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

[Gondrex]

On the OA’s, I’d like nothing better than to be able to move all of Martin, Motew and Sop for value. We need the assets! All three would be very good OA’s on an “all in” team.

But I’m dreaming if I think we’d be successful in moving all three.

For me, if we can move two for value, go with Hollett as an OA, and take an OA back in a deal for one of our OA’s, (Xhekaj / Mutter, or Moore / Serpa scenario) I’d be happy.

Good thoughts ES. It will be interesting to see how they will handle the OA situation. Looks like there are a number of teams with surplus OA's. There are a few teams in need though too (eg. Niagara ?) Who knows how the OA market will shake out.

For sure though, Martin, Motew and Sop each do bring an attractive element to their game. I'd personally take any one of them on my team. Will likely boil down to a team's needs.

 

[OhSheilaa]

Love the discussion here. Lots of different thoughts and perspectives.

Just putting it out there that I feel Pugliese will have a good season. I remember when he was first brought up. He provided a good spark with his work ethic. Last season he battled injuries, wasn't given much of a chance from Chris Dennis and after MM took over, had his season ending shoulder injury.

From watching his Instagram, he's been working hard in the gym and on the ice. He's going to be healthy and hungry. With a new coach and a fresh chance, I think he'll contribute well.

 

[Jives]

Good thoughts ES. It will be interesting to see how they will handle the OA situation. Looks like there are a number of teams with surplus OA's. There are a few teams in need though too (eg. Niagara ?) Who knows how the OA market will shake out.

For sure though, Martin, Motew and Sop each do bring an attractive element to their game. I'd personally take any one of them on my team. Will likely boil down to a team's needs.

I feel this is not the year to hang tight and hold off for better offers. You feel you have a fair offer for an OA you take it right away. I hope all 3 are traded in less then a month.

 

[Gondrex]

I feel this is not the year to hang tight and hold off for better offers. You feel you have a fair offer for an OA you take it right away. I hope all 3 are traded in less then a month.

Yeah, and if last year was any indication I think that MM is in favour of resolving the OA issue sooner rather than later....although mind you, maybe that wasn't always the case in some previous seasons.

 

[EvenSteven]

I feel this is not the year to hang tight and hold off for better offers. You feel you have a fair offer for an OA you take it right away. I hope all 3 are traded in less then a month.

I agree regarding Motew and Sop. I think we can get decent return for either now for teams that want to get a head start on setting up their OA situation.

But if I’m the Rangers, I set a particular value on Martin for what we pretty much know what he can provide. Teams may try to low ball us on him pointing to his numbers last year. But we know his numbers were affected by injury and playing through injury. If we can’t get what we know his value is now, then we hang onto him and allow him to get to the 35-40 goal pace that was expected last year and listen to offers at the deadline.

A rock solid power forward who can score? He’d be in demand then.

 

[Tim Wallach]

Menard has moved on to coach Sherwood Park. I wonder how much of this was tied to discussions with McKenzie and possibly Ahokas?

 

[GeoBlue]

Menard has moved on to coach Sherwood Park. I wonder how much of this was tied to discussions with McKenzie and possibly Ahokas?

I was thinking about the whole coaching staff in general. Ahokas must have SOME sort of say if he is putting his coaching reputation on the line on another continent?

 

[Tim Wallach]

Josh Brown's article at the time of the hire suggested McKenzie was leaving that up to Ahokas. And that Ahokas was meeting with the current assistants when he was in town last week.

One of the interesting things about coming across from Finland is that it's not like you're bring your assistants with you. But I imagine he has some ideas. And I can't imagine Menard's departure is completely unrelated to his chat with Ahokas.

 

[GeoBlue]

Josh Brown's article at the time of the hire suggested McKenzie was leaving that up to Ahokas. And that Ahokas was meeting with the current assistants when he was in town last week.

One of the interesting things about coming across from Finland is that it's not like you're bring your assistants with you. But I imagine he has some ideas. And I can't imagine Menard's departure is completely unrelated to his chat with Ahokas.

