Muskegon sends Littlejohn, Lincourt and Lamontagne to Flint for Jorde and DiPace; Flint sends Rymsha to Port Huron for Zehr and Port Huron signs Smolinski. After coming oh-so close last season, the IceHawks are going for it this year.
I think the Komets are right in looking for an offensive defenseman, but that's usually the hardest thing to find. They might have better luck looking in juniors or college, but getting younger might not be the answer, either. This could be the ultimate challenge to their veterans and chemistry because both will be serverely tested. How bad do they want to win another title? That may determine everything.
Comments
I think Muskegon and Port Huron both made trades that bettered their clubs. I think both clubs got rid of problems with LJ and Zehr while Muskegon go a solid D-man in Jorde. I also think both teams have very tough and talented teams now that are play-off ready. They have experience up front and on the blue-line and for the time being on paper are much better than what the K's have on paper as a total team. I still don't think we match up all that well with either Muskegon or Port Huron in a series and I don't feel the K's will make any drastic moves to improve the club because there just is not much left out there in a 6 team league. But I would take Littlejohn, Zehr, and Lamontagne right now!!
Since amateurs salaries count against the cap, which is $13,000 per week, it could be difficult to get a quality amateur if a team is close to the ceiling.
I agree Toe, I don't think the Komets match up well against a reloaded Port Huron.
Smolinski has not skated yet this season. He played last year with Montreal (I think)? I am not sure if Littlejohn has reported to Flint yet. Flint has been very slow with the press release. He may be worried about getting paid. It is obvious Flint is getting rid of their high price players. I just hope they finish the season. On paper it sure looks like Muskegon and Port Huron got better. Remember the game is still played on the ice. We need Chaulker back to run the Power Play. The team has played fairly well with him out but they play better with him available.
Rymsha is the league leading scorer while with Flint; 32 goals and 62 points in 49 games and is now with Port Huron, that team is currently in 1st place; Flint is in 6th place.
I wasn't even factoring in Bryan Smolinski, who's only twice played below the NHL level since his debut in '93, 6 games for the IHL Detroit in '97-97 and 21 games for the UHL's Motor City in '04-05. He might not sign with Port Huron but he has been skating with the team in practice.
I'll take the komets with Boucher in net all playoffs long with no home ice advantage, numbers don't work this year with the injuries we've had, with all our injuries we should be no where near the top yet we are, get healthy, be road warriors win the cup! Game 7 turner cup finals in port huron Burgee will have a bus!
How many playoff series have Littlejohn's teams ever won? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Look it up.
Everyone is in love with him because he fights (yeah, guys who don't normally), but he always goes home early in the playoffs. There has to be a reason why a guy bounces around that much.
I wonder how the Komets will react if everyone picks Port Huron to beat them? Could be very interesting. Maybe that could be the thing that kicks them into gear.
How many play-off's games has Leo Thomas won or MVL? Players who found new life with the K's perhaps Littlejohn would find new life in K's uniform. Some the questions about Littlejohn are the same that were being asked about Leo..Littlejohn stats are just as good as if not better than Leo and MVL..He is tough, can score, and is not afraid to mix it up...I think he would make us a better club just like Leo and MVL have but that is all speculation. Right now on paper PH and Muskegon have better themselves I still don't think we match up all that well with either team in a play off series, but the game is not played on paper it is played on the ice. Right now we had better take care of business to position ourself better.
He's had 17 teams in 10 years! He'd have found it by now if he was ever going to. Do you realize he's only started and finished a season with the same team a couple of times? There must be something wrong going on there.
I heard the name Hodgemen come about. If his team was to make the playoffs, could he still decide to move up to the Komets?
Why would he want to do that? He chose to stay in the Junior league for a reason, what would be the motivation now to jump ship on his team that would make the playoffs? He only comes here or more likely to an AHL team when his team's season is officially over.
