Franke feeling good

With training camp just a few weeks away, Komets general manager David Franke feels good about where his team is headed.

"We'd like to find maybe another rookie defenseman or two," he said. "And I think we'd like to find a couple of second-line players. But I think we've got a really good first line and hopefully some people will come into training camp and impress us."

Of course, the specifics will be decided by coach Pat Bingham later, but it looks as if the first line will consist of newcomers Bruce Richardson and Daniel Goneau, along with returning leader Jonathan Goodwin.

The Komets expect to sign some more players next week. And they plan to keep a close eye on what happens in NHL, American Hockey League and ECHL training camps.

"We know there's been a lot of over-recruiting by ECHL teams," Franke said of the other AA minor-league circuit.

He added that in recent years, the Komets have gotten star players like Tom Lawson, Dustin Virag and Goodwin after they were cut by ECHL franchises.

• The Komets have given up on trying to re-sign forward Jamie Milam, who was promising as a rookie last season. Franke said the Komets called him about a dozen times without hearing back.
• Last week, The Journal Gazette reported the Komets had looked into acquiring the rights to Mike Kinnie from the Flint Generals. Kinnie also did not call the Komets back, so they've given up on that avenue, Franke said.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Skate]

I think that says a little (or a lot) about a guy who won't (or even have his agent) return in inquiring phone call.

[David]

David may be feeling good but I still think this team lacks the necessary toughness to combat teams like Rockford and Elmira. You have to have more than 2 guys step up and mix it up regularly instead of looking around to see who will. Of course everyone will say it is early, but I have not seen anything that has address the concerns that have hurt this hockey club over the last 2 seasons.

[Justin Cohn]

I agree, David. But we can't judge it until we see the training camp roster. I can't believe that Bingham would make a team without enough toughness. But who knows?

[JR]

Justin, did the Frankes give you any indication as to what type of players they expect to sign next week, like skill, defense, rookies, etc... And do you think that the K's need to find some size to compete with some of the rest of the league who seem to be able to find guys who are big AND can play???

[chuckitt]

heard it all beefore. still waiting to actually see it happen. i still remember last year, worlton and hickey! what a start, but where were they at mid season?

[JR]

Keep your fingers crossed chuckitt.... Hopefully this year is the year that the K's backup all the offseason hype of getting bigger and more team toughness with the product on the ice... I hope that the team isnt still looking for it a month into the season...

[Whole_n_one]

We've heard the same story for the past 4 years about getting bigger and tougher and not getting physically dominated in the playoffs. The roster so far is the smallest that I can ever remember but I guess the signings next week could be the big, tough, physical players that we have heard about from the Frankes all summer. Let's hope that we are not let down again!

[Whole_n_one]

Wow! Rockford somehow found another one of those big guys that can do it all. He is 6-4, 215 and has AHL experience. Hmmmm, we can't seem to find those guys like other teams though!

[David]

Well Justin, then it is time to start calling Franke on his quotes and not backing them up with substance. He who waits finishes last and that is what the K's are in for...The guy Rockford signed was in juniors last year and was a guy who can skate, has a little scoring touch, and more importantly will fight anyone and everyone....

[JR]

Where's the Beef......lol

[Greg]

I still think it's a wait and see. Probably evne into the first month of the season after we've seen each team at least once.

[dnl]

I am not too worried yet because of who our coach is. I would find it hard to believe that Bingham won't have a physical team.

IF however the Komets do end up looking like last season with very little size and physical play and average talent which lead to a mediocre season at best, no one is at fault other than the Frankes. It was the Frankes who decided to go in a different direction with the team, it was the Frankes who hired the new coach with several good names to choose from, and it is the Frankes who have owned the hockey franchise for many years and have to know what it takes to build a successful team. There are no excuses that the Frankes can give in my mind IF and thats a big IF they can not provide a highly competitive team.

I don't want to sound like I am anti-Franke because I'm not. I appreciate tremendously what they do. But just as I hold them accountable for everything great they've done, I will hold them accountable for failures too. It can't be an easy job to do, but they know that I'm sure.

That being said.... I can't wait to see how the preseason training camp goes!!

[Skate]

Again, these 6' 4" guys are RECRUITED. They do NOT show up as walk-ons in camp. Not if they are any good.

[Justin Cohn]

"Where's the beef?" Great line for this situation.

I believe next week the Komets will sign some second-line type players, like grinding forwards. That sort of a guess because they weren't tipping their hands on this much. Also, look for some defensemen.

Don't worry. I promise you, if the Komets don't bring in a team that I deem to be the physical one they promised, I will call them on it. I know some of you don't believe it, but I do rip them when the situation merits it. That's why they get pissy with me so much; because I'm not a homer.

I'm sure you'll have fun with that. lol

[chuckitt]

dnl has said exactly what ive been trying to say all year. heard it all before and still waiting as all the other teams sign the rookie beef. weve got 2nd line guys comming? does anybody remember rumble, frawley,nowicki,whyte,jarram,summerfield,laverdiere,hunter,carpentier,and who can forget molly mcmasters?

[Justin Cohn]

Ooooh, a Molly McMasters shot across the bow. Hunter was a legit second-line guy, when healthy.

[chuckitt]

thats like saying mickey mantle would have hit 800 homers, if healthy.

[Justin Cohn]

So does that mean that Grant Hill isn't a starting-caliber forward just because he was hurt a lot? I didn't say he was healthy; just said he was a legit second-line guy. I'm sticking to it.

[Skate]

molly mc miller

[Skate]

A tiny baby could have hit 800 homers in Yankee Stadium when all you have to do is hit it 200 feet down the lf line.

[Skate]

And 196 down the rf line.

[chuckitt]

and 470 dead center where a right handed mantle hit a lot of outs to.

[chuckitt]

oh yeah, grant hill might have been a starting calibdr forward when he started but in sports its what can you do for me today not what you did for me 6 years ago. hill has done nothing the last few years so you cant put him in the hall using if, could have or should have.. all im saying. . heck i was a ihl caliber defenseman when healthy, but i wasnt so i never got the chance so if , could have, maybe shoulda... sounds like our wait for the tough guy rookies that will just wander into camp...

[Justin Cohn]

So does that mean if I'm sick this week and don't go to work that I suck as a sports writer? OK, I know, I know, I suck anyway.

[terry]

everyone seems to be looking for toughness but im looking as to who is going to put the puck in the net, goneau, goodwin, then what? also it will be interesting to see how the fans like morency, i know i will like to watch him play but seeing how the fans got on galbraith at the beginning of last year,, morency yaps about 10 times as much as galbraith and i dont think he has scored 20 goals his whole career, just some thoughts to maybe spark up something here.