offense needs help and you are the only one who can provide that help. The defense needs some discipline and you should release at least one and bring in stay at home, clear the puck replacements.
Mr Franke, you have the tools to do this. Either by trade, cash ( I would think that some of the "financially failing or under performing" teams in the CHL and ECHL might be willing to listen to an offer, for some of their better players. Cash wouldn't even cost a roster spot and would create quite a competition on the Komets roster to keep their job.
Auger and Smith are high quality scorers. You can't bring in a tier-2 player ( like Goulet) and expect to solve these goal scoring woes. If Schrock is gone then you have lost one forward on each line.
Please get busy, Mr. Franke, but do it right. Improve the club. That is your main responsibility and now you have a chance to show off your experience in wheeling and dealing or "thinking outside the box". The next week or so will tell the
tale. Europe maybe?
The ultimate fate of this season and how future ticket buyers respond are in your hands. Now is the time!!
whole_n_one
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 12:41pm
Alan, well said. I agree with Goulet; he would be a waste of a roster spot. It's not that we don't have the toughness, our coach will not let them use it. Yes, a few player moves might be beneficial but the root of our issue is behind the bench. He has had success with only one team in his entire career, and that is Ft. Wayne, where most years our level of talent was far superior to other teams. If you look at his three previous years in the CHL, he was far below the .500 mark. I don't think he's a bad person; just not a good coach at this level of hockey.
The losses don't concern me as much as HOW we lost. It's not like they were hard fought nail biting games where both teams left it all on the ice. We lost at home to the last place team in the league, where we put forth the worst effort I have ever seen. We then got totally, and I mean totally, dominated by Evansville. It was embarrassing to see our players get beat to every puck, outskated, knocked to the ice, physically dominated, and grossly outcoached.
There has to be something going on off the ice because it looked like we had never played together before. Again, it's not the 2 game losing streak, it's the total lack of effort, teamwork, and sticking up for each other that shows that something behind the scenes is seriously wrong.
whole_n_one
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 1:55pm
You know, the more I think about the Lovell fight last night the more I am shocked that we never responded to that. Just like I am embarrassed that nobody ever took care of what happened to Auger or Rizk or Smith or Boucher. It is an unwritten rule of hockey that teams police that kind of stuff themselves. It's unheard of for a team just to roll over and take hits to their skill players like that. I think the word is out now.......OPEN SEASON ON THE KOMETS..... If you want to beat them just be physical and pound them every chance you get. What use is Henley or Starenky or the Molle's? Teams know we won't respond and you can see that from how they play against us. Heck, Starenky got an earful from Gary Grahm for talking to Travis Grabois and trying to give his team a spark. Ever since he came back he plays like a lamb. I feel sorry for him having to play like that. No other team in the league or hockey for that manner would not let a player use his physical advantages. Might as well let him play on a team that will let him play to his strengths.
I wonder what would have happened if Starenky just went up and beat up Todd Robinson? Think Evansville would just turn the other cheek so they wouldn't have to take a penalty? LOL......last time we tried that was when Kromm was with Muskegon and MacMillan hit Bouchard in the face behind their net. The next shift he had Big Snake take the draw and Lawmaster line up next to Shafronov. We all know how that turned out. Needless to say, as much as we as K's fans didn't like it, we never touched Bouchard the rest of the year.
offthepost
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 3:27pm
So..where are all these angry bloggers calling for a new coach and new players when we just won like 15 games out of 18..just curious
Topshelf
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 4:55pm
Sims style is sucks. Komets are a boring team towatch.
Charlie I
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 9:59pm
Maybe he just enjoys to write.
RunningKomet
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 10:46pm
Alan just puts his posts all into one message as opposed to 3 right beside each other that equate to the same length. I like what you write, Alan. Maybe you should just break them up into 3 posts for each one of your thoughts so when Blake's bosses look on here, it looks like people are still writing on this site (which those of us who are around know better than to be true).
