Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread

[EvenSteven]

MESAR IS COMING TO THE RANGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Marek didn’t say that this was a done deal. He was just predicting as we have all done here lately. I think he is coming to Kitchener. But not before a short stint in the AHL.

 

[EvenSteven]

Hage to Sudbury for a gaurenteed 4th, and a conditional 2, 3 * 4

I was getting a bit disappointed with it looking like he wasn't getting moved.

I think this is a B/B+ for me if the conditions are never met, A- if met. More guaranteed would be ideal, but with how crowded the roster is (and the bottom half has some younger guys with potential, not just veteran bottom liners) I thought the Hage pick with all the options it entails was good asset management at this point in time if we got either him or the 11th overall next year as compensation..

This could be Sudbury just doing us a solid and shooting for the stars for a decent but replaceable pick. So the kid has Chicago or Siber...Sudbury to choose from when he returns from injury.

So, here’s a scenario:

We’ve traded Hage’s rights to Sudbury for a small return in order to get that first round comp pick next year. So, perhaps Kitchener and Sudbury has a two part, side deal in place.

League rules say a player cannot be returned via trade to a former team within a 13 month period. So, next season at the end of October, Hage agrees he’ll report here and his rights are traded back to the Rangers for a healthy package making it all worthwhile for Sudbury taking part in this exercise.

Once the dust has settled, Kitchener has Hage in the lineup next fall plus a second first round pick in the 2023 draft

The odds of this scenario being a possibility are about as far-fetched as Jacob Tortora finding his way back to Barrie after Barrie having declared him defected and being awarded a second first round compensation pick the following year.

No! Something like that would never happen!

Nudge nudge wink wink.

 

[Gondrex]

Hage trade -

A wise move under the circumstances. Now hoping that our remaining 06's develop even better than expected. Likely a long shot to see Bednarik or Humphreys (both currently in the USDP) in a Ranger uni down the road, but sure would be a pleasant surprise if one of them did.

 

[nelli27]

Speaking of Mesar, he's playing on the top line tonight in Habs rookie game (with the top overall pick).

 

[RangerNation]

Speaking of Mesar, he's playing on the top line tonight in Habs rookie game (with the top overall pick).

And already has a goal. Beautiful.

 

[RangerNation]

Marek didn’t say that this was a done deal. He was just predicting as we have all done here lately. I think he is coming to Kitchener. But not before a short stint in the AHL.

Marek also mentioned that Kitchener might also be looking at bidding for the 2024 Memorial Cup. All this was said in under 30s when they were announcing their 32 Thoughts podcast tour (September 26th in Kitchener). I will wait patiently while this all unfolds with team confirmations.

 

[03HockeyFan]

 

[cobra9850]

Hage to Sudbury for a gaurenteed 4th, and a conditional 2, 3 * 4

I was getting a bit disappointed with it looking like he wasn't getting moved.

I think this is a B/B+ for me if the conditions are never met, A- if met. More guaranteed would be ideal, but with how crowded the roster is (and the bottom half has some younger guys with potential, not just veteran bottom liners) I thought the Hage pick with all the options it entails was good asset management at this point in time if we got either him or the 11th overall next year as compensation..

This could be Sudbury just doing us a solid and shooting for the stars for a decent but replaceable pick. So the kid has Chicago or Siber...Sudbury to choose from when he returns from injury.

I guess Kitchener must have been further away than Siberia(Sudbury) for Hage

 

[rangersblues]

Does anyone know how the comp picks are awarded. I believe Niagara got #5 overall plus a 2nd rounder for Dickerson.

 

[EvenSteven]

Does anyone know how the comp picks are awarded. I believe Niagara got #5 overall plus a 2nd rounder for Dickerson.

Yes that’s what they’ll get because Dickinson was a fourth overall pick. I don’t believe we’ll get a comp 2nd rounder for Hage because he was outside the top five.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I guess Kitchener must have been further away than Siberia(Sudbury) for Hage

This doesn't really make sense unless Hage commits to Sudbury, which he's shown no signs of (and given the trade amount, likely won't when he returns from Chicago's Injured Reserve).

Yes that’s what they’ll get because Dickinson was a fourth overall pick. I don’t believe we’ll get a comp 2nd rounder for Hage because he was outside the top five.

I may be wrong but IIRC there is or was a stipulation regarding compensation picks where players drafted in the top 5 (regardless if it's 5 or 1 or in between) get the 6th pick. Presumably to avoid tanking teams exploiting it too heavily.

 

[rangersblues]

Yes that’s what they’ll get because Dickinson was a fourth overall pick. I don’t believe we’ll get a comp 2nd rounder for Hage because he was outside the top five.

Thanks.

 

[aresknights]

Perhaps on paper, but I still think it would take a Mesar to come here in order to challenge for top spot, along with a trade-dead line upgrade or two.

Regarding Hage, in light of the decision in which this year's 2nd rounder has made in not reporting, how the Hage situation is handled is now even more important. The quality of a team's high-end picks in most cases has a major impact on your team down the road. I do think (3rd rounder) Bottineau will turn out to be a good pick, but if we see neither Hage or Longacre, that puts a big immediate hole in our 06 group. Future trades would likely need to be made to balance out that age group.
For me, ideally he decides to leave Chicago and comes here - perhaps a bit of a long shot.

Getting a comp and picks for Hage from a willing trade partner would be the next best case IMO. Then at least the team would theoretically have two quality 07's to build around in the future. Drafting a 2nd rounder next year that you know will report (acknowledging that they usually do) has now likely become a bit more important too.

