The Fort Wayne Komets completed a three-play deal this afternoon to acquire veteran defenseman Rod Aldoff from the Kalamazoo Wings. The Komets are sending right wing Dominic Osman and rookie defenseman Dylan Row.
Aldoff, 38 and playing his 16th professional season, has seven goals and 30 points in 57 games this season with Kalamazoo. He also has 56 penalty minutes and is plus-13 on the plus-minus rating. Aldoff has always played well against the Komets, particilarly in the playoffs with Rockford in 2005 and Chicago in 2007.
After a hot start to the season, Osman has battled injuries and a slump the rest of the way. He has 18 goals and 30 points in 37 games. Row recently joined the Komets and has no statistics in three games.
Besides adding experience to the Komets' blue line, the move also frees up a roster space when Colin Chaulk is ready to return to the lineup from his foot infection.
The move came at the International Hockey League's trading deadline on Thursday afternoon.
Comments
Interesting move and I figured Osman would be someone they would dangle on the wire, but I thought also Legualt would have been a possible trade partner. Aldoff also may have one of the best shoot-out move out there if I can find it on youtube I will post a link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10LAQj2UKwo&playnext_from=PL&feature=PlayList&p=BDE3B67B61B94BB8&playnext=1&index=4
I think this is a good move. Aldoff brings lots of experience to the blue line which is sorely needed. I've always thought of him as a stay at home type of D-man so that should be good for us. Welcome to the orange and black, Rod!
ShamWow
Aldoff gives us a solid d-man who can man the point on the Powerplay as well.
Osman is a good young player, needed to play physical with his size I think, but when you have 5 or 6 forwards that are basically the same guy, and this team needed a defenseman like Aldoff, this trade makes sense. I am glad they didn't trade O'Connor.
This sets up the Defensive pairings so that a Veteran is on each line.
Aldoff-Pence or Tarantino if healthy
Guy-Mironovic
Bertram-Boulay
Pence is versatile and can play forward if needed, as I suspect that Al will have 7 D-men playing in the playoffs if 7 are healthy.
Forward lines should look like this:
Chaulk-Curadeau-Shafronov
Thomas-Drouin-MVL
Hukalo-O'Connor-Varone
MacMillan, Legault, and Gravelle are in trouble if we skate 7 D-Men.
I want to know how many can be placed on the play-off roster? The other thing to consider will they bring in a AM? Rules different this year...I really think Mac will be in the line-up in the play-offs
I hope they know what they are doing. I've felt most of the year that Osman wasn't one of Sims' favorites and I was looking forward to Chaulk and Osman and Shafronov together again. They have had rookies on the blueline all year. I find it interesting that they decided to do this move right now instead of something earlier. I know that Aldoff is a solid d-man, but in earlier posts I have expressed my feeling that the K's needed a solid d-man and another sniper. Well they've gotten their d-man but now I think they need two snipers. One will be Chaulk. In my opinion they need another. Welcome to Rod Aldoff. I hope I welcome another sniper soon also.
It won't be via the trade....the only thing you might see come in is an amateur player from college or from the junior ranks. I would extremely doubt Justin Hodgeman would come back here because his value has sky-rocketed and he will be pickings for an AHL or ECHL team headed into the playoffs. But you never know. And if we were to get an amateur player or two, that would throw the roster into a complete mess. You would lose a guy like Varone, Gravelle, Legault and even MacMillan at this point. We have 8 defensemen right now. We most likely will play 7 in the playoffs with the thought that Pence is versatile enough to go as a forward. That means Holliday or Tarantino would be hanging on to the last spotas it stands right now because both are injured. My preference is Tarantino because he seems alot more steady and patient with the puck.
How will fans react though if we waive Legault, MacMillan, Varone, or Gravelle to bring in an unproven amateur player to take one of those guys places?
That's assuming that Tarantino can come back from this hip injury, which I do not think is a given at this point. Don't forget Holladay can also play forward and O'Connor can play defense. I also think the lines will be pretty similar to what they are now, Shaf-Huk-Curadeau, Drouin-Thomas-Versteeg-Lytwyn and Varone, (Mac-Gravelle-Legault) O'Connor. Al doesn't like to mess with his lines much. That could mean Chaulker actually goes between O'Connor and Varone, which would be really interesting because that means there's going to be on HORRIBLE matchup for opposing coaches to figure out. You've got either Curadeau, Drouin or Chaulk that's going to be roaming free against the other team's worst defensive line. Big advantage Komets, especially since all three Komets centers, including Thomas, are pretty good defensively.
Blake nails it again...
You sure your not a fan...
You bring up a great point...Imagine an opposing coach saying pick your poison...I'd hate to be any opposing coach having to match up with Thomas, Curadeau or Chaulks line...
Especially the way Al makes it a point of pride to screw with matchups.
Welcome back SUPERFAN!!!
Aw crap.
Blake, I guess we can tell you don't set upstairs and have to wright the lines down for scoring. Al will mix his lines up all night long. During the season we laugh a lot about the pairings. He does have them pretty much set for the play-offs. My feeling is during the regular season anyone should be able to play anyone else. Injuries can cause all kinds of changes. It does drive the visiting team crazy.