The beef

A reader last week made a fun comment when he wrote, "Where's the beef."

First off, why don't they make good commercials like that Wendy's gem from the 1980s? More to the point, though, it summed up that some fans were distressed that the toughness the Komets promised to add hadn't been shown yet.

With today's signing of defenseman Mario Larocque, the Komets took another step in the right direction.

I know the reviews of Larocque have been mixed. I don't recall that he made a particular impression on me either, when I saw him play in the International Hockey League or the UHL. But the guy's got a pretty impressive resume, so I have to believe he will be the kind of player the fans have been calling for.

Larocque, 28, was a first-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning (16th overall) in the 1996 draft. He was taken just ahead of players like Marco Sturm, Daniele Briere and Jesse Wallin, all now NHL mainstays. I've got to believe Larocque has got some pretty serious skills; he couldn't have fooled that many scouts. And he played in five NHL games.

The question is, now that he's gone from the gong show that was the Danbury Trashers, can he be a valuable player? Or will he be in the penalty box all the time? Since coach Pat Bingham had Larocque in Wheeling of the ECHL a few years back, he must believe Larocque will help the team.

If nothing else, with Larocque (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), Pascal Morency (5-foot-10, 196 pounds) and Bruce Richardson (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) in the fold, the Komets will have plenty of fun for the Komets' fans to watch. A heck of a lot more than when the Komets had only Lance Galbraith and seldom-used Jeff Worlton to give the fight-happy fans somethig to coo about.

I still expect some more physical players to land on the Komets' roster before Oct. 2 rolls around. Even if it doesn't, the Komets have brought in some beef, er, bright physical stars.

-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette

Comments

[Greg]

I can't say that Laroqcue made an impression on me either and I'm I've seen him a few times. With that said, I don't think coaches go after players becuase they fit a generic description. I'm sure Bingham did some talking with Larocque and explained what's expected of him, as I'm sure the coach does with all the players.
The question them becomes how much control will Bingham have over the players so that they play up to those expectations.

[IndyKomet]

This rookie we signed Aubin is pretty big aswell and its my understanding he likes the rough stuff. 6-4, 235 winger

[Justin Cohn]

I would hope so ... he doesn't score.

[Skate]

Well, if Bingham doesn't let Larocque know what's expected of him, we bloggers will.

Now, if only we'd sign GEORGES Larocque.

[Hit Somebody!!!]

I hope he like....Larocque's The Jungle like the Frankes were advertising all dang summer long.....MAN!

[Skate]

If we signed GEORGES Larocque, we could have Georges of the Jungle. For real, this time.