Kitchener Rangers 2022 Off-season Thread

[EvenSteven]

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.

Assuming, as you have, that those four report, a few tweeks to your forward group, if you will:

Mesar, being a right winger, would slot beside Pinelli on the first line. Rehkopf will be too good to be a third liner. As he’s a left shot, I load up the top line putting him on Pinelli’s left side.

I do not touch the Serpa, Valade, Martin line from last spring. That’s my second line. They played very well together in the postseason. No reason to split them up.

Hage would center my third line. As Pinelli and Rehkopf before him, he’ll be way too good to be relegated to fourth line duty. No doubt he plays up the lineup as those two did in their 16-year-old seasons. Jesse Fishman, who’ll be healthy in the fall, should slot onto the 3rd line. For me, he’s top nine F on this team period. It’ll be a battle for that third position on the third line. Sop, A LeBlanc, and Veremyev are the candidates.

For me, I don’t see it sitting well with Sop or LeBlanc not playing top nine as vets. Should Veremyev win out that spot, I’d look for MM to make a deal or two to alleviate the congestion on this forward group.

Six or seven guys can’t play fourth line and we have to develop our youth. I see Justin Bottineau (3rd round 2022) as our 12th or 13th F. Then there’s Zidlicky. Mercer. Pugliese. Miseljevic. Swick.

Don’t be surprised if MM deals away a couple vets to clear out some bodies. Sop and A LeBlanc would bring some value on the market. Yes, the twins are a package deal but so were the Christopoulos brothers and they were split up last year with positive results. Andrew may welcome a fresh start. As a former 1st round pick, he’d bring decent value on the market. I’d go as far as to predict a trade unless he storms out of the gate this fall and makes it impossible for MM to deal him.

My forward group:

Rehkopf. Pinelli. Mesar.
Martin. Serpa. Valade.
Veremyev. Hage. Fishman.
Zidlicky. Mercer. Swick
Pugliese. Bottineau.

I see guys like Sop and A LeBlanc possibly dealt. Miseljevic as well. Those bottom five would be interchangeable. Bottineau maybe splitting his time here and in JrB.

As far as your D goes, I’d have a hard time excluding Andonovski from the top six. But where do you put him? That’s a deep D. I see Hollett maybe moving on unless MM decides on an upgrade on the OA spot Harper takes up. Right now though, I prefer Harper over Hollett. If Hollett can’t crack the top six, move him somewhere where he’ll get playing time.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Assuming, as you have, that those four report, a few tweeks to your forward group, if you will:

Mesar, being a right winger, would slot beside Pinelli on the first line. Rehkopf will be too good to be a third liner. As he’s a left shot, I load up the top line putting him on Pinelli’s left side.

I do not touch the Serpa, Valade, Martin line from last spring. That’s my second line. They played very well together in the postseason. No reason to split them up.

Hage would center my third line. As Pinelli and Rehkopf before him, he’ll be way too good to be relegated to fourth line duty. No doubt he plays up the lineup as those two did in their 16-year-old seasons. Jesse Fishman, who’ll be healthy in the fall, should slot onto the 3rd line. For me, he’s top nine F on this team period. It’ll be a battle for that third position on the third line. Sop, A LeBlanc, and Veremyev are the candidates.

For me, I don’t see it sitting well with Sop or LeBlanc not playing top nine as vets. Should Veremyev win out that spot, I’d look for MM to make a deal or two to alleviate the congestion on this forward group.

Six or seven guys can’t play fourth line and we have to develop our youth. I see Justin Bottineau (3rd round 2022) as our 12th or 13th F. Then there’s Zidlicky. Mercer. Pugliese. Miseljevic. Swick.

Don’t be surprised if MM deals away a couple vets to clear out some bodies. Sop and A LeBlanc would bring some value on the market. Yes, the twins are a package deal but so were the Christopoulos brothers and they were split up last year with positive results. Andrew may welcome a fresh start. As a former 1st round pick, he’d bring decent value on the market. I’d go as far as to predict a trade unless he storms out of the gate this fall and makes it impossible for MM to deal him.

My forward group:

Rehkopf. Pinelli. Mesar.
Martin. Serpa. Valade.
Veremyev. Hage. Fishman.
Zidlicky. Mercer. Swick
Pugliese. Bottineau.

