Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[K2]

Michael Hage was a standout in the weekend games I attended on a recent trip and off to a great start as a Michigan freshman.

 

[EvenSteven]

Michael Hage was a standout in the weekend games I attended on a recent trip and off to a great start as a Michigan freshman.View attachment 919726

As a Rangers fan, I’m not the least bit interested.

But as a Habs fan, F-ing A!!

 

[K2]

As a Rangers fan, I’m not the least bit interested.

I'm always interested in watching any great players, first round picks and my interest was piqued a bit more on Hage having (some of) his backstory

Some interesting conjecture among seasoned observers about how the probable relaxation of NCAA rules will affect the various leagues. The rapid erosion of talent in USHL, BCHL & AJHL seems assured to to the benefit of CHL teams but there may be routine early graduation from the CHL for 18YO NCAA commits, CHL scholarship impacts, NHL ELC impacts/delays and pretty much a requisite reorganization of all things contractual, likely requiring a phase-in period.

 

[Offside by a mile]

Observations from this weekend and to Echo some past post's.



All of Macneil, Bilecki and Schnieder are ready to play at this level. I was in attendance for Fri/Sun and Watched Sat on TV. My biggest surprise truthfully was how well Schneider played on Sunday. He looked calm and big/physical all while having enough foot speed to not get beat. I only say he was the biggest surprise as we haven't seen as much of him lately and i guess i expected him to be a bit behind the others. News flash- he's not.



Point is Chomiak has made Ando expendable IMO. It's not that i don't like Ando- but trading Rehkopf away was a clear indication the management doesn't see us as contenders this year and quite frankly neither do I.



Chromiak-Dirracolo

Reid-Campbell

Bilecki/Schnieder/Macneil ( rotation)



I think all of us would be happy to watch that each night.



I will say this with the utmost respect. If we hang onto Ando until after Christmas and the return is not a 2008 1st rounder it will be an absolute fail in developing these young Defensemen( Why not trade hm now? ) . And then what if it's a player returned after that? The new 2008 would be in a log jam somewhere.



Currently having -Antis/Headrick/Arquette/Cameron all not playing up Front

And 2 of Bilecki/Schnieder/Macneil not playing on the back end.



I know we have some injuries up Front. But we need these kids playing with they're all healthy.



Thoughts?

 

[All the Answers]

Observations from this weekend and to Echo some past post's.



All of Macneil, Bilecki and Schnieder are ready to play at this level. I was in attendance for Fri/Sun and Watched Sat on TV. My biggest surprise truthfully was how well Schneider played on Sunday. He looked calm and big/physical all while having enough foot speed to not get beat. I only say he was the biggest surprise as we haven't seen as much of him lately and i guess i expected him to be a bit behind the others. News flash- he's not.



Point is Chomiak has made Ando expendable IMO. It's not that i don't like Ando- but trading Rehkopf away was a clear indication the management doesn't see us as contenders this year and quite frankly neither do I.



Chromiak-Dirracolo

Reid-Campbell

Bilecki/Schnieder/Macneil ( rotation)



I think all of us would be happy to watch that each night.



I will say this with the utmost respect. If we hang onto Ando until after Christmas and the return is not a 2008 1st rounder it will be an absolute fail in developing these young Defensemen( Why not trade hm now? ) . And then what if it's a player returned after that? The new 2008 would be in a log jam somewhere.



Currently having -Antis/Headrick/Arquette/Cameron all not playing up Front

And 2 of Bilecki/Schnieder/Macneil not playing on the back end.



I know we have some injuries up Front. But we need these kids playing with they're all healthy.



Thoughts?

If we get an 08 first rounder back they will likely be better than almost everyone else on that list of young prospects you have. I don't say no to that. It will get figured out.

 

[Offside by a mile]

If we get an 08 first rounder back they will likely be better than almost everyone else on that list of young prospects you have. I don't say no to that. It will get figured out.

What does "it will get figured out" mean?? Having a 17 yr old Arquette sitting in the stands? How does that make sense? Who's coming out of the lineup to get our current 1st rounder ( Headrick) in when he's healthy?



