In fact, after how things went down the last few weeks, it would be hard for general manager Jason Ripplinger not to be exceedingly optimistic with regards to the team’s chances of a winning season and return to the playoffs.
It all started with four players being selected in the NHL Entry Draft on July 24, namely forwards Ryder Korczak and Martin Rysavy along with defenceman Cole Jordan and Max Wanner. A week later, the organization announced that Rysavy -- their first-round pick in the 2020 Import Draft -- and 2021 pick Robert Baco had signed standard player agreements and would be joining the local crew for the 2021-22 campaign.
Good news on top of good news, and more than welcome after so much uncertainty over the last year and a half.
“It was great for our organization to see those guys drafted, and Rysavy, even though he wasn’t part of our organization last year, it’s great to be bringing in a Euro who was drafted by the NHL,” Ripplinger said. “Sometimes with those guys you’re getting some unknowns but now we feel we’re getting a really good player.”
Thing is, if things had gone even further in the Warriors’ favour, they could have had as many as six players selected by the NHL. Forward Eric Alarie was ranked 51st overall by the Central Scouting Bureau but went undrafted, and defenceman Lucas Brenton was turning some heads among scouts but was unranked heading in.
“Brenton maybe didn’t play enough games for an unknown-type player to get noticed, and Eric, I thought he had a pretty good Hub, but it just didn’t work out his way. That’ll just make him hungrier for next year,” Ripplinger said.
“Kudos to our coaching staff, they’re developing players and going into the year we’re going to have three NHL-drafted defencemen (including team captain Daemon Hunt) and then (Denton) Mateychuk will probably be a pretty high pick. So that’s four NHL prospect defenceman on your blueline.”
It’s the kind of embarrassment of riches the team hasn’t seen since the turn of the century, when Brian Sutherby, Ben Knopp, Sean O’Connor, Deryk Engelland and Steven Crampton were all selected in the 2000 Draft.
“It’s always rewarding when your organization gets those guys drafted and they’re coming back the following year,” Ripplinger said. “It gives some excitement that we’re going to be able to contend and improve as a team and get better.”
The positive news only continued a couple of weeks later when the team announced Rysavy and Baco had signed. After the Warriors were unable to entice 2021 first-round NHL pick Jesper Wallstedt to join the team and the pandemic prevented Euros from making the trip over last season, there were some concerns among fans as to whether they’d see either Import pick in 2021-22.
“Getting those two guys signed is huge,” Ripplinger said. “They’re both projected to be top-six forwards and when you draft Europeans, you don’t want them on your fourth line or in and out of the line-up. You want them to be able to come in and contribute and from what I’ve heard from NHL scouts and agents, these two players will be able to, and that’s something we’re really excited about.”
Now for the next order of business.
The Warriors will opening training camp at Mosaic Place on Tuesday, Sept. 7 and will be combining rookies and veterans from the start. The plan is to give every player a good, long look through the pre-season -- the Warriors play their first exhibition game on Sept. 14 at home against Brandon -- after so much time away for many of the team’s prospects.
“We’re just going to make it a competitive camp and go with all our list players, make it a long viewing,” Ripplinger said. “Some of these guys we haven’t seen in 19 months, so we want to give them a long look, we owe it to them. This way, if we give them a lot of time, we won’t make any mistakes.”
The camp schedule will be released closer to the start date.
Overtime… Season tickets are currently available, with early bird pricing until Aug. 27. Stop by the Warriors office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or give them a shout at (306) 624-2170 to purchase or for more information… the Warriors are looking for a variety of game-night staff, including mascot, ice crew, in-stands game host and ambassadors. If interested, send a resume to hayley@mjwarriors.com.
