Shaf is back

The Komets have signed 38-year-old forward Konstantin Shafranov -- for the fourth time in his career. Click here to see the release and I will have more on the signing this evening.

Comments

[chuckitt]

the swami knows all.

[Junior]

Besides George, are any of these rookies going to make the team?

Seems like we have an influx of them this year.

[Tony E]

It will be good to hear the Russian Dance song again. I do hope some of these rookies stick because otherwise the Komets might very well be the oldest team in the league and that is not usually a good thing come playoff time. But for those of you crying about lack of leadership this should be yet another knock against that. Of course Shaf doesn't fight so he probably is a bum ;)

[Jason]

Why do they insist on consistently bringing back old time Komets?

[FWKRTJ]

Because it's old time hockey

*wink wink*

[wingmnn]

I know, for some toughness bring back Bawa, Roy, and Fletch.

[Greg]

Junior-yeah at least three because that's the rule.

wingmnn-Bawa had to retire becasue of too many concussions, Roy is still playing in the NHL (don't know why), I bet Fletch could play a few games though.

[wingmnn]

Sorry Greg, I was joking.;)

[Greg]

Oops, sorry, my bad.

Sarcasism(sp)is tough to read here.

[wingmnn]

Though Greg I would love to have Roy back, I think he would be a stud in this league.

[Greg]

He could probably be a second liner. (I think, ummmm, maybe not).

[Shane]

I can hear Larry now.....Starting at Left Wing from Port Colborne, Ontario ........Scotty Gruuuuuuuhl!! HAHA! By the way, I think we have a new league slogan. The IHL NEW LEAGUE OLD PLAYERS!!

[Junior]

From my account, there has been one guy signed from the past. He has been producing a point per game since he started playing the sport professionally. Maybe it's a case of being lucky to have that connection. I heard he has the potential to be one of the top wings in the league.

Guy is the only other one I can think of that would constitute a "past" player. I'll take the reigning d-man of the year any day.

[wingmnn]

Hey Chuckit are you the swami and if so spill the beans.

[Tony E]

Colin would qualify as a past player. I have no problem bringing in guys who have already played if they can still play. I doubt Shaf was brough back as a publicity stunt and I am not going to write him off because of his age because nowadays guys are playing into their late 30's regularly. I think as long as you have some young legs to mix in with the 30+ guys you will be fine.

[Greg]

The thing for Me with Shafranov is he's played in Russia for the past 6 years. Shorter schedule (he played 50 games once) and a bigger ice. I like Konstantin, but I'll have to wait to see how he plays.

[Junior]

I agree with you greg, that's what would worry me the most also. Good point.

Chaulk is only 30 and a year removed, so I didn't include him in my post. There is no way he was brought in to please the fans, he was brought back to win!

[Tony E]

Junior I agree with you. With Shaf he has done almost everything in his career from playing in the olympics etc. One thing he never did was win a cup with the Komets. I think there is going to be some motivation there.

[Greg]

Winning a title is motivation in any sprot for the most part. I will be interested to hear and/or see what the Frankes and Sims think Shafronov brings to the table.

[scoops]

Nice signing. Is the rest of the MIG line available too?

I am curious though as to what they are expecting out of him as there is a little mileage on those legs. I would say 20-30 goals is certainly realistic. Anything beyond might be reaching.

[Charlie I]

Where is Slava Butseyv and Andrei Bashkirov?? LOL. How about Igor Chiberev(sp). Maybe Shaf can bring in some young russian rookies. We had a bunch of french guys last year how about a bunch of russians!!! LOL

[Charlie I]

Brian Curran named new K-wings coach.

[wingmnn]

Ahhh to bad for the card board cutout.

[wingmnn]

During this entire process, we (K-Wings) were searching for a coach that has the same values as our organization, as well as guide us into the new IHL. We have found that coach in Brian,” said General Manager Wade Welsh. Card board cutout sure doesn't fit the new IHL mold with his euro hockey style.

[Tony E]

Bashkirov played somewhere last year but I think Butsayev finally called it a career a couple of years back. Bash I think was the youngest of the 3.

[Dan]

Is this signing a joke? It has to be. When Shaf was here the last time about 7 years ago, he was horrible.

[K.M.]

Hmmmm yea he was sure horrible. 30 points in the last 20 games down the stretch and 14 points in 13 playoff games last time he was here. I can't guarentee he will be great, but his track record shows more then likely he will produce. The only thing horrible was your analysis.

All he ever has done is produce and he has played at higher levels of hockey. Russian Elite League is not a crappy league.

I think Shafronov, Chaulk and Marchant would be a pretty lethal goal scoring machine.

[Dan]

That team he played on here was miserable and he was average on that team. Those stats mean nothing. He couldn't keep up with the pace then and he sure won't now at age 56.

[kometfan]

this is gettin to be a ridiculous...where is the toughness...can we take the frankes for real anymore??? 38 years old....the thing that got us knocked out of the playoffs last year was that we didnt have the speed or the youth that rockford did and they skated all over us?? shouldnt the frankes have realized that and tried to have gone out and done something different this year???

[Tony E]

The preseason armchair negativity is astounding.

[lovelost]

I think he is old but he is someone who can teach alot of these young guys how to play. Good to see him back. Glad we got a possible hard hitter with Upshall. I do still think we need a heavy but we will see. And Dan he is 38. He played his rookie pro here for the Komets i believe.

[chuckitt]

goodness people, when fletcher came back after a couple practices he skated circles around the uhl guys. shaf will do the same if not better cause hes been playing hockey all the time. you sometimes forget the talent level of the old ihl and the current aa level of hockey. shaf will be a huge player for us and hopefully he can bring some boys with him!!

[lovelost]

good point Chuckitt.

[Hit Somebody!!!]

I am happy with Shafy coming back...but I will take the wait and see approach as others have because of his age. I am hoping that some of these young guys pan-out. Would be nice to have some Rookies that put up big numbers this season. Wonder what other names the Frankes might pull out of their arses...? I can see Jim Logan and some of those guys jumping in like Bertram has. Hope to Crap that Chad Grills isn't being called. Yikes.

[Tony E]

Somewhere...in a rink (hopefully) far far away....the announcer speaks.... "Brad Purdie takes the pass from the D-man....skates hard over the center line into the Solar Bears zone... NO WAIT!!! The blue line jumped up and caught him again as he now goes sliding into the net on his behind for the 45th time this season......"

[chuckitt]

brad purdie now theres a name from the not too distant past!!! together with ron darling!

[Greg]

That's Dion Darling. Ron was the Pitcher for the Mets and the Twins.

[Justin Cohn]

Oh my goodness, Brad Purdie. I forgot all about him. Ben Smith was making Igor Malykhin references yesterday. He went all Jim Mora? Shafranov!!!? Don't talk about Shafranov? Are you kidding me, Shafranov?

[paulsy]

I'll admit, I'm questioning some of the names that are appearing but, you have to see them on the ice to know what they bring.

I highly doubt there picking names from hockey DB and saying, "let's give this one a try". The K's have always been good at checking history on players, and looking at their character with teammates.

You don't want a guy that's not part of the team system, yeah we all want a guy who can pound the plastic off someone's head, but toughness, grit and charachter are three key elements vs. cement head, lazy and bench warmer.

[chuckitt]

right! ron darling was a terrible met. go yankees!

[Tony E]

Darling was the best baseball player ever born in Hawaii....or was that Len Sakata...?

[Disgruntled Fan]

No more Logan...please.