I see guys like Sop and A LeBlanc possibly dealt. Miseljevic as well. Those bottom five would be interchangeable. Bottineau maybe splitting his time here and in JrB.

As far as your D goes, I’d have a hard time excluding Andonovski from the top six. But where do you put him? That’s a deep D. I see Hollett maybe moving on unless MM decides on an upgrade on the OA spot Harper takes up. Right now though, I prefer Harper over Hollett. If Hollett can’t crack the top six, move him somewhere where he’ll get playing time.

Agreed, Mesar won't come over unless he gets top line minutes and he would make a scorching first line with Pinelli and Rehkopf. Fast and creative with any one of them able to score from pretty much anywhere on the ice. Love to see this! A solid second line that will take no prisoners...even better than last year.

Will Hage report? And can Fishman be off of a whole season and come back with a vengeance?? Either way, Veremyev would be a terror on that 3rd line. Actually, he would be a terror on any line "as required".

Lots of players for the 4th line with mix and match opportunities. And I don't know what happened with A. Leblanc this past season...some injuries sure....but perhaps in need of some mental coaching from a sports psych.

Defense.......no way is Adonovski an "extra". Top 4....Schmidt Brzustewicz Leblanc Hamara with Adonovski and Harper as 5 6. Harper as the extra D but I have a feeling he may be moved too. Perhaps, bring in Longacre to build for the future?

WHAT IF the likes of Gauthier, Fegaras, or Kaplan are "encouraged" to play in Kitchener once drafted?
Lots of "what ifs" but hey.....what if????

 

[rangersblues]

Gondrex's post saying Hävelid being "likely to begin the year in Sweden" tells me that Cajan is going to report to camp and MM will make every effort to trade him. At that point it's already arranged for Hävelid to report.

I'm unsure what value Cajan has but I suspect somewhat less than DiPietro. DiPietro had a much better resume (Memorial Cup, 1st Team All-star, OHL Goaltender of the Year) and was not an OA or import.

 

[GeoBlue]

Agreed, Mesar won't come over unless he gets top line minutes and he would make a scorching first line with Pinelli and Rehkopf. Fast and creative with any one of them able to score from pretty much anywhere on the ice. Love to see this! A solid second line that will take no prisoners...even better than last year.

Will Hage report? And can Fishman be off of a whole season and come back with a vengeance?? Either way, Veremyev would be a terror on that 3rd line. Actually, he would be a terror on any line "as required".

Lots of players for the 4th line with mix and match opportunities. And I don't know what happened with A. Leblanc this past season...some injuries sure....but perhaps in need of some mental coaching from a sports psych.

Defense.......no way is Adonovski an "extra". Top 4....Schmidt Brzustewicz Leblanc Hamara with Adonovski and Harper as 5 6. Harper as the extra D but I have a feeling he may be moved too. Perhaps, bring in Longacre to build for the future?

WHAT IF the likes of Gauthier, Fegaras, or Kaplan are "encouraged" to play in Kitchener once drafted?
Lots of "what ifs" but hey.....what if????

Fish will miss 2 seasons, unfortunately. One of my faves and I hope he surprises and comes back strong. Andonovski definitely a top six. I like his grit and hope the arm is all healed up. I think bottom line is if many of these players sign, there will be a lot "trading away". Not necessarily a bad think considering our "cupboard".

 

[dmead]

Lesson from London... make sure your backup is up to the task. You guys had it made last year with Cajan and Parsons.

Cajan could get a roster player snd a couple of 2nds/3rds but not much more. He's an OA and Import. That limits his value a great deal.

Im looking forward to seeing how your team looks this year.

 

[bobber]

Lesson from London... make sure your backup is up to the task. You guys had it made last year with Cajan and Parsons.

Cajan could get a roster player snd a couple of 2nds/3rds but not much more. He's an OA and Import. That limits his value a great deal.

Im looking forward to seeing how your team looks this year.

Rangers were going no where fast without these two goaltenders. It's really the only thing that got that squad as far as it did along with some luck and perseverance. Petizian and a couple of others that stepped up. I think if the Rangers got a roster player and the picks mentioned they would run smiling to the bank.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Lesson from London... make sure your backup is up to the task. You guys had it made last year with Cajan and Parsons.

