The Komets announced Wednesday that Brandon Warner has agreed to terms and will join the Komets for his fourth straight season.
Warner, 27, will be returning to the Fort Wayne blueline for his fourth consecutive league crown. The Fort Wayne native out of Huntertown passed a career high 19 assists and added four goals for 23 points in 63 games last year and appeared in all 12 post-season games contributing six assists and eight penalty minutes in Fort Wayne's successful defense of the IHL Turner Cup Championship.
Warner made his pro debut in Fort Wayne in 2007 after skating four seasons of NCAA play with Michigan State from 2003 to 2007. Prior to spending time as a Spartan, the defenseman appeared for two seasons with the Pittsburgh Forge of the North American Hockey League winning the Junior "A" National Championship in 2003.
The Fort Wayne 2010-11 preseason roster of 22 includes 11 forwards, 10 defensemen and one goaltender. 11 players are returning to Fort Wayne for a run at another championship. Nine have won multiple crowns with the Komets.
Comments
OK. I figured that Warner had signed and was just waiting for it to be announced.
His signing means that the K's now have 10 defensemen signed for this season. Wow, over two months to go before opening night and Fort Wayne has positioned themselves well with their defensive signings.
Camp is going to be very competitive and (if you plug Cescon into Bertrams place) all of last years' defensemen are back.
Sniper, goaltender ( Rob Nolan please), and a legitimate tough guy (now most likely a forward) will complete this team.
Most likely we will see some more forwards signed as with twenty-one skaters on the roster and ten being defensemen the ratio is off a little.
I'm thinking if Pawlowski is skilled enough to make the team he'll move to forward since he has previous expierence there. If he can play both, all the better. We've been told over and over again how valuable that makes a player.
I'm kind of mixed on Warner's signing...to me, it kind of seems like the K's and a bunch of people are all hung up on the fact that he's a local kid and they're all excited about that. Then there's the other part of me that says he's been a piece of the championship puzzle for the past 3 season, so that counts for something. Since he's back...fine...had he walked...fine too.
As far as goaltenders go, I would like to see them get Rob Nolan...but I'm not too worried. Boucher can carry the load and they K's have always had pretty good luck getting a serviceable back-up. Since it seems that the K's are up against the cap, I would almost doubt that Nolan will sign...but I have no idea. I wonder what Kevin Reiter is up to these days. Reiter and Boucher proved to be a pretty good tandem. Maybe we can get Antti Niemi since Chicago let him walk after arbitration and went out and signed Marty
Turco!! Haaa! I think it's kind of funny how a guy goes from making a paltry $800K to winning an arbitration hearing for $2.75M after "leading his team to the Stanley Cup". Look at the defense that was in front of him....he had some help for sure. I think it was a good move by Chicago, I'm betting Niemi is a one-hit-wonder...but I've been wrong before. Either way, I think they actually have an upgrade in net with Turco.
I guess we should all be fired up about this signing. I learned on yesterday's thread that we will win the championship this year because Warner is on the team and he is a winner.
I guess it isnt worth talking much about since hes so awesome (he can play either forward or defense!) he'll sign a NHL contract by early November anyhow. If he plays for two different teams during his meteoric rise, are both teams guaranteed a championship??
I hope my sarcasm hasnt hurt the feelings of any Sensitive Sallies or Hypocritical Harolds...
Reiter was playing in England last I knew. In a league with Danny Stewart, Bruce Richardson (whose a coach there now), Kevin St. Pierre, and a couple other ex-Komets.
If Warner is healthy (and I am sure he is or they wouldn't have signed him) then I don't mind this. I see the flaws in his game but like every player at this level there are going to be flaws...
I can say this, and kill me if you must, I saw captain Guy cost us more than one game last year with giveaways or loose pucks he could not get to. I don't remember a late Warner giveaway resulting in the puck being in the back of the net and he was out there in those situations at times.
