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

[Habsrule]

For me I just hope that Ellinas has a natural progression during his OHL career.

17 year old season - 4th liner / 13th forward
18 year old season - 3rd liner
19 year old season - 2nd liner
20 year old season - top six forward

His offensive numbers don’t look too impressive but I keep on reading that he has a great two game and never stops hustling. Even if he maxes as a third line centre with size and a great two way game it is a good deal. Minimal risk only trading a 4th round pick for him.

 

[EvenSteven]

For me I just hope that Ellinas has a natural progression during his OHL career.

17 year old season - 4th liner / 13th forward
18 year old season - 3rd liner
19 year old season - 2nd liner
20 year old season - top six forward

His offensive numbers don’t look too impressive but I keep on reading that he has a great two game and never stops hustling. Even if he maxes as a third line centre with size and a great two way game it is a good deal. Minimal risk only trading a 4th round pick for him.

I’m thinking it isn’t a reach to assume that Ellinas, based on where he was drafted, age, and his scouting report going into his OHL draft year, will slot in ahead of guys like Morey and Lam on the depth chart and on par with Romano and Stark, at least going into camp.

I’m betting the Rangers give him every opportunity and then some to live up to that scouting report.

 

[bobber]

I’m thinking it isn’t a reach to assume that Ellinas, based on where he was drafted, age, and his scouting report going into his OHL draft year, will slot in ahead of guys like Morey and Lam on the depth chart and on par with Romano and Stark, at least going into camp.

I’m betting the Rangers give him every opportunity and then some to live up to that scouting report.

In the rookie camp game I watched Lam seemed to generate more scoring opportunities than any other forward. Weight wise he looks smaller but seems to have a high hockey IQ. Makes plays out of nothing. He was amongst his peers in this camp so that has to be taken into consideration. How this applies to a regular season game is a question mark. As for Morey he looked like a player on the bubble last season. Not sure if he is really OHL caliber? What do I know. Maybe he will make me eat another crow pie. I always seem to have crow feathers sticking out the side of my mouth.

 

[EvenSteven]

In the rookie camp game I watched Lam seemed to generate more scoring opportunities than any other forward. Weight wise he looks smaller but seems to have a high hockey IQ. Makes plays out of nothing. He was amongst his peers in this camp so that has to be taken into consideration. How this applies to a regular season game is a question mark. As for Morey he looked like a player on the bubble last season. Not sure if he is really OHL caliber? What do I know. Maybe he will make me eat another crow pie. I always seem to have crow feathers sticking out the side of my mouth.

Not ripping on Lam, just figured that at his size, early on he could find himself either in and out of the lineup or used sparingly while in the lineup until he fills out a bit.

Our four 07’s will play and are our future. Just saying that we’ll give Ellinas every opportunity to succeed and that means until he proves he can’t, he’ll get decent minutes in decent situations. I don’t see us using him as a 12th or 13th forward until he plays himself into that role.

 

[Habsrule]

I’m hoping that with the coaching overhaul that all rookies will be on an even playing field going into camp. Let them all earn their ice time and their spot in the lineup.

 

[bobber]

Not ripping on Lam, just figured that at his size, early on he could find himself either in and out of the lineup or used sparingly while in the lineup until he fills out a bit.

Our four 07’s will play and are our future. Just saying that we’ll give Ellinas every opportunity to succeed and that means until he proves he can’t, he’ll get decent minutes in decent situations. I don’t see us using him as a 12th or 13th forward until he plays himself into that role.

I remember Deboer's first season the Rangers had Kitchener native Chad McCaffery. 5'9" 175 lbs. In camp he had some wicked moves that made the coaching staffs heads spin. Never amounted to much. Got knocked off the puck quite easily. 39 points total here in KTown. There were rumours that the Rangers did a favour for the family because the father was a CEO or some such position here in the region. Old Boys don't do things like this do they? Small players do have a place now in the OHL but they certainly have to be able to navigate their way around the ice and put up some measure of points to be successful.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I remember Deboer's first season the Rangers had Kitchener native Chad McCaffery. 5'9" 175 lbs. In camp he had some wicked moves that made the coaching staffs heads spin. Never amounted to much. Got knocked off the puck quite easily. 39 points total here in KTown. There were rumours that the Rangers did a favour for the family because the father was a CEO or some such position here in the region. Old Boys don't do things like this do they? Small players do have a place now in the OHL but they certainly have to be able to navigate their way around the ice and put up some measure of points to be successful.

