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

[RangerNation]

"Thank you for riding Chaos Train! Please lift your restraints and exit to the left. Don't forget to take your belongings and pay your season tickets on July 31st. Enjoy the rest of your day at Disne..er Disappointment Land!"

 

[EvenSteven]

I'm pretty sure those are the drafts that they ended up getting sanctioned by the league for illegal (by league rules, not law) recruitment methods.

Actually, I believe it was players taken after those drafts that had the Spits in trouble with sanctions.

In 08 they took Cam Fowler in the 1st round and it was rumoured that he was paid to report - true or not.

Other rumours had 07 drafted Jack Campbell being the player in question who was paid to report. He supposedly, quietly blew the whistle on the Spits after being disgruntled with his trade from Windsor to the Soo.

Of course, the league never did publicize what actually happened so I guess we’ll never know.

 

[rangersblues]

Dale Hunter didn't shake hands last year after the series. MM just waved as he passed him in the handshake line.

 

[bobber]

Knights put the Rangers out of their misery with a classic lesson in team defense. Good luck to the Rangers moving on.

Dale Hunter didn't shake hands last year after the series. MM just waved as he passed him in the handshake line.

Hunter can be a sore loser. Good for MM.

 

[RangerNation]

Hey MM, hire a coach!

 

[bobber]

Hey MM, hire a coach!

I agree about needing a pro coach. Also maybe a couple of other shake ups.
Some of the players moving on will be glad to see the end of this season of hockey. I hope they recover from the coaching they received here this season. Last two games they looked like they were coaching themselves.

 

[Tim Wallach]

Nothing else will ever matter if they don’t finally do their homework to get a very good coach. If you settle for mediocre there, you doom the team to mediocre. A good coach overcomes a lot of issues, including the lack of skill they’ll have next year.

They MUST get it right.

 

[rangersblues]

Nothing else will ever matter if they don’t finally do their homework to get a very good coach. If you settle for mediocre there, you doom the team to mediocre. A good coach overcomes a lot of issues, including the lack of skill they’ll have next year.

They MUST get it right.

Especially next year with so many young kids. The development curve has to be high.

 

[Tim Wallach]

Especially next year with so many young kids. The development curve has to be high.

Development is everything. This year was a massive fail. Need huge developmental capabilities behind the bench next year. If they go internal, I will be very concerned.

 

[Habsrule]

Valade, Moore, Constantini are graduating.

Pinelli, Arcuri, Zhilkin, Schmidt all can turn pro next year. Pinelli is 100% gone. Arcuri could actually use another year to learn more of a two way game, he has size and a great shot. He will be gone. Zhilkin didn’t dominate like an NHL team would hope he would the year before turning pro but he has a strong two way game so that will carry him to the next level. Schmidt is a tricky one because other than his size he really hasn’t dominated the OHL and proven to me that he is pro material. I feel like he could use another season but Tampa will probably feel differently.

Mesar is a different case because he was drafted out of Europe making him eligible for the AHL next year. I can’t see Montreal wanting him to come back unless they want him to step up his game and make it his team.

Martin, Sop, Motew, Hollett are eligible to be overagers next year. The odd man out is Hollett. Thing is he really stepped up his game down the homestretch and in the playoffs. I think that the best bet would be to bring him back as an overagers and trade off one of the other three for futures. Martin would be my choice to trade because he will be very attractive to all teams. Size and skill and toughness is very highly valued. Then near the deadline Sop and Motew can be traded to teams looking to upgrade their overage positions.

The leaves the Rangers with Rehkopf, Swick, Misaljevic, Pugliese, Mercer, Morey, Bottineau as returning forwards.

Brzustewicz, Andonovski, Hamara, Scott on defence.

In net is where there are big question marks with Vandenberg and Parsons. Both are 19 year olds and the Rangers seem very high on DiFilice. I’m not sure which of the two goalies to trade and which one has the better trade value.


I would go into the offseason with the hopes of trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz for big hauls of picks, Martin traded to be an overage for another team, let the goaltending situation play itself out to see who to move. Really hope to draft and sign and play their two first round picks and their second round pick to have a trio of 16 year old.

Their is a lot of work to do this offseason.

 

[EvenSteven]

Valade, Moore, Constantini are graduating.

Pinelli, Arcuri, Zhilkin, Schmidt all can turn pro next year. Pinelli is 100% gone. Arcuri could actually use another year to learn more of a two way game, he has size and a great shot. He will be gone. Zhilkin didn’t dominate like an NHL team would hope he would the year before turning pro but he has a strong two way game so that will carry him to the next level. Schmidt is a tricky one because other than his size he really hasn’t dominated the OHL and proven to me that he is pro material. I feel like he could use another season but Tampa will probably feel differently.

Mesar is a different case because he was drafted out of Europe making him eligible for the AHL next year. I can’t see Montreal wanting him to come back unless they want him to step up his game and make it his team.

Martin, Sop, Motew, Hollett are eligible to be overagers next year. The odd man out is Hollett. Thing is he really stepped up his game down the homestretch and in the playoffs. I think that the best bet would be to bring him back as an overagers and trade off one of the other three for futures. Martin would be my choice to trade because he will be very attractive to all teams. Size and skill and toughness is very highly valued. Then near the deadline Sop and Motew can be traded to teams looking to upgrade their overage positions.

