The Komets have until 1 p.m. today to turn in their final 19-man roster, but one name will likely not be on the list. Jon Mirasty left Fort Wayne on Sunday afternoon to return to Syracuse, N.Y. where his wife is expecting their first child. Mirasty was left out of the lineup Saturday night during the Komets' final 2-1 win over Colorado before 10,480 Memorial Coliseum fans.
Asked if he had been told he was not being included on the final roster, Mirasty declined to comment about that specificly.
``I'm just glad this season is over with,'' Mirasty said. ``It's been a long and hard one with me. I think signing with Anaheim in the offseason last year was a big mistake. I think I'll regroup this summer and you'll see me next year, hopefully back in the AHL (American Hockey League). I've already heard from some teams."
After being assigned to the Komets from Anaheim, Mirasty played in 19 games earning 40 penalty minutes.
``It's a great organization,'' Mirasty said. ``David Franke runs a good ship here. I think they have their head on their shoulders pretty well. I wasn't' too happy with the way Al Sims played me and the amount of icetime he gave me. I couldn't really play my role and intimidate with the icetime he gave me. I think I played a little bit more at the AHL level. The organizaiton itself is great, and I envoyed my time here. The fans were second to none. I have nothing but good things to say about the organization. It's first class.''
Comments
Sims did one of his best coaching jobs ever once he dug himself the hole he did this year. I called him and management out at the start of the year for not only bringing back too many older guys but also for not bringing in the right kind of guys for this league. They suffered for it.
However in the past few weeks thanks in part to the return of Lord Chaulk ( I like that!) and to some adjustments to the lines this team has improved in spite of PC (who I believe is hurt) and Curadeau who doesn't give a tic tac anymore in my opinion. It was posted above that PC and Curadeau were played based on hype. I don't believe it is hype. I believe they were brought back because of misguided loyalty and I believe they are being played because there is nobody else on the roster to play those positions. As has been documented 1000 times if I had my way those guys would never have been brought back and would most certainly have been let go. But since they are here Sims has little choice but to play them.
You won't ever convince me that Sims only won based on the IHL or that the IHL had inferior talent. I do believe it was a different style and it took Sims longer than it should have to adjust to the style here.
The Mirasty signing made zero sense when it happened but was a low risk move other than what might have happened had he snapped and gotten himself suspended which would have cost the Komets a roster spot down the stretch.
That didn't happen thankfully and now they can look forward to what will hopefully be a decent playoff run.
That's like saying Scott Bowman sucked just because he didn't win it all in Buffalo. Makes about as much sense.
Best Wishes Jon.
al sims has NEVER won anywhere but IHL2,which was ran by franke.
...except for the 1993 championship.
...just for the record I am not defending Sims. I am only saying that he won in Fort Wayne in 1993 debunking mightbite's comment :) btw I have a Bruce Richardson signed bobblehead.
For anyone to think that Mirasty would have been on the playoff roster is crazy. Yes, he had limitied playing time, but why would he be out on the ice as a liability when the score was close? There were definitely times he should have been out on the ice more i.e., when the game is out of reach, and people could make an argument for that. I've seen so many people call for Sims' head on this one and more than half of these people are the ones who care more about fighting than the score of the game.
I could see Sims coaching next year. And then depending how that season goes will determine if he gets to coach another year or not. The Komets went in thinking they knew everything about the CHL and it turns out they didn't. You can't put all the blame on Sims.
I don't want everyone to think I'm defending Sims and back everything he does 100%. I don't. But a lot of people live in this bubble thinking they know everything without being rational.
Hey Marko, keep posting. Your ideas and opinions are just as important as anyone else's.
Jon Mirasty was brought in when the club needed more goal scoring. His role was never going to be anything but an enforcer and maybe a publicity boost. Too bad, because I tried to watch him intently whenever he got ice time. I remember only two times where he took a penalty in the offensive zone when he didn't take someone with him to the penalty box. It seems as if the hockey watching world is divided on players like Mirasty. Some love them and some hate them.
