Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[EvenSteven]

Could imagine the scouting report on that? "Andonovski, great leader, controls the back end, but he got beat this one time by Ritchie so he's trash now"

Wild take.

And it was Chromiak who he went around on that winning goal.

Imagine it’s not even Ando that got beat…..

1st Ritchie goal was a weird bounce off something that ends up right on Ritchie stick for a tap in.

2nd Ritchie goal he beats Chromiak wide. Ando probably should have stepped up infront of the net but by no means did anyone blow by him.

Beat me to it!

 

[RangerNation]

Imagine it’s not even Ando that got beat…..

1st Ritchie goal was a weird bounce off something that ends up right on Ritchie stick for a tap in.

2nd Ritchie goal he beats Chromiak wide. Ando probably should have stepped up infront of the net but by no means did anyone blow by him.

lol fascinating

 

[leafs4life94]

Actually we are discussing OHL talent on these boards. There is no comparison to any pro hockey league. Only one or two percent of CHL players make pro and some are lucky to get a cup of coffee in those leagues. To compare OHL players in this manner is pointless really. If you feel Oshawa was off their game maybe the Rangers system effected the way the game was being played. Romano blew past the whole Oshawa team and he is only in his second year. This is OHL hockey.

Same kinda comments from the Kingston game Friday, Oshawa must've played bad offensively, it couldn't be because the other team played well defensively...

 

[Gondrex]

And it was Chromiak who he went around on that winning goal.


Best me to it!

Exactly.
Credibility on this forum is important, and when you venture beyond this particular board you can get a "pretty good feel" quite quickly.

 

[Ref Hannah]

I feel like a trade move is in the air!

 

[Jives]

I feel like a trade move is in the air!

Maybe trade Ando for getting beat wide yesterday against Ritchie…..

No…but seriously I hope they trade him soon.

 

[Ref Hannah]

Keep an eye out on the storm brewing in the far west...like west coast BCHL gusts!

 

[Ward Cornell]

Keep an eye out on the storm brewing in the far west...like west coast BCHL gusts!

Don't think any player from the BCHL can play in the CHL this season.

 

[Gondrex]

Can the rights of an '08 be traded a 2nd time...as in the case of Caleb Malhotra / Brantford. Maybe that's not the riddle that is supposed to be solved here (above), but I thought I'd ask anyway.

 

[Ref Hannah]

Where is Even? Thought he'd be all over this stuff. Hope he isn't sick!

 

[EvenSteven]

Can the rights of an '08 be traded a 2nd time...as in the case of Caleb Malhotra / Brantford. Maybe that's not the riddle that is supposed to be solved here (above), but I thought I'd ask anyway.

I’m thinking he can’t be traded til the January window. But I don’t see why not otherwise.

 

[Billyjack]

Pretty sure that was Chromiak he beat. Ando was late leaving his man to cut him off, but he didn’t get beat. If you’re going to talk trash, please get your eyes checked and your facts correct.
WOW, Late to this party. Donnie, maybe you should wait until your team wins more than 2 in a row and is leading your division before you want to share your game expertise.

good one , that guy is delusional. Both teams rested I take the Rangers to win

 

[EvenSteven]

Can the rights of an '08 be traded a 2nd time...as in the case of Caleb Malhotra / Brantford. Maybe that's not the riddle that is supposed to be solved here (above), but I thought I'd ask anyway.

Hey, that’s “outside the box” thinking right there.

Brantford not only has O’Donnell that they could move at the deadline, they have Malhotra too. Never thought of that.

Keep O’Donnell. Works for them going forward. But flip Malhotra’s rights to Kitchener.

Of course, only if there’s a wink wink nudge nudge, “I’ll report to Kitchener” in his immediate future.

Sign me up!

 

[Krangers08]

Deleted

 

[Gondrex]

Hey, that’s “outside the box” thinking right there.

Brantford not only has O’Donnell that they could move at the deadline, they have Malhotra too. Never thought of that.

Keep O’Donnell. Works for them going forward. But flip Malhotra’s rights to Kitchener.

Of course, only if there’s a wink wink nudge nudge, “I’ll report to Kitchener” in his immediate future.

Sign me up!

Yeah I'm hopeful Brantford turns things around to convince themselves that this is their year to go in. For Kitchener, I'm thinking Brantford may make some sense for a couple of different trade scenarios at (or before?) the trade deadline.

