Defenseman Brent Henley, who has not played since last season's playoffs because of a knee injury, should be back in the Fort Wayne Komets' lineup Friday when they play at Port Huron, Mich. Henley, 27, appeared in 36 regular-season games with the Komets last season, tallying three assists and 174 penalty minutes.
To make room on the roster, the Komets waived forward Bobby Kukulka, who had four goals and seven points in 12 games this season.
-- By Justin A. Cohn, The Journal Gazette
Good luck to Kukulka. I know he missed some games due to injury. I thought he was an okay player, but that's the breaks when you bring someone else in. Another player's got to go.
Posted by: Greg | December 13, 2007 at 03:38 PM
That is too bad for Kakulka. I really liked him and thought he tried really hard just not given enough time to prove himself best of luck to him. Any team that picks him up would be very smart.
Glad Henley is back!!!!
GO KOMETS!!
Posted by: IcyKometsFan84 | December 13, 2007 at 03:55 PM
Wow- surprised it was Kukulka!!!!
Posted by: mightbite | December 13, 2007 at 04:09 PM
I think thats a terriable cut I have 3 to 4 players in mind that should of been cut before cutting Kukulka
Posted by: Ryan | December 13, 2007 at 04:22 PM
The Komets are going to stick with eight veterans, one more than they can play, for the immediate future.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 13, 2007 at 04:25 PM
I have'nt chimed in for a while but, What the ????? Kukulka? The brothers F are obviously still hitting the Huka. I don't understand their reasoning. He was one of our guys who actually worked hard. Why am I suprised.... This is one of their typical stupid moves. They never fail to have at least one a season. He'll be picked up and most likely poor the coals to us when he comes back. Just put another notch in the blunders of Franke's Donkeys.
Sorry to rain on the return of Brent. Oh yeah, GO KOMETS!!
Posted by: The Fan | December 13, 2007 at 04:38 PM
Horrible move, just plain horrible, I am sorry but i would have lost legs, warner, pence, marchant, shaf or sessa before kulk.
UGGG hometown kid my rear, kulk should never been lost before warner.
I am quite upset over both this and garbios (SP?)
Posted by: Andy | December 13, 2007 at 05:50 PM
could have been an easy cut
you never know the whole story
Posted by: duglaw | December 13, 2007 at 05:53 PM
The way Warner has stepped up over the last 2 weeks, there is no way you could cut him. He has been doing his job, and that's all you can ask of him. I'm not from Ft. Wayne, and sure don't like Carroll, but I like the way that kid is improving every time out.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 13, 2007 at 06:15 PM
Honestly everyone is getting all upset about this move but I've been calling it for weeks...
Kukulka isn't a first line player. With that said...there's no where else for him to go. We've got a second and third stuffed full of grinders and hard workers like Kukulka. Unfortunatly for Kuk, he didn't put up "enough" of the numbers to be one of those grinders in the second and third lines. You wouldn't get rid of Reynolds, Hukalo, Saidaichev, Curadeau. Marchannt, Sessa and the rest of the veterans are exempt because they Frankes stated they are hanging onto Eight vets. So, who would go in Kuk's place?
They aren't going to let go of Aquino.
The only other forward options are Legault and Woods and they aren't going to let two fighters/antagonists go.
The only option was Kukulka. He's a good player but he's out talented by the roster. He'd be a top player on a couple teams in this league but not the Komets. We are too talent heavy for him to fit much of anywhere.
His only option was the second line or as an extra forward.
I'm not surprised nor am I unhappy by this move. Someone had to go and one way or another soemone wouldn't be happy.
Posted by: FWKRTJ | December 13, 2007 at 06:18 PM
Good move? Bad move? Time will tell, but I was surprised.
Posted by: ex-STH | December 13, 2007 at 06:52 PM
You have to remember, the Franke's have been around the block a time or two. They make the best decision for the team, and I repect it.
Posted by: Jerad Shaw | December 13, 2007 at 07:03 PM
I'm a little surprised by this but Kukulka did spend a lot of time on IR. Maybe he's hurt worse than we know? I dunno...
Posted by: FiveMinuteMajor | December 13, 2007 at 07:21 PM
I guess no matter what happens with this team there will always be someone to disagree. It's their opinions. so be it. some go a bit far and i cant help but to get a laugh out of it. understand the frankes have been around the block as shaw said and i too respect that. along with havin this great hockey team in this great hockey town for so so long! we're lucky! So calm it down a few notches and enjoy this great game and team. good luck to the guys tomorrow!!
Posted by: Booner | December 13, 2007 at 07:31 PM
who cares who got cut cuz king kong henleyz back and now every game will be a sell out with the komets be the roughest rootn tootn hockey team in the ihl
Posted by: ABEATENHORSE | December 13, 2007 at 07:40 PM
that really sucks. Kukulka is a very skilled player. Someone will pick him up and we will regret it. he knows how to put the puck in the net. Big disapointment.
Posted by: lovelost | December 13, 2007 at 08:21 PM
i have 2 comments on the Kulka situation:
1. we only get to see what happens during the game, there are practices, players as part of the community, the locker room, the bus, private issues -- so unless i know the whole story i can't judge it.
2. IMO, there is no other better person in the general manager position in minor league hockey than David Franke. There are a lot of things i can bring up but one that still blows my mind is the retooling that happened a couple of decembers ago.
Posted by: HORSEofAdifferentCOLOR | December 13, 2007 at 08:38 PM
I just wish we were in the AHL so I could watch up and coming talent like Wade Flaherty play. Rockford is very lucky to have such a young and talented goalie.
