Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[bobber]

When you boil it down the focus of hockey is all about wins. As a business it's a fact that every team in the OHL wants playoff revenue. Rangers must have some sort of plan in mind of what they want to achieve this season. Parsons is their biggest asset going forward. Teams will be interested in acquiring him and probably have called already. MM will have some decisions to make coming not too far into the future.

 

[RB76]

When you boil it down the focus of hockey is all about wins. As a business it's a fact that every team in the OHL wants playoff revenue. Rangers must have some sort of plan in mind of what they want to achieve this season. Parsons is their biggest asset going forward. Teams will be interested in acquiring him and probably have called already. MM will have some decisions to make coming not too far into the future.

Deadline moves will tell the real story. I agree MM likely will want to keep Parsons and collect the revenues but one thing is for certain come Playoffs, the games will get tougher. IMO we will need to get back to playing bigger and more physical to be truly competitive.

 

[ScoutLife4]

Jacob Xu expected to sign his card any day now.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Jacob Xu expected to sign his card any day now.

Hopefully some players will be moved with these signings. Or else the Rangers will need to use the twin ice pads for their practices.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Jacob Xu expected to sign his card any day now.

Where would he have been projected to go if he could have only gone to the OHL?

 

[EvenSteven]

Where would he have been projected to go if he could have only gone to the OHL?

For what it’s worth, Elite prospects had him at #16 overall. Brock’s mock draft had him as an honorable mention after the first round.

 

[Matttheleaf]

For what it’s worth, Elite prospects had him at #16 overall. Brock’s mock draft had him as an honorable mention after the first round.

Thanks for the info. Always good when you can spend a later round pick for a late 1st or 2nd rounder.

Thanks for the info. Always good when you can spend a later round pick for a late 1st or 2nd rounder.

Those days may have come to an end though with the way things have turned out.

 

[Fastpace]

Kitchener management must be careful not to fall into a tempting trap of the deadline, despite all their success this season, next season must still be their focus to have their most impactful team as possible.

 

[RangerNation]

Kitchener management must be careful not to fall into a tempting trap of the deadline, despite all their success this season, next season must still be their focus to have their most impactful team as possible.

Have to find that dancing partner though. Who is willing to pay up for some of these players? I won't hold it against MM if the price isnt right. Plus with more players jumping ship to the OHL, maybe it's not so bad in the end if nothing happens at deadline. I mean, he did draft these players afterall. The best players play I don't think he would trade for anyone to improve the team. That experiment has already failed once.

 

[Jives]

Kitchener management must be careful not to fall into a tempting trap of the deadline, despite all their success this season, next season must still be their focus to have their most impactful team as possible.

Rangers will be decent next year but the 2026-27 mem cup in Ontario is when this team should really peak.

 

[Fastpace]

Have to find that dancing partner though. Who is willing to pay up for some of these players? I won't hold it against MM if the price isnt right. Plus with more players jumping ship to the OHL, maybe it's not so bad in the end if nothing happens at deadline. I mean, he did draft these players afterall. The best players play I don't think he would trade for anyone to improve the team. That experiment has already failed once.

Agree! If they can bring impactful player(s) at low or no cost, for sure more power to them, and keep on developing your prospects for the future

 

[SFC]

Rangers will be decent next year but the 2026-27 mem cup in Ontario is when this team should really peak.

Folks in this topic have been saying this for some time. Is this just because you think that's the point in the contention cycle at which they'll be most competitive? Or is the hope to land the cup?

For non-hosts, there's not much advantage to having the cup in your league, except perhaps some mild home ice advantage (and easier travel for fans) in the tourney. Maybe you lose the final to the host and get in that way, but no Mem cup host has won their league since, yup, the 08 Rangers.

I say target a two-year window and shop pieces aggressively this year for that reason. If the Rangers had a boatload of picks they could maybe tinker at the deadline, run with what they have, and try to ride Parsons and some lucky bounces to an upset of London, but I don't think you jeopardize the next two years to do it.

 

[bobber]

Folks in this topic have been saying this for some time. Is this just because you think that's the point in the contention cycle at which they'll be most competitive? Or is the hope to land the cup?

For non-hosts, there's not much advantage to having the cup in your league, except perhaps some mild home ice advantage (and easier travel for fans) in the tourney. Maybe you lose the final to the host and get in that way, but no Mem cup host has won their league since, yup, the 08 Rangers.

I say target a two-year window and shop pieces aggressively this year for that reason. If the Rangers had a boatload of picks they could maybe tinker at the deadline, run with what they have, and try to ride Parsons and some lucky bounces to an upset of London, but I don't think you jeopardize the next two years to do it.

I believe it was MM who came up with the notion of hosting the next Mem Cup a while back. Pinning you're hopes on it might be a pipe dream. The Soo fans thought they had a great shot at becoming host the last time and were disappointed with the outcome. Even if the Rangers managed to have the winning bid they still have to have a lot of things fall into place at the right time to be competitive. In reality I would like to see a well managed competitive team that has a reputation for being a hard nose team to play against every year. In saying this having a Mem Cup tourney at the Aud is the most exciting hockey fans will see outside of play offs.

 

[Jives]

The 2007 age group draft is the strongest draft the rangers have had in a LONG time. These players will be 19 years old come mem cup year. The 2008 has some good players too and we have yet to see our 1st round draft pick Headrick.

Potential line up for mem cup year.

Lam 19 - Romano 19 - Stark 19
Arquette 19 - Ellinas OA - Ellis 19
Antsis 18 - Headrick 18 - Cameron 19
Labrash 19 - Import - Import

Campbell OA - Reid 19
Bilecki 18 - Max OA
MacNeil 19 - Schneider 19

Schaubel - 18
Edwards - 19

So we are 2 years away. All these players have this year and next year to get better. We have 0 imports in this line up plus we will add some good 2009 players in this upcoming draft. Xu is rumoured. I still think Valentini eventually comes. This will be a very veteran team in 2 years with a lot of options to greatly improve the team at zero costs in the next 1.5 years. I’m still all for giving the team in 2 years the best chance and that means moving out some vets this year to have a bunch of picks to get better and improve weaknesses in 2 years.