Fort Wayne Komets general manager David Franke and coach Pat Bingham met Monday to discuss their options heading into Friday's 3 p.m. trade deadline.
"We're trying to see if we can upgrade the team, if possible," Franke said. "I had a meeting with the coach, and we talked for awhile, to see which players we might be willing to part with and what we might need."
Asked what the Western Conference-leading Komets need, Franke was vague, saying, "Maybe a forward or maybe a defenseman."
There's reason to believe defense would be the priority, though, because Mike Dombkiewicz is out indefinitely with a back injury.
"Right now, I'm not holding out hope he'll be able to play anytime soon," Franke said. "I just don't know. Maybe in the playoffs."
Dombkiewicz, who has five goals and 16 points in 40 games, returned last weekend from a month-long absence with the same back injury.
The Komets also will be missing defenseman Brent Henley from Wednesday's game against Quad City, as he serves the final segment of a three-game suspension for physical abuse of an official.
In better news, the Komets expect to get forward J.F. Labarre, who has four goals and 10 points in 24 games, back from a broken arm sometime this week. Forward Kelly Miller, who has a separated shoulder and one assist in seven games, is at least a week away. David Hukalo, who has a broken finger and 13 goals and 25 points in 50 games, is at least two weeks away from returning.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
i am for Rucdanko(sp) #23 for Colt King of the Flags and that would give us a true power forward and open a vet spot whick will alow Kelly Miller be play
Posted by: Drop The Gloves!!!!!! | February 26, 2007 at 06:54 PM
So Domber is on the shelf again?
Posted by: FWKRTJ | February 26, 2007 at 08:14 PM
Well...one I don't think The Flags will trade one of there better players...and I believe we have a power forward in Syro....what eles does he have to do...?
Posted by: Nic | February 26, 2007 at 08:35 PM
i agree and sryo is my favorite player on the team this year but i think with king we would be alot better
Posted by: Drop The Gloves!!!!!! | February 26, 2007 at 08:51 PM
King is better then Syrozynski but I don't see the Komets trading Syrozynski as he has performed pretty well for this team. They won't deal Rudenko either because he will score some big goals come playoff time. I know I will get some crap for this but I wouldn't mind them dealing Goneau. He doesn't impress me at all.
Posted by: jc | February 26, 2007 at 11:35 PM
I'd like to see Rudenko gone..I'd rather have Goneau as he doesn't take lazy penalties because he's fustrated, like Rudenko has a number of times..
Posted by: Mark | February 27, 2007 at 12:03 AM
I would get rid of Domber & Bozo and bring in a quality defenseman to take their place. I was suprise to even see them back this year. In my opinion they are two of the worst players on the team.
Posted by: Lisa | February 27, 2007 at 08:35 AM
The only two teams probably willing to sell are Chicago and Bloomington figuring they're most likely not to make the playoffs. I really can't see to many playoff teams trading with each other unless both feel it benefits them. There may be a "big deal trade" but I doubt it and I really doubt the K's trade anybody.
Posted by: Greg | February 27, 2007 at 09:36 AM
I haven't been impressed with Domber when he has played so I could go with that. Also Bozoian I haven't really noticed making "bad" mistakes, but I also have not seen a lot of positives. I think he just does his job and that is that. When all of our defensemen show up to play we are very hard to beat and all of you know it. When Laroque plays he is one of the best at his position and his shot from the point has scored several key goals for us especially late because of the power of the shot. Dupuis is usually solid, but like Laroque has his moments of memory loss. Henley is impressive when he skates...needs to more often...have you seen his speed when he actually goes? Hanson is a good solid d-man. The rest of the field ? ? ? on some nights look good. Forwards are the same way though. Ruid is my favorite player along with Laroque but if you watch Ruid he has so many creative moves and gets sh goals because he can steal the puck...but then he will steal it and not think and pass it to the other team...two weeks ago at home. Richardson has been playing with a lot of energy but seems to get too excited and wiffs on shots....Goneau has moments of brilliance and some great shots along with Goodwin...but again where is the consistency with those two? Rudenko when he passes the puck...wow. I remember about two passes in the last three games...and one was great...don't be afraid to PASS THE PUCK!. The team is good enough to win it all but most show up every night. Thank God if we survive the first round of the playoffs I think we will win it all because we beat the good teams usually.(I hope it is Elmira in the 1st round cause we then likely will.) Rockford is the only team that scares me because they are a lame duck team.
Posted by: Tom | February 27, 2007 at 02:47 PM
Id like to see Domber go ever since he got himself a g/f I think he has forgotten how to play hockey.
P.S. Resign Morency
Posted by: Ryan | February 27, 2007 at 04:15 PM
Ryan, what is g/f? Goal for maybe? I did not take hockey short hand. I said months ago this team left somethong in Elmira when Turdball did his beat down on what appeared to be half the team from the video I saw. Muskegon and Rockford have players that have each others backs, I don't think the K's can match that. The K's do have the best talent on paper, but games are won on the ice. Yeah, those Elmira games pissed me off, I have followed the Komets for 35 years and have never seen such gutless responses to a teammate being beat down. They should trade for more guts!
