Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[digicamo]

Was looking forward to seeing Anstis tonight.

My understanding is we won’t be seeing him. At least until the roster situation clears up with some trades.

 

[digicamo]

Rangers get the win. Owen Sound system had the Rangers struggling to make plays. Lots of poor passes and lost coverage. Things seemed to turn around in the 3rd when they got the PP clicking. 42 shots on George. Owen Sound is a great squad. Lots of young guys that look solid.

Weird game. Very sloppy for a majority of the game but a W is a W.

I may be in the minority here but I think the more Ando plays this year the less likely we are to get a massive package at the deadline. You could make an argument he was our #4 D tonight and I only noticed him when he was making terrible decisions. We’ve obviously all seen him at his best and know he is a legit shutdown d-man in this league but I wouldn’t go all in on acquiring him if I’m a GM trying to compete with London.

 

[EvenSteven]

My understanding is we won’t be seeing him. At least until the roster situation clears up with some trades.

That’s really too bad. Is he 100% healthy and good to go?

As an American, rules still dictate it’s OHL only I assume? No JrB?

 

[EvenSteven]

Weird game. Very sloppy for a majority of the game but a W is a W.

I may be in the minority here but I think the more Ando plays this year the less likely we are to get a massive package at the deadline. You could make an argument he was our #4 D tonight and I only noticed him when he was making terrible decisions. We’ve obviously all seen him at his best and know he is a legit shutdown d-man in this league but I wouldn’t go all in on acquiring him if I’m a GM trying to compete with London.

I was thinking the same thing tonight while I was watching the game.

We may have missed the boat on Ando being a big trade chip at this deadline. At least getting the return I was hoping for.

At times he looks high end. Other times he looks ordinary. He played with Hunter B all last year. Nobody of that calibre to play with this year. And he hasn’t seen much time with Reid - the best comparable to Hunter B on this year’s team.

Makes me think that he might not be a lock to play regular AHL minutes next year and therefore, MM just might be thinking he’ll return for an OA season, and therefore, won’t trade him.

The combination of the big return he got in the Rehkopf deal, coupled with the wave of flyers reporting around the league due to the CHL/NCAA deal, may have MM thinking that the cupboard is stocked enough if he has intel that more flyers are coming our way this year and next. Also, we should have three picks in the first 44 picks in the next draft. 1st, 2nd(Pete),3rd(Pete). The three 09’s he’ll take with those three picks will be second year players, in their NHL draft season, in 26-27. They’ll be good secondary contributors to that team

If he thinks or has intel that three, four or more of Valentini, Bray, Xu, Grimes, Longacre, Hextall, Benson could report this year or going into next year, and we hit on those three 09’s, he shouldn’t need to trade his way into contention this time around. Except for minor deals to free up minutes for younger players, he could stand pat at this deadline.

Was he able to have a chat with Mooney or his camp during the CHL/NTDP challenge games?

 

[LostRangers]

Weird game. Very sloppy for a majority of the game but a W is a W.

I may be in the minority here but I think the more Ando plays this year the less likely we are to get a massive package at the deadline. You could make an argument he was our #4 D tonight and I only noticed him when he was making terrible decisions. We’ve obviously all seen him at his best and know he is a legit shutdown d-man in this league but I wouldn’t go all in on acquiring him if I’m a GM trying to compete with London.

I think he is trying to be a more offensive dman, and when he does….leads to errors. Whether that is illogical pinches in the O zone, or trying to skate thru pressure in his own, he is costing the team. Needs to simplify his game.
Even Reid is trying to do too much, with similar results.

 

[bobber]

Obviously Ando had a bad game last night. Jussi said as much after. Opposing Gms looking of making a serious run this year will target Ando as a possible addition. In the playoffs big strong defensive Dmen are a valuable asset. Ando usually is at the top of plus/minus. This year he is playing on a younger squad which is a bit more challenging. Vet Dmen have to cover up more for the inexperience of younger less skilled partners. The Attack deserve credit for making a bunch of Rangers look bad last night. They played with pace. Gave the Rangers no time or space and force them to move pucks quicker causing turn overs. Credit the Rangers for stepping up their PP in the 3rd and coming back for the win.

 

[LostRangers]

Obviously Ando had a bad game last night. Jussi said as much after. Opposing Gms looking of making a serious run this year will target Ando as a possible addition. In the playoffs big strong defensive Dmen are a valuable asset. Ando usually is at the top of plus/minus. This year he is playing on a younger squad which is a bit more challenging. Vet Dmen have to cover up more for the inexperience of younger less skilled partners. The Attack deserve credit for making a bunch of Rangers look bad last night. They played with pace. Gave the Rangers no time or space and force them to move pucks quicker causing turn overs. Credit the Rangers for stepping up their PP in the 3rd and coming back for the win.