I tried hard to observe his play and felt he didn't "hurt" the Komets. Still, I have posted before that of the two players the Komets would cut would one should be Mirasty. You have to go with your best seventeen skaters. The team has enough "toughness" with the addition of Krug and cannot afford to sit a potential goal scorer.
Those who are quick to give up on Sims should re-think their position. He knows more about hockey than all of us put together. Yet, I posted yesterday that I thought he should abandon his "trap", "europeon" style and go with the aggressive forecheck and backcheck style that quieted Colorado's offense druing the third period of Friday's game and the entire game on Saturday. Will he adjust? Only time will tell.
My "test" on Coach Sims will be his recruitment for next years team. David Franke will be included in that assessment also. I'm going to give them a short "pass" this year as I'm not sure anyone knew what to expect or even what the roster rules were going to be until after the union had agreed to them. However, it needs to be recognized that not one of the young players that came to training camp contributed to this team and almost all were cut before ten games had been played. I'd be interested to know who you all think has been Sims' best recruit during the last four years. Think about it.
I would also pound in stone to Columbus what I would expect from them, otherwise I would say "no thanks".
My 2 cents, thats all its worth also.lol Al Sims has no control what league the Komets are in,if he wants to coach here.
He is in a great minor league market,that alot of coaches would love to be in.
I believe he is treated very well by the Frankes,there are alot of unstable franchises out there,that he would not want to coach.
That being said he has done pretty well here,and I suspect he will be back,they can do alot worse than Al Sims.
I think there is a real good nucleus to work with next year from this years team.
As far as the negativity on these blogs,anyone that reads other pro teams blogs,this is normal,people just like to bitch,and thats ok by me,I like reading some of the sparring thats goes on here,The morans make it interesting.
Hey Blake how bout a new subject this week while everyone is waiting for the playoffs again.
How bout best and or worst Komet coaches of all time.
Thanks for the blog. Go Komets
Hodgey has been the best recruit, I'd think. No one knew who he was or what would he bring to the team that first year.
2nd would be a tie between Leo and Tab, assuming Sims had anything to do with them coming in.
I for one hope that Sims DOES return next season. Many people argue that his previous coaching record in the CHL is not very good...but it seems that many are perhaps overlooking the team management of those teams. If his hands are tied by management that doesn't want to go out and spend some cash and get good players, then he has to work with what he has. Fortunately, the Frankes are not afraid of going out and finding the players and paying them descently. I think that is part of the reason the K's have been so successful the past several years. Sims didn't make it to be a head coach in the NHL by smoke & mirrors. Yeah, ok, his record as head coach in the NHL wasn't very good...but it was San Jose when they sucked for years before and after. Take a look at Dave Farrish...his winning percentage as a head coach is just about the same as Sims' but he has never won a championship as a head coach at any level...but he has been an assistant coach for the Anaheim Ducks for the past 5 or 6 years. It's just my opinion that there are a lot of holes in people's arguement when they are calling for Sims to be fired. He's won 3 championships in a row and people were wanting him fired mid-season. (Yes, the K's won 3 straight championships in a 6 team league...blah, blah, blah, but all the other teams had to get out on the ice and play too. Again it goes back to a solid management base who cares and wants to win.) Sure, the K's could have fired Sims and brought in some schmuck to finish out the year, but I would venture to bet that they would be on the golf course today instead of gearing up for the playoffs and people on here would be complaining because they didn't make the playoffs.