What Port Huron has done this week is exciting for the fans there. How cool would it be if the Komets would have traded for one of the best if not the best player in the league and then sign a top level NHL player less than one year removed from the NHL. We all would be going crazy patting each other on the back. We see Port Huron "going for it" and I can't see anyone beating them...or at least they have improved their chances of taking the cup. Kudos to them for making the moves. Flint is tossing in the towel as a franchise. Isn't it obvious now? Is that a strong ownership group leading that circus? I think the clowns took over and now the circus has turned into a joke. I hope the IHL has a plan to overcome what is happening in Flint. This summer ought to be very interesting as to how things will go...IHL or not...I know the Komets will be fine. I hope anyway.
Wonder if the Komets will try to counter what Port Huron has done...or are they standing pat and conceding this season for the betterment of the IHL?
Remember when the Komets started the season on fire and everyone questioned if Komet Domination was good for the league? Well....it isn't Komet domination....did the Komets take one for the league so to speak? I guess we will find out in the playoffs and in the off-season depending on how things shake-out?
Well it all doesn't matter now any way at this point there are no trades out there to be made. If the K's do bring in a junior player or a college player they would have to cut somebody becaue this year those players count towards the roster. If Chaulk can come back healthy that will give them an added boost and help our powerplay, but I just think we are still are going to lack the necessary components to win in the play-offs but time will tell. We lost to many pieces from last year's team and really didn't replace those pieces. Being in a 6 team league also handicaps you to make trades just not enough players.
Yup all the excitement in Port Huron paid off tonight with an announced attendance of 716...Wow..PH does want the cup and they made the moves to improve there chances..I really don't think they were that worried about FW but Muskegon and vice versa. The K's right now are also rans just kind of lurking in the dark and that is good thing, but are weaknest right now is our blue-line, power play, and lack of overall toughness and grit..
Wednesday night games....
Smolinski in a IceFlags uni....and the place will be sold-out this weekend.
I have a very hard time agreeing that we've lost too many from last years team, we brought back what? 11? How many more could you possibly want? If anything, I'd say we brought back too many and came in too confident on what happened LAST year.
The league is better talent wise this year and that's a very good thing.
We lost a good portion of our defense and difference makers up front from last year and it is not about which vets you bring back it is about the supporting cast!!
Sorry for being late to this party.....I work third shift now. I think that all of the clubs involved in this trade got better, EVEN Flint. I am glad to see Port Huron making the moves, but it does stink for Zehr. Hopefully their fans will come out and support their team with the new talent.
I really don't expect the Komets to make any moves.
Is anyone going to Flint on Friday? Depending on the weather, I just might go. Been there before, and had a nice time while meeting some nice people.
The other thing is it's always easy to say who you'd be willing to give up, but that doesn't mean your trading partner would be interested. You've got to give to get, and I really doubt the Komets will be willing to give up key pieces. Al Sims in particular likes to keep his roster together from start to post as much as possible so everyone improves.
I would say what the K's are doing by staying put isn't wrong, other than the guys that were traded, there really is not any real value out there in this league because it is a 6 team league. That is why the off season is so important in attracting the right players. While we do have some quality players this year, we have too many of the same and not enough diversity. Last year's team had diversity and we got lucky with a couple of rookies and picking up Hodgemen. For the pieces that we lost from last year I don't think what we brought in this year was as good as what we lost. While I think having Chaulk back will be huge, I don't think just having him alone will make that much difference in the overall scheme of things. We are still lacking on the blue-line, and toghness and grit up front. Guys willing to pay the price in front of the net to get the ugly goals and drive opposing teams defenses nuts. With what we have now on the roster Legualt, MacMillian, and Gravelle have to be those types of players, but that requirers regular shifts and ice time. I am not down on Legualt like everyone else seems to be because he has a legit injury fighter or non-fighter a shoulder injury like that is going to effect how you play. I think he can be a valuable asset. I also think Mac is deserving of a regular shift on the third line. Right now once everyone is healthy we are carrying to many forwards and somebody will have to go and if they do look to bring Hodgeman back then another guy who has played here all year would have to be cut.