Kitchener Rangers 2022 Off-season Thread

[K2]

Is there a rankings list of the players available in the import draft or is this the crap shoot I think it is?

U20 is largely NHL draft ranking (informed crapshoot)
U18-U16 is almost a total crapshoot (player agent driven with some U17 tourneys scouted where possible during covid).
With Swedes & Finns typically electing to stay home now ... Russia & Belarus embargoed ... the prospect pool of likely reports (mostly Slovakian & Czech) is smaller than ever.

Looks like we're making at least one pick tomorrow! Hoping Mesar reports though.

Picking twice: #22 & #57 (from 26/86 less passes)

 

[K2]

Tomas Hamara - LD
Kitchener Rangers - Selected 26th in Round # 1

---

Shoots: L
Height: 6.00
Weight: 185
Hometown: Prague, Cze
Last Team: Tappara Tampere U20
Nationality: Czech

Tomas Hamara - 2022 NHL Draft Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

Tomas Hamara broke out on a global stage at the 2022 U18 WJC which helped increase his draft stock dramatically.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[Gondrex]

Not sure how accurate this is.....

NHL Draft
Prospect eligible for the 2022 NHL Entry Draft

Rankings
Ranked #65 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #56 by FCHOCKEY
Ranked #56 by TSN/BOB McKENZIE
Ranked #76 by MCKEEN'S HOCKEY
Ranked #46 by TSN/CRAIG BUTTON
Ranked #21 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (EU Skaters)
Ranked #65 by RECRUIT SCOUTING
Ranked #56 by DOBBERPROSPECTS
Ranked #73 by DRAFT PROSPECTS HOCKEY

 

[Rangers True Blue]

 

[Rangers True Blue]

View attachment 563888

Tomas Hamara: 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile; An Effective Two-Way Defenseman with a Lower Ceiling

swapbuckler.com

 

[GeoBlue]

26

Kitchener

Hamara, Tomas

6.00

185

2004-03-09

LD

Tappara Tampere U20

Czech

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Tomas Hamara has big game as Czechia downs Canada in overtime at men’s U18 hockey championship

Canada finished third in the group with four points and will face the second-place team in Group B in the quarter-finals

www.theglobeandmail.com

 

[K2]

Mattias Hävelid - RD
Kitchener Rangers - Selected 26th in Round # 2

---

Shoots: R
Height: 5.09
Weight: 165
Hometown: Täby, Swe
Last Team: Linkoping HC Jr.
Nationality: Swedish

Mattias Hävelid - 2022 NHL Draft Prospect Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

Mattias Hävelid is small in stature, but his skill level is one of the highest in the 2022 NHL Draft class.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[Gondrex]

Tomas Hamara - 2022 NHL Draft Profile - The Hockey Writers NHL Entry Draft Latest News, Analysis & More

Tomas Hamara broke out on a global stage at the 2022 U18 WJC which helped increase his draft stock dramatically.

thehockeywriters.com

"Many fans were first introduced to Tomas Hamara when he played for Team Czechia at the 2022 under-18 World Junior Championship, where he showed the world exactly what he is capable of. He was tied for second in points scored by defencemen at the tournament in May with eight points. He tied American Lane Hutson and was four points behind Sweden’s Mattias Hävelid, who led all defencemen with 12. Both Hutson and Hävelid have seen their draft stock improve because of their success in the tournament and are both expected to land somewhere toward the end of the first round or early in the second round."

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Hamara was one of the best defenders at the recent u-18's and should go in the second or third round in the upcoming NHL draft.

I doubt he reports but would be a home-run if he does.

Havelid is much the same - was one of the best defenders at the recent u-18's and is poised to go in the same range in the upcoming NHL draft (2nd-3rd round)

Would be great for Kitchner if one of these guys reported - they'll definitely help drive offense from the blueline.

 

[Gondrex]

Odds likely low, but this would look nice on the blueline.........Tomas Hamara, Mattias Hävelid, Roman Schmidt, Hunter Brzustewicz, Simon Motew

 

[EvenSteven]

To push us into contender status, I think we need two of Mesar, Hamara, Hävelid to report.

For me, I think we’d be stronger with Mesar plus one of the other two. But if it’s both D, then no problem. That would give us our strongest D since, perhaps, ‘06?
(Valabik. Lashoff. Kindl. Fraser. Pepe)

 

[GeoBlue]

U20 is largely NHL draft ranking (informed crapshoot)
U18-U16 is almost a total crapshoot (player agent driven with some U17 tourneys scouted where possible during covid).
With Swedes & Finns typically electing to stay home now ... Russia & Belarus embargoed ... the prospect pool of likely reports (mostly Slovakian & Czech) is smaller than ever.


Picking twice: #22 & #57 (from 26/86 less passes)

Not sure how accurate the CHL site is but I do see a Russian AND a Belarusian drafted???

 

[K2]

Not sure how accurate the CHL site is but I do see a Russian AND a Belarusian drafted???

Two played in the CHL already so they were likely already ‘on stream’. Presumably the other must have some grounds for draft eligibility too … he was previously drafted by another Quebec CHL team in 2021?