Posted by: Duane Joyce | December 14, 2007 at 12:19 AM
I wish I could have three wishes so I could wish for more stuff, and for all the children of the world to sing the joy of the season...
Posted by: Hoss | December 14, 2007 at 06:23 AM
Umm Duane,
Wade Flaherty has been around for more thatn 10 years. He played in old IHL and has been a back up in the NHL for several teams. Most notably with the Islanders when they had some injuries a few years back.
FYI
Posted by: T.P. | December 14, 2007 at 07:00 AM
TP..
I think that was a sarcastic remark Duane made...
Posted by: Mark | December 14, 2007 at 07:37 AM
Thanks Mr. O, your a life saver!
Posted by: Jungle Monkey | December 14, 2007 at 09:33 AM
They gonna rotate the vets? Or do like they did last year & sit one out until they need him? If it's the latter, how long till that player pulls a Kelly Miller? (not that I would blame him at all)
Personally, I would've ditched Warner or Pence but what do I know. Good luck Kukulka!!!
Posted by: Joe | December 14, 2007 at 11:01 AM
Dear TP,
Flaherty is only 39. He is a young pup. Just because he started his career in the late 1980s does not mean he has not reached his full potential.
Why when I was 39 we had to fight with the Amish to get horses to ride to school in the morning!
Sincerely,
The Red Coats
Posted by: security guard | December 14, 2007 at 11:29 AM
a surprise move but kukulka and a bunch o f the other third liners are probably pretty interchangeable and since we dont know the full story then its hard to dispute it. dont worry about him comming back to haunt us, i mean granbois isnt exacty tearing up the league!
Posted by: chuckitt | December 14, 2007 at 03:30 PM
Kukulka was just claimed off of waivers by Bloomington. We will see Sunday if what most of you say is true or not.
Posted by: wingmnn | December 14, 2007 at 04:09 PM
So will Guinn get released by Bloomington and we pick up Guinn?
Posted by: HorseWhisperer | December 14, 2007 at 05:37 PM
I can all ready see that is unpopular to disagree with the decision of dropping Kukukla. You gotta love the "you don't know what happens in practice" thing. We don't know, so either spill the beans or stop saying it. On the surface it looks like a stupid move. 11 points in 12 games. Not enough points, eh? Did someone actually lump #25 in as a grinder and hard worker? Wow. That is the funniest thing I have heard in weeks. Explain me that one Batman?
Our best combinations this year so far has been this:
Chaulk, Sessa, Aquino
Reynolds, Kukulka, Woods
Curadeau, Saidachev, Hukalo
I like Legault...but is he worth giving up on Kukulka so Coach can play him less than a shift a game? I say no.
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 14, 2007 at 06:58 PM
Just to chime in on that, I doubt Legault's salary is in the stratosphere of Kukulka's.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 14, 2007 at 07:17 PM
is anyone else using B2 tonight?
Posted by: IcyKometsFan84 | December 14, 2007 at 07:32 PM
Wouldn't a veteran player that is extra so to speak, be better to get rid of then? Don't the veterans make more money than Kukulka did? I just don't see keeping a dead-weight veteran who is making that type of cash, and letting go of younger hungrier talent. Someone is trying to float that he is a cancer in the locker-room. Is this true? Or is it just something being started to justify hanging onto a Marchant, Shafronov, or Sessa...and letting go of a younger guy? What is the real story here Justin?
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 14, 2007 at 07:36 PM
trying to get on the b2...having problems...any help out there for me?
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 07:37 PM
says upcoming on b2 website
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 07:38 PM
i can't get it either
Posted by: IcyKometsFan84 | December 14, 2007 at 07:38 PM
Yeah, what a shock, the B2 Notwork is at it again.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 14, 2007 at 07:39 PM
thats all i got too
Posted by: IcyKometsFan84 | December 14, 2007 at 07:40 PM
justin, will you ban me for typing what i'm thinking? ha ha ha
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 07:42 PM
well i was going to but it still says upcoming
Posted by: Charlie | December 14, 2007 at 07:47 PM
i gave up already...i am listening to good old bob chase
Posted by: IcyKometsFan84 | December 14, 2007 at 07:49 PM
I'm copywriting that. The B2 Notwork.
Posted by: Justin Cohn | December 14, 2007 at 07:51 PM
would you still come visit us lowley poor people then justin?
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 07:52 PM
I will read into this thing then. A veteran player will be released once Sessa comes off IR...right? You have Saidachev on IR and Sessa on IR currently and Durdin. Sessa and Durdin will both most likely be due to come off this weekend? I think? Once Sessa is off, then the roster is on overload. We have 19 healthy players playing tonight. 3 guys on IR and 1 too many veterans. I see 1 veteran going and maybe even one other player going away too. Can they keep 21 guys on the roster hiding 2 of them on IR? How else does that work?
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 14, 2007 at 07:54 PM
how about..."I've been B2'd"...ugh
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 07:56 PM
It is the DB2 Network isn't it?
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 14, 2007 at 08:00 PM
Elite Professional Hockey Network?
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 14, 2007 at 08:01 PM
might as well be the WB2 Network...seems like bugs bunny is running things.
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 08:02 PM
Is Bob Chase calling the game with a French accent???
Posted by: IcyKometsFan84 | December 14, 2007 at 08:04 PM
someone will blame the frankes for telling port huron to have it tape delayed...
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 08:06 PM
Anything run by Dickie Brosal has to be a gem...
Posted by: Hit Somebody!!! | December 14, 2007 at 08:07 PM
now down towards the bottom it says broadcast cancelled. that's nice!
Posted by: deuce | December 14, 2007 at 08:09 PM