RK... i never claimed to be an NHL all star, but i have played the game for more than 40 yrs, been coached by greats like thornsen, long, waslawski , van boxmeer. i dont think you have to play the game to understand it. but when i hear people like you criticizing these young kids here laying there bodies on the line night in and night out for an avg of approximately 500.00 week i seriously doubt your understanding of the game. im not even a huge brandon warner fan, but he does bring a champions attitude and some pretty good hockey talent to this level. think its coincidence being part of 5 championship teams? its ok to blog and question a players season, but the personal attacks on a young local talent that has helped this franchise to 3 straight championships shows no class. im sure your a season ticket holder and you have a right to your opinion, but the people i attend the games with and are members of the hockey world laugh at fans such as yourself. and as far as playing the game, blake has probably not played, but has a great understanding of the game and is highly regarded by hockey people because of his knowledge and tact. jungle monkey, i believe it was iowa who was heavily looking at BW just before the hip injury.
Can we go out and get Pascal Morency to be our "tough" guy? He was so much fun to watch!
Brian: It sounds like youre pretty old and appears that your tired eyes have failed to see a couple of things so Ill help you out. First, I never attacked Warner, I attacked his game. I even said how Im sure he is a nice guy and I enjoy listening to him on the radio. Secondly, you may notice Im not the only person stating we could do without him.
Thats a cute note about the people you sit with. Can you imagine my concern??
I think every one of us will be tickled if we see Brandon Warner play the game like he did in the playoffs.
If injuries were the problem, then I hope he's healthy so he can get off to a great start.
Last year he started off on the injured list, but I read where he said he wasn't hurt. So...which is it? Were the Komets playing roster games so they could keep an extra player, and if they did why would they choose Warner to be on the list?
Brian, you seem like you're in the know on all things Brandon Warner, so can you help me with that question?
I've got no dog in this fight but I was curious then and am still curious.
Sometimes it is hard for a local player to make good or ever be good enough in their hometown. Ron Ullyot comes to mind. Then again others like Colin Chin (skill and scoring) and most recently Kaleigh Shrock (fighting, and scoring) seemed to have made themselves fan favorites quickly.
It isn't always fair, but it is what it is.
In all fairness, I have butted heads with RunningKomet before so he/she is not my best friend. That being said I haven't seen anything resembling a personal attack in RKs comments. Being critical of the errors a player makes is not personal. RK hasn't called Warner any names, insulted his family, his female companion or anything of the sort. RK has been critical of Warners ability as a hockey player. That is not a personal attack...
All of the above being said, if I missed a personal attack please point it out and I will apologize.
Mr. Snuff: Agreed, we butted heads quite a bit but for the past few weeks, I have to admit Ive found myself agreeing with what youve blogged more times than not.
Ive said time and again that all of you experts on here know more about hockey than I do. However, I dont buy for a second that I dont know when a guy has no physical presence in a physical game, or that I cant tell if someone gets beat or turns over the puck.
I do not have to like any player. Some of you do not get that. I also get tired of the idea that someone from OUTSIDE of Fort Wayne must automatically be loved. By the way, Im a big Schrock fan. I just want the best players for our team, regardless of where they are from.
I thought that was probably the case when BLB mentioned recently that Warner had taken over teaching Chaulk's class at Canlan. I asked her if that meant he had re-signed, but she hadn't thought to ask him.
RK.. im actualy 45.. started skating at age 2 thanks to my father who played the game, so my old eyes have not decieved me. the people i attend games with are retired professional hockey players, college players and people who DO understand the game. we are still all part of the hockey fraternity and definately have a good understanding of the game. and as far as PERSONAL , im stating that as a hockey player, not his personal life , apologies for the misuse of the word personal.
i do not know everything brandon warner, but, i think i can answer the question about him being sidelined. first they wanted him to be 100 % come playoff time. his surgery was a major surgery, it does take time . second.. brandon is in an ideal situation here . he has a degree from mich state, he has great family support and is living a dream . im sure he has definately helped the organization in regards to roster moves , without a doubt. these are the things , whether BW or other players , that are such an important part of the puzzle in winning championships . i usually dont respond and comment on these blogs, although i do read everyday. all the negativity and slams on players though became to much not to comment. the slams on the frankes also amaze me, even though im not a huge fan of them, all they have done is resurrect a great franchise.. increase attendance.. and win chapionships... and keep hockey in ft wayne
Iowa. Thanks, Brian. I appreciate you refreshing my memory.
