Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[RangerNation]

Also, how does a GM explain to the common Ranger fan that he is trading his top D-man (and current league leader in points) away? Most of us here get it, but an STH that brings his star-adoring kids every Friday night may not be so understanding.....not to mention the guy who tallies up gate receipts as was mentioned.

With a generic explanation on how the league works. Hopefully this time, people won't care as much when the team continues to win. Right?!

 

[EvenSteven]

….. Also, how does a GM explain to the common Ranger fan that he is trading his top D-man (and current league leader in points) away? Most of us here get it, but an STH that brings his star-adoring kids every Friday night may not be so understanding.....not to mention the guy who tallies up gate receipts as was mentioned.

MM has his core of 07's in place but definitely needs a bunch of future picks. Brzustewicz will be gone next year, and hanging on to him would arguably be a blown opportunity. Will be interesting to see how things shake out.

The same way he explained how an 8th place team went all in last year!

 

[Krangers08]

Cameron Reid and Luca Romano have been selected for the Canada u17 tournament. Both could potentially miss 5 games.

 

[EvenSteven]

Thought Lam earned a spot.

 

[Krangers08]

Thought Lam earned a door.

Likely would have if they kept the 3 teams, possibly even stark.

 

[EvenSteven]

Excellent post Habsrule!

The one bonus of trading Rehkopf this yr is theres a greater possibilty of acquiring a cpl of really good 16 or 17 yr old players along with a good haul of picks.

Some have talked about the so called London model, but for me it's taking a realistic look at your teams playoff chances. If the Hunter's think they could max out as a second round playoff exit, then they sell hard and settle for a first round exit. While they acquire multiple high draft picks. It seems every draft they have a min of 7 picks in the top 5 rounds. All this takes is some honest evaluation of your teams chances.
Let's get out of the hamster wheel and sell this yr.

As you said, it seems London has 7 picks in the top 5 rounds.

With this Rangers team, it’s possible to deal our way into 4 to 5 picks in the top 3 rounds over the next 3 drafts with a sell off this year (Brzustewicz, Rehkropf, Mesar and an OA) along with two or three young players. Selling off Andonovski next year at a minimum of but very possibly more return than last year’s Hache trade? (2nd. 4th. 5th. 2nd*. 5th*).

So that, and we find ourselves on a situation where we don’t trade our way into contention, and maybe have an excess player or two to move for futures.

 

[EvenSteven]

Two part trade question:

Of course, two part trades are “not allowed” but they do happen. The rule against them states that assets (picks) used in part one of a deal cannot be included in part two of a deal. If so, it’s deemed a two part deal and thus, not approved by the league.

My question is: Can conditional picks used in a deal for a defected player be used in what could be defined as part two of a two part deal?

The reason I ask:

The Rangers traded the rights to Micheal Hage to Sudbury for a 4th ‘25 plus conditional picks
2nd* ‘26 (Sud)
3rd* ‘24 (Sud)
4th* ‘26 (Sud)

If Hage never sees the light of day in the OHL, the picks go back to Sudbury.

Could those conditional picks, still in limbo as Hage is still eligible to play in the league, be used in a Kitchener / Sudbury trade? Can the teams agree to waive the conditions as part of a new trade?

Hypothetical trade:

To Sudbury:
Player A

To Kitchener:
2nd ‘26 (Sud)
3rd ‘24 (Sud)
4th ‘26 (Sud)

Ultimately, if allowed, Sudbury would have more picks to deal this year if the Rangers are a trade partner.

Or, would this be considered part two of a two part deal where the same picks are a part of both deals?

I think it could go either way:

It could be deemed a two part deal because the same picks would be involved in both trades. The league could say that a two part deal happened that resulted in what you see here:

To Sudbury:
Micheal Hage
Player A

To Kitchener:
2nd ‘26 (Sud)
3rd ‘24 (Sud)
4th ‘25 (Sud)
4th ‘26 (Sud)

… and therefore, cannot be approved.