Not just any company executive but a major sponsor also...

I remember Deboer's first season the Rangers had Kitchener native Chad McCaffery. 5'9" 175 lbs. In camp he had some wicked moves that made the coaching staffs heads spin. Never amounted to much. Got knocked off the puck quite easily. 39 points total here in KTown. There were rumours that the Rangers did a favour for the family because the father was a CEO or some such position here in the region. Old Boys don't do things like this do they? Small players do have a place now in the OHL but they certainly have to be able to navigate their way around the ice and put up some measure of points to be successful

 

[Rangers True Blue]

In the rookie camp game I watched Lam seemed to generate more scoring opportunities than any other forward. Weight wise he looks smaller but seems to have a high hockey IQ. Makes plays out of nothing. He was amongst his peers in this camp so that has to be taken into consideration. How this applies to a regular season game is a question mark. As for Morey he looked like a player on the bubble last season. Not sure if he is really OHL caliber? What do I know. Maybe he will make me eat another crow pie. I always seem to have crow feathers sticking out the side of my mouth.

And when teamed up with Romano, Lam was even more so. Sure, up against current OHL players will be a different level than his peers at Spring Camp but I totally agree....he's fast, smart, and creative.

 

[EvenSteven]

And when teamed up with Romano, Lam was even more so. Sure, up against current OHL players will be a different level than his peers at Spring Camp but I totally agree....he's fast, smart, and creative.

No doubt why he was ranked in the 1st round in some mock drafts.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Cole Longacre commits to Merrimack.

Can say that door is officially closed.

 

[Habsrule]

Is not surprising that Longacre isn’t coming here if you look at it from his point of view;

Rangers have:
Brzustewicz - NHL drafted
Andonovski - NHL drafted
Hamara - NHL drafted
Motew - overager

All of those defencemen are returning. Throw in:

Reid - second defenceman picked on the OHL draft at #10 overall


When you look at who is already on the team it looks pretty stacked and that you will not get that much playing time.

 

[EvenSteven]

Is not surprising that Longacre isn’t coming here if you look at it from his point of view;

Rangers have:
Brzustewicz - NHL drafted
Andonovski - NHL drafted
Hamara - NHL drafted
Motew - overager

All of those defencemen are returning. Throw in:

Reid - second defenceman picked on the OHL draft at #10 overall


When you look at who is already on the team it looks pretty stacked and that you will not get that much playing time.

Or, another way of looking at it, is that Hunter is slated to be moved so if he reported, he’d play top four minutes whether a Motew is moved or not.

We’re rebuilding. That means we’re selling vets.

As a highly touted 2nd rounder, who it was said could have gone in the 1st, he likely slots in ahead of Reid.

I don’t think playing time was the issue. Things went south last fall for some reason. With his comments on Longacre, MM said then that the door was basically closed on him. “If we knew he wasn’t signing we wouldn’t have wasted a 2nd on him”.

Wasted? Certainly not the comment you’d think he’d make publicly if the relationship was healthy. Especially when you consider the kid gloves he exhibited in his comments regarding Hage at the same time.

 

[Gondrex]

Cole Longacre commits to Merrimack.

Can say that door is officially closed.

Well I suppose with the acquisition of Ellinas, that could partially / potentially make up for it.... at a bit of cost.

 

[GeoBlue]

“If we knew he wasn’t signing we wouldn’t have wasted a 2nd on him”.

Wasted? Certainly not the comment you’d think he’d make publicly if the relationship was healthy. Especially when you consider the kid gloves he exhibited in his comments regarding Hage at the same time.

They picked him 2nd and he didn't show up. Of course it's a waste! What else would you call it? It's nothing against his play or personality and Longacre shouldn't take it personally.

 

[EvenSteven]

They picked him 2nd and he didn't show up. Of course it's a waste! What else would you call it? It's nothing against his play or personality and Longacre shouldn't take it personally.

I understand and agree. But why didn’t he say the same about Hage?

He went on about working with the Hage family. Staying in touch. Etc etc. There was none of that regarding Longacre. Just saying.

In any case, he isn’t coming. I really didn’t expect him to after the comments last fall. I’m not saying that the comments were the reason he wouldn’t come. I’m saying that the comments pretty much meant the door was closed on him last fall.

At the time of the draft, it was expected and I believe assurances were made that he would report. I believe it was stated publicly. Something happened from the time of the draft to the start of training camp. I’m not saying MM caused any rift. But something happened to change Longacre’s mind.