Posted by: charlie | February 27, 2007 at 06:48 PM
g/f short for girl friend
Posted by: Ryan | February 27, 2007 at 07:15 PM
Hey ryan what someone does when they leave the rink is their own bussiness. What about Hukalo and his girlfriend is that why he got his hand broke or Hansen and his is that why Turdball gave him a concussion. What about all the players that have wives are they at fault too. I thnk your just jealous cuz his g/f as you call her is hotter than yours. Go back to middle school!
Posted by: Brian | February 27, 2007 at 07:23 PM
Domb has a legitimate injury that he tried to tough out for a while because the team needed him. Finally when the pain gets so bad that you can't sleep for 72 hours straight somethin has got to give. Get the whole story before you type up some juvinile response like he stinks because of his girlfriend.
Posted by: Brian | February 27, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Justin, can you maybe do some features on what some of the former Komet players are doing now, perhaps a "Where the are now" type of feature. Mainly from the old IHL for us longtime fans, which Ft.Wayne has a lot of. The UHL is very similar in caliber to the old IHL, so I assume you still have lots of those fans. I worked in Port Huron today and several people noticed my Komet jacket. They all had great things to say about Ft. Wayne, a few saying it is the best minor league hockey city they know of. They also think the Flags won't survive due to poor attendence. I think the UHL will go the same route as the UHL, but for different reasons. I think the Frankes should bite the bullit and become a farm team in the AHL. I had heard the Red Wings wanted to have a farm team in Ft. Wayne several years ago but the K's did not want to go that route. Ya know, it's more fun to drive down there to watch the K's than do go to a Red Wings game, to many peple here only go because it's a status thing or something and in the Fort you folks go to the games cuz' you like hockey. The Wings just got a lot tougher with the addition of Todd Bertuzzi, although his temper is scary. A belated congrats to all you Colts fans, we in Detroit can only dream of such things.
Posted by: charlie | February 27, 2007 at 08:35 PM
Speaking of trades...Elmira sent Scott Wray to Port Huron for Bobby Kukulka. The Jackals then sent Dave Lupul and Derek Miller to Quad City for Nick Harloff, Andrei Lupandin, and Zach Sikich. The Mallards also made a trade with Port Huron sending cash to the Flags for goaltender Brad Smith. Looks like things might be heating up a bit in the UHL before Friday afternoon.
Posted by: jc | February 28, 2007 at 08:25 AM
Justin, any rumors on the trade front, and does the UHL have an aproval process for trades.
Posted by: JR | February 28, 2007 at 12:12 PM
I'm a bit out of the loop -- on baby watch -- but I'm sure Ben Smith will come up with some updates. As for the where are they now question, maybe I'll do some stuff when I get back. I used to do a regular Catching up with Komets feature, so maybe. Sorry for the laconic response; I'm sure you understand.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | March 01, 2007 at 01:21 PM
Rudenko and Jorde to Flint for Terry Marchant
Posted by: Mark | March 01, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Baby Watch, huh? I do assume when that time comes, we'll be some of the first to know with pictures? :-)
Brad
Posted by: Brad Lyons | March 01, 2007 at 07:36 PM
I know I'm a bit late on commenting, but it's been a busy week. I also realize that as a 'newbie' hockey fan I will take some heat for this, but please remember.....none of you came out of the womb knowing everything there is to know about hockey, so please bare with me.
Anyhow, Ryan, I had to laugh when I read your post about Domber because my daughter said the exact same thing a few games before his 'back injury'.
Now Brian, you are correct, that what someone does outside the rink is their own business, however, it is sad that even a child can notice the difference in his playing since the beginning of the year. And before you try to degrade her, she is 16 years old and had no interest whatsoever in trying to hook up with him, so the jealousy card won't work with her. That leads me to another rant.
Why do people on this site and Blake's blog have to condemn someone for their opinion if it is different from the general population? Last time I checked, we were all entitled to our opinion, even if we don't agree with it.
It may be well and true about Domber's "back injury" but at the same time, it's been noticed by several people that his mind does not seem to be on the game. He used to be one of my favorite players, and while I still think he's pretty good, I can't help but wonder why he was off his game a bit when he played. He would truly look lost out there and a few times would do anything he could to get the puck away from him if he had the chance.
Going back to another point Brian made. Who cares what Domber's girlfriend looks like. That has nothing to do with the price of tea in China. I doubt Ryan is jealous that his girlfriend could be uglier than Domber's. Also, as for your comments that Kevin's girlfriend was responsible for his beat down in Elmira and Huckalo's girlfriend responsible for his broken hand. Again, that has nothing to do with anything.
As I'm sure you know, they have been with their significant others for a longer period of time than Domber has, so it's quite apparent that is a non issue, so why bring it up.
Like I said in the beginning, I'm sure I will take heat for this since I am not a season ticket holder, I'm a newbie fan and I don't know beans about the sport, but I have been reading the blogs for quite some time and I did appreciate Blake's comments about trying to be nicer to one another. That lasted for about a minute.
We all have different opinions about how the Komets play, it appears that we are all fans, so why do we feel the need to attack someone because they don't feel the same way about a certain subject? That's the beauty of the whole online thing; you find something you dont like, you simply click the little box at the top and move on.
I guess I am done ranting now, please feel free to pick me this post apart, I look forward to it.
Go Komets!!! Good luck to our new players and good luck to our outgoing players.
Posted by: SRK | March 03, 2007 at 01:27 AM