In looking at the upcoming season I'd be more excited about the Rangers potential success than the team I cheer for.
Enjoy

 

[EvenSteven]

Marek also mentioned that Kitchener might also be looking at bidding for the 2024 Memorial Cup. All this was said in under 30s when they were announcing their 32 Thoughts podcast tour (September 26th in Kitchener). I will wait patiently while this all unfolds with team confirmations.

I’ll believe a bid when I see it. The roster next year will be the weakest part of any Ranger bid for a 2024 Memorial Cup.

We stand to lose a ton of quality to graduation off this years roster. Also, the guys who are currently our best 04’s aren’t guaranteed to be here after this year. Mesar and Hamara could possibly play AHL or even back in Europe.

Brzustewicz isn’t a lock to be returned either next year. As a late birthday, and currently one of the top ranked D for the 2023 draft, he could follow Drysdale right into the show next year.

Currently no 1st or 2nd rounder from the last OHL draft playing here in what would be their NHL draft season. That would be a void of quality depth. Think Kadri in 08 or Richards in 03.

And how deep is our draft cupboard right now?

 

[TheAud]

Love that MM took the time to get on camera and explain the process behind the decision:

Kitchener Rangers

kitchenerrangers.com

 

[Gondrex]

In looking at the upcoming season I'd be more excited about the Rangers potential success than the team I cheer for.
Enjoy

It's hard for me to picture the Knights down that low in the standings. It would just look too weird....that's why I never count them out. It seems to me the last time London was way down at / near the bottom was back when McInerney was stopping about 50 shots a game. That's like 25 years ago.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I’ll believe a bid when I see it. The roster next year will be the weakest part of any Ranger bid for a 2024 Memorial Cup.

We stand to lose a ton of quality to graduation off this years roster. Also, the guys who are currently our best 04’s aren’t guaranteed to be here after this year. Mesar and Hamara could possibly play AHL or even back in Europe.

Brzustewicz isn’t a lock to be returned either next year. As a late birthday, and currently one of the top ranked D for the 2023 draft, he could follow Drysdale right into the show next year.

Currently no 1st or 2nd rounder from the last OHL draft playing here in what would be their NHL draft season. That would be a void of quality depth. Think Kadri in 08 or Richards in 03.

And how deep is our draft cupboard right now?

Brz will be back almost 99%. He's one of the top D but seen as a mid-late first more than a top 6 pick.

 

[EvenSteven]

Brz will be back almost 99%. He's one of the top D but seen as a mid-late first more than a top 6 pick.

I agree the odds are low that he sticks in the NHL next year, but stranger things have happened. Jeremy Morin had no business playing AHL hockey at 19. But he did.

That being said, the Rangers would have a hard time attempting to contend this year, and then ice a team worthy of hosting a Memorial Cup the following year.

Look no further than our questionable 04 group. Outside the guys I mentioned earlier, our 04 group would have to improve by leaps and bounds to allow us to ice a competitive team in 23-24.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I agree the odds are low that he sticks in the NHL next year, but stranger things have happened. Jeremy Morin had no business playing AHL hockey at 19. But he did.

That being said, the Rangers would have a hard time attempting to contend this year, and then ice a team worthy of hosting a Memorial Cup the following year.

Look no further than our questionable 04 group. Outside the guys I mentioned earlier, our 04 group would have to improve by leaps and bounds to allow us to ice a competitive team in 23-24.

Morin was drafted from the NTDP before committing to Kitchener, giving the team that drafted him the option of sending him to the AHL. Brz will be drafted out of Kitchener into the NHL draft meaning it's NHL or OHL only.

Most 04 groups are questionable, ours looks even worse when people exclude Parsons for some reason. I don't see us contending next year though, unless MM sells at some point this year which seems unlikely with all of the guys who have committed.

 

[LDN]

Rangers are looking good this season

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Marek didn’t say that this was a done deal. He was just predicting as we have all done here lately. I think he is coming to Kitchener. But not before a short stint in the AHL.

Podcasts

Podcasts

podcast.sportsnet.ca

Sept 15 about 0.56 in
"Look for him (Mesar) to join the Kitchener Rangers after the Montreal training camp."

Marek doesn't say it's not a done deal either...

Now whether he's just making this up or he's heard through sources, who knows? Rangers have left a spot open for him and Laval is top heavy for their top 6. So we'll see.

 

[EvenSteven]

Morin was drafted from the NTDP before committing to Kitchener, giving the team that drafted him the option of sending him to the AHL. Brz will be drafted out of Kitchener into the NHL draft meaning it's NHL or OHL only.

Most 04 groups are questionable, ours looks even worse when people exclude Parsons for some reason. I don't see us contending next year though, unless MM sells at some point this year which seems unlikely with all of the guys who have committed.

For sure on Morin. I was just comparing players unexpectedly moving on to the pros.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

For sure on Morin. I was just comparing players unexpectedly moving on to the pros.

Boedker is the one I'll always remember. They butchered his development in PHX.

 

[K2]

This doesn't really make sense unless Hage commits to Sudbury, which he's shown no signs of (and given the trade amount, likely won't when he returns from Chicago's Injured Reserve).

SBY just bought a lotto ticket and they win big should Hage ever report or have his rights flipped elsewhere in the O. Pretty light wager, with much time on the clock, compared to Murray betting a 3rd on a moon-shot try to land a long-gone Fabbri.

But not before a short stint in the AHL.

Unlikely he gets re-assigned to Laval IMO. Between the tourney and camp he's among all the same cast for a full eval. He looked great yesterday but did appear to be about half Xhekaj's size.

 

[OHL Fan]

Does anyone know how the comp picks are awarded. I believe Niagara got #5 overall plus a 2nd rounder for Dickerson.

Yes and Kitch should get 10th pick supplemental next year.

The conditional 3 picks given by Sudbury could turn out to be a bunch of picks added to the trade if Hage reports to Sudbury