Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[Jives]

Anyone have an idea as to when Elinas returns?

How about Stark too?

 

[EvenSteven]

Xu I like but I can’t see MM pissing off Bilecki, Dirracalo and MacNeil off even more. I see Xu as a great option for call ups when needed but can’t see him wanting to sign an A card unless it’s a full time spot and not a player that plays 50% to 60% of games. If that’s the case then MM has really pissed off the 3 Dman that would have to fight for the 6th spot. It might be a short term gain but long term you are pissing off too many players. Sale is different as he goes right into the top 6 and there is no question he belongs there. Xu is not in our top 4 this year on D.

I don’t know where Dirracolo would be pissed off about anything. He’s an undrafted FA into this league (playing with house money) that has earned his way into the lineup just about every night (47 of 49 games). Signing Xu to an A card would have no effect on his status with the Rangers.

As an underage D that has played the majority of the time 37 of 49 games), and risen above MacNiel and Schneider on the D depth chart, Bilecki has played around the same frequency as many past underage D on this team. Getting into more than than two thirds of the games seems about right.

If I’m MacNiel though, I’m pissed off and a little worried that I’m seventh on a depth chart of seven D. Looks like he released some of that stress with that flurry of lefts up in the Soo last Wednesday. The kid is a player and his time is coming.

But at the end of the day, a team that expects to go on a long playoff run, the deeper the back end you have the better. If this team goes through to the third round, we’re going to need more than six D. Injuries are a thing in this league and expecting to go through a long playoff run without experiencing injury is a fools game. Nothing wrong with getting guys like MacNiel, and yes Xu, into the lineup as often as you can down the stretch in preparation for possibly having to play in the event of post season injuries.

The Rangers have two cards left. Saving one for Sale is easy. Fingers crossed there. Using the other on a D who’s shown he can play in this league as a #6 if need be makes all the sense in the world.

I don’t see any reason why Xu would be upset at signing an A card. Signing an A card doesn’t relegate you to the press box at the Aud. He’d still play a ton with the Rebellion while getting into games here, without having to worry about the 10 games, to gain experience. I bet he’d be excited to get into unlimited games here (10 game issue) while playing in the OJ at the same time. Vs playing exclusively in the OJ? I’m thinking he’d sign the A card if it’s offered.

When his season with the Rebellion is done, he’ll be coming up here anyway. He might not play, but he’ll be available. Same goes for Cameron, Schneider, and Antis. Our press box in the postseason will be full of hopefuls at the ready, just like MacNiel was last year.

There’s a reason that he was traded from one of the better teams in the OJ (Trenton), to the Rebellion “in preparation to signing here” as was reported. He was traded from Trenton to a team whose season will likely be over much quicker than Trenton’s, to have him available down the stretch and into the postseason here in Kitchener.