Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part 2)

[OHL4Life]

Always wondered why 18 months. Why not one season, two seasons, or three seasons, etc?

Why the half season?

it gives them the summer to see if they can get another pro deal.

most don’t know this but you can do online school while also playing, so Soo could do both. He also could go play in a lower pro league in Europe and still use it as well. the league has really loaned up the definition of pro

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Watching Edmonton and Florida battle it out for the Stanley Cup, you see a balance of skill and grit. It's a balance that requires the skilled to have some grit and the grit to have some skill. The addition of Dirracolo, Hlacar, and Labrash to the mix is a positive for the Rangers. I should also add "leadership" to the mix with several of the Rangers wearing the C for their teams prior to being drafted onto the team. Next up, the CHL Import draft to see if Pobezal is going to the join the team and whether an elite D will be on the Rangers radar.

 

[EvenSteven]

Watching Edmonton and Florida battle it out for the Stanley Cup, you see a balance of skill and grit. It's a balance that requires the skilled to have some grit and the grit to have some skill. The addition of Dirracolo, Hlacar, and Labrash to the mix is a positive for the Rangers. I should also add "leadership" to the mix with several of the Rangers wearing the C for their teams prior to being drafted onto the team. Next up, the CHL Import draft to see if Pobezal is going to the join the team and whether an elite D will be on the Rangers radar.

Labrash, Dirracolo, and Hlacar is a good start, but we need grit in top six and top four roles. Can these guys get there eventually? Maybe. Dirracolo looks like he could. We’ll see with the other two.

But, we need those type of players with skill as well. Players like Pepperall, Campbell, Duco, Randell and Xhekaj come to mind.

We may know where we are with Pobezal up to or on July 3. That’s the date of the import draft.

If we have a commitment from Pobezal, we’ll make one selection. No commitment and we make two selections if MM releases him.

The big question is, if we get no commitment before the draft, will MM keep him protected anyway in hopes he eventually decides to report?

 

[Krangers08]

I can see them going after a goalie with term (17/18 year old) in the draft. Let’s Edwards develop another year in JR B, hopefully as a #1

 

[rangersblues]

Labrash, Dirracolo, and Hlacar is a good start, but we need grit in top six and top four roles. Can these guys get there eventually? Maybe. Dirracolo looks like he could. We’ll see with the other two.

But, we need those type of players with skill as well. Players like Pepperall, Campbell, Duco, Randell and Xhekaj come to mind.

We may know where we are with Pobezal up to or on July 3. That’s the date of the import draft.

If we have a commitment from Pobezal, we’ll make one selection. No commitment and we make two selections if MM releases him.

The big question is, if we get no commitment before the draft, will MM keep him protected anyway in hopes he eventually decides to report?

Just spitballing but Pobezal doesn't really fit into the long term plan of hosting the Memorial Cup in 27 even if he reports. I'm unsure how much effort even goes into getting him here.

 

[EvenSteven]

Just spitballing but Pobezal doesn't really fit into the long term plan of hosting the Memorial Cup in 27 even if he reports. I'm unsure how much effort even goes into getting him here.

If this team is going to be top shelf in 26-27, the 07’s and 08’s should be (better be) high end enough to make 25-26 competitive, and make some noise in the post season.

Nothing wrong with having a graduating 06 like Pobezal on board that year to be a part of as deep a playoff run as possible.

Then let him graduate and bring in the next import who’ll be a big part of the target season.

If Pobezal commits, draft an 07 who may or may not report this year. Pobezal and Sale would be the imports if the 07 doesn’t report this year. Move Sale at the deadline.

Then draft an 08 in the ‘25 import draft who will be here for the 26-27 season.

The 07 and 08 will be our imports for the 26-27 run.

 

[K2]

delete

 

[HockeyPops]

It's partly to save money, no doubt. But I would argue there are other valid reasons.

One reason is to make sure the fund remains fully funded. If there were no expiry for example (extreme scenario), there would have to be way more money tied up in the fund that could not be spent, *just in case* all the 60 year old former OHL players decide to go to school.

