The Komets traded rookies Josh VanderBreggen and Michael Wiggins to Roanoke for rookie defenseman Matt Kenny on Tuesday. Kenny is no relation to former Komet Shane Kenny.
``No. 1 we're still looking for a rookie defenseman,'' Komets General Manager David Franke said. "We weren't satisfied with VanderBreggen's play so we thought we needed to make a change there. Michael Wiggins just really hasn't produced the way we were hoping he would produce. We're still looking for the right combinations, and we feel with the people we're getting in we'll give them a chance to see what they can do.''
Franke said the Komets are still looking for a fifth or sixth defenseman, and Kenny and Mark Lindsay will get a chance to fill that roll. Jason Kean is out for at least another two weeks with problems from a concussion.
What the trade essentially means is that the Komets were probably going to release both players, but they were able to get something for them and both still have jobs.
Over the last two weeks, the Komets have added 10 players and released or traded seven.There are 14 players from the season-opening 20-man roster.
The Komets currently have 23 players on the roster with Kean, Smith and Brent Rumble on injured reserve. One more player can go on IR. There are 13 forwards, 8 defensemen and 2 goaltenders.
Franke also said it's unlikely the Komets will make any more trades between now and Christmas, though some more roster moves will have to be made to get to the 19-man active roster limit. Mark Smith was placed on the seven-day injured reserve with a hip injury, and his status is undetermined for this weekend, Franke said.
Add on: Just talked to Greg Puhalski, and he said the Komets do not have any interest in David Brosseau from Richmond because he is a veteran.