no problem JM.. i might be wrong there, but thats what came to mind.. i remember reading it on this blog or cohns
teresa215...I'll agree, Morency was fun to watch at times, but I don't think he could or should be brought back to be our 'tough' guy. In my opinion, Mac was tough as nails and tougher than Morency...and even Mac had his hands full sometimes with some of the big boys in the league. I'll give Morency credit, he always busted his cojones and he wouldn't back down. Heck...he even left the bench to fight Dion Phaneuf last preseason (and subsequently got suspended by the NHL). I think the K's need a bigger body to fill the role as tough guy. The way it's shaping up, it may be tough-guy-by-committee.
oh.. by the way RK.. ever hear of a guy named nick lidstrom? while watching a game last year(right before the playoffs) the announcers had a stat that even amazed me. we are talking a norris trophy winner several times and considered at this point to be one of the greatest blueliners in the history of the game, know how many body checks he was credited for the season? 17! not comparing any komet to nick, but just so you understand ( and i love physical hard hitting as much as anyone on this blog) that its not part of everyones game and it doesnt have to be to be successful
Great Oracle of Hockey, I mean brian: Like I said, old. Im glad youve finally realized Warner is not top-level NHL talent. Has he ever done wrong in your eyes? Since he is obviously a blessing from God to the Komets, and all of us, why isnt he on the ice as much as Guy or Mironovich? If you look at the article about the most important, accurate gauge of talent and performance in the next thread (+/-), Warner should never leave the game!
RK.. you have a great talent for putting words into other bloggers comments.. like i stated before its quite obvious you dont know much about hockey! ive never claimed warner to be great, never claimed him to be nhl talent, never said he was god to the komets.. heck, not even on my favorite list, but... he is a good hockey player who has played a very important role in helping the home team to 3 successful championships.. his obvious stats (in which blake tried to point out) speak for themselves. he will, again, be an integeral part of hopefully another championship.. oh and by the way.. my old arse could still skate circles around you!
not if he trips you or slash you behind the knee :)
mightbite.. im pretty sure i can still handle myself in that dept as well.. never have had a problem taking care of myself on the ice.. thing is he probably would have an advantage with 2 blades on each skate. lol
brian--I am pretty sure I know who you are. If I am correct you could and mostly likely can still take care of yourself. I consider just about anyone who played the game at almost any level to be fairly tough individuals. It is after all a very physical game. Your posts show great insight and complete knowledge of the game. I just refuse to bad mouth any player. Past, present or possible in the future. I have to much respect for the guys who lace them up. Thank you for your comments. Please continue!
Sorry Burgee-Smooooooooch!
This signing doesn't bother me. If anything, it makes this team better because a bunch of guys are going to have to come into camp in shape and ready to play hockey, or they get cut.
Guys, instead of bashing BWs, lets look at this team.
We are loaded.
We still most likely have a Goalie, A Sniper or Big Guy to sign.
I am excited.
I hope BWs has a great camp, makes the team, and plays great offense on the BlueLine mixed in with great Defense.
I have been critical before, but I am actually rooting for him.
Go Komets.
Skating circles? Here I assumed you played hockey. Ladies and gentlemen: Brian Boitano!!! (Sorry bri, probably spelled your last name wrong)
Bottom line, IMO... If we get the Warner who played the last few games of the regular season and playoffs last year, then this is a good signing...... If we get the Warner from the bulk of his first 3 years here, then this is a poor signing...
Good luck to Warner in camp.
Disclaimer: I only played pond hockey so consider my opinion at your own risk!!!!!
RK, everyone who's older than you was your age once. And in many ways, they still feel like they are. Don't worry. You'll understand when you're older... ;)
I played pond hockey & JR. A hockey, I would slash ya behind the knee :)
mightbite... if you did that.. i would hope you pack a lunch because it would be a really long night for you :)