Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[LostRangers]

When drafted by the Rangers last year, he was listed at 5'-6 3/4" and 137 lbs. His height / weight are no longer listed on the Cedar Rapids website, but I believe that when I viewed it a couple days ago, he was listed at 5'-10" and 160-ish lbs.....just trying to go by memory, which ain't as good as it was when I wore a younger man's clothes .

Like the Piano Man reference Gondrex!

 

[EvenSteven]

I have to believe that Valentini will be next on the list. His current team is dismal at best, he usually gets 3rd line minutes, and his plus/minus is in the negative zone. If university was the key reason that he and his family chose to go play in the USA, the new ruling has changed all that. There are more positive reasons to play in Kitchener than where he is now.

You would have to think if Valentini were to report, he would threaten Lam’s spot in the top six. At least until or if we move out an OA forward.

He’s that good.

 

[LostRangers]

I think we’ll see LaBrash scratched before Hlacar.

Grisolia is a premiere PKer I think. I like him better than Mercer. Ellis is listed as a center. Does he make Mercer expendable?

Vermeulen is a step behind I think. But there’s a reason he’s used ahead of Bottineau on the 2nd PP unit and top six when there’s an injury.

I think you still stick to the plan attempt to move high end graduating players. But some evaluation has to be going on among the 07’s. Will Ellis make Arquette expendable for example.

For me, the first out the door would be Botts and Mercer. Not bringing enough to the lineup today, and can’t see them being productive OA’s. If you trade Ando, and are concerned about size and toughness, maybe you hang onto Swick. And then you also have Diracollo, Hlacar and Labrash to throw some weight around. Elinas is also a physical player.
Then it’s up to MM to determine who, of the youngens has the best growth potential, and find a place for the others to play, and grab some more picks in return.

 

[Jives]

You would have to think if Valentini were to report, he would threaten Lam’s spot in the top six. At least until or if we move out an OA forward.

He’s that good.

Pridham - Romano - Valetini
Stark - Ellinas - Lam

I’m 100% good with this being the top 6 this year. Getting assets for Swick and Misa.

 

[EvenSteven]

Pridham - Romano - Valetini
Stark - Ellinas - Lam

I’m 100% good with this being the top 6 this year. Getting assets for Swick and Misa.

If we were successful in moving both OA forwards for fair value, I would not be moving out any of Mercer, Grisolia, Bottineau, etc. You’re gonna need some veteran presence on this team. If the OA’s are gone, I think we need to keep the “lesser” veteran players to help insulate the kids. They can do that from the bottom six. At least for this year.

 

[EvenSteven]

As I said before, there are a lot of balls in the air these days.

In a possible thinning out of the youth, does Ellis make Stark expendable? Does Valentini make Lam expendable. Does Bilecki make MacNiel expendable.

And looking at it from the other side, will the crowded roster cause some of these guys to ask for trades? If a Stark can’t get into the top six next year, will he ask out? Ditto if a MacNiel can’t get into the top four? Or if Lam is bumped out of the top six?

If Valentini reports and say Pridham chooses to play his OA season here (it’s been said that MM will work on that) I can see a top five next year looking like this:

Pridham
Ellinas
Romano
Ellis
Valentini

Lam or Stark as the 6th? Probably Lam today. But what if Stark has a breakthrough going into next year. On size alone, he may bump Lam out of the top six.

 

[Jives]

100% can’t see him moving Lam, Stark or MacNeil. Only 2007 I see that might be moved is Schneider. He might asked to be moved shortly without any ice time.

London has how many forwards that can play top 6? It’s not the end of the world being a 7 guy.

 

[Ward Cornell]

100% can’t see him moving Lam, Stark or MacNeil. Only 2007 I see that might be moved is Schneider. He might asked to be moved shortly without any ice time.

London has how many forwards that can play top 6? It’s not the end of the world being a 7 guy.

I could see any of those 3 being moved considering the greater return they can bring. Schneiders value is a lower rung draft pick and would be better kept and build up his value to either the Rangers or to another team. If Stark could ever remain healthy he would be a very good second liner but....

This new NCAA agreement has thrown any trade possibility into the great unknown.

 

[dirty12]

We could maybe take him back in a Parsons+Andonovski deal but you're going to have to pay the Midwest intra-divisional premium (I'm talking McKegg or Gemel Smith prices).



Glad that the trade history in the database is useful for folks. Someone actually sent me a list of OHL trades going back to the early 00's but I never added it as I couldn't verify them. (I do think they're mostly accurate.) I can try to dig them up for you if you're interested.



I've heard about the Mike Van Ryn rule as well, but then Lucas Edmonds showed up for Kingston to play his OA year in 2021-22 (had a monster season, too). I'm not sure how that squares (some kind of post-covid exception?).

Edmonds was signed prior to the COVID shut-down which all players were credited for service time.

 

[EvenSteven]

100% can’t see him moving Lam, Stark or MacNeil. Only 2007 I see that might be moved is Schneider. He might asked to be moved shortly without any ice time.