The leaves the Rangers with Rehkopf, Swick, Misaljevic, Pugliese, Mercer, Morey, Bottineau as returning forwards.

Brzustewicz, Andonovski, Hamara, Scott on defence.

In net is where there are big question marks with Vandenberg and Parsons. Both are 19 year olds and the Rangers seem very high on DiFilice. I’m not sure which of the two goalies to trade and which one has the better trade value.


I would go into the offseason with the hopes of trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz for big hauls of picks, Martin traded to be an overage for another team, let the goaltending situation play itself out to see who to move. Really hope to draft and sign and play their two first round picks and their second round pick to have a trio of 16 year old.

Their is a lot of work to do this offseason.

Good rundown. A couple quick points:

Mesar. Based on his play this year, I don’t see him with the big club next year and it may be a stretch he plays top 6 minutes in the AHL as an underager. For me, I wouldn’t be surprised so see him back in Europe playing for $$. In any event, with he and Hamara signed, we’ll be making two selections in the import draft this year and likely one of those selections will play here next year.

In net, I see DiFelice here next year. That means one of Parsons/Vandenberg is moved. For me, wins don’t matter next year. Development does. Parsons has more trade value than Vandenberg but the injury complicates things. For me, we have to start the season with Parsons trying to regain his value so he can be moved. Then go with Vandenberg and DiFelice playing a 60-40 split in starts.

 

[Gondrex]

Regarding goaltending, would the Rangers consider using one of their first round picks on Ivankovic ? In the well respected words of our friend German Spitfire: "He has shown up in big games at such a young age, kid has ice in his veins. One of the more projectable goalies we’ve seen enter the OHL in a while." Definitely high praise.

I think I already know what the consensus would be on this board. However, if you're looking way out to that Mem Cup bid down the road, this kid is apparently miles ahead of any other goalie within his own age group now already. Just throwing that out there. My mind still has me taking a forward and D-man with #10 and #11, but I'm not making the picks and this thought did enter my mind.

Either way, good luck to our team at the draft table this evening. This is a biggie.

[Edit: Just noticed this now. For reference, www.recruitscouting.com currently has Ivankovic ranked at #17 overall (not including American-born kids].

 

[Torts]

Regarding goaltending, would the Rangers consider using one of their first round picks on Ivankovic ? In the well respected words of our friend German Spitfire: "He has shown up in big games at such a young age, kid has ice in his veins. One of the more projectable goalies we’ve seen enter the OHL in a while." Definitely high praise.

I think I already know what the consensus would be on this board. However, if you're looking way out to that Mem Cup bid down the road, this kid is apparently miles ahead of any other goalie within his own age group now already. Just throwing that out there. My mind still has me taking a forward and D-man with #10 and #11, but I'm not making the picks and this thought did enter my mind.

Either way, good luck to our team at the draft table this evening. This is a biggie.

This is actually a great idea. Gets you the goalie of the future. Some are saying that he'll be picked by Sudbury @ 9 so that complicates things.

 

[Gondrex]

...and for D-men, there is also apparently a big gap between Schaefer (now selected by Erie) and the rest. Coincidently as for the next best, two names that seem to come up a fair bit - Cameron Reid (Bishop Kearney Selects), Quinn Beauchesne (Nepean Raiders) are projected right about where Kitchener picks. Of course there is Henry Bruz who arguably could be the guy they ultimately pick if available at that point, and if they choose a D-man with one of those two picks.

 

[bobber]

When you look at the players the Rangers brought in to compliment Pinelli etc. for some reason they never clicked. Sure there were a few flashes of hope once in a while but man in this London series they all but disappeared. Last night you hardly heard their names because the whole game seemed to be played in panic mode with the Rangers in a shell. Trying not to be the next sacrificial goat isn't a real system. One thing that stood out this season was the fact that the defense core(corpse) was weak coming into the year and they basically went with the same bunch other than Moore. They gave up on Hollett until he asked to play forward. When you have a porous defense you might as well name your goalie Holey. Going forward and I know it won't happen the team needs to bring in an experienced pro coach and give him some authority in how this team is managed. I have no faith at all in the group we have running this franchise. They have proven nothing at all. Finished 7th last year and 8th this year. If going backwards is a thing I guess they were successful. MM's focus is on the Rangers hosting a Mem Cup in 4 years. If we pinned out hopes on that happening and the team making all the correct decisions we might be in for a surprise. It's like they kicked the can further down the road to placate the fans.

 

[EvenSteven]

This team had a lot of the same players this year and we added similar players.

Did we really need to bring in an Arcuri when a top end two way forward may have been the answer?

Did we really need to deal for Moore when we already had an offensive D in Hunter B on board? I pushed for a big physical shutdown D for an addition.

I advocated to sell considering our position in the standings. And I still believe we should have. But once we were buyers, I questioned the additions.

But hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

 

[Ranger77]

I would go into the offseason with the hopes of trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz for big hauls of picks, Martin traded to be an overage for another team, let the goaltending situation play itself out to see who to move. Really hope to draft and sign and play their two first round picks and their second round pick to have a trio of 16 year old.

Their is a lot of work to do this offseason.

What's your hurry in trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz? They likely have two more years in the OHL. Seems premature to unload them in the off-season. We do need to field a team next season. I think the earliest that you look at making these moves, would be at the trade deadline.

 

[RangerNation]

What's your hurry in trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz? They likely have two more years in the OHL. Seems premature to unload them in the off-season. We do need to field a team next season. I think the earliest that you look at making these moves, would be at the trade deadline.

The value will be much larger. Those teams will get full seasons out of the two. 2 teams going to the memcup next year from the OHL. It's now or never. Get those picks and run.

 

[EvenSteven]

Rehkopf will have two years left but Hunter B will be gone after next year.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

What's your hurry in trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz? They likely have two more years in the OHL. Seems premature to unload them in the off-season. We do need to field a team next season. I think the earliest that you look at making these moves, would be at the trade deadline.

Brz is a late birthday, he only has 1 more year before he'd be an OA, and I can't see him coming back for an OA season.

 

[Ward Cornell]

When you look at the players the Rangers brought in to compliment Pinelli etc. for some reason they never clicked. Sure there were a few flashes of hope once in a while but man in this London series they all but disappeared. Last night you hardly heard their names because the whole game seemed to be played in panic mode with the Rangers in a shell. Trying not to be the next sacrificial goat isn't a real system. One thing that stood out this season was the fact that the defense core(corpse) was weak coming into the year and they basically went with the same bunch other than Moore. They gave up on Hollett until he asked to play forward. When you have a porous defense you might as well name your goalie Holey. Going forward and I know it won't happen the team needs to bring in an experienced pro coach and give him some authority in how this team is managed. I have no faith at all in the group we have running this franchise. They have proven nothing at all. Finished 7th last year and 8th this year. If going backwards is a thing I guess they were successful. MM's focus is on the Rangers hosting a Mem Cup in 4 years. If we pinned out hopes on that happening and the team making all the correct decisions we might be in for a surprise. It's like they kicked the can further down the road to placate the fans.

I checked out emotionally on this team mid-season with all the trades knowing they were covering up systemic shortcomings in management.
The Rangers and media talk about being an elite franchise as a desired destination. Let's start running the team to match their "sales job". Hire a proven coach (will be interesting if they want to pay two yrs left on Dennis's contract and a new and more expensive coach). The Rangers are not a development team for coaches or assistant coaches.
Treat the fans with respect!

 

[rangersblues]

Bobber you mentioned that they gave up on Hollett playing defense. When he played forward he played with an edge and so much passion it makes me wonder if he could have been the presence we desperately needed on the blueline if given the chance. And of course proper coaching.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Bobber you mentioned that they gave up on Hollett playing defense. When he played forward he played with an edge and so much passion it makes me wonder if he could have been the presence we desperately needed on the blueline if given the chance. And of course proper coaching.

I don't know, he seemed to be able to use his physicality more on the forecheck than defending the rush or in the defensive zone corners.

 

[K2]

Mesar ... eligible for the AHL next year. I can’t see Montreal wanting him to come back unless they want him to step up his game and make it his team.

Mesar remains questionable as a successful North American pro prospect. Habs can be patient and return him here or try forcing him in the AHL. Skills are there but he's easily knocked off the puck and timid enough that a few hits routinely render him totally ineffective in games. I suspect he's returned to the O and probably ends up being a quick write-off for the Habs if rushed into the AHL or loaned (& lost) overseas next season.

But hindsight is 20/20 I guess.

Agreed. A few things suggest MM was 'close' to building a contender (Round 1, Round 2's game 3, various streaks during the season, perhaps more) but, unfortunately any success was only brief and the return on investment for top talent always seemed dubious. I think the 'historic' sweep of Windsor and a few 7500+ playoff crowds might eventually prove the stretch worthwhile to the organization however disappointing the result was for longtime fans. With Ottawa seemingly poised to join Windsor as a surprise early elimination, misery has much company

 

[bobber]

Bobber you mentioned that they gave up on Hollett playing defense. When he played forward he played with an edge and so much passion it makes me wonder if he could have been the presence we desperately needed on the blueline if given the chance. And of course proper coaching.

Just wonder if Hollett when he played D and other defensemen would have been better at their positions under a coach that knows how to develop players ? Get the best out them. Beating a dead horse but Deboer was hard on players at practice. Right or wrong players followed instructions to a tee at practice and if they didn't they found out in a hurry with a dressing down in front of rest of the team that stood there silent. They knew their role on his team and did that job whether they liked it or not. Former players being interviewed mentioned they felt Deboer picked on them but in hindsight say what he did was correct and made them better players in the end. I heard Deboer swearing at the players from outside in the concourse one time and Rogers had cameras in there training new recruits. Even some women in the rink. Looking at the present group there are a couple of players that seemed to improve somewhat but it was a natural progression nothing to do with these coaches IMO. Just a big soft team with mediocre coaching. Man I love eating crow but hate eating sour grapes.