And if said 1st rounder returned is a D-man now we have our 2nd rounder Bilecki in the stands again? I'm not following the " it will get figured out" plan.



You have Macneil spend an entire season out of the OHL developing to be ready for his 17yr old season, you use a 2nd round pick on Bilecki and convince him to play in the OHL instead of heading to NCAA and you lure a 17yr old from Alberta " Schnieder" away from home to sit in the stands every night. Does that make sense to anyone in here?



Maybe I’m more of a planner but i wouldn't want a GM that simply thinks " Oh we'll figure it out"



The only way i see it working is if we continue to get a string of injuries. If we get healthy this is a complete mess.

 

[EvenSteven]

If we get an 08 first rounder back they will likely be better than almost everyone else on that list of young prospects you have. I don't say no to that. It will get figured out.

It might be a stretch expecting an 08 1st for Andonovski. It could happen but I’d be surprised.

It’s been laid out on here before that of the contenders this year, Brampton and Kingston don’t have their 1sts.

London probably doesn’t trade Hawery as he was a “London or bust” player.

Apparently Brady Smith isn’t going anywhere in Oshawa as the family has moved there and a younger brother is playing his minor hockey there.

Now you’re looking at Barrie (Vaughn). 5ths overall don’t get traded often but it’s possible due to their thin draft cupboard.

Brantford (O’Donnell). This might be a possibility, but if Brantford wants to contend as well next year, depending how they feel about this player, they may decide that he’d be an important part of their team next year, and only do picks deals to improve their team. And they could do that easily because of their very deep draft cupboard.

Saginaw (Zhilkin). They reportedly want to contend again this year, so they’ll probably have to move him because their draft cupboard is completely empty. But do the Rangers want yet another tiny forward? (5’9” 160).

There will likely be multiple top end forwards that will hit the market by the deadline who’ll draw a first round pick ahead of an Andonovski. Romani is a good example.

I’m not expecting a 1st but I’d take one if the deal is there. But I’d be just as happy with the Jorian Donovan return.


 

[Offside by a mile]

It might be a stretch expecting an 08 1st for Andonovski. It could happen but I’d be surprised.

It’s been laid out on here before that of the contenders this year, Brampton and Kingston don’t have their 1sts.

London probably doesn’t trade Hawery as he was a “London or bust” player.

Apparently Brady Smith isn’t going anywhere in Oshawa as the family has moved there and a younger brother is playing his minor hockey there.

Now you’re looking at Barrie (Vaughn). 5ths overall don’t get traded often but it’s possible due to their thin draft cupboard.

Brantford (O’Donnell). This might be a possibility, but if Brantford wants to contend as well next year, depending how they feel about this player, they may decide that he’d be an important part of their team next year, and only do picks deals to improve their team. And they could do that easily because of their very deep draft cupboard.

Saginaw (Zhilkin). They reportedly want to contend again this year, so they’ll probably have to move him because their draft cupboard is completely empty. But do the Rangers want yet another tiny forward? (5’9” 160).

There will likely be multiple top end forwards that will hit the market by the deadline who’ll draw a first round pick ahead of an Andonovski. Romani is a good example.

I’m not expecting a 1st but I’d take one if the deal is there. But I’d be just as happy with the Jorian Donovan return.


So bascially we should be trading Ando as soon as anyone meets our ask, is what i'm reading.

 

[EvenSteven]

So bascially we should be trading Ando as soon as anyone meets our ask, is what i'm reading.

Well, if the 1st is Vaughn (not holding my breath there), or O’Donnell, I’d wait.

But in all honesty, outside of those two, we might be able to do more with a picks deal now than wait on a 1st rounder just because he’s a first rounder.

I mean, if that first rounder was Zhilkin, taken at the end of the 1st, I’d just as soon take the Donovan return and use a part of that return to bring in an equivalent player to Zhilkin down the road.

The Donovan return was 2x2nds, 4x3rds, and 2x4ths. Arcuri cost us 2x2nds and 3x3rds.

