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

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Habsrule

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EvenSteven said:
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.
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I figure he goes for an Owen Beck like return at the deadline. Some team will trade for him for two playoff runs. I agree to keep him until closer to the trade deadline so he can improve his value while still playing with the young players on the team.

It is much better to trade him this year so that the Rangers can stockpile 2024 OHL draft picks.
 
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Gondrex

Gondrex

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EvenSteven said:
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.
Click to expand...

I agree that he has the potential to score a lot of goals. The biggest challenge is having enough talent on his line to accomplish this - i.e. will they spread it out ? It appears that there are going to be quite a few rookies in the game-to-game line-up. It will be interesting to see who plays with Rehkopf this season. Having said that, he does seem to score a lot on the PP, so that should help his numbers one would think.
 
bobber

bobber

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Gondrex said:
I agree that he has the potential to score a lot of goals. The biggest challenge is having enough talent on his line to accomplish this - i.e. will they spread it out ? It appears that there are going to be quite a few rookies in the game-to-game line-up. It will be interesting to see who plays with Rehkopf this season. Having said that, he does seem to score a lot on the PP, so that should help his numbers one would think.
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What Rehkopf needs is some proper coaching. IMO he won't get this with the staff they have in place at the present time and that includes MM. The plan seems to be like the boy using his thumbs to block holes in the dike. Eventually you run out of thumbs. Unless fans are looking for more of the same. With a group of young prospects added to the line up it's more urgent to give them proper direction and development. These young players need mentors to build up confidence. The OHL is a huge step up and small mistakes can be glaring for rookies. This is why a coaching change is important. After the Dennis mystery I have no confidence they will do what is needed.
 
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nelli27

nelli27

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May 21, 2011
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EvenSteven said:
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.
Click to expand...
I didn't realize that about Rehkopf, and you guys know him a lot better than I do. My thinking was...slap the "C" on him, and in doing so, you're sending the message that he's the 'face of the team', the star player who will be looked to to lead the team, and that could increase his confidence level.
 
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Rangers True Blue

Rangers True Blue

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One can't help but wonder if Josh Brown is on vacation right now so the head coach announcement is waiting for his return. Brown has not posted anything since July 13.

Still hoping for an amazing new head coach...
 

pgfan66

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Jun 26, 2019
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Tomas Pobezal confirms he's staying in Nitra instead of moving to Kitchener:

 

Habsrule

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pgfan66 said:
Tomas Pobezal confirms he's staying in Nitra instead of moving to Kitchener:

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Doesn’t surprise me for a 16 year old. It is pretty rare to see 16 year old imports in the CHL. I suspect next year when it is his draft year that he will come over.
 
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pgfan66

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Jun 26, 2019
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Habsrule said:
Doesn’t surprise me for a 16 year old. It is pretty rare to see 16 year old imports in the CHL. I suspect next year when it is his draft year that he will come over.
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Well, it’s still his 17-year-old season in CHL terms. And he’s good enough to play.
 

OnlyUpFromHere

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Habsrule said:
Doesn’t surprise me for a 16 year old. It is pretty rare to see 16 year old imports in the CHL. I suspect next year when it is his draft year that he will come over.
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Agreed that it isn’t surprising, just for a different reason.

Speaking of Josh Brown, in his last Rangers article before his, we’re assuming vacation, Mike McKenzie already confirmed to him and everyone in the article it would be the long game for Pobežal and that he would start his season in Slovakia.
 
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Rangers True Blue

Rangers True Blue

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1690205420621.png
 

Habsrule

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Rangers True Blue said:
We'll see. Certainly the outcome that Mesar wants. IMHO I don't think the Rangers know either way but selected to cover their bases.

awinninghabit.com

Montreal Canadiens: Kitchener Rangers Signal Filip Mesar Moving On To AHL

Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar appears to be moving on from the Kitchener Rangers. Does that mean he is heading to Laval Rocket?
awinninghabit.com awinninghabit.com
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If Laval gets the Mesar that was the Mesar from the World Juniors and the first 5 games or so as a Ranger then he is ready for the AHL. If they get the Mesar that played the other 80% of his games then he is not ready yet. Unless he really bulked up this summer he will still be too small for the style of game he plays.

He either needs to get bigger or play with fire in his belly.
 
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Matttheleaf

Matttheleaf

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From doing a bit of reading about him, and looking into the teams he has coached I feel pretty good about his hire. Hopefully, this brings a strong new voice and direction to our group.
 
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Gondrex

Gondrex

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My initial concern was whether or not this guy had experience with younger players - perhaps something that was lacking in the previous hiring (?), but from the Ranger site......

Prior to his time in the Finnish Elite League, Ahokas was the Head Coach of U16-through-U20 age groups for 15 years. Most notably, Ahokas was the Head Coach of Finland’s National Junior Team for six seasons spanning the U16, U17, U18, U19, and U20 levels.
 
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ES

ES

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Feb 14, 2004
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Finnish Ice Hockey Association has a traditional system where a coach takes care of a national junior team for three years. Starting as U16, next year it is U17 and the project culminates in the U18 World Championship.

After winning title in U18, Ahokas was hired to be head coach of same age group in U20. Didn't win that time but managed to do so a year later. Few of the 1999s were part of both teams.

There isn't a serious U19 team but a team concentrating on the next WJC is considered as a such in the spring season.
 
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