Guryev is the beastly D available this year, and probable OA. He was not at all a throw-in
Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)
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Point a game player (and he will get better linemates in Kitchener to hopefully improve on those numbers), solid face off guy and 200ft player to play behind Pinelli. This also bumps Rehkopf to 3rd line where he will have weaker matchups and getting a Sop or Valade to play with. This is exactly what I was asking for a week ago and love the trade. Now just add a 19 year old depth winger, 3rd liner with a little grit and bump Swick to the 4th line and Swick also available as a injury replacement if one of the top 9 guys get injured in the playoffs. That would make are top 9 pretty damn good. Swick-Mercer-Zidlicky is a pretty good 4th line as well. Mercer and Zidlicky not producing like you would like but that as a 4th line…I have zero complaints. We still need 1 more depth forward though to make that happen. Get it done MM.
Matttheleaf
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- Apr 18, 2019
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Don't want to be the bubble-burster here but don't expect a solid two-way game from Zhilkin. Now, do I think he provides more offensive upside for the team? Yes. Zhilkin is a nifty, highly skilled one-dimensional scorer who was stuck on a lousy Guelph team so I absolutely expect his numbers to rise.
Fun Fact: He played his minor hockey with the Toronto Marlies with Arcuri before Arcuri left to Don Mills Flyers in his draft year. Their play styles were almost too similar to ever create solid chemistry back then - not sure if that plays a factor years later - would be interesting to see.
Long story short, I think it's a decent move - but an over-pay, especially if you were hoping for 200-foot play. Scoring will certainly be there though.
bobber
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I guess we will wait and see what comes of this trade. I have really no opinion of the way Zhilkin plays the game. He was mentioned as a target of contending teams so he must be doing something noticeable. Ranger powers that be like his game and as a fan we have hope they made the right move. Hoping he turns out to be another Chris MacKinnon the Rangers picked up from the Knights in 2008-2009.
EvenSteven
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Not a fan of that third line. (If those are lines you’re suggesting).
No right hand shot. No RW.
For me, if we’re picking up a center, we should be picking up a third line RWer too.
EvenSteven
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One 3rd and four 4ths.
In others words, next to nothing that would interest sellers.
We should have done that Savard deal and we’d have a bit more left.
With all these moves that MM is making, I wouldn't be surprised if he is planning on taking another job next year. Deboer had no problem depleting our draft cupboard before leaving for the NHL.
This is just part of the OHL. You want to make a run at a championship it’s going to cost. Hamilton gave away everything last year and won. A team that is shy of giving away picks is going to be average. We have been trigger shy for a long time and that puts us as….average for a long time. Im glad MM is putting in all his chips to try and win. 2 years of selling coming up to recoup the picks. I’d rather give it everything and trade away all picks once every 3 or 4 years and try to win then just be average forever.
feels a bit forced thou? they are not even in the top 4 and going all in.
Usually there is a reason a player is a 3rd round NHL pick and signed vs a player that is not even drafted. Size is not holding Savard back at 6’2” 200lbs.
Pinelli, Valade, Martin, Mesar, Rehkopf, Swick, Sop, Hunter, Hamara, Roman, Motew, Parson.
I think he looks at this base and says it’s pretty solid. Adds a G, D and 2F and the team is looking pretty good. Sure I’d add another depth forward but this team is looking pretty good moving forward.
bobber
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No suggestion from me. Brown suggested this. Not sure what MM has left to trade other than bodies.
TheBlueMonster
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- Sep 14, 2022
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Not a lot.
Think you can acquire some much needed depth on D and maybe a 3rd or 4th liner to provide some grit but that would severely empty out the cupboard.
rangersblues
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- Mar 21, 2010
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At least Deboer got that team an OHL championship and to the Memorial Cup final. Also what was left over got us to within one victory of an OHL final two years later.
MM has made some smart moves. Adding Zhilkin is another smart move.
