Komets general manager David Franke said the team is no longer in pursuit of Erick Tremblay, a defenseman who was on the roster late last season. Franke said Tremblay will likely play for Elmira of the ECHL. Meanwhile, the Komets hope to have more player signings to announce Tuesday.
- Oh great, another hockey writer so sure the International Hockey League is Single-A. Since none have seen the league play a game yet, I don't know how any determination can be made. And if you're basing it off the United Hockey League, sorry, Double-A. No doubt.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
What does someone out in Alaska kow about hockey in the midwest? He must be a "INTO THE BOARDS" regular know it all. Zelmo ring a bell?
Wonder how big the signings might be tomorrow? I am ready to see some big guns signed. A big scoring forward. An offensive d-man. A guy that hits everything on the ice. Or maybe 4 or 5 of those guys.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | August 27, 2007 at 06:01 PM
should be "know"
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | August 27, 2007 at 06:01 PM
I guess under this thinking, Elmira won't win a game in the ECHL with so many Single-A players.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | August 27, 2007 at 06:05 PM
I would love to see a series of games played between either league All-Stars between the CHL, IHL, ECHl and even the AHL or even mix in some games between champion teams or something just to see where things really do stack-up. I doubt that things are really that much different. I would even lean more towards saying that the UHL teams we have seen in the past 5 years are as good as anything the ECHL has had and better than anything the CHL has had. Just my opinion. But I think you have players that go under the radar, or maybe get labeled and don't get chances with NHL affiliates as it is a numbers game. There are alot of talented guys that hang around in the UHL that have out-lived their opportunity to get a look at the next level. Does that make them single A and the ECHL double A? I don't think so.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | August 27, 2007 at 06:12 PM
I was thinking it was more of a way to class teams. And since the E is joined at the hip with the A and N, it would be considered single A.
But, I think they are trying to class it like baseball, but it doesn't work that way. You probably don't see anyone older the 25? in single A baseball.
Posted by: Junior | August 27, 2007 at 06:15 PM
The UHL was AA hockey. This year the former weaker teams (Port Huron, Flint, Bloomington) all are making leaps and bounds in improvements. Fury looks decent plus they're bringing back Bouchard. K-zoo is already extremely solid. Of course Ft. Wayne will produce. The IHL is shaping up to being a big improvement over last year IMO. I don't know how you get single A out of that.
Posted by: dnl | August 27, 2007 at 07:20 PM
ECHL would never play against IHL. How embarrassing would it be for them to lose or even tie in a game when the E is the 'premier AA hockey' league. It's better marketing to self proclaim greatness than to actually play it out on the ice.
Posted by: dnl | August 27, 2007 at 07:24 PM
ECHL will not play against the IHL because the IHL is a non union league.
Posted by: Tony E | August 27, 2007 at 08:03 PM
Thanks Cohn for asking. I think he will fit well in that team. They have a outstanding line up and will probably end up winning everything if they keep the signings up. Martinson always knows hot to find the tough players that can play hockey and thats why Rockford had so much success.
Posted by: lovelost | August 27, 2007 at 08:04 PM
I think if the Komets don't find a tough guy soon everyone is going to be injured after this season. Hansen cant be our fighter. With Port Huron signing Jason Bone today, we better watch out, because that team and flint are rolling in on tough guys. We don't have a single guy to stand up to really any team. Komets and Muskegon are the only teams that seem not interested in rushing to the subject.
Posted by: lovelost | August 27, 2007 at 08:07 PM
lovelost, you're killin me. Just because two teams have signed tough guys does not mean we will be dominated or decimated by injuries by them. I think you are underestimating the players we have and being a bit over dramatic about it on this blog and previously on the other one. There are still more spots to fill and I would rather have some scoring than a fighter, the latter of the two, I believe we will have by the time camp starts. It is still August, barely, why is everyone in such a rush? There's a long way to go before everything is set in stone. I am confident the Franke and Sims will make the right moves.