Agreed. I didn't think he would bring anyone with him. But I am sure he knows what qualities he is looking for in an assistant, and he is probably a skilled assessor as well.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Josh Brown's article at the time of the hire suggested McKenzie was leaving that up to Ahokas. And that Ahokas was meeting with the current assistants when he was in town last week.

One of the interesting things about coming across from Finland is that it's not like you're bring your assistants with you. But I imagine he has some ideas. And I can't imagine Menard's departure is completely unrelated to his chat with Ahokas.

It definitely is more of a longshot to bring your own staff with you from Finland, but it was interesting to see one of his assistant coaches with TPS last year was 15-year NHL vet (OTT, VAN, TB), Sami Salo.

Not sure what his entire family situation is like, but his son is already playing in North America with Anchorage (NAHL).

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Kiviharju's roster spot in stacked HIFK's sm liiga championship
title contender team is not a guarantee or even locked
it is not even 99,99% sure or likely it is everything else.

Kiviharju's role in HIFK most likely will be 7th or 8th dman
or rotation dman who's gonna be 1st call up for injuries and suspensions etc.

HIFK has already loaned Vegas Golden Knights
prospect Tuomas Uronen to Ottawa 67 OHL team
because HIFK didn't have free roster spot available for Uronen.

And i don't see any obstacle or reason why not same cannot happen to Kiviharju.
Keep in mind HIFK's goal next season is winning SM liiga championship title
not devedloping Aron Kiviharju to NHL player.

Winnipeg Jets decided loan Brad Lambert
to WHL's Seattle Thunferbirds after 2023 U20 WJC's.
And that's good example of that how things can change.

And if i read Ahokas interview corretcly
Kitchener Rangers training camp should start
somewhere mid / late august so lets wait and see what happens with Kiviharju.

HIFK is actively looking 1 experienced dman in free-agency market.
And if / when signing happens it will affect on Kiviharju and his
chances to get SM liiga minutes in HIFK next season.

I know chances for that Kiviharju plays in Kitchener Rangers next season are theoretical.
But everything can happen so never say never.

Well… HIFK has found that experienced defenseman that ChicagoBullsFan was mentioning the team was on the hunt for signing Luke Martin who has been in the AHL/ECHL and was a former 2nd round NHL pick.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Well… HIFK has found that experienced defenseman that ChicagoBullsFan was mentioning the team was on the hunt for signing Luke Martin who has been in the AHL/ECHL and was a former 2nd round NHL pick.

And the beat goes on. However, here's the latest article on Kiviharju...

Kiviharju building profile for 2024 Draft at World Junior Summer Showcase | NHL.com

Top 17-year-old defenseman prospect flashing offensive ability, 'has like a computer in his head'

www.nhl.com

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Observation of at the World Junior Summer Showcase by Steven Ellis, dailyfaceoff.com:

#9 Aron Kiviharju, D (Finland): Kiviharju had a bit of a difficult start for the Finns, but it was still a big adjustment for the youngest defender on the team. Notably, he served on Finland’s top pairing with Otto Salin, and as the game wore on, he started to look more comfortable.

I would think playing major minutes in the OHL versus fighting for a spot on a Finnish pro team might be better for Kiviharju's development not to mention more NA scouting.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Again, Steven Ellis, dailyfaceoff.com at the World Junior Summer Showcase, Day 2;

USA Blue - #5 Hunter Brzustewicz, D (Vancouver Canucks): While it wasn’t an overly difficult afternoon for the American defenders, Brzustewicz’s game was simple, yet effective. He did a good job of forcing attackers to the perimeter and pinched in a few times without taking himself out of position. He’ll have stiff competition to make the team, but he’s been good in both games.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Well… HIFK has found that experienced defenseman that ChicagoBullsFan was mentioning the team was on the hunt for signing Luke Martin who has been in the AHL/ECHL and was a former 2nd round NHL pick.

I’ll add that HIFK just signed another experienced pro blueliner to a multi year contract

 

[Habsrule]

I’m just going back to the trading the OAs this year; I really think that the best option would be to hold out until closer to the deadline to move them.

