From David Franke: ``I think what you are seeing in our league because of your hard
cap, we've actually got everybody slotted for X number of dollars. We have to
find guys who will play for the slotted area that we have in mind. That's one
reason why you're not seeing a rash of signings out of our league. We're
working with a hard cap and everybody is playing by the rules. It's just going
to take a while to get everything put together. We've got a lot offers out.''
``We still have a first line winger slot, and our second line will be a
line that can contribute scoring. We have some of these offers that also include
possible two ways with Bridgeport. It's all just going to take time to unfold and I think that's why you're seeing a slower pace. Everybody has to fit.''
``We're having discussions with some of the players that Domber has suggested, and with players that Richardson has discussed. It's a money situation and for some of these guys can they get
hocked up to a raining camp in the AHL in the fall.''
From Pat Bingham:
``We still have to do our due diligence. Usually guys want to play on a good team and usually they wouldn't recommend a friend just because he's a nice guy. They want somebody who will have their back.''
``You start to get a little bit antsy when guys aren't signing as quickly as you want but you just have to stay active on the telephone. Who can blame them they want to start in the AHL or the NHL? Those are the guys who are waiting for those opportunities first. We just have to be patient.''
``You want a team with depth. It's a challenge. It really is. We're all after the same guys and you're all trying to plug them into your template. You want excellence and a great team, but there should be a lot of parity in the league. The goal is to continue to get better throughout the year so by the end you have a team that can make a run at a cup. You're trying to create a masterpiece.''
Comments
I agree with everything they said above and it makes perfect sense. They have a plan and they are sticking to it.
Blake, do you think by late August early September that guys trying to hold out for more money will cave and sign or will we see a huge turnover of players in the UHL?
I have no idea Greg. It could go either way. The players have to keep in mind that there are so many fewer teams at the AA level. It's touchy.
It might force many vets with family considerations to retire and get "real jobs". I think this league is going to be alot younger across the board.
If it does, then doesn't that throw the "get rid of the vet limit" deal we were arguing about on another thread out the window?
Unfortunately that will never happen.
That's what I mean, now that the "Hard Cap" is in place, isn't it more likely that less vets will be signed beacuse no one wants to go over the limit.
Preaching to the choir.
I think the younger this league gets the better it will get. You will have guys who at least believe they have a chance to progress above the UHL. When you are 22-27 you can at least have that dream. Guys much over 28 know their window of opportunity to advance has passed. That doesn't mean they won't play hard but I think the younger guys have more to play "for".
In fact...I would love to see this league install a real vet cap. Say anyone over 400 games of pro experience at the start of the season can no longer play in the UHL. That would ensure turnover and give young players an honest shot.
I don't know about that Tony. I get a kick out seeing Guys like Kevin Kerr and Duhart play as long as they can. Besides if that were the case, Dupuis isn't here and guys who might like to finish out their career's here wouldn't be able to do that. I think the system that's here know may work. We still the guys that have been around forever to provide some sort of leadership.
Don't get me wrong, I like seeing some of those guys too. What I don't want to see is what we saw at the end of the IHL days. Remember a bunch of older guys going through the motions? STILL shaking my head how guys like Selmser, Sorochan and Reirden got a sniff of the NHL with Reirden actually playing quite a few games. Then there is Andre Roy.....well he will be out of the league in the next year or two.
hey i saw where you can bid on a jeff worlton game worn jersey at the stockton thunder website!!!!!!!!!
That's where the cap will root out the guys in it to just make a paycheck and those who love the game. The IHL became a joke and the KOmets should have gotten out a lot sooner than they did. But I think we still need the grizzled vets who have been around to come down and finish off their careers if they so choose.
Then we would have missed the MiG line.
Yeah, that was a great season that ended in a first round debacle to Cleveland. Am I wrong or did the K's have a lot of injuries going into that playoff season.
Bawa, Boyce, Batherson all out with concussions, I think Soupy was out too for some reason. Didn't Racine get hurt, too?
Yes I think he did. Was that the year Scott Lagrand was the backup at the end?
As far as having the vets I know that there would be a downside to not having them. It just depends on who the vets are. I think you are right the cap will (and already has) rooted out some guys who were looking for the big paycheck.
