Yet another Komets player is taking a lucrative offer to play in Europe.

Forward Garrett Thompson, who had career highs in goals (29) and points (71) in 67 regular-season games, has signed to play for Frisk Asker in Norway.

Thompson, who ranked fifth in ECHL scoring this regular season, totaled seven goals and 16 points in 18 playoff games as the Komets reached Game 7 of the Western Conference finals before losing to the Colorado Eagles.

The Eagles trail the Florida Everblades 3–2 in the best-of-7 Kelly Cup finals.

Thompson, who played three seasons with the Komets, was called up to the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild and was scoreless in two games this season.

Massive changes to the Komets’ lineup had been expected because so many players had career-best seasons, meaning they would be courted by other teams, and since Fort Wayne players are changing to veteran status.

Gabriel Desjardins, who was voted MVP by his Fort Wayne teammates, had already signed to play in Sweden. Mason Baptista is headed to Germany. Phelix Martineau signed with Laval of the AHL.

Daniel Maggio and Dennis Kravchenko will also be able to test free agency since they were left off the Komets’ protected list, as part of the arrangements they made with the Komets before signing last summer.

The Komets had three top-10 ECHL scorers, Thompson, Desjardins and Shawn Szydlowski, the league’s scoring champion and MVP.

Thompson, 28, was one of the Komets’ power forwards at 6-foot-3, 206 pounds, and he’s spent the entirety of his professional career in the ECHL and AHL.

jcohn@jg.net