Sop - he is a very vanillla player. I like him don’t get me wrong but it is not like he brings anything too special to a team. He provides offence and kills penalties but it is not like he is a world beater at either. Let him play the season and he a PPG player or near. Lots of PP and PK time to boost up his trade value.

Martin - he is the most unique of the options. He has size and skill but has never really produced because he has had a bunch of injuries. Give him to line minutes with lots of PP time. A fast skating, physical power forward who scores will be a huge add to any playoff team. Let him boost his value up.

Motew - the strength of Motew is just to watch him play and see how steady that he is. He doesn’t have great offensive abilities and won’t be sought after because of that. He doesn’t have great size and plays a physical game that teams will be after. Yet he did lead the team last year in +/-. I know that is a very dated hockey stat and there are much better advanced metrics to go by these days but you can’t deny what he means to the team. He will boost any teams top four and come the trade deadline if someone is looking to improve he will be a good candidate.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Well… HIFK has found that experienced defenseman that ChicagoBullsFan was mentioning the team was on the hunt for signing Luke Martin who has been in the AHL/ECHL and was a former 2nd round NHL pick.

HIFK was forced to sign another veteran defenceman too.

Former NHL dman Sami Lepistö who signed with HIFK
this past june had to retire his career for medical reasons ( heart failure ).

Thursday afternoon HIFK signed Petteri Lindbohm
3 yrs contract Lindbohm is former NHL dman who's played in St Louis Blues and Florida Panthers.

Mostly Lindbohm has played in europe
and he's won 2019 IIHF worlds gold medal and 2022 olympic gold medal in Team Finland.

It would be absolutely best for Kiviharju
to join Kitchener Rangers this coming season because
HIFK cannot promise anything for Kiviharju and probably
cannot give him that icetime ( 20-22min per game ) what he needs.

But other options are Mestis loan
and playing into HIFK's A juniors team ( U20 team )
but because Kiviharju lacks for skating playing into OHL
would be best in this case because best skating coaches are usually in North America.

Aron's father Jani Kiviharju is
European scout in Arizona Coyotes.
So maybe Kitchener Rangers should talk with Jani
and convince him of that OHL would be rigt place for Aron this year.

But i don't know is that talk possible at all
and is OHL teams even allowed to talk with
NHL scouts especially in the case when some scout's son is draft eligible top prospect.

 

[Squirrel88]

Of the OAs, I think Martin has the most value and is most likely to be traded by the end of training camp, likely for a somewhat underwhelming return.

Sop and Motew may have more value to KIT than to contenders. Sop is more of a supporting piece than a player that can drive his own line. Maybe a contender has a need for someone like that - he can play up and down the lineup, at C and W, and brings value offensively and defensively. I could also see a scenario where they want to play Romano as 2C after the trade deadline and staple Sop to his wing as a bit of a security blanket.

Motew played 3rd pair on a good team last year and can likely play 2nd pair on a contender, does everything well, but nothing great (very good at rush defence, not so great zone defence), but if he is traded (and once Bruz is traded) the D gets very young and inexperienced.

I'm not ready to give up on Morey yet, despite only 4 points in 51 games. KIT played him at C most of the year, so there must have been something that they liked in his game. There may be subtleties that coaches appreciate but fans don't notice. Somebody is going to play this year and the guys who step up will get more minutes.

 

[EvenSteven]

Of the OAs, I think Martin has the most value and is most likely to be traded by the end of training camp, likely for a somewhat underwhelming return.

I hope you meant overwhelming return.

 

[Gondrex]

I hope you meant overwhelming return.

Of course a lot may depend on that supply and demand thing, along with the actual timing of the trade. Also, which teams do we already know now won’t likely contend?….or find out in December that they won’t contend? In the west, do we think that Kitchener and Sarnia are the two not to make the playoffs? If so does Sarnia trade Kitchener native Marko Sikic (similar size, similar PPG to Martin) .ie. would that be considered a competing bid? How about Windsor and their OA’s which in my mind are quite good, if they were to sell?