When a team comes at you with pace, you need to move the puck quickly. We aren’t doing that enough lately. With regard to our captain, this isn’t a one game thing. He is a minus 1 for the season, after being a +58 last year. IMHO, he needs to focus on keeping puck out of our end. Last night just had some glaring examples. Think Ottawa will remind him of that.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

If he thinks or has intel that three, four or more of Valentini, Bray, Xu, Grimes, Longacre, Hextall, Benson could report this year or going into next year, and we hit on those three 09’s, he shouldn’t need to trade his way into contention this time around. Except for minor deals to free up minutes for younger players, he could stand pat at this deadline.

Was he able to have a chat with Mooney or his camp during the CHL/NTDP challenge games?

Have heard one of the names mentioned in your first paragraph may be signing as an “AP” type player for this year before moving to FT next year.

Second paragraph, Mooney and Ellis share the same agency FWIW (Bartlett Group)

 

[bobber]

When a team comes at you with pace, you need to move the puck quickly. We aren’t doing that enough lately. With regard to our captain, this isn’t a one game thing. He is a minus 1 for the season, after being a +58 last year. IMHO, he needs to focus on keeping puck out of our end. Last night just had some glaring examples. Think Ottawa will remind him of that.

True but as I said it's more difficult to play with younger inexperienced Dmen. If Ando is struggling to play his defensive game this year and was a +58 last year what is the issue? It tells you where they are in the scheme of things at this point in time. Also Rangers played a rookie goalie which puts pressure on the whole team. Ando never had his best game last night but he wasn't the only one. MM could use these games as a measuring stick to see what he needs to do going forward after Christmas. If Ando was a plus 58 last year what would he be on a team like the Knights this year? One thing Jussi said about Ando last night is he will be playing a lot more games for the Rangers this season. Not sure if we read between the lines on that or not.

 

[EvenSteven]

Have heard one of the names mentioned in your first paragraph may be signing as an “AP” type player for this year before moving to FT next year.

Second paragraph, Mooney and Ellis share the same agency FWIW (Bartlett Group)

Educate the uneducated. FT would be full time? And AP is affiliated?

 

[EvenSteven]

Arrowsmith will do well in Niagara. He gives you a little bit of everything. Isn’t afraid to get his nose dirty and never lacks effort.

His foot speed could be improved, but has a high motor and plays sound positionally to make up for it.

Niagara could have him for up to 3.5 years, so Not bad value for both sides IMO.

Would have been nice to hold onto him for future seasons in London. But you have to do right by the player and it seemed like he was going to have trouble drawing into the lineup here during his draft year. Don’t like to see him go, but understand the reasons.

This was posted on the Knights thread regarding their recent trade of Blake Arrowsmith.

That’s what they do with excess assets. Move them for value to get them icetime while adding draft picks to the cupboard.

Our inflated roster along with probable reporting flyers and the coming addition of very good 09’s should have us making trades like this that stock our cupboard and find minutes for excess players.

There are a couple “Arrowsmith” type players on this roster this year who could be moved for comparable value.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Educate the uneducated. FT would be full time? And AP is affiliated?

You’ve just educated yourself!

See what happens when/if that signing happens

 

[LostRangers]

This was posted on the Knights thread regarding their recent trade of Blake Arrowsmith.

That’s what they do with excess assets. Move them for value to get them icetime while adding draft picks to the cupboard.

Our inflated roster along with probable reporting flyers and the coming addition of very good 09’s should have us making trades like this that stock our cupboard and find minutes for excess players.

There are a couple “Arrowsmith” type players on this roster this year who could be moved for comparable value.

This is where MM can work some Mark Hunter magic. If you can’t make all the talent happy, you have to move some, pick up some additional assets and then use those down the road to sweeten a pot and close a big deal. It’s tough to do, because you believe in all these kids, but if there isn’t room for all of them, they won’t be happy so you find them somewhere they can get playing time and add some picks along the way.

 

[ohloutsider]

This is where MM can work some Mark Hunter magic. If you can’t make all the talent happy, you have to move some, pick up some additional assets and then use those down the road to sweeten a pot and close a big deal. It’s tough to do, because you believe in all these kids, but if there isn’t room for all of them, they won’t be happy so you find them somewhere they can get playing time and add some picks along the way.

Any trade between London and Niagara should not be used as a barometer on how other trades will play out.
Will Kitchener willingly absorb education packages?

 

[LostRangers]

Any trade between London and Niagara should not be used as a barometer on how other trades will play out.
Will Kitchener willingly absorb education packages?

Not referring to past couple of years. Has been doing it for ages. Before the U18 draft years, they would pull FA’s out of the woods and then trade their excesses around the league for more assets.
And we can’t sit on all these kids who believe they deserve playing time while sitting. They have agents who are trying to optimize their client’s future. If we waste their opportunity because we have too many bodies, we owe it to them. If we don’t, it will come back to bite us down the road.

 

[EvenSteven]

Have heard one of the names mentioned in your first paragraph may be signing as an “AP” type player for this year before moving to FT next year.

Second paragraph, Mooney and Ellis share the same agency FWIW (Bartlett Group)

I assume that would be an 08 player?

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

I assume that would be an 08 player?

It would be