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Tailing the Komets

Komets sign Dean Ouellet

Comments

WF
Tue, 06/16/2015 - 2:54pm

Provided none of the players on the season ending roster are signed before the June 30 deadline I would extend qualifing offers to the following players:

Pistilli, Faille, Syzd, Crowder, Nagle, Daniels, Martin, and (pick one of the following) Sol, Tam, Perlini. I'm leaning toward Tam with Perlini a close second.

Klaus
Tue, 06/16/2015 - 3:13pm

WF: nice choice - I would have to go with Perlini before Tam. Tam's a very good player, Perlini however showed more skill and ability to handle the puck. Either would be a great asset to the team. I would also go with Sol. We really need someone who isn't afraid to mix it up.

Blake Sebring
Tue, 06/16/2015 - 3:15pm

Defensemen will always be at a premium. Maybe they can sign a couple of these guys ahead of time and protect some extra players. 

OLDGUY45
Tue, 06/16/2015 - 4:52pm

Hopefully thay can find someone better than Sol.

Alan
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 10:06am

It's always gratifying to learn of a players' desire to come and play in Fort Wayne.  Although Franke's mention of D. Ouellet a week ago being a huge clue, I must admit I'm a little surprised.  I think Dean Ouellet can be a huge plus, but I'm not ready to get real enthused (yet).

I kind of agree with Sebring that defense is pretty important to get signed early.  My opinion is that my choices would be (in no particular order) Daniels, Tam, Martin, Kucera, and Leach.  (I'm confused on the status of Leach.  One site says he signed a ECHL contract, and another a AHL contract with Lake Erie.

My list of forwards would include Perlini, Crowder (vet), Szydlowski, Pistilli (vet), and Faille.

Lots of popular guys left off, but I'm looking for goaltending, defense, PASSING, youth, a smooth and skillful transition game, and guys willing to get in front of the net.

Yeah, I know.  I know.  People are going to say that this is the ECHL not the AHL.  I want an ECHL team.  But I want it to be the "best" ECHL team.  Now each GM has the time and resources to construct their teams.  Some players on my lists are injured.  Sure.  But they will be back and I would like them to come back here.

Players like Faille, if they even sign, will probably find themselves in a higher league.  I'd still like to be the team that controls their ECHL rights.

With most of the players listed above, and young skillfull forwards coming on board, I think the Komets can create a great excitement.

Any thoughts?  How right or wrong am I?

who/suz
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 1:28pm

Still think you need 2 consider Schrock. .Faille will not be back..love 2 c Guggenberger and Nagle..no Sol..2 slow and unpredictable in his actions Crowder. .questionable imo..Kucera..yes..Thomas 4 vitality and attitude. .rest..toss up..

Muel
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 1:28pm

I likec the Ouellet signing but agree the main consideration should be solid D and a good goalie. Speaking of a good goalie how about Crawford and the HAWKS! I was wrong about them winning in 5...Oh well:)

Alan
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 3:03pm

Very good comment, who/suz.

I left Schrock off my list because of the very same reason as last season.  The veteran rules are strict, he comes into this season with a little more of a handicap than last year.  That is, he is better off not fighting because of his eye injury.  Some will disregard most everything because of a "leadership" issue.  I'm not one to judge that...and if you assembled a complete roster in terms of hockey needs, then I'd take him as a tenth forward (not a regular shift-but on the penalty kill).  I know that I will take flak for that opinion.

I, too, would love to have Nagle and Guggenberger.  But that seems moot, unfortunately.

I would like to see Crowder back.  He should be healed up and his worth was on display by watching the team without him at full throttle during the playoffs.  Agree with you on Sol.  Thomas, if signed, would basically play the same role as Schrock. 

Kucera has signed.

RG2
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 3:58pm

Paul Crowder is a player who makes whomever is on his line.. better.  Yes he needs to stay healthy. He will always be a prime player in this league and always a great locker room guy.  He is at the top of the list for most teams in this league.  

 The signings so far are great.

     

OLDGUY45
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 4:20pm

Schrok needs to retire. Where was the leadership in the first part of game seven against Toledo? He should have been gone three years ago. If they sign him and go with no affiliate I will most likely walk away from my 100 dollars down on next season.

RG2
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 4:36pm

I just heard that they were going to sign him but because of your post and the loss of revenue from you , they decided against it. I guess you can have an impact on who they sign! wow  

    

Blake Sebring
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 4:38pm

LOL

OLDGUY45
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 4:53pm

I am sure the Frankes could carelees about the average fan. As long as the companys aroun here support them I have talked to several people and the only reason they show up is because of the free ticket.I have followed the Komets since the started in 52. Maybe I should laugh all the way to the baqnk with my money.