Blake, you always said people don't write on here because others were keeping them away. Did you ever look in the mirror? People don't write because if they don't echo your thoughts, which are spoon fed to you by the Frankes, you ban them. Your excuses about e-mails and throngs of people writing to you and wanting to post on here is also a joke. You got rid of the people you said were the problem, and now there is NO posting on here. We'll see what your site hits are this time next year if it's still around.
You have gone from game night post counts of over 100 to now under 35, of which between 15 and 20 are posts that you put up here. You aren't fooling anyone. You and the other 4 people who still post over here will get old real quick (it already has). You're eating the hand that has fed you, and no one is going to want to advertise on a blog that gets under 10 hits a day and goes for a week with less than 20 posts (unless you keep posting on your own threads with no responses).
This has become a sad joke of a blog run by a person with a sad "life". Too bad, this used to be a good place for information and good times with good people. I know this will get blocked, but at least you'll still see it, Blake.
Blake Sebring
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 10:56pm
Just asking Alan to cut them down a little bit, that's all. He even jokes that they are getting out of hand a little.
Thankfully, the numbers have gone up since the housecleaning.
If you don't care for it, please feel free to post somewhere else.
Blake Sebring
Sun, 01/15/2012 - 11:14pm
Also seems to me there have been people on here all weekend disagreeing with me, and they are still here.
Andrea
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:14am
I have leaned in life that one must be careful of what they ask for. Sometimes, it ends up backfiring.
Blake Sebring
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:28am
Well, I have apologized privately to Alan and now I will say I'm sorry publicly. I should have handled that differently. I was wrong.
Alan
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:10pm
Blake, I have received your E-mail and read the above post. There isn't any need to apologize as this is your blog and you are responsible for it.
Please be assured that it's never been the length of the comment that has been important to me, it's always been the content of the comment.
Blake Sebring
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:17pm
You're a good man, Alan. Thank you for accepting my apology.
Alan
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 12:18pm
As far as my latest "book", the one that inspired the request to shorten up, whole_n_one responded with "Well said, Alan".
I would like to thank RunningKomet for his support. He hit the nail on the head by remarking that my style is to put all my thoughts into one post instead of dividing them up into separate offerings. I will follow your advice, RunningKomet. Maybe that will satisfy everyone. Thanks again.
Alan
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 1:04pm
The one thing that confuses me is how do you measure a blog "hit"? Does it occur every time someone clicks on to "Tailing the Komets"? See, the thing that I question is once I read the article or thread, there is no reason to go back and read it again. I would only go back to it to respond with a comment and/or to read others as they comment. Aren't those considered "hits" also. If they are than I would submit that quite a few of the "hits" are from those who contribute with their thoughts.
Alan
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 1:19pm
Finally, my posts have never been designed to anger, annoy, or bore anyone. Some have read my posts and enjoyed them, others have not. The late Tim Hoke, who I really miss, had commented numerous times, both at the Coliseum and on this blog, that I was one of three or four on this blog he really looked forward to reading. Tim knew stuff and I always respected him and I always considered that a compliment.
It comes to mind that maybe I should ask all of you-do you enjoy my posts or should I just keep my thoughts to myself.
Considering that the answer might not be a favorable one, I'd better leave one last Komet request. C'mon David. Bring in some talent. The team is going through a perfect storm now with injuries, goal droughts etc. Bring in a difference maker. Not just a body as you did under Puhalski with the signing of Noah Whyte (from Port Huron a few years back).
Hope to speak to you again.
Blake Sebring
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 1:59pm
You're fine, Alan, and almost always inciteful.
Blog hits are every time someone comes to the page, as I understand it.
Primeval Forest Primate (formally JM)
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 3:56pm
Alan, don't let it bother you. I enjoy your posts. They articulate good points and don't always play to the same old beat down perspectives. I may not always agree, but seldom do people here seem to agree. You might catch some heat from those that hide in the dark corners of the internet, but I'd consider the source before being too offended.
Keep on Keepin' on, brother.
