Komets general manager David Franke still believes he will have a coach in place by June 1, though he declined to get into specifics about potential candidates – with one exception.FORT WAYNE – Komets general manager David Franke said Wednesday that filling his defensive corps is a priority as the team puts together its roster for its first ECHL season.
“We’re working on the defensive corps and a lot of things,” Franke said. “We’ve got a lot of different things going on but, yes, defensemen is mainly what we’re concentrating on right now.”
That includes the team’s continued negotiations with Frankie DeAngelis, who was on the CHL’s all-league team last season, when the Komets won their fourth championship in five seasons.
Franke said that DeAngelis is considering several options, including playing in Europe. He had 18 goals and 46 points in 66 games last season, his third with Fort Wayne. Franke hopes to have a decision from DeAngelis by next week.
The Komets have signed 15 players for next season and expect to have goaltender Kenny Reiter assigned from Bridgeport. They have only four defensemen: Tyler Butler, Brent Henley, Daniel Maggio and rookie Kyle Atkins.
