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News-Sentinel.com Your Town. Your Voice.
Tailing the Komets

Here's another angle on the situation

Comments

KometsfanX
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 6:50am

Hopefully, this will shut a lot of people up. If it WERE a Graham issue, all this guy has to keep saying is, "I don't know why the kids wanted a trade", but he didn't. He made a point to praise Gary and the Komets, multiple times. I've been radio silent on the boards because I'm in the minority that support Shrock, Gary, and the Komets in general. When I first heard about Lang nd Vaskivuo, my immediate thought was, "Great! Now we can start playing as a team!" I know one win, a trend does not make, and it was against another struggling team, but the guys played their hearts out for the win last night and the ones that stuck around deserve all the credit.

Hoss
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 9:44am

``This has nothing to do with Gary Graham,'' King said. ``For some reason these guys want a change. Maybe it's to get to a warmer climate. All they really said to me is they feel it's time for a change. After a long conversation, I said I would try and help them.''

  Really??? "Warmer Climate????"
JR1
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 10:57am

Damage control...

OldHockeyFart
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 11:54am

What I'm about to state is speculation as most all others have done. Which means it makes for good reading and that is about it,

When the Coach called individual players out in the media it is a do or die deal, even in the NHL! Players respond positive, get traded, or buried in the minors but things change for sure. Yes, a few times calling out players has cost a coach a job but seldom does at that time.

These two players decided they had no desire to play with the game plans the coach designed and wanted out. The GM met with them and it appears one of two things played out in the meeting before the Xmas break. One was the the GM told them to go on break and think hard about demanding to be traded. Then again the players told the GM they had played their last game as a Komet. I tend to believe it played out closer to the GM to think long and hard at their demand to be traded. I do so with the reports the players did not clean out their lockers until after the break.

The good thing about the players hiring an agent is he knows their value and knows the Komets want a fair value. So in a sense he will aid the Komets in bringing the entire chapter to a close.

I purposely left individual names out to make the posting more objective. Oh, this is just an opinion, just like everyone's else.

Alan
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 1:55pm

I took some time, read everyone's comments and I have to say that most everyone is right.  Even those who don't agree with me or others are still correct.  That seems to be kind of impossible but that's the kind of mess this is.

Personally I am very disappointed with Vaskivuo and Lang.  These are two players I lauded and cried for the Komets to get.  For them to quit is devastating to my opinion of them as players. They may not have agreed with game plans, use of players, whatever.  If they signed a contract to play and didn't miss a paycheck, got their lodging taken care of, and anything else they had negotiated, they had a binding agreement where only one party held up it's end.  All in all, this current mess lays on their plate and no other.  (How in the world did those Flint players get through that season)?  At least they still played.

It could be argued that this was just another instance in a line of instances.  Still, it was their action that precipitated this thing.

I was raised that when something goes wrong, do the next best thing.  That is the only thing for the GM to do now.  Get as much for them as you can. 

For the most part, the game last night mattered little.  Just a microcosm to the season being played out.  The same with the game tonight, Sunday, and even New Years' Eve.  The actions of the front office will be the true test, and to be fair, they will need some time to try to make any recovery.

Just a footnote, I thought the team played well for most of the game.  I appreciate the efforts by everyone connected with the team as it couldn't have been easy last evening.

There are still problems to face.  These two have got to be replaced, and the team can't afford any injuries.  Heaven forbid if there are others waiting to jump ship also.

 

 

Who/SuZ
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 2:21pm

Kometsfanx-your note about being in the minority as you think, may only be a minority on this websites posters....many fans, including myself have supported Gary, Schrock and the Komets...check my prior postings.  

Agree - this is not about Graham; I have given my reasons for not supporting Vaskivuo and Lang in prior posts and say good riddance to them.

Hoss - why not take it at face value for now....try to look at the positives..the team will be better off.

RG2
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 2:40pm

not to neglect the 600 pound gorilla in the room but could there be "others" involved here.  i.e girlfriend(s) or wife(s) who do not want to be here? Not uncommon when spouse or girlfirend hate their surroundings and make it miserable for their guy to focus.  This type of situation usually stays quite till season is over then it comes out.

 I keep reading how everyone keeps saying "its not this" or "its not that" and we all love the fort wayne organization.

just thinkin 

Anne Argast
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 3:42pm

Nobody knows the real story, but here are some numbers. Lang might be the top goal scorer in the ECHL, but he's only tenth in total points. With 9 assists, Lang is the only one in the top 20 with fewer than ten assists. Plus/minus can be misleading if you always face the other team's top line, but Lang at -6 is only one of two top 10 scorers less than even (Marino is the other). Negative plus/minus, few assists....maybe more is expected from such a talented hockey player, and maybe he didn't like hearing that message from coach.

It's been said quitting is for losers. These guys quit.

Last night's game did matter. It took heart in the face of adversity to come out and put 20 shots on goal in the first period, and it took heart to score the game winner after giving up the lead. As a fan I am proud to support these guys, no matter where the rest of the season takes us.

It didn't hurt that the spirit of Tom Connors was smiling down on us.

OldHockeyFart
Sat, 12/28/2013 - 8:16pm

In the minor leagues there are a couple of highly skilled players who think their only job is to score goals. They don't think that being on the ice when the the opponent scores more often then their line scores means anything. These guys bounce around a league for a few years as various teams try to change their style or have strong unit playing with them to withstand the 5 on 4 match ups they cause by not getting back on D.
These guys often become a cancer within the locker room between otther players, coaches, and even the front office. It doesn't mean trading the player fixes a team as the team still needs a goal scorer and at times it gives a lesser player a chance to develop into a goal scorer.

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