Just because I'm so busy I can only spend a few minutes right now.
1. Duhart is thrilled be picked by FW: "I love the franchise, the rink and I love playing there. One thing my wife and I were talking about was the winning tradition there. It's making the playoffs and making a run at it.''
2. Komets President Michael Franke, "We're looking for some character and personality and I have felt for the past few years that our team lacked personality. He will bring some of that to our team. He can just flat-out score, and we need some offensive help.''
3. Kevin Kaminski, former Missouri coach on:
Kevin Reiter: He's a great kid with a great work ethic. He's a competitor and tries to better himself every day. That's a great pick.
Brad MacMillan: He showed signs of coming around and I think what held him back was the first two years he was injured. He's gritty, he's tough and likes to crash and bang and go to the net. He's a 5 p.m. player in that he's not scared or running away from traffic.
Paul Falco: I thought he played pretty well for us when he came in. He shows some signs of some skill and has some grittiness to him. He needs to work on his work ethic.
4. Veteran status from Michael Franke: "Our philosophy is, you know what, if the rule stays at seven and we have eight or nine, they can fight it out at training camp.''
5. Something tells me the Komets are not done with goaltending.
Comments
Looking for character? Galbraith had character and they complain about PIM's. There isn't anyone with character that isn't in a nursing home?
This is an opportunity that seldom knocks on the doors of a minor league team....the chance to have not one, but TWO top flight goaltenders on the roster. We have always been lucky to have really good goaltending, but, the back-up has always been.....eh, average....at best. I think that we will see David Franke truly mastering "the art of the deal" this summer.
Lets just wait any see if any of these guys drafted by the Komets actually do sign.
If they want to play in the UHL next season, they really have no choice. The Komets will retain their rights throughout the season. Now the negotiating begins.
boy, from the sounds of it..Jim Duhart will be a Komet next season...wow...I never thought I would see that..in freakin credible...
I LOVE IT!
I never thought Scott Gruhl would be a Komet either......
And everyone who HATED Gruhl all jumped on the bandwagon!
as they will with Duhart
It really isn't hard to cheer for a guy like Duhart if you think about it. I mean, he isn't a wife beater, or really any kind of a troublemaker off the ice. On the ice he annoys the heck out of the opposing team and while they are busy trying to figure out how to get him back, he scores goals.
Sure there are some issues in his past with him not getting along with coaches/teamates but we have only heard one side of those stories.
Jim Duhart is a winner. He might not be an angel but the hockey rink isn't church!
P.S. I think Fort Wayne should give him a LOUD ovation on opening night to make him feel welcome. He IS a human being and as much as he had played up to the antagonism of the fans, I am sure some things he heard probably hurt him. A couple of years back a guy sitting next to me was screaming at him during warmups calling him a petafile. I am sure he has heard worse over the years but as a human being that has to get to you after awhile. It will be nice for him to have the biggest crowds in the league making him feel welcome.
I think its funny for all the fans out they to think the Frankes are the masters at dealing, well perhaps they are. If anyone actually thinks Jimmy Duhart will play for the Komets, I will buy your season tickets. Its the same smoke the Frankes were pushing last year (more physical team) . Its just more hype to turn out attention away from cutting players and taking advange of contracts, like Caulk. When all is said and done its just really about how many people you can get into a building and the BS you spread to get them there.
Do you really think they would have drafted him without perhaps checking with him to find out if he would report? WIth all of the talent out there do you think they would have thrown away a second round pick? Ok Ice Cream Man, let me ask you, why WOULDN'T he play in Fort Wayne?
Well I'm not sure what to say. First of all I don't mind the draft results. Reiter is a solid goalie in this league but we will need another one that can battle him for the #1 position. Second, I think the Duhart pick up is interesting. The fans will love him here IF he plays here. My only thing is that I don't think Duhart and Puhalski will match well.
That will be interesting. I would say that I don't think they would have taken him if they didn't at least believe the two could work together. Keep this in mind. Not only may Duhart play here, he might be the next CAPTAIN!
I would not be surprised at all if Duhart is signed by the end of July. Fort Wayne isn't that far from his home in Flint. I was one of those types who hated him, but I will say this, he is the finisher the Komets didn't have last season...
I think that adding characters is great...we have been chirping about this all season...huh, the Frankes must read your site Blake. Maybe we can give them a few more ideas.....lol
Uh...sign Chaulk.....bring in a physical team that is fun to watch and isn't afraid of anyone and can score. Sounds great. Duhart a Komet is one thing Tony, please not the captain...that is Chaulkers job.
Reiter will be a nice backup to Robinson next year or Lawson. Just my opinion.
The cancer known as Duhart will infect the Fort Wayne Otters, er....Komets (if he signs or stays around longer to get the 2 goals he needs), it couldn't have happened to a more deserving team. The other picks I won't comment on because they don't amount to a hill of beans.
What can I say about Duhart... except I bet the last half of the Duhart tee shirts in section 227 disappear rather quickly if he signs. All the problem with him was back from when he refused to sign last time. If he comes, great.... if not, it takes the focus off the rest of the resigns.
The players selected do have a choice. The Komets would not retain their rights for the entire season, only for 120 days from the beginning of the season, then they can sign anywhere they want.
After reading this mornings article it seems to me the Duhart IS lean toward signing wiht the Komets. I don't have much of a problem wiht this except fo the fact that the Frankes have not talked about defense much and that was a big issue last year. They did get a pretty good goalie in Reiter and a solid forward in Elich, but we need blueline help and there's been no talk about that and that worries me a little.
Well its been almost 24 hours and Jimmy hasn't scored a goal yet, whats wrong with the man?
New Chant:
Du Shoots,
Du Scores!
Ice Cream Man - I'm saving your message. I'll take free season tickets. everyone else, jump in too. Ice Cream Man is going to be peddling his push ups and popsicles til dark this summer so he can pay for all those tickets!
When he signs I bet you don't acknowledge how wrong you were. You'll just come up with something else to complain about.