But a while back, the Kitchener / Windsor Jeremy Bracco trade included a conditional 2nd ‘25 (Win) to Kitchener. The conditions on that pick were waived at the following deadline as part of the Logan Brown deal between the two teams. It could be argued that the same pick was used in both deals.

IMO, which doesn’t hold much water, the fact that the conditions on the pick from the Bracco deal were able to be waived in the Brown deal tells me that the conditions on those picks from the Hage deal can be waived in a possible Kitchener / Sudbury deal this year.

Thoughts?

 

[Krangers08]

Two part trade question:

Of course, two part trades are “not allowed” but they do happen. The rule against them states that assets (picks) used in part one of a deal cannot be included in part two of a deal. If so, it’s deemed a two part deal and thus, not approved by the league.

My question is: Can conditional picks used in a deal for a defected player be used in what could be defined as part two of a two part deal?

The reason I ask:

The Rangers traded the rights to Micheal Hage to Sudbury for a 4th ‘25 plus conditional picks
2nd* ‘26 (Sud)
3rd* ‘24 (Sud)
4th* ‘26 (Sud)

If Hage never sees the light of day in the OHL, the picks go back to Sudbury.

Could those conditional picks, still in limbo as Hage is still eligible to play in the league, be used in a Kitchener / Sudbury trade? Can the teams agree to waive the conditions as part of a new trade?

Hypothetical trade:

To Sudbury:
Player A

To Kitchener:
2nd ‘26 (Sud)
3rd ‘24 (Sud)
4th ‘26 (Sud)

Ultimately, if allowed, Sudbury would have more picks to deal this year if the Rangers are a trade partner.

Or, would this be considered part two of a two part deal where the same picks are a part of both deals?

I think it could go either way:

It could be deemed a two part deal because the same picks would be involved in both trades. The league could say that a two part deal happened that resulted in what you see here:

To Sudbury:
Micheal Hage
Player A

To Kitchener:
2nd ‘26 (Sud)
3rd ‘24 (Sud)
4th ‘25 (Sud)
4th ‘26 (Sud)

… and therefore, cannot be approved.

But a while back, the Kitchener / Windsor Jeremy Bracco trade included a conditional 2nd ‘25 (Win) to Kitchener. The conditions on that pick were waived at the following deadline as part of the Logan Brown deal between the two teams. It could be argued that the same pick was used in both deals.

IMO, which doesn’t hold much water, the fact that the conditions on the pick from the Bracco deal were able to be waived in the Brown deal tells me that the conditions on those picks from the Hage deal can be waived in a possible Kitchener / Sudbury deal this year.

Thoughts?

Can be waived if both agree. I’d do it since hage is a lock for Michigan especially with his projection of top 2 round pick in the draft

 

[EvenSteven]

Can be waived if both agree. I’d do it since hage is a lock for Michigan especially with his projection of top 2 round pick in the draft

I think it’s given both teams would waive the conditions. Rangers because Hage is unlikely to report and Sudbury because they could use the trade capitol this year.

 

[Krangers08]

I think it’s given both teams would waive the conditions. Rangers because Hage is unlikely to report and Sudbury because they could use the trade capitol this year.

For that return would it be a Brzustewicz Martin combo or what was your idea

• do you think Brzustewicz would be willing to go to Sudbury - distance from family was a factor in his brother not going to Ottawa per the local reporter.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

https://x.com/mndamico/status/1716557452047499561?s=46&t=79qUexRpVItclDZ8n6veiw

Looks like we’ll be seeing Mesar’s season debut tomorrow!

 

[Krangers08]

https://x.com/mndamico/status/1716557452047499561?s=46&t=79qUexRpVItclDZ8n6veiw

Looks like we’ll be seeing Mesar’s season debut tomorrow!

