Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 5)

[rangersblues]

I would love for the Knights to trade for Filip Mesar for Ruslan Gazizov and picks.

Rangers ain’t going anywhere this year and if Mesar doesn’t come back we can bring our other import, if we trade for him at the beginning of the year and doesn’t do well it might be more incentive for Montreal to send him back and play for a championship with London.

Ruslan Gazizov is no slouch. He just needs to be a top line guy on a team and he will thrive. Sometime the Knights system prohibits guys from hitting their ceiling because they alway have to play within the system and then get points.

Don't hold your breath on London sending any significant picks on the slim chance of that trade.

 

[tjziel]

Don't hold your breath on London sending any significant picks on the slim chance of that trade.

It’s a slim shot, but it’s a smart trade.

 

[rangersblues]

It’s a slim shot, but it’s a smart trade.

For who?

 

[EvenSteven]

For who?

Both sides if the Habs send him back to Kitchener.

Could be compared to the Faksa deal to Sudbury a few years ago.

Sudbury Wolves

sudburywolves.com

 

[rangersblues]

Both sides of the Habs send him back to Kitchener.

Could be compared to the Faksa deal to Sudbury a few years ago.

A change of scenery might benefit the players, especially Mesar but I don't think London will send any significant pick plus Gazizov for Mesar. Hunter isn't a fool.

 

[Habsrule]

That would be terrible for London. I can’t see why they would give up anything of significance for the chance that Mesar might get sent down to them.

For Kitchener they are better off to see how the cards fall with Mesar. If they get him back they have to option to trade him right away or to play him and see if he can dominate and raise his trade value.

 

[dmead]

That would be terrible for London. I can’t see why they would give up anything of significance for the chance that Mesar might get sent down to them.

For Kitchener they are better off to see how the cards fall with Mesar. If they get him back they have to option to trade him right away or to play him and see if he can dominate and raise his trade value.

Agreed on both points. Even if he sent back its a lateral move at best. Why would either team do this?

 

[EvenSteven]

Don't hold your breath on London sending any significant picks on the slim chance of that trade.

Mesar is a 1st round NHL draft pick. Gazizov is undrafted.

If Hunter, or any other GM for that matter, feels that Mesar is a significant upgrade on their current import situation, then they may explore doing a deal with Kitchener for Mesar if he’s returned to the Rangers.

Just as Faksa was seen by the Wolves as a significant upgrade on Kubalik.

Consequently, Gazizov, just as was the case with Kubalik, will become nothing more than a throw in, in the deal, in order to make room for the incoming import. That’s if Gazizov becomes the odd man out.

This isn’t much different than the OA a team is trying to improve on.

“We want to acquire the import/OA that you have on the block but we want to find a landing spot for the player he’d be replacing,”

 

[tjziel]

Mesar is a 1st round NHL draft pick. Gazizov is undrafted.

If Hunter, or any other GM for that matter, feels that Mesar is a significant upgrade on their current import situation, then they may explore doing a deal with Kitchener for Mesar if he’s returned to the Rangers.

Just as Faksa was seen by the Wolves as a significant upgrade on Kubalik.

Consequently, Gazizov, just as was the case with Kubalik, will become nothing more than a throw in, in the deal, in order to make room for the incoming import. That’s if Gazizov becomes the odd man out.

This isn’t much different than the OA a team is trying to improve on.

“We want to acquire the import/OA that you have on the block but we want to find a landing spot for the player he’d be replacing,”

Exactly.

For those who unfamiliar with Ruslan Gazizov he is no slouch. I just like the potential of Mesar. He may be a throw-in for the Rangers because they only get one year of him, but he definitely can somewhat replace his production

Ruslan Gazizov
GP: 56
G: 23
A: 25
PTS: 48

Filip Mesar
GP: 52
G: 17
A: 34
PTS: 51

So Gazizov is no slouch. He is actually pretty gritty and almost plays a complete game. Would be nice to see him get solid ice time to increase his production and his chances to get an NHL contract. He could easily challenge to get 35 goals if he plays top line minutes.

 

[Squirrel88]

But in the playoffs (where it matters), of the teams in the west (where it matters) that went to the second round, Kitchener had the most goals against per game.

And in the second round, they allowed over five goals per game in the games they lost.

Against London, Kitchener couldn’t keep the puck out of their net. They had no answer for London‘s size on defence or their grit up front.

No argument from me that you can't win a series giving up 5 GA/gm, but the flip side is that they only scored 2/gm, with 3 games of 1 goal or less. For a team was built around puck possession and offence, that was more disappointing for me. To your point, the team would have really been in trouble if Ando had not progressed like he did over the second half of the season. He went form a 6/7 at the beginning of the year to a legit top 4 by the playoffs. I look forward to see what he can do with top pair deployment in the fall.

I will get off my soapbox and end this rant with one last comment/complaint (and then go on to the 2023/24 season) - the biggest disappointment for this team for me was their lack of pushback and perseverance for long stretches during the year (including the second round). It felt like they went through times where they got down in a game and it was 'welp, we're done'. Losing your last two games by an aggregate 11-0 was the perfect coda to a frustrating season.

