While the Fort Wayne Komets wait to hear from defenseman Guy Dupuis and center Bruce Richardson, both of whom having received contract offers, one player who won't be back next season is center J.C. Ruid.
Ruid was the Komets' leading scorer last season, with 43 goals and 94 points, and he finished third in league MVP voting behind Muskegon forward Todd Robinson and former Fort Wayne goaltender Kevin St. Pierre.
Ruid has signed to play in France, Komets general manager David Franke said.
"He's cashing in on the big season he had here," said Franke, whose team had made a contract offer to Ruid. "There was no way we could match that offer."
The Komets are set to introduce recently hired coach Al Sims at a news conference Tuesday. Sims who guided the Komets to a 1993 championship in the now-defunct International Hockey League, is a former coach with the NHL's San Jose Sharks.
The Komets are also making preparations for an upcoming dispersal draft of players from Rockford, Quad City, Elmira and Chicago, teams which have moved to different leagues or, in the case of Chicago, folded this offseason.
Franke said players from Port Huron, which recently suspended operations, won't be available because the Flags are expected to get new ownership and be revived later this week. Franke said a format and schedule for the dispersal draft hasn't been determined yet. It could take place at the league meetings next week in Las Vegas, though.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
Mizzi would be a good choice to replace Ruid's #1 whiner spot....While we're at it, I'd take Nathan Lutz too!
Posted by: Teresa | June 11, 2007 at 03:19 PM
Good Luck in France JC.
Posted by: Greg | June 11, 2007 at 03:20 PM
I don't honestly know what to say anymore. Whole thing is confusing. Wish someone would connect the dots on the UHL or IHL or CHL and let us know what is going on.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | June 11, 2007 at 05:49 PM
What a joke!!! When will we get some answers?????
Posted by: Komet Fan | June 11, 2007 at 06:29 PM
Why go to Vegas to hold a league meeting, can't they fit everyone around the corner booth at Wendys.
Sorry for the sarcasm, but I want answers too!!!!!
Posted by: Joseph | June 11, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Could this be the key to bringing back Kelly Miller?????
Posted by: Hoss | June 11, 2007 at 07:52 PM
Is it not strange the meetings are held in a city that has no connection to the league or within the area the league covers. Why not save money and hold the meeting in say, ARCOLA.... Or maybe the Lake Everett Hotel...
Remember what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas... LOL
Posted by: PuckSlinger | June 11, 2007 at 09:27 PM
If our key player in the draft is Kelly Miller, we are in big trouble.
What's confusing? Port Huron is coming back under new ownership, as has been discussed for months.
There will be a draft of the UHL negotiating rights for players from teams who have left the UHL?
I am sure PH will participate in that draft.
Preesently, the UHL has six teams. More may be added.
Further announcements about any other teams joining the league will be made after the meeting.
Why not meet in Las Vegas? I know, I know, if the Franke's skipped this trip they cold afford to be in the AHL.
Posted by: Skate | June 11, 2007 at 09:46 PM
viva las vegas bring on the meetings and then the news!! what part of that dont people understand??
Posted by: chuckitt | June 11, 2007 at 10:01 PM
I don't think that Arcola is geared up to handle the influx of UHL people.
How is the buffet at the 5 B's?
Posted by: Skate | June 11, 2007 at 10:14 PM
I don't think things are as cut and dry as what you think Skate. I think this summer has been a disaster so far. I would bet 85% of the players drafted in the dispersal draft won't even sign or report to the teams they are drafted to. Majority will hop over seas or join the CHL....or retire. I know people keep saying...less teams, more talent. I just don't see players wanting to play in a Bush-League like the UHL. I think it definitely will matter to younger talented players. The veteran hacks that play year after year in the minors...sure they will play to just cash that check. But I doubt the young talent will flock to this league.