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6433173

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Two played in the CHL already so they were likely already ‘on stream’. Presumably the other must have some grounds for draft eligibility too … he was previously drafted by another Quebec CHL team in 2021?

https://www.cbc.ca/amp/1.6433173

This is exactly why.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

So now we wait until the NHL draft is over to see which two of the four (Cajan, Mesar, Havelid, Hamara) come to the Rangers as Imports.

 

[EvenSteven]

So now we wait until the NHL draft is over to see which two of the four (Cajan, Mesar, Havelid, Hamara) come to the Rangers as Imports.

Yes. No guarantees though. We waited last year for something that didn’t happen (Mesar / Odelius). Hopefully, we get two of the skaters locked up sooner than later.

Can’t see Cajan here next year as an OA import. But, should two of the other three not come, he’ll be in the mix to start the season. According to MM, he is interested in returning next year.

 

[GeoBlue]

Yes. No guarantees though. We waited last year for something that didn’t happen (Mesar / Odelius). Hopefully, we get two of the skaters locked up sooner than later.

Can’t see Cajan here next year as an OA import. But, should two of the other three not come, he’ll be in the mix to start the season. According to MM, he is interested in returning next year.

If Cajan ends up in Kitchener this year, he will be here strictly for the trade value. I see no point in having Parsons as the BU as I feel he is ready for prime time. I think Vandenberg will make a sufficient BU. Cajan can get us a haul of draft picks and / or quality skaters.

 

[HockeyPops]

Define a haul? As good as Cajan is, I think you overestimate the market for him. There can't be many teams willing to spend an OA and Import spot on a goalie.

 

[Gondrex]

Per kichenerrangers.com, McKenzie on Hävelid.....

“Mattias is likely to start the year in Sweden this season, but he is another very talented and strong two-way defenseman who had a great Under-18 tournament,” said McKenzie. “He is likely to be a top-two round NHL pick next week, so we were very happy to select him with our second pick.”

Not 100% sure what to make of the statement in bold but it appears at least to narrow things down.

 

[Jives]

Going to guess on next season team.

Mesar - Pinelli - Valade
Martin - Serpa - Veremyev
Sop - Rehkopf - Hage
Misaljevic - Leblanc - Mercer
Ex. Zidlicky, Pugliese, Swick

Schmidt - Brzustewicz
Leblanc - Hamara
Motew - Harper
Ex. Hollett, Andonovski

Parson
Vandenberg

I think we get Hage, Mesar, Veremyev and Hamara to sign. Solid line up if this pans out.

 

[EvenSteven]

Define a haul? As good as Cajan is, I think you overestimate the market for him. There can't be many teams willing to spend an OA and Import spot on a goalie.

Martin Has was an NHL drafted player and as an import OA, he cleared waivers and eventually played in the Q. I’d be surprised if we get anything more than a mid round pick for Cajan.

 

[GeoBlue]

Define a haul? As good as Cajan is, I think you overestimate the market for him. There can't be many teams willing to spend an OA and Import spot on a goalie.

If you are a contender that needs a goalie to get you over the top, then Cajan would be the type of backstopper you need. He has proven that he can face 50 plus shots a game and come up with the game breaking save. I'm thinking Michael DiPietro calibre where Windsor got a player along with four second-round draft picks and three conditional picks in exchange for the tender and a couple of conditionals so maybe half or 3/4 of this haul? But only if he starts in junior.

 

[GeoBlue]

Martin Has was an NHL drafted player and as an import OA, he cleared waivers and eventually played in the Q. I’d be surprised if we get anything more than a mid round pick for Cajan.

Then what other reason would there be to keep him? It doesn't give a vote of confidence to Parsons. He would be a pricey insurance goalie. Has cleared waivers not playing a single junior game so he was more of an unknown. Cajan has already shown his worth. It really depends on which team needs a solid goalie to get them over the top and if they are willing to part with some picks to get a player that will cost them an import AND OA. I find it a very real possibility.

 

[EvenSteven]

Then what other reason would there be to keep him? It doesn't give a vote of confidence to Parsons. He would be a pricey insurance goalie. Has cleared waivers not playing a single junior game so he was more of an unknown. Cajan has already shown his worth. It really depends on which team needs a solid goalie to get them over the top and if they are willing to part with some picks to get a player that will cost them an import AND OA. I find it a very real possibility.

MacKenzie probably kept him because he had a slot open as per the rules regarding overage imports. Why not fill that opening? The rule is there. Use it. Nothing to lose. I don’t think Parsons will feel threatened by Cajun’s presence. He knows he’s the future in goal here. The future is probably now.

Stranger things have happened. If we don’t get two of Mesar, Hamara, Hävelid this year, it’s worth keeping Cajun around lest something go south with Parsons (A lengthly injury? Hey, it happens. Just ask Jesse Fishman). If Parsons were to suffer a lengthly injury, Cajun would fit the bill. Cajun filling an OA/import spot and moving out Harper likely trumps dealing for a number one goalie and either going with Harper as the third OA or trading him for an upgrade, considering our less than substantial draft cupboard.

I doubt MM expects to be able to move Cajan for a high return now or in the future. More the case is he’s making sure all bases are covered for as long as possible.

Hey, if two of the above imports show up here in September, Cajan is likely released to waivers.

Martin Has played 21 OHL games (Guelph/North Bay) before coming to our camp last fall. Add to that he was and NHL drafted player (5th round Was in 2019). I don’t think he was an unknown commodity.