Hence, the Ranger’s being stunned when he had an about face and wouldn’t report.

 

[rangersblues]

I understand and agree. But why didn’t he say the same about Hage?

He went on about working with the Hage family. Staying in touch. Etc etc. There was none of that regarding Longacre. Just saying.

In any case, he isn’t coming. I really didn’t expect him to after the comments last fall. I’m not saying that the comments were the reason he wouldn’t come. I’m saying that the comments pretty much meant the door was closed on him last fall.

At the time of the draft, it was expected and I believe assurances were made that he would report. I believe it was stated publicly. Something happened from the time of the draft to the start of training camp. I’m not saying MM caused any rift. But something happened to change Longacre’s mind.

Hence, the Ranger’s being stunned when he had an about face and wouldn’t report.

I agree with what you said about Longacre. Except unlike Longacre Hage wasn't a waste of a draft pick. Longacre we got nothing. Hage we recouped a 1st and also a 4th.

 

[EvenSteven]

I agree with what you said about Longacre. Except unlike Longacre Hage wasn't a waste of a draft pick. Longacre we got nothing. Hage we recouped a 1st and also a 4th.

All I’m getting at is had there been a chance Longacre would report here eventually, I’d expect MM would have given us the same spiel he did about Hage leading up to the defected player trade window. That we were in discussions with the family, keeping good contact, yada yada yada.

His saying what he said about wasting the pick came across as being very final.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

The mystery of Dennis Wideman continues. His name disappeared from the Rangers site a couple of weeks back. If it was removed by error, it hasn't been fixed. If it was removed because he has left the team, we still haven't seen an announcement. It would also mean that a replacement is in the wind. Perhaps, we will learn something this coming week.

Recently, the draft section of the Rangers website also disappeared. Now, that one has to be a mistake. I can't fathom why it would be removed otherwise.

As for training camp, I would think we will hear something soon with the first exhibition game coming up on September 3rd.

 

[Squirrel88]

The news will probably start up again next week. The OHL management types probably take some time off in the middle of August - last chance before training camp and the season make it difficult. It wouldn't surprise me if the reporters that cover the league (and would ask questions) are also off then. I thought Wideman might stay, at least for this year, as continuity while Ahokas adjusts to the league.

 

[Gondrex]

.......Recently, the draft section of the Rangers website also disappeared. Now, that one has to be a mistake. I can't fathom why it would be removed otherwise.

As for training camp, I would think we will hear something soon with the first exhibition game coming up on September 3rd.

Draft section of Ranger's website:
Yeah I noticed this too. I think I had checked about a week or so ago, and it was gone.

Training Camp dates:
I was told that training camp information will be coming out "sometime early next week"....that being this coming week. Hopefully that means Monday.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Draft section of Ranger's website:
Yeah I noticed this too. I think I had checked about a week or so ago, and it was gone.

Training Camp dates:
I was told that training camp information will be coming out "sometime early next week"....that being this coming week.

Guessing camp will open on the 29th (Tuesday)

 

[K2]

The mystery of Dennis Wideman continues. His name disappeared from the Rangers site a couple of weeks back. If it was removed by error, it hasn't been fixed.

Wideman was dropped from the Rangers' site August 9th and more recently Brandon Merli has had 'and Assistant Coach' dropped from his title. Seems like we need a couple Assistants...?

 

[Ward Cornell]

Wideman was dropped from the Rangers' site August 9th and more recently Brandon Merli has had 'and Assistant Coach' dropped from his title. Seems like we need a couple Assistants...?

View attachment 737192

Good...a total shakeup from this coaching coma was needed!! Nice seeing the new coach getting his fingerprints on this team!

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Wideman was dropped from the Rangers' site August 9th and more recently Brandon Merli has had 'and Assistant Coach' dropped from his title. Seems like we need a couple Assistants...?

View attachment 737192

Rangers are likely in the market for an AC that is going to manage the blueline if Wideman is indeed out (which seems to be the case).

Based on some photos of Kyrzakos behind the bench while in Mississauga, he’ll be with the forwards.

 

[bobber]

I'm hoping the new coach is more like a Deboer type coach. One that will put a great defensive system in place. Then make sure his assistant coaches adhere to his agenda. Deboer had his nose all over the ice at practice watching for screw ups. He didn't require a micro phone. You could hear him on Ottawa Street if a player was out of position.