traffic cone
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- May 12, 2011
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Like I said, he’d rather not play for Ahokas than play for him.
But believe what you will.
Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 5)
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But believe what you will.
Gondrex
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- Apr 10, 2017
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I guess we’ll see how that approach works here. Probably coming up with a good defensive game is better schooled by your own coach instead of being schooled by the opposition - ie. the Knights in last year’s playoffs. Mind you they had some good offence to go with it.
beastintheeast
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- Mar 27, 2013
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Should be interesting will definitely have his work cut out for him and yes coaching int he OHL will get him looked at more than in Europe just because there are NHL scouts at all games in the OHL
DraftEligibleOHL
Pest
Seems like a phenomenal hire for you guys. Outside the box, but checks lots of boxes. Excited to see how it works out.
Rangers True Blue
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That was said about Mesar too. He quickly found out that the OHL was a much higher calibre league that he was gaslighted about. So again, we'll see.
So should we just start engraving the J Robertson now? 
Ah, thats not fair. After the rollercoaster season you guys had last year you're entitled to some enthusiasm.
Ah, thats not fair. After the rollercoaster season you guys had last year you're entitled to some enthusiasm.
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RangerNation
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I am choosing to believe last year never existed, expect for games between March 30th-April 6th.So should we just start engraving the J Robertson now?
Ah, thats not fair. After the rollercoaster season you guys had last year you're entitled to some enthusiasm.
Last year DID happen! But only the first round of the playoffs. ;-)
traffic cone
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beastintheeast
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Better league not sure but better chance for advancement definitely
Rangers True Blue
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Time to remove the traffic cone and look forward to seeing a team with great work ethic and no quit.
With a coach of this experience and pedigree, players who were on the fence about coming here may have a whole new outlook now. You would think that Montreal will have more confidence in sending Mesar back to Kitchener should it fit in with their development plan. And U.S. players like Longacre or even Europeans who have been thinking of coming to North America should be more encouraged to join the Rangers.
This is a huge step forward for the Rangers organization which should translate into a more competitive team...win or lose, vastly improved player development, and a much happier fan base (deservedly so).
GO RANGERS!
With a coach of this experience and pedigree, players who were on the fence about coming here may have a whole new outlook now. You would think that Montreal will have more confidence in sending Mesar back to Kitchener should it fit in with their development plan. And U.S. players like Longacre or even Europeans who have been thinking of coming to North America should be more encouraged to join the Rangers.
This is a huge step forward for the Rangers organization which should translate into a more competitive team...win or lose, vastly improved player development, and a much happier fan base (deservedly so).
GO RANGERS!
RangerNation
Registered User
Per Josh Brown
www.therecord.com
Aron Kiviharju, a Rangers’ import pick, was also one of your players in Turku. Is he coming to the Aud?
“I don’t think so. He has a pro deal (in Finland). Maybe if something goes really wrong there … but I’m not counting on it.”
Not that Ahokas determines where players go, but I'll take his word.
The Finnish-ing touch
New Kitchener Rangers bench boss Jussi Ahokas brings junior, professional and international experience to the Aud.
www.therecord.com
Aron Kiviharju, a Rangers’ import pick, was also one of your players in Turku. Is he coming to the Aud?
“I don’t think so. He has a pro deal (in Finland). Maybe if something goes really wrong there … but I’m not counting on it.”
Not that Ahokas determines where players go, but I'll take his word.
K2
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- Jun 11, 2015
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OHL is a much better league to be in U20 if your hope is to play in the NHL. Mesar was playing professionally in Slovakia with former OHL standouts Jamie Arniel & James Livingston (both now age 33), a handful of somewhat once-notable CHL alums and mostly career Slovakian players. Average age is probably mid 30s making it hard to compare with even minor pro like ECHL here making it somewhat more like our 'past prime' Allan Cup league (?). It's good hockey IMO and pays enough to cover the bills in Europe at least during the season but well South of AHL, SHL or Finnish Liiga $. Either way it's certainly not the mainstream development league for young NHL prospects that the OHL is.
If/when he's drafted (& signed) by a NHL team, the money levels and odds that he reports here become more favourable.
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traffic cone
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This would be over a year from now which makes it even more unlikely. If he’s playing in the CHL over a year from now then he has definitely failed in his progression as he already played (basically a full season) in Liiga against men LAST season.
edit: I’d understand this kind of path for many prospects. Aron Kiviharju is a player who is supposed to challenge for the 1st overall in next draft. It would be absurd - even if he is a defenseman.
K2
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Maybe, time will tell. The average NHL DMan is 6’2”/203lb, many are much larger. At 5’10”/165lb Aron’s very small, just like Mesar, and Aron’s dad was only 5’8”/170lbs so who knows if he’s got much growing to do this year, or ever. There’s exceptional small DMen in the NHL but seemingly fewer all the time. Gulyayev, in the latest draft class, might have a chance at a NHL career being similar in size but odds remain long.
Mesar played with men overseas too but was largely neutralized by ‘kids’ in short order here on small ice with lax officiating once they upped their physicality against him and knocked off the puck or showed him the boards early on. Probably even harder for a very small D to make the transition to NA Pro hockey, much as I hope Aron does.
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Rangers True Blue
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Having just read as to what the past few coaches said when they got hired, all I can say is, "We'll see". Many other factors at work in KTown other than what the coach has to say.
i dont know if the rangers draft those type of players normally, maybe that changes now.
Well I hope it change already this past draft! I'd hate to think we had all those early picks and wasted them on a coach that is looking for a different type of player.
i didnt watch alot but i dont think the first three picks are 'compete' guys, more soft skill types.
First 4 picks are skilled not grit picks. I’m mean they are projected to be solid players but far from grit.
kind of like zhilkin, decent player but not sure you win with alot of that type of player
Gondrex
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Saw the interview with Ahokas. Each time he mentioned “grit”, Hlacar came to mind. Really hope this kid shows up at camp. If Ahokas is serious about grit, then perhaps Hlacar's chances have just improved.
Rangers True Blue
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Well, hopefully, the "other factors" didn't lure an elite coach over here from Denmark....not to mention his family....to not allow him to do the job they hired him for. And I don't recall any of the past few coaches saying what the newest coach said...and has done with his past teams.
Thought the same. I hope "grit" means the same thing in Denmark as it does here.
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