Al Sims isn't raising the roof yet, but he was not too happy with tonight's performance, a 4-1 loss to Dayton. Despite 45 shots, the Komets could only manage Sean O'Connor's first goal of the season, and that came when the score was already 3-0.
``It's just the same old struggle to score,'' Sims said. ``We made some bad mistakes defensively that cost us a couple of goals.''
Did his team have good chances to score? ``Yes. We had four power plays in the third period and only scored on one of them.''
``Reiter played really well, stopped a penalty shot and a breakway. He didn't have a chance on the three goals.''
Asked what Dayton looked like, Sims said, ``Small and fast just like we saw in the exhibition games. Nothing really surprised us.''
The Komets play at Evansviille on friday
Comments
They need White Castles on the bur ride to Missouri. LOL
Wasn't Curadeau supposed to pick up the slack for the absence of Chaulk?
33 shots (leads team), just 1 goal, 3 assists
minus-9 +/- (worst on the team by 3)
I may not be an expert, but that looks like a whole lotta suck. Either light a fire under him or put someone on the top line who won't kill us.
He can be a very good player, but I couldn't help but feel it was it unrealistic and unfair to him to expect Curadeau to fill Chaulk's skates. Curadeau always struck me as having more of a "I'm a star" mentality (and with good reason), while Chaulk was the kind of low key, hardworking player who made everyone else better just by being out there. I'm sure there are players out there who come closer to fitting that mold than Curadeau does, and that's something the Komets desperately need right now. But that's not to say that Curadeau can't be a great asset to the team in his own right.
Hit Somebody Curadeau was the 1st center in kalamazoo and had a ``A`` on his jersey so i think he do have everything to lead that team. It look like something going on inside that team just saying
I said 4 points this weekend=I was wrong maybe lucky to get 2, this is sickening. I try to sell tickets & nobody wants them!!!!!
With Missouri's speed and forechecking, tonight will be a tough game. Let's hope they're ready
Oh, the humanity......
I'm curious about something so if someone could help me remember I would appreciate it. When did the coach or GM say they expected Curadeau to fill Chaulk's skates? His position as center on a certain line is entirely different, IMO, then "filling his skates" as a leader, motivator, and asst. coach. Expecting someone to step up and do it has been mentioned, I just don't remember them saying they expected Curadeau to do it. I think I've only seen that mentioned on here by some of us posters. In fact I think more was being said about Thomas taking a leadership role.
I also seem to remember last season when Colin came under fire here because in the opinion of some posters he was passing too much and not shooting more himself.
Just wondering, it's quite possible either Al or the GM did say they expect him to be the second coming of Chaulk and I don't remember, those things do happen.
What ever the intent was, it isn't working as of yet though I'll agree. It will be interesting to see what Al's next move is, what changes he'll make to jell this group of hockey players into a team.
I love how history revises things.
Chaulk has become even more angelic since his departure, the guy didn't walk on water. Great player, good leader... Let's just lay off the worship...
Curdy isn't the only problem here... Where's the contributions from Schrock and Warner, after all the whole off season was spent by some bloggers attempting to convince the rest of us that they were AHL caliber.
I still have yet to understand why a team that can't score has both Rechlicz and Legault playing.
We can blame the whole thing on Curdy, but I really don't understand how giving the coach and GM a free pass happens. There have been some really questionable personel moves this season.
When you're tied for dead last in the league, theres a lot more than one guy to blame.
We're tied for last?? Well, that's better then I thought we were.
What's the worst start for a K's team in there history Blake after 10 games?? This one might be competing for that honor.
I heard on 1380 local sports talk w/ Jim Shevlin (sp) and Franke was on. He's not worried, both the Super Bowl winning Saints and Stanley Cup Champions Blackhawks are also struggling....so great franchises everywhere are off to bad starts. Of course the Hawks are around .500 and the Saints are 6 - 3. Hey, at least he thinks highly enough of his AA hockey team to put them in such company.
Franke said he wasn't worried? Well, he will be worried when the gate receipt reflects the K's poor play. Being in last place is never fun. But the lackluster play, no scoring, silly mistakes, poor passing, lack of teamwork, no enthusiasm, no checking, no K crowd at the opponent's net, no leadership on or off the bench -- those are the things that are getting me down in the mouth. Come on guys, don't wait till Christmas and then expect a miracle.
SO IS WINNING THE (TURNER CUP)=THE STANLEY CUP or LOMBARDI TROPHY????? I NEVER KNEW KIDS GREW UP WANTING TO WIN THE (TURNER CUP)
They aren't even close to worst 10-game start, Chaulker. They were 0-8-1 in 1994.
That's out of 9 games not 10..
The Komets replaced the coach Bruce Boudreau (15-21-0-3) mid-season and lost in the 1st round of the playoffs to Peoria 3-1.