As far as Mirasty goes...I'm glad he's gone. Did I enjoy it when he dropped the mits...absolutely. He just didn't bring anything to the table other than being a professional thug. What he brought wasn't what this team needed/needs. We need goal scoring and solid defense, neither of which he could provide. It was a waste of a roster spot, plain and simple and it caused the K's to waive legitimate players (ie Danko) that could have helped down the stretch. And for him to go out bad mouthing Sims is classless. And that's not just because I like Sims as a coach. I will give him credit though for giving some props to the organization and management. Sims has been around the block enough to see what is needed on the ice to succeed and win. And for somebody to come on here and say that Drouin and Curadeau are playing just because of hype is crazy. They have both had solid, successful years in the past and that is what led the K's to bring them back. Why wouldn't you want to bring back a guy that has finished the season 1st or 2nd in scoring on the team the past 2 years and 1st in scoring in the playoffs last year?
Hodgman was not really a recruit. Peter Sidorkowicz ( an ex-Komet goaltender ) was his coach at Erie, He thought Hodgman could use some professional experience and made the Franke's aware of him as a late season addition.
Leo and Tab were established IHL players.
Maybe I better make myself a little more clear. I'm talking about youngsters who are brought in to training camp to make the team.
Like Curadeau a few years ago, or Syroczynski who was brought in during Bingham's camp.
Mirasty was not the only one "wasting" a roster spot that could've been better used this season.
Just to throw a wrench into things. I think Coach Sim will win the cup next year. I think that because the Franke's will start the IHL3. Now go ahead and roast me but you will see. I have ben told by insiders from several teams that is what they are trying to do. As we know they have done it in the past.
That is no insider info. It is no secret that the common sense path for minor league hockey is to rezone based on region. That isn't a "Franke" thing. That is a "keep minor league hockey going in the 21st century" thing.
If it takes you a post of more than a 1000 words to explain why Sims stunk everywhere else, maybe it doesn't need an explaination?
As far as calling Mirasty a "professional thug" and in the same paragraph refering to Mironovic as a "legitimate" player... both have 3 career goals in the AA/AAA level. They are both role players. One's role is punching people so you use names like "thug"... The other one gets the charming title of "stay at home defenseman".
Al "Harbz" Sims?
GameMisconduct...your last comment there truly made me choke on my gum from laughing. Not sure why it struck me as so hilarious..but it did. Hey laughing..no matter what the reason is something I need more of. THANKS lol....Im a pretty easy audience.
You got me GM...I'm Al Sims. How did you ever figure that out!?
JM...which player do you honestly believe will actually have a bigger impact in winning you a game? A goon or a stay at home Dman? Last time I checked you don't score or prevent any goals by fighting. Trust me, I'm all for a good scrap. Mirasty was just SO one dimensional it was ridiculous and I don't see how it helped the team win any games. Sure, his fights may have pumped a bit of energy into the guys, but if the team needs someone to drop the mits to get you into the game, then there are bigger problems.
Since it seems that so many people are anti-Sims...who are some available coaches out there that you would want here that would actually consider coming here?
Steve Martinson,Bruce Richardson is 2 / do you really have a Richardson bobble-head? / I have 2 Mirasty CBJ jerseys,1 signed, 1 signed fight photo ,2 signed cards :)
Either Mirasty was sitting on the team bench, or in the Penalty box, he wasn't going to put up points. I could careless where he sits! Maybe if he wants to get more ice time, he can spend more time skating in the off season, and less time training UFC maybe? He has no business on a playoff roster.
168-212 out of the IHL enough said.
Harbz... as stated earlier in this thread... I would take Terry Ruskowski. He has CHL expierence, and has won Championships in this league. With Laredo going to Jr.'s... he'll be available. 8 of 9 seasons with a winning record. Playoffs in 7 of 9. Cups in 2 seasons. It appears that the Bucks management made a decision about their future and gave up on this season, his worst statistically.
Hold that thought JM Laredo is not going juniors and wil have a tenth season of pro hockey, no league was mention, speculation is SPHL. CHL is not out of picture either
Ruskowski is too good to be a SPHL coach. Everything I have read points at the Bucks not being back in the CHL, espcially with some of the other Texas teams going away.
Al's got another year on his contract.
I'm sure its iron-clad.