Spitfires GM has A long to-do list this summer
Rychel looking to add key pieces in bid to strengthen OHL team’s youthful roster
There are still plenty of roster decisions for the Windsor Spitfires to make before training camp starts at the end of August. For general manager Warren Rychel, the next few months will be spent trying to put those pieces in place in the hopes that last year’s young roster takes another step forward.
With the Ontario Hockey League trade window again open, Rychel has a vacant roster spot for a third overage player, but isn’t in a rush to make a deal.
“I’m not worried about it,” Rychel said. “I’m fine starting with two and watching the teams that might have an extra guy or watch the waiver wire.”
Rychel picked up Jake Smith after he was waived through the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and he came in and scored 20 goals and finished second in team scoring with 48 points.
As of now, the Spitfires only have Igor Larionov and Luke Kutkevicius as candidates for overage spots in 2018-19, but neither are locked into a spot at this point. A former second-round pick, Kutkevicius missed nearly two months with a broken wrist that limited him to just 40 games. He finished with 13 goals and 22 points.
Larionov was sidelined on several occasions by injuries and appeared in just 32 games, posting six goals and 23 points. A back injury sidelined him in the playoffs after four games. “Kutkevicius and Larionov have to come in and show they’re worthy of a spot,” Rychel said. “Igor has to show he’s reliable for 70 games. When he played, especially in the second half, he might have been one of our best players. In the world of passing the puck, he’s our best passer.
“Kooks (Kutkevicius) is one of the fastest guys in the league. These guys have to come in, solidify their positions, and be leaders and then we’ll see how everything else falls up front.”
For now, Rychel will listen to any offers that come in, but won’t be on the phone chasing a trade partner. “If there’s something out there that gets my attention, but right now we have a lot of numbers up front,” Rychel said. “We’ll see where we really need it. I think our defence and goaltending are our strengths. We’ll keep that spot open.”
After signing first-round pick Jean-Luc Foudy, Rychel has turned his attention to secondround pick Kyle McDonald and Americans Spencer Evans and Tanner Kelly.
“We’re trying to sign McDonald and have offered Kelly and Evans contracts,” Rychel said.
The six-foot-three, 173-pound McDonald, who can play centre or on the right side, had 25 goals and 46 points in 40 games for the Ottawa Senators minor midgets last season.
Kelly and Evans were both flyer picks by the club in the seventh round of April’s OHL draft. A bulldog forward, Kelly has made a verbal commitment to Michigan State University, but attended Windsor’s mini-camp last month. The six-foot, 200-pound Evans, a defenceman from New York, was expected to join the U.S. National Team Development Program, but didn’t land a spot.
“I’m optimistic and things are positive, but you just don’t know,” Rychel said. “There’s a lot of different things involved.”
Also on Rychel’s to-do list is a trip to Dallas for the June 22-23 NHL draft.
While cheering on his own players at the draft, Rychel will also be preparing for the Canadian Hockey League import draft, which is just a few days after the NHL draft. RussiandefencemanLevStarikov will return next season, but the club apparently will not bring back German forward Cedric Schiemenz. Instead, they’ll use their first-round pick in the import draft.
“I’m happy with Starry,” Rychel said of Starikov. “He’s going to be an NHL pick (in 2019). I expect him to have a great season. “We’ll be working on it diligently going to Dallas. With our group, I’d like to put a young guy in. What position? I’m not sure yet. I do think a young guy would fit in well with (players born in) ’01 and ’02.”
Kutkevicius and Larionov have to come in and show they’re worthy of a spot. ... These guys have to come in, solidify their positions, and be leaders.