Posted by: hockeycity | August 27, 2007 at 08:23 PM
I know this hockeycity, I would rather have "Hockey Players" too but if with the new rules there is going to be guys coming in and just wanting to fight. With no instigator you will see people just attacking people so to speak. I know its not going to be a regular thing but its going to happen. We just need some tough D guys to protect them on the ice, Im not saying lets go sign the top fighters out there im just saying some guys that can Check on the ice. I know the Komets will get a few tough guys but they havent seemed rushed into it. Which i would rather have the great hockey players than the tough guys, but with the new rules i think we will need it.
Posted by: lovelost | August 27, 2007 at 08:31 PM
The rumor around town is that the Komets signed Konstantin Shafronov.
Last season he was at a point a game clip so it looks like he can still put the puck in the net. Hockeydb doesn't list his stats, but its on eurohockey.net.
Posted by: K.M. | August 27, 2007 at 09:02 PM
my my big scorer with ft wayne connections, could it be? and lovelost, anyone who thinks people will just be attacking people because of the new rules is plain silly. you obviously never played the game cause theres way too much going on to just go out and attack someone. remember, any one gooning it up and trying to hurt someone will be taken care of. and tho there is no instigator there is still a misconduct penalty and if someone is jumped and then turtles, yo can still get a fighting major called on just one person, so it will still hurt the bad guys team. wait and see how it plays out, or move somewhere where they play hockey the way you want them to play.
Posted by: chuckitt | August 27, 2007 at 09:56 PM
I know how hockey works and will you please quit telling me how i don't know about hockey and explaing to me how the rules and crap is. i know. its getting old and you dont know anything about me so quit saying things you don't know.
Posted by: lovelost | August 27, 2007 at 10:11 PM
I agree with some of what lovelost is saying. Fort Wayne is who was really pushing these new rules to promote more 'physical play' but we have yet to have any physical presence. I hope that we aren't going down the road of having just a few guys that will drop the gloves. Look at what has happened the past few years in the playoffs against Rockford. We get physically dominated and have no answer for it. Our forwards are constantly looking over their shoulders which makes them ineffective. Martinson came right out in the paper the last 2 years before our playoff series and basically said that they are going to physically dominate us; and they did! Why don't we learn from that and get some young hungry players in here that can take it to the other team. We don't need goons but we need 5 or 6 guys that can bang some bodies and drop em when needed. This is what has made Rockford successful and in my opinion the most exciting team to watch for the past 2 years. We need to get some serious grit and toughness on this team! It has been promised for years and it's time to deliver.
Posted by: whole_n_one | August 27, 2007 at 10:22 PM
I still hold out some hope the Komets can sign Fraser Filipic from the Colorado Eagles. I think he is the type of player the Komets should target.
He is tough and can play a regular shift, he seems very much like Morency/Stewart type of player.
It doesn't look like he has signed anywhere yet, probably Martinson has him locked up lol.
Posted by: K.M. | August 27, 2007 at 11:11 PM
Wholeinone there is a difference between physical play and fighting. Rockford was more physical in the playoffs than us and beat us. I will give you that. But they did not fight in the playoffs. From what I see lovelost wants fighters and you are talking about physical play. We all know fighting is at a bare minimum in the playoffs.
I agree with chuckitt also, just because there are rules changes doesn't mean you are going to see a bar fight every night. And if it becomes that, I will stop attending games. Physical hockey with some fights -- YES, UFC -- NO!!!
Posted by: hockeycity | August 27, 2007 at 11:43 PM
RELAX... Please don't ruin this blog to.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | August 28, 2007 at 07:13 AM
I have a funny feeling the signing might be Brent Henley. I saw him out and about Saturday night at Dirty P's. I didn't talk to him. But I did talk to some of his peeps. And that was the impression I was getting from them.
Posted by: Scrapman | August 28, 2007 at 07:20 AM
Anybody noticed how the guy ripped on Chelios's age. I thought that was kind of funny.
Othere than that, it's just his opinion on how the leagues are ranked, he bunched the CHL in with the IHL so he thinks both are "A" leagues.