 

[Krangers08]

Does anyone remember what the conditional 12th becomes from the Evan Maillet trade?

 

[Krangers08]

Potentially a new divisional alignment if this comes to life .

 

[All the Answers]

What does "it will get figured out" mean?? Having a 17 yr old Arquette sitting in the stands? How does that make sense? Who's coming out of the lineup to get our current 1st rounder ( Headrick) in when he's healthy?



And if said 1st rounder returned is a D-man now we have our 2nd rounder Bilecki in the stands again? I'm not following the " it will get figured out" plan.



You have Macneil spend an entire season out of the OHL developing to be ready for his 17yr old season, you use a 2nd round pick on Bilecki and convince him to play in the OHL instead of heading to NCAA and you lure a 17yr old from Alberta " Schnieder" away from home to sit in the stands every night. Does that make sense to anyone in here?



Maybe I’m more of a planner but i wouldn't want a GM that simply thinks " Oh we'll figure it out"



The only way i see it working is if we continue to get a string of injuries. If we get healthy this is a complete mess.

It means guys like Mercer, Bottineau, Grisolia, etc get fewer minutes or waived if can't be moved for anything. Swick can be moved to free up a spot. Fewer minutes for Campbell. Enough high end 07s and 08s getting major minutes this year and next sets you up for '27.

 

[Gondrex]

View attachment 919928Potentially a new divisional alignment if this comes to life .

re: Muskegon and Youngstown - Of course lots to work out, but strictly looking on the geography, could make sense. Muskegon to Ottawa looks like the greatest distance. Compared to their current travel, this would improve the situation a bit for these two USHL teams.

Then the rest of the USHL is pretty much Midwest U.S.-based. If pigs begin to fly and hell freezes over, (reading between the Marek lines) maybe you have a merging of the CHL and USHL (????!!!!) Then maybe you form a Central League that includes the remaining USHL teams and ............Brandon (?) and Winnipeg (if the arena gets built that they apparently wanted). Heck, maybe you could then finally get a junior franchise in Thunder Bay and put an end to the conversation of having them in the OHL .

Likely none of this happens, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.

 

[EvenSteven]

It means guys like Mercer, Bottineau, Grisolia, etc get fewer minutes or waived if can't be moved for anything. Swick can be moved to free up a spot. Fewer minutes for Campbell. Enough high end 07s and 08s getting major minutes this year and next sets you up for '27.

Vets Mercer, Bottineau and Grisolia are already playing secondary minutes. POur high-end 07’s are already playing top six minutes. Campbell, along with Dirracolo could develop into quality OA’s for the 26–27 season. They need their minutes as well.

Once everyone is healthy, they’ll be shuffled through the lineup. Cameron is already playing JrB. Don’t be surprised if Headrick gets some time there too. Hey, 1st round pick or not, by the time he’s healthy his season is just about done. I’d rather him play top six minutes at JrB than spot duty here.

At some point, likely early next season, we’ll be adding three or four 09’s and an import or two. That’s when we have to maybe move secondary 07’s and/or 08’s, for value, to make room.

 

[Krangers08]

Cameron Reid and Luca Romano were given a b grade from central scouting 2nd-3rd round

Tanner Lam listed as W 6th-7th round

 

[Matttheleaf]

Cameron Reid and Luca Romano were given a b grade from central scouting 2nd-3rd round

Tanner Lam listed as W 6th-7th round

I'm surprised at the B grade for Reid. I've seen numerous projections of him going in the first round. Could get there by the end of the year but still surprised.

 

[EvenSteven]

Owen Sound just lost trade chip Konnor Smith for 6-8 weeks. There’s another reason to deal Andonovski sooner than later.

 

[Krangers08]

Some teams are still figuring out if they’re contenders or pretenders

 

[Straightshot2424]

Vets Mercer, Bottineau and Grisolia are already playing secondary minutes. POur high-end 07’s are already playing top six minutes. Campbell, along with Dirracolo could develop into quality OA’s for the 26–27 season. They need their minutes as well.

