Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[Generalsupdates]

Bray not off to a great start in BCHL. Giancola might be good friends with Lam as they played together in Halton. He averaged the same amount of PPG as Lam in Halton. Struggling a little in OJHL and might be looking for a change.

The BCHL and especially the OJHL post-Covid are far worse than the OHL. If they’re struggling in those leagues, they’d get eaten alive in the OHL

 

[EvenSteven]

Well…I’ll throw a guess and say one of Jude Bray or Cristian Giancola are the first to commit to Rangers. Bray not off to a great start in BCHL. Giancola might be good friends with Lam as they played together in Halton. He averaged the same amount of PPG as Lam in Halton. Struggling a little in OJHL and might be looking for a change. LJ Mooney would be an exciting player to get but he is probably the last player that would come…he would be 2nd on my wish list behind Valentini. Cmon MM….get some of these guys locked up.

Bray probably wouldn’t be ready til next year I’d think. And I don’t remember. Did we take a flyer on Giancola or did we draft him around where he should have been drafted?

If someone is signing soon, if it isn’t Valentini, I hope it’s an 07.

 

[Jives]

Only a guess but I’d say flyer. Very impressive PPG in his OHL draft year. Commited to Clarkson University.

 

[All the Answers]

Ah well. Point streak continues. Big effort from Owen Sound tonight and Rangers dug themselves a hole. Lots of soft calls tonight, including the one in OT. Swick should've fallen down, we could have had that pp.

 

[bobber]

Give the Attack credit for the win. They had the best of the Rangers for two periods. Jussi couldn't find an answer. Rangers seemed off from the start. Good on them for tying it up in the 3rd. Dumb penalties never helped.

 

[Krangers08]

Bilecki has played with a noticeable jump the last 2 games.
*Romano has scored in 6 straight games

 

[Jives]

Bilecki has played with a noticeable jump the last 2 games.

I thought he has played great all season and not too happy with that stretch of games he had to sit out. Kid is going to be really good…but he has to play games to get there. 1 out of 4 games is fine for a break as a 16 year old. I’m pretty sure he sat 4 games in a row and was playing solid before that. I’d be happy with an Ando trade soon to make sure the kids don’t sit too much.

Good fight back for the point. First 2 periods they really struggled. They seem to play better defensively with Parsons in net. Goalie made a bunch of solid saves to keep them in the game. He probably wants the first goal back but I think the other 3 were legit.

 

[Krangers08]

I thought he has played great all season and not too happy with that stretch of games he had to sit out. Kid is going to be really good…but he has to play games to get there. 1 out of 4 games is fine for a break as a 16 year old. I’m pretty sure he sat 4 games in a row and was playing solid before that. I’d be happy with an Ando trade soon to make sure the kids don’t sit too much.

Fair. I think internal competition is good for young players. Keeps them hungry and wanting to takeover a spot

 

[Jives]

Fair. I think internal competition is good for young players. Keeps them hungry and wanting to takeover a spot

Sure I guess….but when a 16 year old has really done nothing to deserve sitting is that a good thing? We have 8D. Trade Ando and sign a player to a Jr. B card. Gives us 7D with only 1 D sitting per game and a D as a back up on a Jr B card ready to go in case of injuries.

 

[Jives]

If a NCAA guy on D is thinking about coming here we now have 9D? If I’m that NCAA guy I’m not coming here to get sat every other game. MM needs to finally say let the kids play and trade some of the vets…something we haven’t done in years. If he keeps playing this game (not selling) we will always be good and that gets you knocked out of the playoffs in the 2nd or 3rd round. I’m personally tired of that. Anyone can see the solid core of 2007 and 2008 kids here….build around them and give them the ice. I’m worried he doesn’t complete the sell. We have something very special with the young kids….lets give them a chance in 2 years by adding some draft picks and give them more ice time now.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere49]

If a NCAA guy on D is thinking about coming here we now have 9D? If I’m that NCAA guy I’m not coming here to get sat every other game. MM needs to finally say let the kids play and trade some of the vets…something we haven’t done in years. If he keeps playing this game (not selling) we will always be good and that gets you knocked out of the playoffs in the 2nd or 3rd round. I’m personally tired of that. Anyone can see the solid core of 2007 and 2008 kids here….build around them and give them the ice. I’m worried he doesn’t complete the sell. We have something very special with the young kids….lets give them a chance in 2 years by adding some draft picks and give them more ice time now.

The team will be selling (outside of the free addition coming this week apparently), it’s the obvious route to go down and the staff is aware of that, no matter where they are in the standings.

No major rush to do it over the next month… keep the young core insulated like they have been and give them the games to develop as they have been.

