Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 4)

[Coaches Coroner]

Matia's luck/durability was disappointing but he certainly had the goods. IMO, more disappointing as top prospects were perhaps each of our next 3 1st rounders' ... and a long list of prospects that never reported.

After a couple nagging shoulder injuries early on then major surgery in his shortened second year here, he didn't seem have the same shot anymore and multiple concussions, ankle issues, broken fingers, etc. dogged him further and that luck only continued in his AHL/ECHL career. Felt bad for him, like Luke Opilka.

Next 3 didn't have the hype and pedigree of Matia. He was seen as a top 5 pick by most, top 3 by some and fell to us due to hinting he might go college route. They were Spott's "4 year player with a 1st" projects that mostly failed.

 

[bobber]

Matia's luck/durability was disappointing but he certainly had the goods. IMO, more disappointing as top prospects were perhaps each of our next 3 1st rounders' ... and a long list of prospects that never reported.

After a couple nagging shoulder injuries early on then major surgery in his shortened second year here, he didn't seem have the same shot anymore and multiple concussions, ankle issues, broken fingers, etc. dogged him further and that luck only continued in his AHL/ECHL career. Felt bad for him, like Luke Opilka.

If I remember correctly Matia was a fairly fast skater. On prospects or past no show draft picks the odd one shows up on NHL rosters. Mostly American skaters.

 

[EvenSteven]

Next 3 didn't have the hype and pedigree of Matia. He was seen as a top 5 pick by most, top 3 by some and fell to us due to hinting he might go college route. They were Spott's "4 year player with a 1st" projects that mostly failed.

Mostly failed. Evidenced by us picking #2 overall after those three 1st rounders.

 

[DeletedAccountt]

Ok...this is funny..

Ex-Kitchener Rangers player takes shot on love on Bachelor in Paradise Canada

Former Kitchener Rangers forward is one of 27 eligible singles cast for reality TV dating show

www.therecord.com

 

[K2]

Be nice for someone to post a prospect tracker. Josh Brown used to once in a while in the past.

A few...

Cole Longacre (D 2022 2nd) - Mediocre rookie year in USHL (49 games), no NCAA commit ... ?
Lex Terrence (LD 2022 6th) - Good 2022 Camp. Now playing in US Northeast Pack league
Kamil Bednarik (C 2022 7th) - US NDTP, Boston U commit
Rory Gilmour (D 2022 9th) - Good 2022 Camp, St. Andrews College (Aurora)
Carson McGurn (C 2922 19th) - Good 2022 Camp
Luca DiFelice (G 2022 4th) - Signed in December, 2023 BUG?

Dylan McFadden (F 2021 5th) OJHL, Holy Cross commit
Ryan Fine (C 2021 5th) - US NDTP grad ... but upgraded NCAA commit to Harvard
Jack Pridham (RW 2021 9th) Good season at St. Andrews College (Aurora)
Drew Fortescue (LD 2021 12th) US NDTP grad, Boston College commit

Cutter Gauthier (LW 2020 4th) - NHL 1st rounder Flyers, 5th overall, WJC, Boston College
George Fegaras (RD 2020 4th) - USHL, Cornell commit
Owen Mehlenbacher (C 2020 13th) - USHL 3 seasons, Wisconsin commit

U18 2022, 2021:
Kristian Lamanna (C) - OJHL
Yianni Koukoves (LW) - GOJHL
Blake Power (6'4" RD) - OJHL Big 2004 D, 23PTS + 64 PIM

There's quite possibly more Yantsis & Xhekaj's than ever passed over in the 'covid era' fog that could surprise as FAs, here or elsewhere. Hope we've been scouting the occasional pond

 

[Ward Cornell]

A few...