There have already been a few OA trades. None were real outstanding returns so far. However I would at least expect (or hope for) better if it were Martin.

I’m not suggesting I have any insight on a trade or any knowledge on trade value but just stuff that passed through my mind.

 

[Buttsy]

Hearing a coach emphasize structure in his first press conference brings to mind clogged neutral zones and passive hockey. Not exactly riveting action.

Finland as a nation has enjoyed some success in recent years at the Junior and Senior men's level. I know nothing of your new coach other then what has been discussed here. Appreciating he has worked with the National Junior program your assesment seems accurate. Watching Finland play can make one want to look for an exciting Badminton match on the ole tube? Should be interesting to see this "style" brought (back?) to the OHL and how much success can be achieved with it?

 

[GeoBlue]

Of the OAs, I think Martin has the most value and is most likely to be traded by the end of training camp, likely for a somewhat underwhelming return.

Sop and Motew may have more value to KIT than to contenders. Sop is more of a supporting piece than a player that can drive his own line. Maybe a contender has a need for someone like that - he can play up and down the lineup, at C and W, and brings value offensively and defensively. I could also see a scenario where they want to play Romano as 2C after the trade deadline and staple Sop to his wing as a bit of a security blanket.

Motew played 3rd pair on a good team last year and can likely play 2nd pair on a contender, does everything well, but nothing great (very good at rush defence, not so great zone defence), but if he is traded (and once Bruz is traded) the D gets very young and inexperienced.

I'm not ready to give up on Morey yet, despite only 4 points in 51 games. KIT played him at C most of the year, so there must have been something that they liked in his game. There may be subtleties that coaches appreciate but fans don't notice. Somebody is going to play this year and the guys who step up will get more minutes.

Of the OAs, I think Martin has the most value and is most likely to be traded by the end of training camp, likely for a somewhat underwhelming return.

I don't see the point of trading a player like Martin early. That would be the only reason for the underwhelming return. He has shown the skills, has the size and shown flashes of his potential last year before he got into all the injuries and surgery. Why not give him a chance to up his value? One could say to trade him before he gets injured again but if we will not get a decent return, then I say hang on to him. I'd rather see him not live up to his potential here in Kitchener rather than get low balled and see him do overwhelmingly well on some other team. In the end, it will depend on what is offered.

 

[K2]

Rangers name Jeff Kyrzakos Associate Coach & Assistant General Manager​

The Kitchener Rangers announced today that Jeff Kyrzakos (pronounced kerr-ZACK-iss) has been hired as the club’s Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager.

Kyrzakos, 38, comes to Kitchener after spending the last seven years with the Mississauga Steelheads where he held the dual-role of Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach. Impressively, Kyrzakos is known as a leader in player development, playing a critical role in 17 Steelheads being selected in the NHL Draft since 2016, the third most in the entire 60-team Canadian Hockey League (CHL) across Major Junior. Mississauga is also one of 10 CHL teams that has had at least one player picked in each of those drafts, now going on eight consecutive years. Additionally, Kyrzakos was behind the bench for Mississauga when the Steelheads won both the Central Division & Eastern Conference titles during the 2016-17 campaign.

“We are excited to welcome and add Jeff to our hockey staff,” said Kitchener Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “He has a wealth of knowledge and experience working in the OHL and developing players. He will be a big help and sounding board for Jussi as he transitions to a new country and league. Jeff has worn a number of different hats in Mississauga and has a number of different skills that will benefit our organization moving forward.”

A native of Toronto, Ont., Kyrzakos brings vast experience to the Rangers from both the OHL and the NCAA Division I level. As a player, Kyrzakos suited up for the Western Michigan University Broncos from 2004-05 before joining the Owen Sound Attack from 2005-06, where he recorded an impressive 79 points (33G, 46A) in 64 games. He went on to play seven years of professional hockey before retiring in 2013 to start his coaching career, where he became the Head Coach of the Arizona Sundogs in the Central Hockey League (CHL).