It really is just wait and see at this point. But things have been fishy for awhile now. They announce that news is coming in a few days and nothing comes. They hired a coach that is definitely on the down slide of his career. They lost one of the franchises that was hyped to be a strong part of the new and improved Elite Professional Hockey League. They keep trying to force a square peg into a round hole in Port Huron where franchises fail miserably there year after year. The economy in that town will not support hockey any longer there. They spin Quad City and Rockford going to the AHL as being a good thing for the leagues image?
I want hockey this winter too. But why is everyone so easy in saying....5 or 6 teams is just fine with and franchises on shakey ground in a 5 to 6 team league is great. It is a tough sale to Flint, Port Huron and to Bloomington. K-zoo, FW, and Muskegon will survive because they support their teams no matter what league they are in.
I bought my season tickets for next year. But I haven't a clue what the product will be other than it will be somebody skating in orange and black at and at what level, I have no clue and against who....we don't know? Playoff formats ought to be fun. Everyone makes it in? You think the officiating was bad this past year...just wait in this new and improved 5-6 team league where the most talented refs will just love to officiate our games in the Elite Professional Hockey League. Can you say Hawthorne, Berkebile, Searle, Mondelak, and Davis?
I am not trying to be negative here either. These are the facts that we have been given. And it doesn't look all that great if you are honest with yourself about it.
UHL.....Elite Professional Hockey League....?
Go Komets!!!!!
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | June 11, 2007 at 11:29 PM
And by the way...JC Ruid never intended on coming back to this team anyway. You lost that kid when he wasn't named team MVP at the awards ceremony. He stopped playing hockey after that night for the Komets. That was Bingham's boy too...
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | June 11, 2007 at 11:35 PM
JC Ruid is both good AND bad... he can score because he takes the puck to the net, he'll throw the puck at the net and get the assist on the rebounds. He can also thread the puck in the zone with his passes, but he also loses his focus and awareness on the ice. TOO many times he threw the puck into the front and center around his own net, other times he didn't pass it in favor of him trying to skate the puck and drive it in himself, etc. I both liked and got frustrated with Ruid. While I wasn't aware of his issues with the team privately, it was obvious on the ice he could be very selfish at times.
Posted by: Brad Lyons | June 12, 2007 at 05:58 AM
Actually Skate, until the announcment is official, there are only 5 teams in the UHL. Port Huron isn't a done deal YET.
Posted by: Greg | June 12, 2007 at 08:37 AM
Ididn't say Miller is the target, or the main player the Komets should be worried about. I am saying Miller is the main player I AM worring about. There are many other players I would like to have on the Komets from these teams in the draft, but how many of them do you think will show up to the Fort to play?
Posted by: Hoss | June 12, 2007 at 09:29 AM
If the price is right, who knows?
Posted by: Greg | June 12, 2007 at 10:15 AM
can't be that many people from 4 or 5 teams.
Posted by: timraiders | June 12, 2007 at 10:22 AM
or are we down to three now. OUCH those season tickets are gonna be a hard sell.
Posted by: timraiders | June 12, 2007 at 10:22 AM
Hardley any of the lowers leagues are expanding which means a lot of guys need to find places to play. Once things calm down and players know what teams are looking there should be some movement.
Posted by: Greg | June 12, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Hey now, don't be making fun of Arcola! They could tie the league meetings in with the tractor pull and really make an event out of it!
And if the K's really do take Miller in the disbursal draft, do you think there's even a snowball's chance in you know where that he'd sign here? I think not...
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | June 12, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Oh yeah, and as of last night Flint's website was down. Hopefully just a glitch and not a sign of things to come?
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | June 12, 2007 at 11:15 AM
Hit,
I strongly concur with your post. While this hasn't been the best of summers for the UHL, all the hand-wringing and UHL insults in the world (not necessarily by you) won't change what happens next winter.
All I've ever said is let's see what next season brings. If people don't like the product then, OK. At least they've seen it and can make an intelligent judgement about it.
One thing that you know for sure it that the current owners are going to bring you the best, most stable product they can. To do anything less would be foolish.
People might be surprised when they see what a smaller league with home and home series can bring as far as fireworks.