Anyway - I'm looking forward to seeing who steps up with a little more ice time and opportunity.

 

[Billyjack]

The longer there is no announcement the more I think it’s Wideman unfortunately

 

[MVarley]

The longer there is no announcement the more I think it’s Wideman unfortunately

plus other teams are announcing coaching additions, so the pickings are getting slimmer

 

[rangersblues]

Possibly they have something in place and they are waiting to release it until closer to training camp to build up interest. I think they have a lot of tickets available for the upcoming season.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

As noted, it sure has been quiet on the head coach front. Maybe this week?

You would think that IF the new coach is an outstanding selection that they would announce it soon. They're pushing STH ticket sales and a first class coach would help - especially with the new signings. And if they're pushing to get a couple of high rollers from the U.S. to come up and play, that first class coach would definitely help. Might even get Mesar here for a bit before trading him for picks!

Speaking of across the border, IF that new coach is from the States, does it take a bit to go through all the government red tape before it would be official? No idea.

Surely, the new head coach can't be from within.

Whatever it is, the clock is ticking and training camp is about 6 weeks out...

 

[beastintheeast]

Just in Kingston Frontenac's announce that Luca Caputi has been released so that he can coach the Kitchener Rangers.


LOL

Seriously they either have a coach or are waiting to see the fall out from the NHL and who is let go and who is not hired.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Caputi kaput in Kingston.

 

[sbpointer]

Was just reading the Rangers 5 questions story on the OHL site. One part was about the leadership group I can't be the only one who sees Matt Sop as the obvious choice to captain the Rangers this upcoming season. Guy has done nothing but improve and contribute...

 

[robertmac43]

Sop is the clear choice for me as well. Would be a cool story to have the Kitchener kid take the C as well.

 

[EvenSteven]

One captain. (Dual captain situations reek of indecision on the part of who decides who’s captain).

C- Mitch Martin
A- Simon Motew
A- Hunter Brzustewicz
A- Matt Andonovski.

Should one or more of the above be dealt this year, then the C goes to whoever is remaining if Martin is moved out. Then, in order, I put letters on Rehkopf. Hollett. Sop.

I’m not a fan of not putting the C on a player because that player is slated to be traded. That misstep was made when MM passed on giving the C to Petizian or Xhekaj. Nothing against Pinelli, but he wasn’t ready. Especially with those two on the roster.

The way I see it. I posted this a few pages back.

 

[Habsrule]

I think Sop is the choice for captain as well.

You have to figure that it will be one of the three overagers. Thing is I see Motew and Martin being traded come the trade deadline for teams looking to improve on their OA positions.

Motew will improve any teams top four defencemen. Martin has size and physical play and skill. He will be a hot commodity for a playoff team. Sop is a player who has offensive skill and kills penalties but doesn’t have one particular part to his game that will make him really sought after. He would be more of a complementary player on a good playoff team. Now he may prove me wrong and keep on improving and be a much better player this year compared to last. Sop is the only one of the three I see finishing off the year as a Ranger.

Plus this too. Their is a road hockey tournament coming up and they promote Sop on it with NHLers.

 

[Jives]

Sop put up 56 points in 67 games last year and gets better and better every year. I have to believe a ppg is what he is targeting next year and he has the skill to do it. I think teams are going to want him. Is he the type to carry a team…I don’t think so. But he could be a very, very strong complimentary player on a 1st or 2nd line team that is going for it. You add him to your 1st line and it allows a maybe more talented player to drop to the 2nd line.

 

[EvenSteven]

Sop put up 56 points in 67 games last year and gets better and better every year. I have to believe a ppg is what he is targeting next year and he has the skill to do it. I think teams are going to want him. Is he the type to carry a team…I don’t think so. But he could be a very, very strong complimentary player on a 1st or 2nd line team that is going for it. You add him to your 1st line and it allows a maybe more talented player to drop to the 2nd line.

Not my first choice to wear the C. Don’t see it.

But totally agree with this post. Should be a big season for him.

 

[nelli27]

Rehkopf for captain...is my prediction.

 

[Habsrule]

Rehkopf for captain...is my prediction.

I see what you are saying but pretty sure he gets traded this year. Unless you put the C on him to artificially inflate his trade value in having another team acquire a captain.

 

[EvenSteven]

Rehkopf for captain...is my prediction.

I see what you are saying but pretty sure he gets traded this year. Unless you put the C on him to artificially inflate his trade value in having another team acquire a captain.

The “book” on Rehkopf is that he takes games off at times. Whether that’s really true or not is another story. But that does not spell captain material to me.

It didn’t help that he bounced all over the lineup all season long. He’ll be the #1 option this year with the graduation of the ‘03’s and I’d expect him to settle into the top line role quite nicely.

I don’t see it being a guarantee that he’s traded this year. He has two years of eligibility left in this league. For me, unless we get the right return, I don’t trade him this season. This player should explode this year. Remember, he was ranked among the top 5 of his OHL draft class. He has potential to score 40+ goals this year and next. That being the case, unless we get max return for him at this next deadline, no less than Owen Beck return I’m thinking, then he stays in Ranger blue.