Cajan could get a roster player snd a couple of 2nds/3rds but not much more. He's an OA and Import. That limits his value a great deal.

Im looking forward to seeing how your team looks this year.

For the return on Cajan it all depends if the trading partner is strong with one major weakness in net, If they have a cpl areas of need then the return for Cajan would be less.
I would basically be happy with any asset coming back for Cajan as I would be for any redundant OA.
With this roster makeup and the possible additions to it, Im sure players will be moving out via trade with draft picks coming back. I guess fans gets accused of over hyping their team but if the Rangers gets 2 imports to report there really isnt a real need on this team that would need fullfilled right away and could wait till the deadline in January. I believe the Rangers situation this year also mirrors other teams in the MidWest and once again it will be a battle.

 

[Torts]

Hopefully both Mesar and Hamara report this offseason.

Rehkopf - Pinelli - Mesar as line 1. SIGN. ME UP!

 

[ReLyT]

Did Kitchener release the rights to Calle Odelius to draft the two new imports?

 

[EvenSteven]

Did Kitchener release the rights to Calle Odelius to draft the two new imports?

Yes

 

[ReLyT]

Same with Filip Mesar I'm assuming?

 

[Jives]

Same with Filip Mesar I'm assuming?

No. Mesar is still Ranger property.

 

[EvenSteven]

Ontario Hockey League

Official Website of the OHL

ontariohockeyleague.com

 

[GeoBlue]

Ontario Hockey League

Official Website of the OHL

ontariohockeyleague.com

Looks like we have our 4th line center? Justin Bottineau signed. Let the signings continue!!!

 

[EvenSteven]

Looks like we have our 4th line center? Justin Bottineau signed. Let the signings continue!!!

Hopefully, signing(s) shortly after this weeks NHL draft would be huge.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

I am almost positive Mesar will report - but at the end of the day it's up to whichever NHL team drafts him and what they think is the best development path for him.

 

[K2]

Did Kitchener release the rights to Calle Odelius to draft the two new imports?

Before the draft. We had Cajan and hoped Mesar would come over during the season, locking up our 2 imports (undrafted, etc). Calle Odelius wasn't coming and got passed over in the CHL import draft this year, despite being a top prospect in the NHL draft, to continue to progressing along the development stream at home.

I am almost positive Mesar will report - but at the end of the day it's up to whichever NHL team drafts him and what they think is the best development path for him.

Agreed, he'll be here if he wants to play in the NHL and drafts as well as projected.

Hopefully, signing(s) shortly after this weeks NHL draft would be huge.

Should be, might even be transformational. Like you were saying, we've got some guys to move ... and probably starting before main camp. Cape Breton in the Q just did 10 trades in one day involving 33 players and picks! Maybe our 'GM only' MM now has the time to get dealing We've definitely got some aging talent that could use a change of scenery at this stage and maybe 3 (?) roster guys that will be on the bubble by main camp if we land some pro-draftees.

 

[Antiillafire]

I am almost positive Mesar will report - but at the end of the day it's up to whichever NHL team drafts him and what they think is the best development path for him.

I believe it will be Kitchener or AHL, the latter of which I could certainly see if Arizona takes him at the end of the first round. Keep him close by for development purposes.

Assuming, as you have, that those four report, a few tweeks to your forward group, if you will:

Mesar, being a right winger, would slot beside Pinelli on the first line. Rehkopf will be too good to be a third liner. As he’s a left shot, I load up the top line putting him on Pinelli’s left side.

I do not touch the Serpa, Valade, Martin line from last spring. That’s my second line. They played very well together in the postseason. No reason to split them up.

Hage would center my third line. As Pinelli and Rehkopf before him, he’ll be way too good to be relegated to fourth line duty. No doubt he plays up the lineup as those two did in their 16-year-old seasons. Jesse Fishman, who’ll be healthy in the fall, should slot onto the 3rd line. For me, he’s top nine F on this team period. It’ll be a battle for that third position on the third line. Sop, A LeBlanc, and Veremyev are the candidates.

For me, I don’t see it sitting well with Sop or LeBlanc not playing top nine as vets. Should Veremyev win out that spot, I’d look for MM to make a deal or two to alleviate the congestion on this forward group.