I have also read studies in the past that show how sharply the graduation rate drops, the older the students are. Kids want to go to school with their peers. As it is the kids are already 3 years older than their peers if they go to school right after their OA year. If they take advantage of the 18 month window and try to make a go of hockey, they are now 4 years older than their peers when they start first year of post-secondary education. If the OHL had a larger window, these kids (adults) might be 5,6,7,8 years older than their peers when they start school. Pushing them to start school shortly after their OHL career is done is not entirely a bad idea if the goal is for them to graduate and start a career.

 

[K2]

delete

 

[OHL4Life]

No worries there. As it is right now, scholarships are only being drawn at an annual average of $22,500 per team, which probably doesn't even cover a single 'gold package' player's ride or a couple standard 'tuition, fees and books' packages, while $142,500 in committed funds are simply expiring and credited back to teams. The annual 'surplus' returned could cover 6 years of current withdrawals alone and even during COVID, the Province ponied up and paid $2.35 mil in team's annual contributions with tax dollars.

If it's already fully funded by contract for 6.5 years, just hold the funds longer to give the non 1% of players a chance to explore hockey as a career longer should they wish or even help advance their careers in any field later on while they're still young men. Maybe hold scholarship funds a year for every year earned since they were earned with expiry, if not utilized, at age 25 like some Provincial Health, etc programs. The money is already there.

theres no way that its 22,500 per team

last year there was 228 ohl players in usports. assuming that they only are getting 11k a year, thats 2,508,000.

2,508,000 / 20 = 125,400

 

[K2]

theres no way that its 22,500 per team

Agreed, that was for current OHL players. Apologies.

 

[OHL4Life]

Agreed, that was for current OHL players. Apologies.

there is also no way to know what players are pulling schollarships and not on usports teams (ie trade schools, american colleges) or still playing in lower pro leagues (ie icehl). someone like nick porco could in theory play and still use his school package online as its not deemed 'pro'. i know some players are doing it as well.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

it gives them the summer to see if they can get another pro deal.

most don’t know this but you can do online school while also playing, so Soo could do both. He also could go play in a lower pro league in Europe and still use it as well. the league has really loaned up the definition of pro

Some of them also do some of their post secondary schooling (albeit usually in a limited course load) while playing junior hockey. I had classes with Stolarz and Mermis one semester in London (this was even after Stolarz signed a pro contract tho iirc).
It's not impossible that a guy like Sop may already be near the credit requirements too graduate. Some guys might be at a spot where it's worth losing the free 1 year of schooling they have remaining on their degree to pursue a pro career (where even if they don't make it, they may make enough to cover that last year of school or more).

Labrash, Dirracolo, and Hlacar is a good start, but we need grit in top six and top four roles. Can these guys get there eventually? Maybe. Dirracolo looks like he could. We’ll see with the other two.

But, we need those type of players with skill as well. Players like Pepperall, Campbell, Duco, Randell and Xhekaj come to mind.

We may know where we are with Pobezal up to or on July 3. That’s the date of the import draft.

If we have a commitment from Pobezal, we’ll make one selection. No commitment and we make two selections if MM releases him.

The big question is, if we get no commitment before the draft, will MM keep him protected anyway in hopes he eventually decides to report?

I would like more sure things and fewer gambles that leave our plans or options up in the air until it has a negative impact.

 

[OHL4Life]

Some of them also do some of their post secondary schooling (albeit usually in a limited course load) while playing junior hockey. I had classes with Stolarz and Mermis one semester in London (this was even after Stolarz signed a pro contract tho iirc).
It's not impossible that a guy like Sop may already be near the credit requirements too graduate. Some guys might be at a spot where it's worth losing the free 1 year of schooling they have remaining on their degree to pursue a pro career (where even if they don't make it, they may make enough to cover that last year of school or more).

