Re-signing McBains first step toward building 2004-05 roster

Nick Christensen

Friday, June 25, 2004 | 9:55 a.m.

The re-signing of brothers Jason and Mike McBain was just the start of an intense month of putting next season's Las Vegas Wranglers together, according to coach and general manager Glen Gulutzan.

Speaking by phone while jogging on a treadmill in Calgary, Gulutzan said he expects to have the majority of his Double-A ECHL hockey team together by the end of July, regardless of the impacts of the anticipated NHL lockout.

"The next order of business is trying to get some of the other guys under contract from last year," he said. "We're pretty close to having a couple of guys under contract. We'll probably announce those early next week."

The brothers McBain, both defensemen with NHL experience, were the leaders of the expansion Wranglers in 2003-04. Jason, 30, was the team's first captain, and Mike, 27, set career highs with 5 goals, 20 assists and 25 points.

Now, the rest of the team has to fall into place. Gulutzan says he's not planning to look at too many younger prospects, expecting instead to get about five from an NHL affiliate, regardless of the labor situation. Instead, he's looking for younger minor league veterans.

"You don't want to be too young. We need a good balance of second- and third-year pros, along with veteran guys. It was key to get Jason and Mike. After that, we're looking for second- or third-year pros," he said. "Maybe five young talented guys from Calgary, first-year pros. After that, I'm kind of hoping to maybe add one or two other young guys and maybe that'll be it.

"We've got qualifying offers that go in July 1 to players I want to retain rights to, and we want to get the affiliation done -- those are the two major things. Throughout July I would like to get probably 80 percent of our team in place."

Gulutzan also said he also anticipates an announcement about the team's coaching staff to be made sometime in the next week.

"I'll probably be back in mid-July, after we can get the affiliation done, which we've already had talks," he said. "It's just a matter of getting it done; it will get done. After that, I'll take a week's holiday and head back through Las Vegas."

Last year, the Flames sent a few prospects, including goalies Brent Krahn and Dany Sabourin, forward Garret Bembridge, and defenseman Derek Engelland. Should the affiliation be extended as expected, Gulutzan said he expects about five prospects in the upcoming season from the Western Conference Champion Flames.

Wranglers assistants Joe Frederick and Jeff Sharples, as well as the McBains and 2003-04 players Jeff Attard and Marc Magliarditi, will give kids between 5 and 17 years old a chance for ice time with the pros.

"From the estimates of I've heard, there's 300 to 400 kids playing minor hockey in Las Vegas. We'd like them to become Wranglers fans. We've provided a little camp for them at end of July, something so kids can come out and learn from some of our guys, some of our coaches," Gulutzan said. "It's just a thing where we can get together with youth from the city, and in turn give them good quality three or four days of hockey camp."