Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[Petes1987]

It will be an interesting 3 in 3, Friday vs Rehkopf and one of the preseason fav in Brampton (but underpreforming so far), then visiting one of the OHL top teams in Barrie then back home vs the Saginaw Spirit who are sellers but still are very dangerous with some highly thought of players.
Great measuring stick for all teams involved, I suspect Schaubel also gets the Sunday game but won't be shocked he starts at home in Barrie.

Barrie did not look that impressive against Peterborough tonight. The Petes outplayed them and won 5-2.

 

[Krangers08]

With the addition of Humphreys the rangers have used 27 player cards.

*not including Scaubel, Xu, Cameron

 

[beastintheeast]

If that is the case and Kit gets 2 players then I think OTT is going to be very disappointed with the return from KIT. I can’t see MM going hard after players this year. He has said he will keep the future in mind lots of times. Pinelli and Foster doesn’t make KIT the favs over London…they are still the heavy underdogs.

I think that is the problem with many teams. People are looking at London and realizing how much power they have and are saying, "Let's build for the future."

Also, all these players with NTC are gumming up the work.

 

[GeoBlue]

Don’t believe that’s how it works. I could be wrong. The games don’t count only if you have a player at the world juniors in that position. So like an Arquette call up last year to play for Mesar those games don’t count. We did not lose a goalie to WJ so his games count towards the 10 games. Could be wrong but don’t think I am.

i'm not 100% either but I believe you are correct.

 

[GeoBlue]

especially if MM knows Valentini is going to report at some point which would essentially replace (and upgrade) Headrick at zero cost

Lately I have been wondering if Valentini may be a trade piece. Has it been confirmed that Kitchener is a choice landing spot for him?

 

[bobber]

Lately I have been wondering if Valentini may be a trade piece. Has it been confirmed that Kitchener is a choice landing spot for him?

Rangers just hold the rights to Valentini. Trading those rights wouldn't garner much in the way of assets usually. Wonder if he is on the same path as Hage. He never had a cup of coffee in the OHL.

 

[Gondrex]

Knowing that their are posters onboard here that are a heck of a lot smarter than me, a question.

If Valentini and / or Hextal were at all interested in coming to Kitchener do we know if these high fees that are apparently being demanded south of the border disappear at the end of the season?

Just curious.

 

[Jives]

Knowing that their are posters onboard here that are a heck of a lot smarter than me, a question.

If Valentini and / or Hextal were at all interested in coming to Kitchener do we know if these high fees that are apparently being demanded south of the border disappear at the end of the season?

Just curious.

Great question that I don’t know the answer to. I would assume they do and at the end of the year they can go wherever they want. Which maybe with Valetini MM has just said we don’t pay 100k for players and it would be best if you came next year as we will easily have a place in the top 6 for you. Hextall I think is way less likely to show up then Valentini imo.

 

[East Avenue Bully]

Yes, but it can’t be nothing. I believe there is a fallback offer from a team Pinelli is willing to go to. So, any deal is going to have to get at least close to that deal. That team has a lot of picks. So, this is not a discount situation. I could see Boyd accept a little less if it made Pinelli happy but not half.

The fallback, Oshawa, doesn't have very many picks left after the deals they've done already.

MM has the hammer, he better use it.

 

[Kitchna]

I believe there’s a date in February that you have until. to finalize your roster. You can sign somebody or have a player sent to you from an upper league, but I believe he has to be on your protected list for this season.


Flint might not have much of a choice. They have hours to get a deal done and everybody out there knows it. They’re behind the eight ball. They will get low ball offers across the board. They’ll just have to take the best deal. Or, don’t deal at all and tell him that they have a spot for him on the roster should he change his mind.

My point was that there are 18 other teams that could make the same lowball offer that was presented and I am sure at least one would step up with more than a pair of low level prospects and a pair of mid-level draft picks. I would also assume if that was the best offer Flint got, they would just let him sit at home similar to how Sudbury handled Musty.

 

[OMG67]

The fallback, Oshawa, doesn't have very many picks left after the deals they've done already.

MM has the hammer, he better use it.

It isn’t Oshawa. We shall see how it plays out. I cannot say anything else.

