John Dunbar and Ron Cramer are not coming now. Corey Elkins is going to Finland, Nick Schaus has been recalled to Norfolk and Daniel Maggio is going to Bridgeport. Jeremy Gates, Brayden Metz and Paul Cintala are here now.
It's kind of tough to get more because no one is talking until the NHL contract is ratified.
Comments
Blake means Peter Cintala of the Dayton Demonz <----what a dumb name
Any reason the Komets aren't interested in Ahmed Mahfouz from Dayton?
He has 69 pts in 29 games and is a +34.
Cintala has been sent back to Dayton, but defenseman Nick Wheeler has been called up from Dayton.
Immigration issues. For a player to come to the ECHL and play immediately, they have to have a pre-existing P1 VISA from an existing ECHL team in place. Otherwise, the ECHL team has to apply for it or the player has to go to the border, etc. By the time the new Visa comes in, they may not be needed any more. That's why the Komets and other teams are sticking to American-born players or players in their training camp who already have P1 Visas from that specific team.
Blake....how will all of these call ups effect the ECHL Allstar Game ?
It may not. I asked Mags about this last week, and he said he believes the AHL AS game is at the same time as the ECHL AS game so he could still play. I haven't had a chance to look that up to confirm it and I'm late for an appt. though.
The ECHL and AHL all star games are different days!!
Are these players refusing their assignment to Fort Wayne? Assignment may not be the right word. Are they refusing a promotion to Fort Wayne?
I undertsand the fluidity of the situation. But, and it's a big but, are the Komets looking at the CHL at all? Europe? The NHL agreement is going to hurt many teams in terms of re-stocking the AHL affiliates, but it seems to be hurting the Komets more than I thought it would. I mean, quite frankly, that when "A" players refuse to come here there is something wrong. The other day I suggested they look at Mickey Lang from Quad City. It got no response at all.
I understand the veteran rule and all, but bringing "A" players up doesn't load me with a lot of confidence.
I know it's a tiny snapshot, but last evening's game didn't overflow with offense.
I have said and written many times this year that I wasn't sure what I was watching. The ECHL was loaded with "AAA" players. It skewed my judgement on how the Komets stacked up. Now I face the same problem except in the other direction. With so many "A" players, again I'm not sure what I'll be watching.
I hope the Franke's are burning up the phones, because there is one thing I am sure . As a season ticket holder, I'm not going to keep paying these higher prices for a team stocked with "A" players.
Felt better to get those thoughts out. The next two weeks will reveal a lot. The Franke's have a chance to get some work done, but they can't get too comfortable because everyone else is doing the same thing. Time to be proactive.
Does the jumping ship that Elkins did by going to Europe destroy any chance that he could come back to the Komets and would he face any suspensation from AHL
Probably so for this year because he would technically still be under contract with Norfolk. Who knows in the future?
In response to Alan regarding his concern for the "A" players...keep in mind many of these guys were in higher training camps until the last cut...I can tell you the boys from Pensacola are ready to play...first place in this league...with Coach Graham working with them...believe me we hated losing any of them...give them a chance...they will work hard i know that for a fact.....
I agree, Lou. Give them a chance.
We're not all snobs like Alan.
Now we will be watching AA hockey since everyone will be where there are suppose to be. I think you just looked for a negative in all this to exploit some frustration.
If anything you should mail a check in for more money for watching AAA players at our AA pricing.
I dont think so Burgee....they still owe me for all those years where they didnt start playing until after Christmas....
C'mon JR1 they were just saving their energy for the Playoff run. LOL.
Alan, like you say things will settle down in a few weeks. The hockey will be what is was going to be without the lockout.
That being said there is still going to be lot's of movement as injuries to "out of shape" players at the higher levels will increase.
It is unfortunate that the NHL lockout has skewed the landscape of the ECHL in the Komet's first year. It will get better.
Snob? Snob is an ugly word and most of my friends would never use it to describe me.
If lou and greta12 are from Pensacola, I understand them being loyal fans. Apparently only Jeremy Gates will be coming here from Florida. Gates was one of the final cuts from Komets camp and I did enjoy his play. Believe me, the Komets need all the defensive help they can get.
Other comments made by some only made me laugh. Maybe some should take the log out of their own eyes before they take the speck ouy of mine. ( Maybe Chifley can figure that out, and where it came from).
OK, we'll see how this all turns out. This is a weekend for goals and wins, otherwise it may be a long year.
Oh, by the way. Others on different threads and different sites have also commented on the costs involved watching a "AA" team turn into an "A" club. It's interesting that some who throw their wallet around like a weapon aren't , themselves, viewed as snobbish.
Sorry, Alan, from the Fort Wayne area.
And yes, if you're judging single-A players without seeing them, then you're being a snob.
A lot of good players got pushed down to lower leagues during the lockout, and they were the lucky ones. Some just went home. Now you want to hold that against them? Shame on you.
Does this mean AHL fans should reject any players who played for us during the lockout?
Greta 12:
Very interesting post and one that might put things in a different perspective for some.
Actually greta12, after reading your last post and thinking on it for a bit, I see your point and have to admit that I may have been premature with my first post.