1996-97 was the worst record in franchise history 28-47-7. Started off with Dave Farrish (6-13-0-5) and ended with John Torchetti (22-34-0-2) as the coach.
Farrish is currently an assistant coach with the Anaheim Ducks
Torchetti is currently an assistant coach with the Atlanta Thrashers
Boudreau is currently coach of the Washington Capitals.
Whether someone said Curadeau was thought to be filling Chaulk's skates or not.....
The fact is, Curadeau is playing top-line as the center.
This means he is expected to lead the offense. He is expected to score goals. He is expected to win faceoffs. He is expected to pass the puck and direct the offense and the powerplay. Probably expected to lead the Penalty Kills some too. Probably expected to be a leader in general.
We can all sit here and place blame where-ever we want at this point, because they are struggling, and they have lost to Evansville, Quad City, Dayton, and Bloomington, and also to Rapid City and Arizona which both seem to be just average CHL teams so far this year.
My point, all though it may not be one single thing or one single player or one single coach.....there obviously are problems as to why they are losing, and in some games have looked un-competitive for periods, or the whole game as it seems.
Curadeau is a great player at this level, no doubt about it.
Is he being asked to do something he cannot do?
Should he just go back to the wing, and find someone else to be the top-line center....I would have to say yes to this.
And for those who are defensive about Curdy being questioned here, I don't question him as a player, I just think he is out of position right now, and he is not a topline center.....he is a finishing wing.
If Curadeau was a plus 2 and had 5 goals and 5 assists right now.....anyone want to guess what our record would???
Top player on your team on the Top line as the Top Center.....obviously on the ice more than anyone on your roster other than the goalie.....
How important is that position?
Those who hate Colin Chaulk, or the very thought of him need to ask yourself how important he was to this team when he was here.....
And look at this team now and realize how important it is to have a Topline Center who can play at the level Mr. Chaulk played at.
Remember how Bruce Richardson was supposed to make us all forget about Colin Chaulk???
How'd that work out?
He couldn't hold Chaulkers jock.
I do agree there are others that need to step up and play better hockey.
But I contend if your best player, top-signed player, and Topline Center is producing......
We wouldn't be having this conversation, and everyone would be talking about who we were going to whip up on next.
We need a topline center.
Bottomline.
It's a different league, you can't say Colin would be on the same level. Look at the rest of our IHL all-stars and see how they're doing in this league.
We need a younger version of Chaulk who is used to playing by NHL rules but every team at this level is looking for the same
I am not saying it has to be Colin Chaulk.....
A player of Chualk's Caliber........most definitely.
Curadeau is a different style of player. They shouldn't be compared.
One is a Top-line Center, the other is a winger.
The Komets did not bring in anyone to fill that top line center position, and just thought that putting Curadeau there would be the answer.
They rolled the dice....and so far.....well, they are losing.
Can they scramble and find a topline Center???
That is the question of the hour.
I am sick about hearing how great this league is. That is such BS it makes me sick. These are AA lifers, pure and simple. No better.
Ok, I did look.......
Now tell me who is #2....and where did he play last year?
http://chl.stats.pointstreak.com/scoringleaders.html?leagueid=12&seasonid=5902
I am not saying Chaulk would be #2 in the league stats.....but he could be.....we don't know.
Doesn't change the fact that the Frankes + Sims did not get a Topline Center for this team.
Whether his name is Lindberg, Chaulk, Yzerman, Chin, Corpse.....doesn't matter......they didn't go get that guy.
hmmmmmm never played has a winger in his Life
Thanks Blake, I wasn't sure.
It is AA hockey Dan, and whether or not this league is better then the last version of the IHL doesn't matter, what does matter is that the K's current league has different rules and played the game differently then what the IHL did, so they had to adjust. Did they make the correct adjustments and get the players capable of the play?
Regardless, there's only a few things that they can do at this point, get better w/ what they got, trade for better players, or release and reload for next year.....I suppose they could lure players from overseas to find some talent, but I'm not sure they have that kind of cash to do so. I'm not even sure what they need at this point???? 3-4 players to score more goals??? Seems that they do have those types of players, but they aren't scoring.
I didn't know how this K's team was going to fair this season, I wouldn't of guessed that they would be off to this bad of a start though if you bet me. I was figuring a mid-seed in the playoff's I suppose. I hope they turn it around and get some W's....this weekend would of been a nice start.
Bring Duffus out of retirement to play goal. That will fix everything.
Ummmm......No.
Goaltending is one of the areas we are ok at.
The winning goal for Evansville was scored how last night?
But I do agree with you Hit, our goal tending is probably as solid as anyone's at this point.
I wonder how long until the "C" is sewed onto a different sweater?
Dont worry about attendance JB because now that the K's are losing, local Cubs fans will start filling the place......... :)
If they dont come out like a cornered badger tonight, then we know we have a problem, IMO...
Off to a good start....K's up 1-0 in the first...
1-1 after 1
Still tied up, 1-1, second intermission.