 

[RangerNation]

I think that is the first choice for Ottawa. No doubt. I am responding to those that say they would only give spare parts….then it needs to be loaded with picks. Either/or.

I could also see a deal involving Lam bit why would the Rangers give away a player that is contributing at a solid level over a younger player currently on the 4th line? Headrick has a higher ceiling, yes, but if it is all about trying to win now, keep the higher performing player over the 16 year old IMO. But, some people get attached heavily to the young guys.

Also, there is this loser mentality with some Rangers fans. I understand the hesitation about London but you have to try to make a run now and then. You cannot try to time your competitive windows during London’s ONLY 80 point seasons….

When your GM goes on record to say 2027 is the year to go for it, and also bid for a memorial cup, as a fan you kinda have to buy into it. He has the talent and coach to make it happen, so fine, go for 2027. But when you look at the picks he has to work with to improve that team, buying this year makes no sense. As a fan, I want them to win every year, but understand that can't happen. If 2027 is the goal, fine. They can TRY this year already without buying, so why not do that? If they are serious about going for it this year and NOT 2027, then match the competition. It will take a lot more than what's suggested to match the competition. So what is it? Go for it this year or 2027? Fans are simply following the direction set forth by the GM.

 

[East Avenue Bully]

Michael Andlauer to sell Bulldogs to Hyman family | BrantBeacon

Sens owner sold the Brantford Bulldogs to Zach Hyman

Great locals support (fans and muni govnt) for that club.

 

[EvenSteven]

It isn’t Oshawa. We shall see how it plays out. I cannot say anything else.

The fallback isn’t Oshawa? Or there is no fallback?

 

[OMG67]

The fallback isn’t Oshawa? Or there is no fallback?

There is a fallback team and it is not Oshawa. If I clarify this any further, I don’t think it would fall within the posting rules of this forum.

 

[SFC]

Also, there is this loser mentality with some Rangers fans. I understand the hesitation about London but you have to try to make a run now and then. You cannot try to time your competitive windows during London’s ONLY 80 point seasons….

OMG, this is your worst take since "COVID isn't going to be that bad."

The Rangers went for it the last two years. No one here is afraid of London. We just don't want to gamble away the future on a 20% chance of beating them in a series. We can't count on Windsor or some other feisty upstart beating them earlier, either.

If the Rangers were sitting on a bunch of picks, fine, roll the dice with Parsons; the London fans' meltdown would be epic if the Rangers pulled it off (sorry, guys, you know it's true). They aren't.

I do think the fixation on 2027 among some parts of the fanbase is a bit odd. We're not Saginaw, we don't need a backdoor pass to the Mem Cup, thanks.

 

[GeoBlue]

Rangers just hold the rights to Valentini. Trading those rights wouldn't garner much in the way of assets usually. Wonder if he is on the same path as Hage. He never had a cup of coffee in the OHL.

Just thinking, for example, Valentini saying something like "I will only play for Dave Cameron" ;-)

 

[bobber]

Just thinking, for example, Valentini saying something like "I will only play for Dave Cameron" ;-)

If he said something like that he better quit playing hockey with out a helmet on. Probably be the 13th player and have to sit in a sky box.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I love it when fans of other teams get mad in here because we don't want to trade the world for their big trade piece, in what is still essentially a rebuild year for us.

 

[GeoBlue]

OMG, this is your worst take since "COVID isn't going to be that bad."

The Rangers went for it the last two years. No one here is afraid of London. We just don't want to gamble away the future on a 20% chance of beating them in a series. We can't count on Windsor or some other feisty upstart beating them earlier, either.

If the Rangers were sitting on a bunch of picks, fine, roll the dice with Parsons; the London fans' meltdown would be epic if the Rangers pulled it off (sorry, guys, you know it's true). They aren't.

I do think the fixation on 2027 among some parts of the fanbase is a bit odd. We're not Saginaw, we don't need a backdoor pass to the Mem Cup, thanks.

AS a STH, it would be magical attending these games locally but would prefer to win the league instead of using the back door. Been there twice in a losing cause. :-(

 

[OMG67]

OMG, this is your worst take since "COVID isn't going to be that bad."