Andrea
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 4:26pm
Well said PFP regarding Alan. Your last sentence in your paragraph is dead on. I would imagine Alan is hardly offended by this person. He does provide for some good laughs, though!
Primeval Forest Primate (formally JM)
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 9:30pm
Oh.. He's hanging on our every word, Andrea. He's already tweeted insults toward us based on our posts here. Its almost like clockwork.
Alan, do you have suggestions of who Dave Franke should bring in? I've seen a few names tossed around. Wondered what everyone else thinks.
Andrea
Mon, 01/16/2012 - 10:04pm
Let him tweet, PFP. It is mind over matter. I don't mind because he doesn't matter.
I am also curious as to what players are available. I'm sure the Frankes have insight as to what all the current options are.
Burgee60
Tue, 01/17/2012 - 12:17am
Who do you give to get?
Cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap.
If everyone can get healthy then I'm not budging and we will win it all and all the sideline GM's can bow down to me. I am the superfan.
Alan
Tue, 01/17/2012 - 4:31pm
Thank you, Primeval Forest Primate. I appreciate your kind words.
Burgee60, to answer your question, I would look to buy players for "cash considerations". Just the same way they obtained Tab Lardner last season.
The one thing that people must realize is that a concussion is an injury that really doesn't have a cure timetable. It can be swift with no repercussions or take forever.
Comments
How many times in the last week have we been reminded that the Fort Wayne Komets are the league leaders? I would suggest that those in the media who are harping on that fact be reminded that it doesn't make a squat of difference. How does this team look now? I would submit that the Komets need to worry more about their own Conference than to be looking at team standings in the Berry Conference.
As of today, Sunday January 15th.
Fort Wayne.........45pts (34 games played)
Quad City............43pts (34 games played)
Evansville............41pts (only 31 games played)
Rapid City............40pts (only 33 games played)
Missouri...............39pts (34 games played) and today's opponent)
Evansville, four points down have three games in hand. Rapid City, five points down have one game in hand.
Ironically I received my playoff ticket notice yesterday with money due by February 15th. Only the first four teams qualify and looking at everything now, the Komets probably won't qualify. So I'm going to hold on to my money for awhile.
Auger, Smith, and now maybe Schrock(?) all taken down by bad hits. Two concussions? What is the status of these players. I don't want a ten page medical report, just an update of their condition, an idea of when they may return.
Understandably there is a wave of anger by some Komet fans regarding toughness, about teammates standing up for other players, about sending a message to other teams so they would think twice about taking liberties with Komet players. Some have suggested the signing of Jason Goulet, recently released from Arizona, as an addition to add toughness to the team. Most of those who have suggested Goulet, have inferred that Al Sims has put a collar on the players regarding toughness. Lots of others have suggested the same thought regarding some of Sims' decisions.
My question is this. If the Komets did pick up Goulet, why does anyone think Sims would change his decisions or coaching style?. Quite frankly, the Komets have enough toughness in the lineup without Goulet. (Henley, B. Molle, Starenky, and a healthy Schrock come to mind).
Goulet played 22 games with Arizona picking up 60 minutes in penalties. Hardly enforcer numbers. I have also given some thought to the possibility of having him placed in front of the net during the power play. Again, 22 games only 2 assists. Arizona didn't use him in that role, why would the Komets?
No, I don't think he is the answer.
The real answer lies in the front office. These are the times when the GM earns his money. Now there are two of your top players out with concussions. Scoring has fallen to a very unacceptable pace, the division is rapidly catching up in the standings, and fans are getting restless. The defense is getting shredded and has been for a little time now. It has been "hidden" by the fact that Boucher has played so well, up until now.
My request would be for David Franke to make some bold moves. The offense needs help and you are the only one who can provide that help. The defense needs some discipline and you should release at least one and bring in stay at home, clear the puck replacements.
Mr Franke, you have the tools to do this. Either by trade, cash ( I would think that some of the "financially failing or under performing" teams in the CHL and ECHL might be willing to listen to an offer, for some of their better players. Cash wouldn't even cost a roster spot and would create quite a competition on the Komets roster to keep their job.