Six or seven guys can’t play fourth line and we have to develop our youth. I see Justin Bottineau (3rd round 2022) as our 12th or 13th F. Then there’s Zidlicky. Mercer. Pugliese. Miseljevic. Swick.

Don’t be surprised if MM deals away a couple vets to clear out some bodies. Sop and A LeBlanc would bring some value on the market. Yes, the twins are a package deal but so were the Christopoulos brothers and they were split up last year with positive results. Andrew may welcome a fresh start. As a former 1st round pick, he’d bring decent value on the market. I’d go as far as to predict a trade unless he storms out of the gate this fall and makes it impossible for MM to deal him.

My forward group:

Rehkopf. Pinelli. Mesar.
Martin. Serpa. Valade.
Veremyev. Hage. Fishman.
Zidlicky. Mercer. Swick
Pugliese. Bottineau.

I see guys like Sop and A LeBlanc possibly dealt. Miseljevic as well. Those bottom five would be interchangeable. Bottineau maybe splitting his time here and in JrB.

As far as your D goes, I’d have a hard time excluding Andonovski from the top six. But where do you put him? That’s a deep D. I see Hollett maybe moving on unless MM decides on an upgrade on the OA spot Harper takes up. Right now though, I prefer Harper over Hollett. If Hollett can’t crack the top six, move him somewhere where he’ll get playing time.

He is not really exclusively a RW, he probably only played about 1/3 on the right side. I wonder if him and the NHL team that selects him decide that OHL is best option, if they will ask him to play C and occasionally on the wing (ala Petrovsky).

 

[Torts]

I believe it will be Kitchener or AHL, the latter of which I could certainly see if Arizona takes him at the end of the first round. Keep him close by for development purposes.


He is not really exclusively a RW, he probably only played about 1/3 on the right side. I wonder if him and the NHL team that selects him decide that OHL is best option, if they will ask him to play C and occasionally on the wing (ala Petrovsky).

Arizona just can't get out of their own way lol. There are definitely teams who always seem to send their prospects to Major Junior - Mesar being picked by Edmonton, Tampa or St. Louis near the end of the first would almost certainly mean he'd be told to go develop in Kitchener.

 

[K2]

Cajan could get a roster player snd a couple of 2nds/3rds but not much more. He's an OA and Import. That limits his value a great deal.

It will be interesting to see what happens with Cajan, especially after his postseason heroics. He could well be a coveted piece for a contending team to add pre-season as anyone wanting to contend in this league needs a top goaltender (or 2) and accommodating an inexpensive import OA may well save picks better spent on 19YO NA skater(s) in some scenarios. If drafted, he's probably lost to us with assignment to minor pro IMO where he hopefully sticks and thrives.

I believe it will be Kitchener or AHL, the latter of which I could certainly see if Arizona takes him at the end of the first round. Keep him close by for development purposes.

I wouldn’t expect to see Mešár drop right onto an AHL roster in 2022 & even Arizona/Tucson Hockey Ops seem to be moderating under Armstrong/Ferguson Most likely he'd spend a season here if he comes over after drafting well and gets well acclimatized to North American play, 68+ game schedule, builds physical strength, etc then, if he's a standout in the OHL, he'd certainly be a strong pro consideration for 22-23.

Most top OHL teams work well with drafted player stipulations, reporting, weight training, etc and the Rangers are especially well regarded in that respect.

 

[bobber]

Ranger 2020 draft pick Cutter Gothier picked 5th overall in the NHL Draft. Supposedly on his way to Boston College. Big skilled kid they claim has the fastest release in the draft and will not hesitate to give an opponent a poke in the kisser. Bit of a pipe dream but if he showed up here with the Rangers not many squads would challenge them physically with the other tough nut they picked up earlier.

 

[EvenSteven]

He ain’t coming. Boston College coach Greg Brown is good friends and a former teammate of Cutter’s dad.

 

[Gondrex]

So....will the Canadiens send Mesar to the Rangers ?

 

[EvenSteven]

So....will the Canadiens send Mesar to the Rangers ?

I don’t see why not. Surely they recognize the development of Xhekaj and want to have him play here.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I don’t see why not. Surely they recognize the development of Xhekaj and want to have him play here.

Thinking the same. New coach with NHL experience and defensively minded. Pinelli & Rehkopf for line mates. And yes, Xhekaj rose to new levels in Kitchener. Mesar to the Rangers!