Once everyone is healthy, they’ll be shuffled through the lineup. Cameron is already playing JrB. Don’t be surprised if Headrick gets some time there too. Hey, 1st round pick or not, by the time he’s healthy his season is just about done. I’d rather him play top six minutes at JrB than spot duty here.

At some point, likely early next season, we’ll be adding three or four 09’s and an import or two. That’s when we have to maybe move secondary 07’s and/or 08’s, for value, to make room.

Vets Mercer, Bottineau and Grisolia are already playing secondary minutes. POur high-end 07’s are already playing top six minutes. Campbell, along with Dirracolo could develop into quality OA’s for the 26–27 season. They need their minutes as well.

Once everyone is healthy, they’ll be shuffled through the lineup. Cameron is already playing JrB. Don’t be surprised if Headrick gets some time there too. Hey, 1st round pick or not, by the time he’s healthy his season is just about done. I’d rather him play top six minutes at JrB than spot duty here.

At some point, likely early next season, we’ll be adding three or four 09’s and an import or two. That’s when we have to maybe move secondary 07’s and/or 08’s, for value, to make room.

The way we have used our current 08s when healthy not sure how we would be adding 3 or 4 09s next year ? unless they clear out the older guys and start building the future going ahead like most of other teams have done this year the only way to get better is playing wherever that is this year its still early and team is winning !

 

[All the Answers]

Vets Mercer, Bottineau and Grisolia are already playing secondary minutes. POur high-end 07’s are already playing top six minutes. Campbell, along with Dirracolo could develop into quality OA’s for the 26–27 season. They need their minutes as well.

Once everyone is healthy, they’ll be shuffled through the lineup. Cameron is already playing JrB. Don’t be surprised if Headrick gets some time there too. Hey, 1st round pick or not, by the time he’s healthy his season is just about done. I’d rather him play top six minutes at JrB than spot duty here.

At some point, likely early next season, we’ll be adding three or four 09’s and an import or two. That’s when we have to maybe move secondary 07’s and/or 08’s, for value, to make room.

Exactly. More quality bodies in your system and getting minutes and developing UNDER THE RIGHT teaching gives you more quality trade chips. As good as Mark Hunter is at getting guys to London, that team is excellent in turning fringe prospects into OHL calibre players. These players become assets to trade, allowing you to finish at/near the top of the standings and not rebuild.

development. Development. DEVELOPMENT. This is where the Knights have the system beat in spades as there is firm stability in the front office and behind the bench. Other OHL franchises are also in the business of developing coaches and executives. This percieved instability is less attractive than the London model, hence players (who are able and have ALL options open to them) can play the London or bust game. For about a 7 year stretch with Deboer calling the shots we could in Kitchener as well... and you know what? Kitchener was every bit as successful during that period as the Hunter run Knights.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

With some injuries piling up, Rangers will be going 11/7 tonight it seems

 

[LostRangers]

Great game tonight. Jump out to an early lead, let Erie back in and then push back to win this one going away.
Listening to the post game show make me nervous. The F and F brothers are talking about going for it. Let’s remember we were in first in the west later into the season just last year and look how that worked out.
Let’s enjoy the way these kids are gelling, and appreciate what the coaching staff is doing with a young lineup, but make no mistake….we HAVE to sell if we still have a run in the target 2 years down the road. IMHO.

 

[robertmac43]

Are we good again? haha.

Feels like a Déjà vu moment when I think past to this team last season....

 

[RangerNation]

It's refreshing to see the Rangers be the ones hitting out there. Erie is a great team, but they looked gassed for the 3rd. They reminded me of past Rangers teams, lots of talent, no response to physical play. Great game, hopefully they keep it up tonight.

 

[K2]

It's refreshing to see the Rangers be the ones hitting out there.

Great 'big hits & big goals' game for Hlacar!

make no mistake….we HAVE to sell

We do and all our OAs and Ando should be of interest to contenders looking to upgrade their OAs for a run. I hope all the GMs saw Misaljevic's 'play of the night' goal!