You can already see some of the players we've added bringing the level of play up among everyone and those players MM has brought in are elevating their play, playing with their new team mates.
Pinelli has gone to a whole new level and is a strong leader. I can't wait to have a full line-up.
Heck even our 4th liners Pugliese, Zidlicky, Mercer, Misaljevic, Morey and Bottineau have some good speed, Pugliese and Zidlicky can provide some jump and energy when needed.
Gondrex
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"Will all training camp free agents please form queues outside dressing rooms 2, 3, and 4".........
Gondrex
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"Will all training camp free agents please form queues outside dressing rooms 2, 3, and 4".........
Kidding aside I have faith that whatever MM does / has done before the deadline, he'll be able to recoup some important draft picks.
Of course this likely means trading away talent in the future. Not to mention any names but if any of those players have something special written within their contracts, I really hope we don't run into the Bracco situation where there is literally one team in the bidding (if I have my history correct).
At least as Josh Brown wrote, when the OHL hosts the Mem Cup tournament, then in theory you might expect to have an extra team in the hunt for talent upgrades. Might help the Ranger situation going forward after this season.
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bobber
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Looking down the road. Wouldn't it be great to see the powers that be in KTown running the Rangers build a team up through the draft. Similar to what Ottawa or Hamilton has done previously as an example. Then when they decide to make a run you have the assets to buy to strengthen your top lines and defense. In the aftermath the franchise still has picks left in the cupboard to pick up the skilled prospects coming into the league the following season. This instead of trying to turn a faltering team into a contender using players other teams developed. It is a risky business. In reality this season version of the Rangers had nothing to offer if they decided to sell that would have filled the coffers. GMs of other squads weren't giving up there young prospects and picks for under performing Ranger players.
Rangers True Blue
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Rangers True Blue
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Team down. Attendance down. Season Tickets down. = Revenue down
From a business viewpoint, I don't think MM had any other choice than to go all in.
For next season, he absolutely needs to land TWO top end first picks in the draft and make his 3rd and 4ths count. No worries about goalies. That's covered. Getting Longacre to report would be a bonus.
Here are some interesting stats as of today:
PENALTY MINUTES OVERALL
From a business viewpoint, I don't think MM had any other choice than to go all in.
For next season, he absolutely needs to land TWO top end first picks in the draft and make his 3rd and 4ths count. No worries about goalies. That's covered. Getting Longacre to report would be a bonus.
Here are some interesting stats as of today:
PENALTY MINUTES OVERALL
Gondrex
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Yeah, drafting well and doing it consistently is so important. A bit of beating a dead horse here - sorry - but the '04 and '06 (DOB) drafts arguably standout. I think a case can be made that the 04 draft was weaker than normal. Maybe that is why the Rangers had their first three picks not only from what some consider a somewhat weaker SCTA league, but from the same team. Maybe that is why they took so many flyers that didn't pan out.
Having said that, there are definitely some good 04's in this league if you do some research. The good news is that the Rangers managed to get quality 04's in Brzustewicz, Hamara and Mesar outside that draft day. Maybe something good happens out of the 06 draft too where this team got neither a 1st or 2nd in the line-up. Keep in mind that Kitchener does get that compensatory pick in 07 which was in the back of MM's mind should the Hage thing not work out. (Thank goodness teams can't trade away first rounders). Also, he did mention that he would not have gone that route had Longacre reported.
Kitchener needs to do well in this upcoming draft. As Even Steven pointed out, outside a couple of questionable selections, they usually do reasonably well in the first round. So choosing two 07's will (should?) help. In my opinion I think it is important to get back a 2nd round pick some how, some way before the upcoming draft day....and do well with it. I think this team needs a solid group of (hopefully three) 07's to build around. We'll see how that all plays out.
In the mean time we'll see how the rest of the season and playoffs go. They now have the key players they wanted. Now they need to gain ground in the standings and hopefully gun for home ice advantage in the first round of playoffs.
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