Posted by: Skate | June 12, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Kelly Miller is someone that I would welcome back. When he did get to play, the energy level and intensity of the entire team was very high. Even sitting in my seat, I felt energized watching the game.
Whether he would choose to return is another matter. But I know of several people in addition to me who would like to have him back.
Since Chicago has suspended operations, do the Hounds still retain Miller's rights or would they somehow revert back to Fort Wayne?
BTW, FiveMinuteMajor....If the league meetings were held in Arcola during the tractor pulling contests, there would be a serious conflict of interest. The tractor pull is televised on ESPN2 (last time I heard) the UHL is under contract with B2....even though ESPN2 comes in better! LOL!
Posted by: Bob | June 12, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Kelly Miller's rights are the property of the Hounds and he will be in the dispersal draft.
Posted by: Greg | June 12, 2007 at 12:48 PM
Who cares about Kelly Miller. I don't know why everybody is so hung up on Miller?
Posted by: HSIRI | June 12, 2007 at 02:45 PM
Ditto comment above.
Posted by: JungleMonkey | June 12, 2007 at 04:48 PM
I offer my tertiary confirmation of the above comment.
Posted by: Skate | June 12, 2007 at 06:39 PM
You got a point there about the tractor pull, Bob! I have actually been to the tractor pull, and it's a sight to behold!
I don't know if I care either way if the K's take Miller in a disbursal draft. I'm just betting if they do, he won't sign here.
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | June 12, 2007 at 07:36 PM
I'm not going to hold my breath on Miller returning, but if the vet rule is dropped, that could change things.
The next few weeks should be very interesting to see what changes are made.....
Posted by: Bob | June 12, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Skate has a good point on the 6 team league concept. When the CHL first restarted in '92-3 five of the six were on the I-35 corridor (Memphis being the outlier) and no raod trip was more than a seven hours bus ride away. You were always hoping for the second game of the home and home to be held at your rink. We had at least three 300 PIM games here in Wichita the first two seasons.
I'm still hoping for Fort Whine to join the CHL, but if they don't and have five competitive teams to play against, things should be fine for next year, giving them time to properly decide the future of the K's. I just hope that Port Huron isn't propped up with local Men's League talent like a few of the UHL teams in the past have finished their rosters with. That was a farce.
Al?
RLR
Posted by: speedrissr | June 12, 2007 at 10:42 PM
Did you see the comment that Franke's said Ruid is cashing in big from his performance last season...well how in the heck are the komets expecting to get great players when they dont even want to spend the cash....get a grip u so called owners and spend the cash you greedy asses have!!!
Posted by: Kometfan | June 13, 2007 at 12:04 AM
Franke's not offering up the cash? How do you know what each player was payed? From what I hear the Franke's and Tony Lisman are who you want to play for in minor league sports. Ruid could have been offered $300,000 in Europe..how in the world could the Franke's match that offer especially with a salery cap? Get Real.
Posted by: Brandon | June 13, 2007 at 02:34 AM
You can't fault a player for venturing out to make more money, remember there is life after minor-league hockey. This isn't the NHL, however at the same time if you have players leaving left and right---that either says something about the franchise, or something about the league. As much as I think the Frankes are overly-conservative penny-pinchers, they DO take care of their players. So I'm willing to bet it's not about the franchise--it's about this stupid league they are trying to sell on.
If I were Ruid and had the year I had, I'd get into another league too. The UHL is about the last place many of these guys will want to play, why not try out other leagues that have a larger talent pool, more teams, a solid future and possibly more talent?
Posted by: Brad Lyons | June 13, 2007 at 04:54 PM
It has nothing to do with the league Brad. Alot of guys are going to go over to europe. Those leagues over there give players mad cash. Hell Danny Stewart went to England and probrably got 6 figures. When he was here he probrably got 200/week. Ruid will get what our salary cap is a year. If you are so disgusted with this league why don't you use the money you seem to brag about all the time and buy an AHL franchise.
Posted by: Charlie I | June 13, 2007 at 05:17 PM
Or a really really really nice pair of shoes.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | June 15, 2007 at 08:09 PM