Auger and Smith are high quality scorers. You can't bring in a tier-2 player ( like Goulet) and expect to solve these goal scoring woes. If Schrock is gone then you have lost one forward on each line.
Please get busy, Mr. Franke, but do it right. Improve the club. That is your main responsibility and now you have a chance to show off your experience in wheeling and dealing or "thinking outside the box". The next week or so will tell the
tale. Europe maybe?
The ultimate fate of this season and how future ticket buyers respond are in your hands. Now is the time!!
Alan, well said. I agree with Goulet; he would be a waste of a roster spot. It's not that we don't have the toughness, our coach will not let them use it. Yes, a few player moves might be beneficial but the root of our issue is behind the bench. He has had success with only one team in his entire career, and that is Ft. Wayne, where most years our level of talent was far superior to other teams. If you look at his three previous years in the CHL, he was far below the .500 mark. I don't think he's a bad person; just not a good coach at this level of hockey.
The losses don't concern me as much as HOW we lost. It's not like they were hard fought nail biting games where both teams left it all on the ice. We lost at home to the last place team in the league, where we put forth the worst effort I have ever seen. We then got totally, and I mean totally, dominated by Evansville. It was embarrassing to see our players get beat to every puck, outskated, knocked to the ice, physically dominated, and grossly outcoached.
There has to be something going on off the ice because it looked like we had never played together before. Again, it's not the 2 game losing streak, it's the total lack of effort, teamwork, and sticking up for each other that shows that something behind the scenes is seriously wrong.
You know, the more I think about the Lovell fight last night the more I am shocked that we never responded to that. Just like I am embarrassed that nobody ever took care of what happened to Auger or Rizk or Smith or Boucher. It is an unwritten rule of hockey that teams police that kind of stuff themselves. It's unheard of for a team just to roll over and take hits to their skill players like that. I think the word is out now.......OPEN SEASON ON THE KOMETS..... If you want to beat them just be physical and pound them every chance you get. What use is Henley or Starenky or the Molle's? Teams know we won't respond and you can see that from how they play against us. Heck, Starenky got an earful from Gary Grahm for talking to Travis Grabois and trying to give his team a spark. Ever since he came back he plays like a lamb. I feel sorry for him having to play like that. No other team in the league or hockey for that manner would not let a player use his physical advantages. Might as well let him play on a team that will let him play to his strengths.
I wonder what would have happened if Starenky just went up and beat up Todd Robinson? Think Evansville would just turn the other cheek so they wouldn't have to take a penalty? LOL......last time we tried that was when Kromm was with Muskegon and MacMillan hit Bouchard in the face behind their net. The next shift he had Big Snake take the draw and Lawmaster line up next to Shafronov. We all know how that turned out. Needless to say, as much as we as K's fans didn't like it, we never touched Bouchard the rest of the year.
So..where are all these angry bloggers calling for a new coach and new players when we just won like 15 games out of 18..just curious
Sims style is sucks. Komets are a boring team towatch.
Maybe he just enjoys to write.
Alan just puts his posts all into one message as opposed to 3 right beside each other that equate to the same length. I like what you write, Alan. Maybe you should just break them up into 3 posts for each one of your thoughts so when Blake's bosses look on here, it looks like people are still writing on this site (which those of us who are around know better than to be true).
Blake, you always said people don't write on here because others were keeping them away. Did you ever look in the mirror? People don't write because if they don't echo your thoughts, which are spoon fed to you by the Frankes, you ban them. Your excuses about e-mails and throngs of people writing to you and wanting to post on here is also a joke. You got rid of the people you said were the problem, and now there is NO posting on here. We'll see what your site hits are this time next year if it's still around.
You have gone from game night post counts of over 100 to now under 35, of which between 15 and 20 are posts that you put up here. You aren't fooling anyone. You and the other 4 people who still post over here will get old real quick (it already has). You're eating the hand that has fed you, and no one is going to want to advertise on a blog that gets under 10 hits a day and goes for a week with less than 20 posts (unless you keep posting on your own threads with no responses).