Posted by: Greg | August 28, 2007 at 08:46 AM
scrapman...I know it is not Henely...I saw him last friday here and he was only here to see the surgeon..My b/f and I sat down with him and he is still pretty sore..he has offers but he will not sign until he is better..he has some different offers and he said it all depends on how the season is going for each team before he decides who he is signing with...now with all that said..he could be blowing us smoke but he seemed very genuine. He is a really nice guy and he could not believe we reconized him..
Posted by: Janice | August 28, 2007 at 09:02 AM
Janice, that's a good story. Couldn't believe you recognized him?!?!?!? He's flippin huge!! We had a chance to talk to him at the bar in K-zoo and you're right, he is a good guy.
He's from BC and it's interesting that he comes to the Fort to get the work done on his knee. Maybe the K's are flipping the bill because he was w/ us last year, I'm not sure. I know he has an offer from the Quebec league, but who knows what is going to happen.
lovelost, you're going to ruin another board, CHILL OUT.
Posted by: Junior | August 28, 2007 at 09:43 AM
Junior it may be a situation where he can get the work done quicker here. Socialized medicine is great in that you don't have to pay for medical care but the wait for non life threatening procedures can be months. Some people elect to come to the states and pay for medical care rather than wait.
Posted by: Tony E | August 28, 2007 at 09:58 AM
Komets website Shafranov signs with Komets.
Posted by: Greg | August 28, 2007 at 11:08 AM
Greg, you beat me to it! :)
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | August 28, 2007 at 11:13 AM
Just lucky I guess ;-)
Posted by: Greg | August 28, 2007 at 11:19 AM
Where or where has our enforcer gone, oh where oh where can he be?
I am starting to become discouraged help me Tony E, Chuckit. All I can say is that Upshall had a couple of 180 pim seasons. Is it just me or do we have the most rookies ever?
Posted by: wingmnn | August 28, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Cool when Shafranov scores we get to here that Russian music again.
Posted by: wingmnn | August 28, 2007 at 11:25 AM
toughness is waiting in the wings. be patient. more rookies who can play make it nicer for the future. with 30 guys in camp, just remember that not all who sign will stick.
Posted by: chuckitt | August 28, 2007 at 11:43 AM
Komets PA, you still have that one????
We should all have "Faith" that our "Father Figure" will score some goals.
Posted by: paulsy | August 28, 2007 at 11:46 AM
K.M. ia gree we need a tough guy that can play hockey also, thats what rockford had. They had pfysical play, they could score, and they fought. Thats why they won. How do you the Ducks won the Stanley Cup? Leading FM's and having good scorers. Its the best combo out there.
Posted by: lovelost | August 28, 2007 at 07:28 PM
Russian music warming up in the computer as we speak. It'll be great to have Shaf back. For those of you looking at age all you have to do is look at Guy or look at Chelios. Some guys improve with age. In hockey, experience is gold. Shaf has always been a point a game guy and I don't see that changing. Once you learn to be a good passer or you can put the puck in the net, you don't stop. The league is finally balanced and any team should be able to win any night. Good luck on predicting this season.
Posted by: Komets PA | August 29, 2007 at 01:58 AM
Chelios isn't the Chelios of old. He's basiclly been redued to the fifth and sixth defensman. He's not getting the ice time he used to.
Posted by: Greg | August 29, 2007 at 10:12 AM
Shouldn't it be Kazahkstaki music?
Posted by: Justin Cohn | August 29, 2007 at 07:30 PM
Komets PA:
Speaking of songs, how 'bout hearing "Run through the Jungle" by CCR?
Posted by: Canuck | August 30, 2007 at 12:18 AM
Komets PA:
Speaking of songs, how 'bout hearing "Run through the Jungle" by CCR?
Posted by: Canuck | August 30, 2007 at 12:19 AM
Too be perfectly honest Justin, the "Russian Music" came from some production music Chuck Bailey had years ago. Not sure of it's significance as even a russian song. It just sounds cool! lol
Posted by: Komets PA | August 30, 2007 at 03:17 PM
heck, i knew chuck bailey back before he was chuck bailey!
Posted by: chuckitt | August 30, 2007 at 09:41 PM