London has how many forwards that can play top 6? It’s not the end of the world being a 7 guy.

Today, I don’t see them moved. But by this time next year, they could very well be bumped down the depth chart by the likes of Ellis, Bilecki, Pridham, Headrick and if they report, Valentini, Xu, Hextall.

Hey, this is a new world. There are too many unknowns to rule out anything.

There’s a big reason why there hasn’t been any trades yet this month since the agreement has been passed.

 

[ScoutLife4]

XU scored a goal in his first game with King Rebelion.

 

[Matttheleaf]

I think one of the things we have to consider with trading Parsons is if the return we get back for him would be worth having extremely inexperienced goaltending with a young team. If Jackson can stick around and help win games for a developing group and steal a round of 2 in the playoffs that can be pretty valuable (at least to me). Now I am not saying don't trade him if someone offers you something you can't resist but I don't know if I would be trading him for a couple of mid to late round picks.

 

[Jives]

I think one of the things we have to consider with trading Parsons is if the return we get back for him would be worth having extremely inexperienced goaltending with a young team. If Jackson can stick around and help win games for a developing group and steal a round of 2 in the playoffs that can be pretty valuable (at least to me). Now I am not saying don't trade him if someone offers you something you can't resist but I don't know if I would be trading him for a couple of mid to late round picks.

You have to get a 2nd back for Parsons if dealing him. He for sure isn’t worth moving for like a 3rd and 5th. I’d look for a team trying to improve their OA goalie and include that OA goalie in the trade. This will give Schaubel more starts, we have an experienced goalie for the rest of the year and we get some picks back in return.

 

[Gondrex]

You have to get a 2nd back for Parsons if dealing him. He for sure isn’t worth moving for like a 3rd and 5th. I’d look for a team trying to improve their OA goalie and include that OA goalie in the trade. This will give Schaubel more starts, we have an experienced goalie for the rest of the year and we get some picks back in return.

Of the potential contenders that have OA goaltenders, I see Lalonde, Oster, Flores and Elliot, and you could likely ignore any potential deal for Elliot .

Of the others, if you're the team considering a swap, you'd have to ask yourself if Parsons is enough of an upgrade (or any upgrade at all for that matter) to warrant the trade + pick(s). Absolutely possible, and if I'm MM I'm all over that deal. Just not sure what the odds are when one considers what those three already bring to their respective teams. In any case, if Parsons keeps playing well, maybe there's some interest - especially if you consider that one of those teams is Niagara .

On the other hand, 10 years ago when Kitchener was selling, they actually went out of their way and spent picks to acquire an older goaltender in Jake Paterson. Not sure whether or not MM thinks in a similar way (i.e. aiming to maintain solid goaltending even if he decides to sell), but there is that.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Of the potential contenders that have OA goaltenders, I see Lalonde, Oster, Flores and Elliot, and you could likely ignore any potential deal for Elliot .

Of the others, if you're the team considering a swap, you'd have to ask yourself if Parsons is enough of an upgrade (or any upgrade at all for that matter) to warrant the trade + pick(s). Absolutely possible, and if I'm MM I'm all over that deal. Just not sure what the odds are when one considers what those three already bring to their respective teams. In any case, if Parsons keeps playing well, maybe there's some interest - especially if you consider that one of those teams is Niagara .

On the other hand, 10 years ago when Kitchener was selling, they actually went out of their way and spent picks to acquire an older goaltender in Jake Paterson. Not sure whether or not MM thinks in a similar way (i.e. aiming to maintain solid goaltending even if he decides to sell), but there is that.

If MM wants to make some noise while still selling he would have to keep Parsons. You can win games with an average team and great goaltending but it becomes much harder with a good team and horrible goaltending (not saying our rookies are horrible but they are rookies at the end of the day).

 

[LostRangers]

If MM wants to make some noise while still selling he would have to keep Parsons. You can win games with an average team and great goaltending but it becomes much harder with a good team and horrible goaltending (not saying our rookies are horrible but they are rookies at the end of the day).

Just ask the Oilers.

 

[K2]

 

[EvenSteven]

Ellis in the lineup tonight.

#13. Third line RW.

 

[K2]

If MM wants to make some noise while still selling he would have to keep Parsons.

Agreed, I think we'd need a very solid return and a 'B+' surplus OA G thrown in to make that move.

 

[EvenSteven]

Noticed Romano didn’t finish the game after that big hit in the 3rd.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere49]

Never hurts for the group to get a bit of a reality check with this big week of a test for them. Rather than blowouts, hopefully the close games on the scoreboard are great learning moments and experiences for the young group.

Another helluva showing from Parsons!

Did like the early signs from Ellis. Hopefully a fresh start north of the border is good for him and can start to garner some Draft attention after a strong rookie year in the OJHL.

Valentini update: Chicago lost 6-3 to Des Moines (2nd last in the entire league) and he went pointless, 4 SOG and was -1 … Chicago also had some jersey issues so he had to wear a different number tonight (?!)