Below is a list of next year's returning players from the present line-up as we currently stand.
Yes this will change, and I am not suggesting any particular line combinations here.
Also, I have inserted random place holders where there are unknowns.
You may adjust as you like. I just intend to show this for illustration purposes:
Martin (03) [OA] - Sop (03) [OA] - Pugliese (04)
Swick (04) - Rehkopf (05) - Bottineau (06)
Miseljevic (04) - Mercer (05) - IMPORT
(07) / FA / PDP - Morey (05) - (07) / FA / PDP
Hamara (04) IMPORT - Brzustewicz (04)
Andonovski (05) - Motew (03)
Scott (05) - (07) / FA / PDP
(07) / FA / PDP
Vandenberg (04)
Parsons (04)
Extra - Hollet (03) [OA]
Comments:
- FA = Free Agent
- PDP = Previously Drafted Player
- If Martin, for whatever reason does not return as an OA, insert Hollet.
- Trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz as has been suggested is going to further weaken this already weak line-up....(how would it then compare to this season's Ice Dogs - a team this "loaded" Ranger team just barely beat last game ??).
- Up front the team is quite weak - especially the right side. There are various ways to address this - draft an import forward, trade a player to fill a given position (although that just further weakens another position), trade a lower pick for a marginal player.
- I would prefer that they don't roll the dice on so many high profile US players. This strategy has had only spotty success recently, and really says to me that the scouting staff has run out of ideas in the middle of the draft - i.e. unable to search out quality in the mid to late rounds like the scouting staff of other teams are capable of doing.
I am sure there are different views here, this is just mine.
Below is a list of next year's returning players from the present line-up as we currently stand.
Yes this will change, and I am not suggesting any particular line combinations here.
Also, I have inserted random place holders where there are unknowns.
You may adjust as you like. I just intend to show this for illustration purposes:
Martin (03) [OA] - Sop (03) [OA] - Pugliese (04)
Swick (04) - Rehkopf (05) - Bottineau (06)
Miseljevic (04) - Mercer (05) - IMPORT
(07) / FA / PDP - Morey (05) - (07) / FA / PDP
Hamara (04) IMPORT - Brzustewicz (04)
Andonovski (05) - Motew (03)
Scott (05) - (07) / FA / PDP
(07) / FA / PDP
Vandenberg (04)
Parsons (04)
Extra - Hollet (03) [OA]
Comments:
- FA = Free Agent
- PDP = Previously Drafted Player
- If Martin, for whatever reason does not return as an OA, insert Hollet.
- Trading Rehkopf and Brzustewicz as has been suggested is going to further weaken this already weak line-up....(how would it then compare to this season's Ice Dogs - a team this "loaded" Ranger team just barely beat last game ??).
- Up front the team is quite weak - especially the right side. There are various ways to address this - draft an import forward, trade a player to fill a given position (although that just further weakens another position), trade a lower pick for a marginal player.
- I would prefer that they don't roll the dice on so many high profile US players. This strategy has had only spotty success recently, and really says to me that the scouting staff has run out of ideas in the middle of the draft - i.e. unable to search out quality in the mid to late rounds like the scouting staff of other teams are capable of doing.
I am sure there are different views here, this is just mine.
Good breakdown.
Going into next year, we’re going to be bad and it will get worse with the sell off. We have to sell off anything worth anything. Our draft pick cupboard is empty. Moving Brzustewicz and maybe Rehkopf a year early, is a given. But guys like Martin, Sop and Motew should bring something as well. All should be of varying value to teams trying to contend or at least to teams in the top half of the league. What they’d bring in trade to a team starving for draft capitol trumps what they’d bring as OA’s to this rebuild. Then, I’d keep Hollett as an OA with a couple cast off OA’s from around the league to round out the three spots.
As far as our other 04’s go, I listen to offers for Hamara. With added ice time, if he develops, he could be in demand. I mean, he played WJC as an 18 year old. That has to mean something. Parsons is the #1 and Swick will graduate to the top six. As far as Pugliese and Miseljevic go, I see them filling spots but to be honest, depending on the quality of youth we bring in, they could be moved out. It wouldn’t surprise me if they both cleared waivers and wound up in the Q. Vandenberg may be in that boat too. I think we have to get DiFelice on the roster. That means one of Parsons or Vandenberg have to go. There should be a trade market for Parsons but not so much for Vandenberg. If we decide to keep Parsons here for the duration (we can’t trade everyone), including as a very good OA in 24-25, then move out Vandenberg.
The next draft we have 1st, 1st, 3rd, 4th, and so on. I expect MM to use those first four picks on players who’ll report next year. NO FLYERS. We have a roster to fill. After that, I fully expect flyers on some of the remaining picks. Right or wrong, MM will gamble he can get at least one flyer to show up. I mean, for every mid to late round pick that turns into a player (ie. Sop, McHugh), there are dozens that don’t. Just as well to burn multiple picks in your bottom half on flyers I suppose.
To have a successful draft, you need to have 5+ players be OHL regulars. And I mean decent OHLers, not guys who wouldn’t make most other teams. For us to have a successful draft in April, with only four picks in the first four rounds, we have to get lucky in picks after the fourth round. I’m betting MM gambles on flyers to try and make that happen.
For me, I keep guys like Morey and Scott around to fill spots. They are a year younger than Pugliese /Miseljevic and there may be more upside.
Any training camp hopefuls, be they past draftees and or free agent invites, have to know that there are multiple spots open. That should translate into a competitive camp.
Also, MM and our scouting staff should be turning over every rock far and wide looking for the next Xhekaj / Yantsis calibre FA’s. The reason Florian chose Hamilton over Kitchener, assuming he had that choice, was because he knew he’d get more minutes there than with the deep lineup of the “contending” Rangers. We’ll be in a deep rebuild next year. Prospective FA’s may pick Kitchener over other teams for the same reason.
Good points. I don't have much faith in MM and this scouting staff. The first two picks in the next draft should be a no brainer. Many say there is basically one defenseman that could go in the first the rest are forwards. Morey and Scott weren't drafted by the Rangers. I see potential in Scott. Morey seems more of a mid pack B player. I usually am wrong so who knows?