“It’s an honour to work for an organization that has such a storied history with some terrific people working there that I’ve had relationships with for a while,” said Kyrzakos. “Going back to my playing days in Owen Sound, I’ve always loved playing at The Aud. Its my favorite building in the OHL. I know the fans are passionate in Kitchener and I’m looking forward to being there.”

Along with coaching and player development duties with the Steelheads, Kyrzakos was tasked with team travel & accommodations, the host family program, scouting for the OHL Priority Selection, and was the team’s academic advisor. Kyrzakos will join the hockey operations staff with General Manager Mike McKenzie and Assistant General Manager Michael Zsolt to assist with the club’s managerial duties.

Rangers name Kyrzakos Associate Coach & Assistant General Manager - Kitchener Rangers %

Kitchener, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers announced today that Jeff Kyrzakos (pronounced kerr-ZACK-iss) has been hired as the club’s Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager. Kyrzakos, 38, comes to Kitchener after spending the last seven years with the Mississauga Steelheads where he held the...

chl.ca

 

[bobber]

Rangers name Jeff Kyrzakos Associate Coach & Assistant General Manager​

The Kitchener Rangers announced today that Jeff Kyrzakos (pronounced kerr-ZACK-iss) has been hired as the club’s Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager.

Kyrzakos, 38, comes to Kitchener after spending the last seven years with the Mississauga Steelheads where he held the dual-role of Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach. Impressively, Kyrzakos is known as a leader in player development, playing a critical role in 17 Steelheads being selected in the NHL Draft since 2016, the third most in the entire 60-team Canadian Hockey League (CHL) across Major Junior. Mississauga is also one of 10 CHL teams that has had at least one player picked in each of those drafts, now going on eight consecutive years. Additionally, Kyrzakos was behind the bench for Mississauga when the Steelheads won both the Central Division & Eastern Conference titles during the 2016-17 campaign.

“We are excited to welcome and add Jeff to our hockey staff,” said Kitchener Rangers General Manager Mike McKenzie. “He has a wealth of knowledge and experience working in the OHL and developing players. He will be a big help and sounding board for Jussi as he transitions to a new country and league. Jeff has worn a number of different hats in Mississauga and has a number of different skills that will benefit our organization moving forward.”

A native of Toronto, Ont., Kyrzakos brings vast experience to the Rangers from both the OHL and the NCAA Division I level. As a player, Kyrzakos suited up for the Western Michigan University Broncos from 2004-05 before joining the Owen Sound Attack from 2005-06, where he recorded an impressive 79 points (33G, 46A) in 64 games. He went on to play seven years of professional hockey before retiring in 2013 to start his coaching career, where he became the Head Coach of the Arizona Sundogs in the Central Hockey League (CHL).

“It’s an honour to work for an organization that has such a storied history with some terrific people working there that I’ve had relationships with for a while,” said Kyrzakos. “Going back to my playing days in Owen Sound, I’ve always loved playing at The Aud. Its my favorite building in the OHL. I know the fans are passionate in Kitchener and I’m looking forward to being there.”

Along with coaching and player development duties with the Steelheads, Kyrzakos was tasked with team travel & accommodations, the host family program, scouting for the OHL Priority Selection, and was the team’s academic advisor. Kyrzakos will join the hockey operations staff with General Manager Mike McKenzie and Assistant General Manager Michael Zsolt to assist with the club’s managerial duties.

Rangers name Kyrzakos Associate Coach & Assistant General Manager - Kitchener Rangers %

Kitchener, Ont. – The Kitchener Rangers announced today that Jeff Kyrzakos (pronounced kerr-ZACK-iss) has been hired as the club’s Associate Coach and Assistant General Manager. Kyrzakos, 38, comes to Kitchener after spending the last seven years with the Mississauga Steelheads where he held the...

chl.ca

Starting to get a buzz about the way the Rangers are going! Who needs those marijuana gummies now? I'm up for the cup!

 

[rangersblues]

Looks like the Rangers have just hired their replacement for Ahokas when he moves on in a few seasons.