As others mentioned, great showing from Bilecki especially over the past couple games. Hopefully it’s him coming out of his shell as the handful of rushes he’s started have been very entertaining and a great sign of his potential as he gets older and gets the additional reps.

 

[Matttheleaf]

The team will be selling (outside of the free addition coming this week apparently), it’s the obvious route to go down and the staff is aware of that, no matter where they are in the standings.

Do we know who the free addition will be?

 

[OnlyUpFromHere49]

Do we know who the free addition will be?

Believe it’s a F south of the border… no… not that one

 

[Krangers08]

 

[All the Answers]

View attachment 928738

Braydon Smellis?

 

[dirty12]

Ah well. Point streak continues. Big effort from Owen Sound tonight and Rangers dug themselves a hole. Lots of soft calls tonight, including the one in OT. Swick should've fallen down, we could have had that pp.

Swick purposely interferred with McCue? knocking the stick out of his hand, that is a penalty.

 

[EvenSteven]

Braydon Smellis?

Or Haeden Ellis?

 

[EvenSteven]

If a NCAA guy on D is thinking about coming here we now have 9D? If I’m that NCAA guy I’m not coming here to get sat every other game. MM needs to finally say let the kids play and trade some of the vets…something we haven’t done in years. If he keeps playing this game (not selling) we will always be good and that gets you knocked out of the playoffs in the 2nd or 3rd round. I’m personally tired of that. Anyone can see the solid core of 2007 and 2008 kids here….build around them and give them the ice. I’m worried he doesn’t complete the sell. We have something very special with the young kids….lets give them a chance in 2 years by adding some draft picks and give them more ice time now.

In trading Ando, I advocated bringing back a veteran D to fill the void. But could Dirracolo, Campbell, Chromiak be veteran enough where we wouldn’t need to bring back a D? Was Chromiak actually that D brought in to fill the void?

Those three plus Reid would be a good top four, post trade deadline. Then work in MacNiel, Schneider, and Bilecki through the bottom six.

 

[Jives]

In trading Ando, I advocated bringing back a veteran D to fill the void. But could Dirracolo, Campbell, Chromiak be veteran enough where we wouldn’t need to bring back a D? Was Chromiak actually that D brought in to fill the void?

Those three plus Reid would be a good top four, post trade deadline. Then work in MacNiel, Schneider, and Bilecki through the bottom six.

Imo that’s enough vet presence. I’m not taking a D back.

 

[GeoBlue]

He probably wants the first goal back but I think the other 3 were legit.

That 1st one looked like it hit Reid's stick but I could be wrong.

 

[GeoBlue]

The team will be selling (outside of the free addition coming this week apparently), it’s the obvious route to go down and the staff is aware of that, no matter where they are in the standings.

No major rush to do it over the next month… keep the young core insulated like they have been and give them the games to develop as they have been.

As others mentioned, great showing from Bilecki especially over the past couple games. Hopefully it’s him coming out of his shell as the handful of rushes he’s started have been very entertaining and a great sign of his potential as he gets older and gets the additional reps.

We have to start selling at some point as not only do we have to be ready for potential NCAA reports, but we still need to fit in Headrick, Anstis and Stark when they are healed up.

 

[Jives]

Braydon Smellis?

Is this spelling right? I don’t see this player anywhere.

 

[rangersblues]

Swick purposely interferred with McCue? knocking the stick out of his hand, that is a penalty.

That was his second bad penalty of the night. I recall he also got an interference penalty for knocking George's stick away from him while it was on the ice. I'm sure Jussi will have a chat with him.

In trading Ando, I advocated bringing back a veteran D to fill the void. But could Dirracolo, Campbell, Chromiak be veteran enough where we wouldn’t need to bring back a D? Was Chromiak actually that D brought in to fill the void?

Those three plus Reid would be a good top four, post trade deadline. Then work in MacNiel, Schneider, and Bilecki through the bottom six.

Chromiak is that guy and then some. For what we want to accomplish this year it's enough. Play the kids.

 

[bobber]

That 1st one looked like it hit Reid's stick but I could be wrong.

The tv guys mentioned the puck went of Reid in some fashion.

 

[bobber]

That was his second bad penalty of the night. I recall he also got an interference penalty for knocking George's stick away from him while it was on the ice. I'm sure Jussi will have a chat with him.


Chromiak is that guy and then some. For what we want to accomplish this year it's enough. Play the kids.

This iteration of the Rangers seem to play with a bit of grit. They have more than one player willing to step up this season. Sometimes having the attitude of not being disciplined players get sucked into situations that result in taking a dumb penalty. They know the rules but their egos over ride them.