* Komets General Manager David Franke told me today he has put a Thursday deadline on Frankie DeAngelis to make a decision about next season. If DeAngelis decides he isn't coming back?
We're working on a couple of other guys,'' Franke said. ``I'm just kind of holding off here to see what Frankie does tomorrow. I know that there's going to be some players available through Anaheim and Norfolk. There will also be other teams out there to place players because not everybody has an ECHL affiliate.
``We'll have plenty of guys to choose from. Even if Frankie doesn't come in, we'll work as hard as we can to find a replacement. We have some guys here already who have some offense to their game. I know there will be players available from AHL camps.''
Still the Komets would prefer to have the three-time all-star return.
* Nick Boucher is having his other hip operated on next Thursday and hopes to be able to play this season. In the best case, he could be able to skate in two months and put on the pads in three to begin training.
``I'm completely off the crutches and been weight bearing since last Sunday,'' Boucher said. ``I feel really good. I was supposed to wean off crutches for about a week but by Day 3 I was ready. There was some soreness in my calf from not being used, but that's long gone now. I feel pretty normal right now.''
Franke said he has to prepare the team as if Boucher is not going to be able to play this season, though he's encouraging Boucher to have the surgery.
* Goaltender Charlie Effinger is going to training camp with Grand Rapids of the AHL. That's along with Daniel Maggio going to Chicago, Brandon Marino, J.M. Rizk and Chris Auger going to Norfolk.
* That means neither Effinger or Kenny Reiter will be in Fort Wayne when training camp starts Sept. 28.
* Former Komet Dustin Molle is going to training camp with Alaska of the ECHL, Franke said.
