Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Off-Season Thread (Part 2)

[rangersblues]

Mesar pumping his tires? He must have experienced it differently. As a fan, I was frustrated with him more than once...

I'm sure I heard something to the same effect early in Mesar's first season. Wonder if it's just the same story with new legs.

At any rate he still hasn't proved he's above OHL level imo.

 

[Matttheleaf]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806886693904986581

If the rangers truly want to be like the Knights and their model they need to trust the ability of the Junior B leagues like the Knights do when their younger players may not be ready for the OHL instead of just throwing them in the deep end.

 

[EvenSteven]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806886693904986581

If the rangers truly want to be like the Knights and their model they need to trust the ability of the Junior B leagues like the Knights do when their younger players may not be ready for the OHL instead of just throwing them in the deep end.

To be honest, guys like Lam and Stark should have been playing regular top minutes at the JrB level last year. Then bring them up every now and again when needed.

I betting the same should be said for a couple 16 year olds we’ve signed from this year’s draft.

I had Mercer as a bubble player this upcoming season mainly to make room for the kids.

Perhaps we should revisit that and keep him around. That would allow one of the kids to play the season at junior B.

After spending the year last year, McNiel look pretty good when he was called up at the playoffs.

 

[rangersblues]

To be honest, guys like Lam and Stark should have been playing regular top minutes at the JrB level last year. Then bring them up every now and again when needed.

I betting the same should be said for a couple 16 year olds we’ve signed from this year’s draft.

I agree but would this scenario affect their education package? If so it's a tough sell, even though London does it effectively.

 

[EvenSteven]

I agree but would this scenario affect their education package? If so it's a tough sell, even though London does it effectively.

I assume once they’ve played one of their 10 games as call ups, that would constitute a season played as far as the education package goes?

 

[Matttheleaf]

Luke Ellinas taken in the 4th round 104th overall by the Sens.

 

[Jives]

Luke Ellinas taken in the 4th round 104th overall by the Sens.

Sens now have the 2 toughest Rangers to play against. I think Ellinas takes a huge step this year.

 

[Jives]

To be honest, guys like Lam and Stark should have been playing regular top minutes at the JrB level last year. Then bring them up every now and again when needed.

I betting the same should be said for a couple 16 year olds we’ve signed from this year’s draft.

I had Mercer as a bubble player this upcoming season mainly to make room for the kids.

Perhaps we should revisit that and keep him around. That would allow one of the kids to play the season at junior B.

After spending the year last year, McNiel look pretty good when he was called up at the playoffs.

I think Lam and Stark were expected to see more ice time last year but with the hot start that didn’t happen. In a year we were expecting to sell those 2 kids would have seen more ice if the vets get traded. This year the new kids will get ice and I’m sure they will progress nicely under JA. With the Knights being good the past couple years I can see limited ice time for the 16 year olds and Jr B is the correct situation then. I think playing solid minutes under JA this year will be better than playing Jr B for the 16 year olds this year. This is something that should change year to year depending on who is returning.

 

[frontsfan67]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806886693904986581

If the rangers truly want to be like the Knights and their model they need to trust the ability of the Junior B leagues like the Knights do when their younger players may not be ready for the OHL instead of just throwing them in the deep end.

It seems kingston took a page out of Londons book last year lol early second round pick weir spent the year in the GOJHL and had over a ppg

 

[bobber]

Thought we saw Swick sitting in the crowd at the draft. Maybe a doppelganger. Drafted by Vegas

 

[Krangers08]

Kyrzakos draft streak continues. 8 years in a row a player under his development has been drafted

 

[OHL4Life]

I agree but would this scenario affect their education package? If so it's a tough sell, even though London does it effectively.

no, once they play a game it’s irrelevant

 

[Rangers True Blue]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806886693904986581

If the rangers truly want to be like the Knights and their model they need to trust the ability of the Junior B leagues like the Knights do when their younger players may not be ready for the OHL instead of just throwing them in the deep end.

Lam seemed to adapt fairly quickly but Romano didn't click until late in the season and into the playoffs. McNeil and Arquette both played down but had callups. It will be interesting to see if that translates into a better first full season in the OHL.

 

[robertmac43]

Well done to Ellinas and Swick! Hoping they find success at the pro level!

 

[tjziel]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1806886693904986581

If the rangers truly want to be like the Knights and their model they need to trust the ability of the Junior B leagues like the Knights do when their younger players may not be ready for the OHL instead of just throwing them in the deep end.

Not only that guys, there are a couple players from the Knights that played Jr. B as a 16 year-old since COVID and because of that they were really able to develop properly.

2021: Logan Mailloux
2023: Oliver Bonk and Easton Cowan
2024: Sam O’Rielly

 

[Gondrex]

For the sake of interest, more than anything else.....

Kamil Bednarik goes #61 (NYI)
Aron Kiviharju goes #122 (Minnesota)

 

[OHL4Life]

For the sake of interest, more than anything else.....

Kamil Bednarik goes #61 (NYI)
Aron Kiviharju goes #122 (Minnesota)

You guys released Kiviharju when you traded for sale

 

[Krangers08]

Long time

 

[Gondrex]

You guys released Kiviharju when you traded for sale

Kiviharju is no longer in the Rangers' plans. Correct.

 

[Savard18]

View attachment 889941Long time

To be fair, 3 of those goalies played for Flint and two were absolutely terrible even as OA’s and are now getting lit up in the ECHL and SPHL. The Rangers have had some better goalies than some of the guys listed here. The kid I thought had a shot was Luke Opilka. Wasn’t he drafted before injuries derailed his career?

 

[Krangers08]

To be fair, 3 of those goalies played for Flint and two were absolutely terrible even as OA’s and are now getting lit up in the ECHL and SPHL. The Rangers have had some better goalies than some of the guys listed here. The kid I thought had a shot was Luke Opilka. Wasn’t he drafted before injuries derailed his career?

Opilka and Gibson were drafted out of the NTDP and came the following year. I really enjoyed watching Opilka as well, tough way for his career to end the way it did.

 

[GeoBlue]

Opilka and Gibson were drafted out of the NTDP and came the following year. I really enjoyed watching Opilka as well, tough way for his career to end the way it did.

Personally, I feel Gibson was the best goaltender to ever wear a Ranger uniform, and I go back a long way. What does everyone else think?

 

[Ward Cornell]

Personally, I feel Gibson was the best goaltender to ever wear a Ranger uniform, and I go back a long way. What does everyone else think?

I would agree but coming a strong second would be Don Edwards.

 

[bobber]

Goalies mentioned were great. Also liked Dependable Wendel.

 

[EvenSteven]

Personally, I feel Gibson was the best goaltender to ever wear a Ranger uniform, and I go back a long way. What does everyone else think?

Don Edwards.
Wendel Young.
Mike Torchia.
John Gibson.

I’d have to say those four make up the Mount Rushmore of Kitchener Ranger goalies.