This has become a sad joke of a blog run by a person with a sad "life". Too bad, this used to be a good place for information and good times with good people. I know this will get blocked, but at least you'll still see it, Blake.
Just asking Alan to cut them down a little bit, that's all. He even jokes that they are getting out of hand a little.
Thankfully, the numbers have gone up since the housecleaning.
If you don't care for it, please feel free to post somewhere else.
Also seems to me there have been people on here all weekend disagreeing with me, and they are still here.
I have leaned in life that one must be careful of what they ask for. Sometimes, it ends up backfiring.
Well, I have apologized privately to Alan and now I will say I'm sorry publicly. I should have handled that differently. I was wrong.
Blake, I have received your E-mail and read the above post. There isn't any need to apologize as this is your blog and you are responsible for it.
Please be assured that it's never been the length of the comment that has been important to me, it's always been the content of the comment.
You're a good man, Alan. Thank you for accepting my apology.
As far as my latest "book", the one that inspired the request to shorten up, whole_n_one responded with "Well said, Alan".
I would like to thank RunningKomet for his support. He hit the nail on the head by remarking that my style is to put all my thoughts into one post instead of dividing them up into separate offerings. I will follow your advice, RunningKomet. Maybe that will satisfy everyone. Thanks again.
The one thing that confuses me is how do you measure a blog "hit"? Does it occur every time someone clicks on to "Tailing the Komets"? See, the thing that I question is once I read the article or thread, there is no reason to go back and read it again. I would only go back to it to respond with a comment and/or to read others as they comment. Aren't those considered "hits" also. If they are than I would submit that quite a few of the "hits" are from those who contribute with their thoughts.
Finally, my posts have never been designed to anger, annoy, or bore anyone. Some have read my posts and enjoyed them, others have not. The late Tim Hoke, who I really miss, had commented numerous times, both at the Coliseum and on this blog, that I was one of three or four on this blog he really looked forward to reading. Tim knew stuff and I always respected him and I always considered that a compliment.
It comes to mind that maybe I should ask all of you-do you enjoy my posts or should I just keep my thoughts to myself.
Considering that the answer might not be a favorable one, I'd better leave one last Komet request. C'mon David. Bring in some talent. The team is going through a perfect storm now with injuries, goal droughts etc. Bring in a difference maker. Not just a body as you did under Puhalski with the signing of Noah Whyte (from Port Huron a few years back).
Hope to speak to you again.
You're fine, Alan, and almost always inciteful.
Blog hits are every time someone comes to the page, as I understand it.
Alan, don't let it bother you. I enjoy your posts. They articulate good points and don't always play to the same old beat down perspectives. I may not always agree, but seldom do people here seem to agree. You might catch some heat from those that hide in the dark corners of the internet, but I'd consider the source before being too offended.
Keep on Keepin' on, brother.
Well said PFP regarding Alan. Your last sentence in your paragraph is dead on. I would imagine Alan is hardly offended by this person. He does provide for some good laughs, though!
Oh.. He's hanging on our every word, Andrea. He's already tweeted insults toward us based on our posts here. Its almost like clockwork.
Alan, do you have suggestions of who Dave Franke should bring in? I've seen a few names tossed around. Wondered what everyone else thinks.
Let him tweet, PFP. It is mind over matter. I don't mind because he doesn't matter.
I am also curious as to what players are available. I'm sure the Frankes have insight as to what all the current options are.
Who do you give to get?
Cheap ain't good and good ain't cheap.
If everyone can get healthy then I'm not budging and we will win it all and all the sideline GM's can bow down to me. I am the superfan.
Thank you, Primeval Forest Primate. I appreciate your kind words.
Burgee60, to answer your question, I would look to buy players for "cash considerations". Just the same way they obtained Tab Lardner last season.
The one thing that people must realize is that a concussion is an injury that really doesn't have a cure timetable. It can be swift with no repercussions or take forever.