Blake Sebring
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 5:40pm

Sorry, don't mean to laugh at you, but do you know how many people have threatened that over the last 10 years? It's become a cliche because they always come back. And somehow the Komets keep winning. 

OLDGUY45
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 5:50pm

That's OK However I really believe the fan base is nowhere what it was a few years ago. I find it hard to walk away after following them since I was 7.I also need to watch my spelling.

Blake Sebring
Wed, 06/17/2015 - 5:55pm

I totally understand where you are coming from. More than anything, I think hockey has changed, and not always for the better. It's still fun, but not nearly as much as it was. It's just different, and it's not going back. We can either accept it or not. 

Alan
Thu, 06/18/2015 - 10:01am

Its hard not to have empathy for OldGuy45.  My first game in person was in '61. 

Sebring is correct that the game is different and it's not going to go back.  This fan base has gone through a whole lot of changes.  From no salary cap to a salary cap  (remember in the UHL where you could have one player exempt from counting toward the cap total?), from no limit on experience to veterans rules, different definitions of what constituted a veteran, one league that had the goaltenders count toward the rule while two other leagues didn't?

So we morph from restriction to restriction as this franchise evolves along.  Old IHL, AAA IHL, UHL, resurrected IHL, CHL, and now the ECHL.  Even the rules.  Bye, bye red line.  You're only good for icing calls now.  Hello trapeziod ( don't you dare play the puck there you dastardly goaltenders).

Some of these rules were meant to help increase scoring.  I get it.  Scoring makes games interesting.  Being "interesting" is good for any sport, right?

Here's what I would do.  First, I'd narrow the width of the goaltender pads (and be very strict about it)...and I mean to a noticeable difference.  Thickness could stay at whatever is safe for the goaltender.  I'd get rid of that trapeziod (hockey has enough strange markings on the ice already).

Secondly, I'd make a penalized team play the entire two minutes, of a minor penalty, shorthanded (regardless of the number of goals scored).  Now I'm sure that is going to cause either a heart attack or chuckle from the "serious" hockey fan...so maybe I'd soften it by not allowing a team to "ice" the puck without clearing it first from your defensive zone (get it over the blue line first).  "Icing" is against the rules and results in a stoppage of play with the faceoff being deep in the  defensive zone.  Everybody knows that.  But why, after your team is called for a penalty, does that rule vanish?

Quite frankly, just my last paragraph would probably increase scoring on it's own.

I know all of this is radical.  But so what?  At least reasonable people could discuss the ramifications.

Yes, the game is different.  Different from '52 and '61.  But sometimes "not going back" doesn't mean everything is perfect and can't be moved "forward" or evolve.

Now lets have the avalanche of ridicule (just think about for a minute before you do, OK)?

Speaking of Avalanche.  What's up with them, anyway?

 

RG2
Thu, 06/18/2015 - 11:25am

Old Guy  hey I have the utmost respect for you.  Please dont take any of this the wrong way. But....Its almost comical and somewhat juvinile when someone does not like a player and threatens to take their ball and go home.  It gets old.

  Im sure any player will know when its time to hang it up and im sure the Frankes/coaching staff will tell any player same. As long as any player can contribute both on the ice as well as the locker room, they have a spot. Im sure if a player cannot contribute, the management would not keep him on the team for ANY reason.  Im also sure any said player will know that also.

RG2
Thu, 06/18/2015 - 2:50pm

Alan, I decided to see which took longer. Reading War and Peace in one setting or read your tome?  I got thru War and Peace faster.  Im just messin with you. you know that. I would leave the game alone except move the face-off from blue line off sides back into the other zones spot between the blue lines. They lose some "yardage" so to speak.

   as to the league, they really need to add a couple more veteran spots. I think you would agree. I know you have mentioned this. Salary Caps are good because they help the little guy( smaller cities) stay in the league. When you adjust caps to compete with Europe, the whole thing will blow up. There is enough talent for both. As Blake always says, do something for the fans, not the AHL.    

Blake Sebring
Thu, 06/18/2015 - 2:54pm

The Russian version or the English? It really does make a difference. 

Europe is always cyclical. In a couple of years they will limit the number of import players. 

RG2
Fri, 06/19/2015 - 5:53am

English

Blake what is the average ground speed of an unladen swallow? 

Blake Sebring
Fri, 06/19/2015 - 7:37am

In order to maintain air-speed velocity, a swallow needs to beat its wings forty-three times every second, right?

RG2
Fri, 06/19/2015 - 10:51am

depends.  Is it an African or European Swallow?

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