Cole Longacre (D 2022 2nd) - Mediocre rookie year in USHL (49 games), no NCAA commit ... ?
Lex Terrence (LD 2022 6th) - Good 2022 Camp. Now playing in US Northeast Pack league
Kamil Bednarik (C 2022 7th) - US NDTP, Boston U commit
Rory Gilmour (D 2022 9th) - Good 2022 Camp, St. Andrews College (Aurora)
Carson McGurn (C 2922 19th) - Good 2022 Camp
Luca DiFelice (G 2022 4th) - Signed in December, 2023 BUG?

Dylan McFadden (F 2021 5th) OJHL, Holy Cross commit
Ryan Fine (C 2021 5th) - US NDTP grad ... but upgraded NCAA commit to Harvard
Jack Pridham (RW 2021 9th) Good season at St. Andrews College (Aurora)
Drew Fortescue (LD 2021 12th) US NDTP grad, Boston College commit

Cutter Gauthier (LW 2020 4th) - NHL 1st rounder Flyers, 5th overall, WJC, Boston College
George Fegaras (RD 2020 4th) - USHL, Cornell commit
Owen Mehlenbacher (C 2020 13th) - USHL 3 seasons, Wisconsin commit

U18 2022, 2021:
Kristian Lamanna (C) - OJHL
Yianni Koukoves (LW) - GOJHL
Blake Power (6'4" RD) - OJHL Big 2004 D, 23PTS + 64 PIM

There's quite possibly more Yantsis & Xhekaj's than ever passed over in the 'covid era' fog that could surprise as FAs, here or elsewhere. Hope we've been scouting the occasional pond

IMO with the players that were coming back here this season, signing with the Rangers could have hampered any other opportunity. With a large exodus after this season I suspect there will be some signings from the last two drafts.

 

[bobber]

Rangers need to come out hard tonight. This is the game that makes or breaks this series. Tough row to hoe if they lose and go down 3 game to 1. Hopefully they can continue on the same track as last game. I am sure the Hunters will make some kind of adjustment in their game plan. Lets see if MM and his staff can keep the boys playing hard nosed hockey and out of the sin bin. Go Rangers!

 

[GeoBlue]

Anyone have the odds of the Auditorium playing the Oktoberfest Chicken Dance? I'll put money on it.

 

[sbpointer]

Anyone have the odds of the Auditorium playing the Oktoberfest Chicken Dance? I'll put money on it.

If you hear it don't dance to it you risk a 10 minute misconduct

 

[TheBlueMonster]

A few...

Cole Longacre (D 2022 2nd) - Mediocre rookie year in USHL (49 games), no NCAA commit ... ?
Lex Terrence (LD 2022 6th) - Good 2022 Camp. Now playing in US Northeast Pack league
Kamil Bednarik (C 2022 7th) - US NDTP, Boston U commit
Rory Gilmour (D 2022 9th) - Good 2022 Camp, St. Andrews College (Aurora)
Carson McGurn (C 2922 19th) - Good 2022 Camp
Luca DiFelice (G 2022 4th) - Signed in December, 2023 BUG?

Dylan McFadden (F 2021 5th) OJHL, Holy Cross commit
Ryan Fine (C 2021 5th) - US NDTP grad ... but upgraded NCAA commit to Harvard
Jack Pridham (RW 2021 9th) Good season at St. Andrews College (Aurora)
Drew Fortescue (LD 2021 12th) US NDTP grad, Boston College commit

Cutter Gauthier (LW 2020 4th) - NHL 1st rounder Flyers, 5th overall, WJC, Boston College
George Fegaras (RD 2020 4th) - USHL, Cornell commit
Owen Mehlenbacher (C 2020 13th) - USHL 3 seasons, Wisconsin commit

U18 2022, 2021:
Kristian Lamanna (C) - OJHL
Yianni Koukoves (LW) - GOJHL
Blake Power (6'4" RD) - OJHL Big 2004 D, 23PTS + 64 PIM

There's quite possibly more Yantsis & Xhekaj's than ever passed over in the 'covid era' fog that could surprise as FAs, here or elsewhere. Hope we've been scouting the occasional pond

My wish list would certainly include

Cole Longacre, Jack Pridham, George Fegaras although he'd likely be just a one and done.