 

[Krangers08]

Jack Pridham is leaving the BCHL to join the rangers
3rd round pick of Chicago and son of leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham

*Nice Scoop Ref

 

[All the Answers]

Oshawa did not play very well - - passing was off all night and their spacing was atrocious, to the extent that players were literally bumping into each other.

It was a very winnable game for Kitchener but Ritchie put the team on his back and his game winning goal was magnificent. Blew right past Andonovski like he wasn’t even there. That’s the difference between an NHL talent and an ECHL talent.

Go back in your hole.

 

[Lokalhockeyfan]

Jack Pridham is leaving the BCHL to join the rangers
3rd round pick of Chicago and son of leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham
View attachment 929346
*Nice Scoop Ref

This is a great pick up for the Rangers. He can slide into the 2nd line with Ellinas & Lam

Forward group getting even more crowded ...

 

[Kingpin794]

Jack Pridham is leaving the BCHL to join the rangers
3rd round pick of Chicago and son of leafs assistant GM Brandon Pridham
View attachment 929346
*Nice Scoop Ref

These kind of signings change the calculus a bit. Do some teams that we thought might sell off some pieces just add some signings and try to win a title?

 

[Ward Cornell]

3rd Round NHL pick by Chicago. That doesnt translate to being a top forward but perhaps a 3rd line winger BUT would be thrilled if he pushes his way up to the first or second line.

 

[Gondrex]

This is a great pick up for the Rangers. He can slide into the 2nd line with Ellinas & Lam

Forward group getting even more crowded ...

So one and done ? i.e. off to Boston U in '25-'26 ?
Would have been nice to have him as OA option for next season. We're a bit lean looking ahead.

With the additions of Vermeulen, Grisolia and now Pridham, this Ranger team isn't as young as it seems to be labelled. Definitely not as old as some, but not as young as at the start of the season.

As pointed out, our forward group is expanding. Before today's acquisition, just this morning I was thinking about the '05, '06 DOB's up front - Bottineau, Vermeulen, Grisolia and Mercer in particular. I realize these players are more than just scoring goals and they do have a role but I couldn't help but project their offensive numbers for the sake of curiosity and wonder if we have some overlap in this age group.

Both Mercer and Bottineau are on pace for similar PPG numbers as last season.....slightly less actually. I think they miss their former linemate in Pugliese. IMO Pug elevated the play of the other two. Vermeulen has almost equaled last season's output in about 1/3 the games, so seems to be some progress there. As for Grisolia, he has increased his PPG by 60% from last season. Hlcar (06) is on this team for a reason. Ellinas, although having slowed down a bit recently, is still on an improved PPG pace compared to last season - which IMO you want to see......and now this team has Pridham. The question for me is how he fits in relative to the others his age.

Not sure where we go from here, but for those on this board who have voiced their concern about lack of playing time for the young players, I guess the present situation is now even more of a concern.

As for me though, I say welcome Jack. I have full confidence in our staff in figuring out how to deal with the present logjam. I will say though that if it turns out that Pridham somehow does add scoring depth to this club to the point that the Rangers continue to stay near the top of the standings a month from now, I may start worrying about what is going through MM's head !

 

[Jives]

This add is really scary for the rebuild imo. I think he fits right away on the 2nd line with Ellinas and Lam. So…now we have 1 really good top line with Romano / Misa / Swick and we have a solid 2nd line with Pridham / Ellinas / Lam. Imagine getting Sale and Valentini in a couple weeks? I’m personally still good with the selling of Ando, Swick and Misa. If someone comes hard after Parsons I trade him and then go get a cheap 19 yr or OA to play 50% of the games with Schabel getting the other 50%. If Pridham is willing to be traded I’m ok trading him too but I’d bet he signs with the agreement he stays the year and wants to play for this coaching staff over playing for a top contender. Stay the course and pick up assets for the future. This 2007/2008 group is so strong. I’m still giving them the ice and moving some vets to build around them….i hope MM still sees it this way.

 

[Ranger77]

Is Grisolia injured? He didn't play the Saturday and Sunday games.

 

[rangersblues]

I'm unsure what adding a 19 year old does for us in a developmental season

 

[Krangers08]

Is Grisolia injured? He didn't play the Saturday and Sunday games.

Looked shaken up after a blocked shot on Friday