The Kitchener Rangers made a huge deal and I have no cavities. All in all, a good morning.
I was sitting in the dental chair when the trade went down. The deal is the biggest move coach/GM Steve Spott has made in his time with the Rangers and was two weeks in the making.
Here's how it looks:
Kitchener gets:
Defenceman Frank Corrado, 19
Forward Josh Leivo, 19
Goalie Joel Vienneau, 20
First round pick in 2013 import draft
Sixth round pick in 2015
Eighth round pick in 2013
Third round pick in 2013 if Palazzese is traded next year.
Sudbury gets:
Goalie Franky Palazzese, 19
Centre Matt Schmalz, 16
Defenceman Cory Genovese, 18
Fourth round pick in 2014
Sixth round pick in 2013
Seventh round pick in 2014
First round import poick 2013
Second round pick in 2017, if Palazzese does not return for an OA season
Second round pick in 2019, if Leivo returns to Kitchener for an OA season
Thoughts:
- Kitchener gets another offensive defenceman and a scoring forward and fills two of its needs.
- Vienneau gives the Rangers some insurance in case starter John Gibson goes down with an injury. Jack Moylan goes back to the Dutchmen to get in some work.
- The Rangers now have 10 players tied to NHL teams - Gibson (ANA), Matt Puempel (OTT), Evan McEneny (VAN), Matia Marcantuoni (PIT), Ryan Murphy (CAR), Radek Faksa (DAL), Tobias Rieder (EDM), Ben Thomson (NJ), Leivo (TOR) and Corrado (VAN).
- Rangers weren't going to be able to give Palazzese the playing time he wanted or deserved. Now he gets that in Sudbury.
- I thought Matt Schmalz was beginning to show big improvement. Like Palazzese, he'll get ice time up north.
- Kitchener trades 2 goals, four assists, 8 wins and a 2.10 GAA for 25 goals, 46 assists, 15 wins and a 2.96 GAA.
- Leivo becomes the team's leading scorer with 19 goals and 25 assists in 34 games.
- One other team was interested in acquiring Franky Palazzese.
- Credit goalie coach Piero Greco for helping turn Palazzese into a prime asset.
- Corrado will skate alongside Ben Fanelli on the blue line.
- The Rangers aren't done yet. Coach/GM Spott says more trades may be on the way.
- Radek Faksa will attend Dallas Stars camp. Still waiting for official word on Murphy and John Gibson.
