Defenseman Drew Daniels, who led the ECHL in plus/minus rating last season, has left the Komets and may not return.

"He has left the team. He had some family issues. He has to get some clarity back home," general manager David Franke said. "He really wasn't toally on board with his situation here in Fort Wayne either. So he's taking some time off to kind of reevaluate things and see where he wants to go from here."

Daniels had four goals, 26 points and a plus-16 rating in 34 games this season. Last season, he had four goals, 45 points and a plus-46 rating in 72 games.

He has also played four games with Utica and Chicago of the higher-level American Hockey League over the last two seasons.

"I don't know if he's coming back," Franke said. "There's an AHL team that might be interested in calling him up. I haven't talked to him in a couple days but he needed to handle some things at home and we'll see where it goes in the next few days."

Daniels is the second player to defect in the last two weeks; forward Joe Perry left citing personal reasons, too, but Franke said he hasn't reqeusted his rights to be traded.

"I don't think they coincide with one another," Franke said. "I believe it's just a freak thing with the timing."

The good news for the Komets is that defenseman Cody Corbett has returned from San Antonio of the American Hockey League, along with goaltender Spencer Martin.

Franke stressed that the Komets have battled through the losses of players all season — due to injuries and call-ups — and that he believes the team will endure this.

jcohn@jg.net