I happen to enjoy watching the youth. Milam,Wiggins, Kostichka and others brought a "different" energy with them. They may not have been the most talented on the ice but everyone took notice of them when they came on the scene. That is the energy I see on the ice during most OHL games. Would it translate over a full season in the UHL? I don't know. But it is at least worth throwing out there as an idea.
the ihl became a joke for two reasons, the expansion into big cities caused an escalation in player salaries that were the highest avg of any minor league. the big city owners overpaid to get big talent in so they could compete not with other ihl teams but with the nhl. secondly, the higher prices tricled down to players who should have retired but didnt. they were the ones who went thru the motions and collected good checks while slacking off. the small mkt teams allowed the big teams to take over the league and theydid what they wanted to do until they started losing big money and then they just said to heck with it and folded the league. i think the uhl should raise the cap a little more and do away with the vet limit. impose a rookie minimum and see how things settle out. weed out bad owners and bring in new ones until the league finds what the limits are. when this is decided then build from there. the ihl did this at first but then got away from their midwestern roots and premise of exciting and affordable hockey. the ihl was the best minor league in hockey until they tried to compete with the nhl and become what they werent. the uhl, with the right tooling and right cities and right owners could become wht the ihl once was. if they continue to settle to be just a low level minor league then a lot of the fun will go out of going to games and the uhl will fail.
I agree with that, I think that's why the UHL has the good idea that you must dress 3-4 rookies per night.
Okay chuckitt, what cities would those be? THe UHL has gone through a mirad already and some of the ones we have now aren't on the best of footing. One thing we are forgetting is that they need a fan base to be successful as well, and so far, for some reason, most of the cities that have come and gone, haven't been able to tap into it.
I would like to see how this year plays out before I would agree to raising the cap again. We don't have the rosters set as it is so We don;t know quite yet who has decided not to come back and who has decided to take the big paycheck. And as someone else pointed out, the UHL lost 6 teams so jobs are at a premium.
Another downfall of the IHL...Teams like the Vipers gave away 5000+ tickets to every game. So why would anybody spend money on tickets knowing they could easily get in for free.
Look for the Komets to annouce the signing of LW DANIEL GONEAU.
Daniel Goneau
Left Wing
Born Jan 16 1976 -- Montreal, PQ
Height 6.00 -- Weight 194 -- Shoots L
Selected by Boston Bruins round 2 #47 overall 1994 NHL Entry Draft
Selected by New York Rangers round 2 #48 overall 1996 NHL Entry Draft
Goneau wwill be a veteran and has appeared in the IHL, AHL, NHL and Europe.
His NHL Totals: Games 53, 12-3=15
Is this TRUE, Warrior?
I think you can pretty much forget about "The Chant."
Many church groups told the Komets they wouldn't come to the games as long as the chant was being played.
Why was it brought back for the playoffs? To spice up the atmosphere a little. And since the schedule of the games and the short lead times doesn't allow for as many groups to attend, there werewn't as many church groups.
Once again, the moral minority religious right imposes their will on the majority.
its not the cities that were at fault, its the ownership groups. the right owners can and will be successful. look at the komets. welker and bob britt werent right, but hte frankes were. same city different owners different results. there are still some cities out there that could have hockey, again with the right owners and $$ behind them. how about the south bend area? indy? akron? lansing? pontiac? auburn hills? windsor? just takes the riht owners with the right promotions and some bucks.
I disagree, Skate. THE CHANT is not gone, only the background music. My hope that the majority that is being shat on by this decision finds away to voice their louder opinion, and if they do so using the word SUCKS, then so be it.
Windsor would be interesting. The barn is old and there has been an ongoing battle for the last 10 years or so to get a new arena built. I don't know if folks in town would take to a team besides the Spitfires.
Auburn Hills...maybe if it was marketed right. Put a team like the Mechanics were last year (fun to watch) with proper ownership and marketing and you might have something.
Pontiac there is no place to play.
Gary/South Bend is interesting. The Gary baseball team is averaging 3500 fans which is near the bottom of the northern league but if that number could be translated into hockey, they might be able to make it.
I still think a team could make it in Madison if it was done right.
Akron...wow...they haven't had pro hockey there in YEARS AND YEARS. I don't even know if they have an arena.
Chuckitt: Such intelligent postings. Now, if only you would learn capitalization and punctuation.
skate, yanks 4 sox 3 capitalize that dude
That would def be a nice signing if it comes true Skate