Hopefully. Would be a fast turnaround to get the visa and IHF paperwork done according to one of the comments

 

[EvenSteven]

For that return would it be a Brzustewicz Martin combo or what was your idea

• do you think Brzustewicz would be willing to go to Sudbury - distance from family was a factor in his brother not going to Ottawa per the local reporter.

Sudbury may have made their big add on D with DeAngelis.

I was thinking that if those conditional picks are in play, and Sudbury is a major player for Rehkopf, they could use those picks to outbid another team for his services.

For example, say Sudbury and Guelph make similar offers of player(s) and picks. But Guelph is tapped out. They cannot or will not up their offer. So MM tells Sudbury to waive the conditions on some or all of those picks to push them across the finish line.

Or, Sudbury wants an upgrade at OA forward. They are torn between Martin and Windsor’s Christopolous. They can either send picks to Windsor to make the trade, reducing their draft pick cupboard. Or, they waive the conditions on those three picks for Martin. That would mean they sort of get Martin for free as their tradeable draft pick cupboard is untouched and available for more deals this year.

 

[GeoBlue]

Hopefully. Would be a fast turnaround to get the visa and IHF paperwork done according to one of the comments

What paperwork would this be? Was he not just in Quebec for a whole pre-season? Did he not just play in Laval?

 

[Petes1987]

I’m just waiting until December and when teams can start to trade their 16 year old first round draft picks. I think then is when the trade floods will open.

As of today there are eight teams under .500 so far. Yes it is only 9-11 games into the season so a smaller sample size. But I can see a lot of teams selling this year making it harder for Kitchener to maximize their returns.

It is January 1st that players drafted in the 1st the previous draft can be traded.

 

[bobber]

What paperwork would this be? Was he not just in Quebec for a whole pre-season? Did he not just play in Laval?

Apparently IIFH has to sign a release for Mesar to be loaned to the Rangers. It's a standard procedure I believe. It was in the article referring to him coming back to Kitchener.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Thought Lam earned a spot.

With 2 Rangers being selected, is there a cap of 2 players per team?
I agree on Lam but I'm not up to date on other U17 players to really make a strong case for Lam.

 

[HockeyPops]

With 2 Rangers being selected, is there a cap of 2 players per team?
I agree on Lam but I'm not up to date on other U17 players to really make a string case for Lam.

No, one of the WHL teams has 3 players selected.

 

[bobber]

With 2 Rangers being selected, is there a cap of 2 players per team?
I agree on Lam but I'm not up to date on other U17 players to really make a strong case for Lam.

Of the Ranger's rookie Lam seems to be the most talented forward. IMO he was in the Ranger rookie camp also. Not sure how they construct these Team Canada rosters or when they are put together. Only so much room on a team.

 

[Krangers08]

update he’s not playing.

 

[Krangers08]

Holy Lam is so nasty

 

[Jives]

Holy Lam is so nasty

He is going to be so exciting to watch in a couple years. He already is and only 16. I know Derek Roy put up a whack load of points his rookie year but I can see Lam being close to Roy style / points when he is 18/19 years old.

 

[StingUpdates]

Didn't think that was our best & the injuries are adding up, but full marks to ur squad. Crazy what good coaching can do. Got about 20% of the talent u did last yr & this team would skate circles around them.

Lam looks like Voit Jr out there. Gonna be a steal. GL rest of the way!

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Just going to fear monger for a moment.


I fear that at this point we really need to appreciate how good of a job Juicy has done since being hired as Head Coach because I feel his time in the OHL is going to be short.

His age, his resume, his game plan all will be coveted very fast and very soon!

 

[gimbznyr]

Just going to fear monger for a moment.


I fear that at this point we really need to appreciate how good of a job Juicy has done since being hired as Head Coach because I feel his time in the OHL is going to be short.

His age, his resume, his game plan all will be coveted very fast and very soon!

This also makes me nervous.. he clearly is a hell of a coach but hopefully after he is gone it lays the ground work the right type or culture