The Rangers went for it the last two years. No one here is afraid of London. We just don't want to gamble away the future on a 20% chance of beating them in a series. We can't count on Windsor or some other feisty upstart beating them earlier, either.

If the Rangers were sitting on a bunch of picks, fine, roll the dice with Parsons; the London fans' meltdown would be epic if the Rangers pulled it off (sorry, guys, you know it's true). They aren't.

I do think the fixation on 2027 among some parts of the fanbase is a bit odd. We're not Saginaw, we don't need a backdoor pass to the Mem Cup, thanks.

Why be hesitant on moving a graduating player? It seems like status quo is a winning strategy either way.

IMO, if you have a really valuable graduating player and you are trying to align to a certain year because your assets align that way, would wouldn’t you trade that player (Andonovski) to help fill in the draft pick gaps and continue to support that potential go-go year?

I wouldn’t trade the OA’s. Their value isn’t strong enough this year to give up that hard but Ando seems to make sense to move. It will hurt but if your chances are 20% of getting past London with a significant move, it would be closer to zero not making that significant move. You are looking at a bad team in round one as an opponent. You are most certainly looking at a first round win with how bad the bottom of the conference is.

To me, it comes down to round two. Erie is not going to catch the rangers even if they move Ando, especially with Schaefer out. Saginaw is done. Flint is below .500 and way far back.

This looks like it comes down to Kitchener vs Windsor in round 2. Maybe you win, maybe you don’t. If you don’t add, it won’t’ matter if you win or not. Maybe you are right, even if you add it won’t matter if you win or not. But, at least if you add, you have a good shot of getting to the Conference Final or at least a much better shot. If you go the other way and trade Ando, you still get to Round two and you finish the year with more assets to push forward.

Seems like status quo is an odd strategy for the management team. I know the fans would likely prefer to sell so this is not against the fans at all. Just seems odd.

 

[GeoBlue]

If he said something like that he better quit playing hockey with out a helmet on. Probably be the 13th player and have to sit in a sky box.

I was waiting for comments like yours. LOL! Yeah, Dave Cameron. To put it a different way, let's say Valentini has a preference for another team. Would this not make him a prime trade chip?

 

[EvenSteven]

I love it when fans of other teams get mad in here because we don't want to trade the world for their big trade piece, in what is still essentially a rebuild year for us.

It’s not a rebuild year for us anymore.

 

[GeoBlue]

Why be hesitant on moving a graduating player? It seems like status quo is a winning strategy either way.

IMO, if you have a really valuable graduating player and you are trying to align to a certain year because your assets align that way, would wouldn’t you trade that player (Andonovski) to help fill in the draft pick gaps and continue to support that potential go-go year?

I wouldn’t trade the OA’s. Their value isn’t strong enough this year to give up that hard but Ando seems to make sense to move. It will hurt but if your chances are 20% of getting past London with a significant move, it would be closer to zero not making that significant move. You are looking at a bad team in round one as an opponent. You are most certainly looking at a first round win with how bad the bottom of the conference is.

To me, it comes down to round two. Erie is not going to catch the rangers even if they move Ando, especially with Schaefer out. Saginaw is done. Flint is below .500 and way far back.

This looks like it comes down to Kitchener vs Windsor in round 2. Maybe you win, maybe you don’t. If you don’t add, it won’t’ matter if you win or not. Maybe you are right, even if you add it won’t matter if you win or not. But, at least if you add, you have a good shot of getting to the Conference Final or at least a much better shot. If you go the other way and trade Ando, you still get to Round two and you finish the year with more assets to push forward.

Seems like status quo is an odd strategy for the management team. I know the fans would likely prefer to sell so this is not against the fans at all. Just seems odd.

I think part of the Ando thinking is gambling that he comes back for an OA year, use him to make some noise this year and trade him next year as a hired gun.

 

[bobber]

I was waiting for comments like yours. LOL! Yeah, Dave Cameron. To put it a different way, let's say Valentini has a preference for another team. Would this not make him a prime trade chip?

It would. Just might not garner that much in the way of assets. What did the Rangers get for trading the rights of Hage? Can't remember. Don't believe it was much. I guess it could be part of a bigger deal but not sure how that works with players not signed or playing in the OHL.