Would love to see a number of prospects from previous drafts sign. The expectation for next year isn't high at all. Just need a young, fast team that will compete night in, night out.

 

[GeoBlue]

Same as last............

Sop-Pinelli-Mesar
Arcuri-Zhilkin-Martin
Swick-Rehkopf-Valade
Misaljevic-Mercer-Hollett

Moore-Schmidt
Andonovski-Brzustewicz
Hamara-Motew

Costantini

McCue in the lineup for London. I assume Brochu is okay.

 

[RangerNation]

Same as last............

Sop-Pinelli-Mesar
Arcuri-Zhilkin-Martin
Swick-Rehkopf-Valade
Misaljevic-Mercer-Hollett

Moore-Schmidt
Andonovski-Brzustewicz
Hamara-Motew

Costantini

McCue in the lineup for London. I assume Brochu is okay.

And Edward out for London

 

[All the Answers]

Ugg. Burchell.

 

[bobber]

Brock Otten Twitter has his annual mock draft of the top prospects for the upcoming draft and a scouting report on quite a few players in the first round and beyond into the second. He has Hunter's brother as one of the best skaters in the draft going to Hamilton at 8th. Look it up. I haven't got the tech skills to paste it. Still counting beads on one of those thingamajigs.

 

[ohloutsider]

Kitchener announcers not aware there are 2 teams on the ice?

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Kitchener announcers not aware there are 2 teams on the ice?

They're morons. We don't even like them here lol.



Arcuri and Bruzzer need to ride some pine. That was a horrible effort on the 2nd goal.

This game is far from over but these guys need to get it together.

 

[EvenSteven]

This series was over on the 2-0 goal. London isn’t having to break a sweat.

 

[All the Answers]

This series was over on the 2-0 goal. London isn’t having to break a sweat

These are the Rangers we knew all year.

 

[RangerNation]

Time of death...8:35pm. I think the rollercoaster season is finally coming to an end.

Thank god I'm not a leafs fans too. Ouch!

 

[EvenSteven]

When you won’t shoot the puck and can’t put a pass together, this is what you get.

Oh well, the draft starts Friday.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Super disapointed in the play of Franky Arcuri and hunter brzustewicz who are directly responsible for at least 2 of the goals. Just don't look interested in this at all and honestly, kick rocks if that's the case.

Can't just pick and choose when you want to show up.

Need a massive showing in the 3rd but its a tall task. Going into the Bud gardens and coming away with a W is an even tougher task.

 

[bobber]

Rangers won't win many games when the defense plays so loose and the goalie lets in a goal every 6 shots. Hunter made adjustments like I said he would and all MM can do is stand there and watch the results. A lot of invisible Rangers through two. As for Rehkopf trying the Michigan. Stick that move where the sun don't shine unless you're up by 6 goals. Then he loses his man and takes a penalty.

 

[RangerNation]

What a disappointing game and season. I know they haven't lost the series yet but let's not kid ourselves. Back to the rebuild. Or is it called a retool now? Whatever they call it, it better lead to something more than this.

 

[robertmac43]

London did an amazing job at keeping us to the outside all night long. We couldn't generate anything remotely dangerous and the rare clean looks we had Brochu shut the door.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

This was likely the last game on home ice this season.

Going into Bud Gardens in an elimination game and trying to leave with a win isn't an easy task.

But we can focus on that on Thursday.

The good:

Mesar was great tonight. Hollett sticking up for his team mate, was nice to see some bite for him. Really hope we can find room to keep him next season.

I thought Moore looked alright. Same with the missle.



The Bad.

Arcuri
Hunter Bruz
Schmidt
PP
PK
Faceoffs
Coaching staff not trying new things or holding certain players accountable



I don't know what else to say. We needed a big game from our stars and they just sat on the bus.