109 percent it happens more then ppl think. and that is not part of the education package, teams pay those on top of the education contract
. t’s basically free money for the player

 

[rangersblues]

Some of them also do some of their post secondary schooling (albeit usually in a limited course load) while playing junior hockey. I had classes with Stolarz and Mermis one semester in London (this was even after Stolarz signed a pro contract tho iirc).
It's not impossible that a guy like Sop may already be near the credit requirements too graduate. Some guys might be at a spot where it's worth losing the free 1 year of schooling they have remaining on their degree to pursue a pro career (where even if they don't make it, they may make enough to cover that last year of school or more

Sop likely signed a near minimum minor league only contract. I'm not saying there should be no expiration date. Just longer than 18 months. I also think the scholarship should be income tested. There's a big difference between being a high draft pick and an undrafted FA.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Nolan LaLonde (OA) was just traded from Saginaw to Kingston for a 2026th conditional 15th rounder. The 15th rounder becomes a 2027 3rd rounder and a 2027th 5th rounder if he plays 1 OHL game this season. Interesting to see what Parsons or Malboeuf would garner in a trade.

 

[EvenSteven]

Nolan LaLonde (OA) was just traded from Saginaw to Kingston for a 2026th conditional 15th rounder. The 15th rounder becomes a 2027 3rd rounder and a 2027th 5th rounder if he plays 1 OHL game this season. Interesting to see what Parsons or Malboeuf would garner in a trade.

IMO, Malboeuf likely brings no trade value and Parsons maybe a shade better than Lalonde. Maybe.

Now that we have an idea what the market is for a decent OA goalie, MM likely lets Malboeuf move on and runs with a Parsons / Edwards tandem.

But, is there anyone else out there in the market for an OA goalie? Maybe we should have been the team dealing with Kingston instead of Saginaw.

 

[Matttheleaf]

IMO, Malboeuf likely brings no trade value and Parsons maybe a shade better than Lalonde. Maybe.

Now that we have an idea what the market is for a decent OA goalie, MM likely lets Malboeuf move on and runs with a Parsons / Edwards tandem.

But, is there anyone else out there in the market for an OA goalie? Maybe we should have been the team dealing with Kingston instead of Saginaw.

This seems more like a flyer price on a goalie that isn't sure they will be back. If Parsons will 100% be back and the team knows that we could get a better return, if they decide to move him.

 

[frontsfan67]

IMO, Malboeuf likely brings no trade value and Parsons maybe a shade better than Lalonde. Maybe.

Now that we have an idea what the market is for a decent OA goalie, MM likely lets Malboeuf move on and runs with a Parsons / Edwards tandem.

But, is there anyone else out there in the market for an OA goalie? Maybe we should have been the team dealing with Kingston instead of Saginaw.

Brantford needs one for sure

 

[Matttheleaf]

Brantford needs one for sure

They can have Malboeuf back for what we paid for him.

 

[EvenSteven]

Brantford needs one for sure

Brantford has a bucket full of 2nds and 3rds. They can afford to overpay a little on Parsons.

They owe us that much after taking us to the cleaners on Hamara. Not only did they get Hamara below market value, his loss crippled our D depth.

 

[rangersblues]

Brantford has a bucket full of 2nds and 3rds. They can afford to overpay a little on Parsons.

They owe us that much after taking us to the cleaners on Hamara. Not only did they get Hamara below market value, his loss crippled our D depth.

Trading OAs can be tricky, especially goalies. Remember when we picked up Jake Paterson for a 2nd because there was no market. He was a WJC goalie the previous season.

 

[EvenSteven]

Trading OAs can be tricky, especially goalies. Remember when we picked up Jake Paterson for a 2nd because there was no market. He was a WJC goalie the previous season.

To be honest, I don’t expect much for Parsons if MM puts him on the block. Not only for the reasons you say, but at the end of the day, as well as he played in the post season, he always managed to allow that “goal he’d like to have back” almost every game.

A contending team may look at other options before settling on a Parsons.

 

[rangersblues]

To be honest, I don’t expect much for Parsons if MM puts him on the block. Not only for the reasons you say, but at the end of the day, as well as he played in the post season, he always managed to allow that “goal he’d like to have back” almost every game.

A contending team may look at other options before settling on a Parsons.

It's possible he has more value as a mentor to Edwards than his trade return brings.

 

[Jives]

5th round 2024 pick G Jason Schaubel has signed. Very early but for Mem cup year a 19 year old Edwards and this kid could make a very solid tandem. Little short at 5’11” for a goalie but hopefully grows a couple more inches. Good signing.