When the summer started, Komets General Manager David Franke hoped he could re-sign about 10 players from last year's Turner Cup championship squad. The Komets hit 10 on Monday by announcing the contracts of defenseman Jake Pence and forward Olivier Legault, but there's still seven weeks until training camp and Franke has his fingers crossed on a couple more players.
Franke says the Komets have strong chances to re-sign center Mathieu Curadeau and defenseman Brent Henley. Both have been invited by former Komet Mike Butters to take part in training camp with Norfolk of the American Hockey League, where Butters is the GM.
“I anticipate that this two-way contract will get done with Norfolk, and if he doesn't play in Norfolk, then he'll come back to Fort Wayne,” Franke said. “Nothing has been signed yet, though.”
Norfolk is also looking for a big, tough defenseman, and Henley is fully recovered from the knee surgery that delayed his start to last season.
“If he doesn't make their team, then we are at the top of his list to come back here,” Franke said. “There's no guarantee because both of these guys could go to camp and wow them, but we're in position where we need to be.”
The signing of Pence and rookie Vince Tarantino, 26, means there's going to be a lot of competition for some defensive spots. The Komets have eight defensemen signed, and six play each night. Tarantino, 5-foot-9, 173 pounds, was recommended to the Komets by rookie Justin Hodgman.
“He's not a real big guy, but his style of play reminds me of (former Komet) Marc Barlow,” Franke said. “He's a good skater, has a good shot and handles the puck well. Hodgy played here long enough to know if somebody can play at this level or not.”
Both Pence and Legault proved last year they can play and at times excel at the International Hockey League level. Pence, 24, was the Komets' most improved player last year, scoring two goals and 11 points in 76 games.
Legault, 21, retains his rookie status because he played in only 55 games, but had three goals, nine points and 178 penalty minutes.
