Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[Ranger77]

I know that this is way early, but looking ahead, this upcoming off season could be the toughest for MM to navigate in his time as GM here - but in a good way.

Not including next year’s OA’s, 09 rookies, and imports, we have 22 returning, signed players - most of which are legit OHLers. Most would have been regular players this year if not for our depth. Add in the list of possible flyer reports (Valentini, Bray, Mooney, Grimes, Benson). I’d be surprised if they all report but I’d be just as surprised if none report.

Here are the 22:

Ellinas Humphreys Lam
Vermeulen Romano Arquette
Stark Cameron Ellis
Hlacar Anstis Headrick
Labrash

Reid Campbell
Dirracolo Bilecki
MacNiel Schneider
Xu

Schaubel
Edwards

Now add in up to three OA’s, probably two 09’s, two imports, and whoever the flyer reports are. I expect MM to go hard to get Valentini signed. Likely Bray as well. The others may be longshots at this point but who saw Pridham and Humphreys coming this year?

It’s going to be a very interesting next 12 months in Rangerland!

Out of the possible overagers, Mercer, Pridham, Grisolia, Chromiak, and Andonovski, which ones are the most likely to return? I would love to see Pridham and Andonovski back for another year with this group!

 

[Jives]

I’d have in order….

Chromiak (just cause he is an import)
Pridham
Ando
Grisola
Mercer

The bottom 2 we would upgrade in a contending year.

 

[Matttheleaf]

If we are starting to look ahead to next year I think the roster could look like this if we get some of the better OA's to return:

Ellinas-Humphreys-Pridham
Vermeulen-Romano-Lam
Stark-Arquette-Ellis
Cameron-Draft/Free Agent-Draft/Free Agent

The forward position is tricky for me cause the depth and talent we have will really depend if Pridham comes back, or if we use one of the other OA's like Mercer or Grisolia. I also am not sure what to think our centre depth as it would be nice to have Ellinas, Romano and Humphreys separated, but I don't want to have Romano on the 3rd line.
We might also start having to trade some of the younger players making up the bottom 6 in order to really contend for the next 2 years and fully upgrade the attack.

Reid-Chromiak
Andonovski-Campbell
Dirracolo-Bilecki
MacNeil

As for the defense, if we can get both Chormiak and Ando back then that would be huge, but it would also mean that we have almost the exact same D from this year. That would also mean that Macneil or Bilecki (maybe some games where you sit out another D here and there too.) have to split games again, and with MacNeil being an 07 I wouldn't want to be doing that a lot.

Schaubel
Edwards

This is an area I would like to see upgraded or fully sorted out as soon as possible. If that means bringing in the import that has been mentioned or trading for a goalie that will be here for 2 years (18-19 or 19-OA) then that is what needs to be done. Not to take anything away from either of these guys but if you have dreams of winning next year you want someone solid that you can trust back there. Maybe Edwards or Schaubel will be that guy in 2026-27 but I don't want to struggle to figure that out next year when the team should be good.

 

[EvenSteven]

What we have to remember is that we don’t have a full draft pick cupboard. So I can’t see us trading for higher end OA’s at any position. OA goalies are usually cheaper though than other position players, so that isn’t out of the question if it gets to that.

The best case scenario is that imports we already hold the rights to report, a couple flyers report, and one or both of Andonovski / Pridham is eventually returned for their OA season.

If some or most of that happens, we’d likely see younger players traded out for assets to trim down the roster. There won’t be a need to buy in a big way.

 

[bobber]

Schaubel is doing a great job as a rookie. I wouldn't underestimate how skilled he will be going forward. It's a tough position but he seems to be settling in nicely

 

[Ward Cornell]

Schaubel is doing a great job as a rookie. I wouldn't underestimate how skilled he will be going forward. It's a tough position but he seems to be settling in nicely

You just reminded me of something I meant to say a while back. We all understand the great job that Jussi is doing, but one person constantly overlooked is Jordan DeKort, the goalie coach. I'm assuming that Parsons will be ranked as the OHL top goalie under Dekort. But Schaubel as a 16 yr old has made great progress this yr as well.
BRAVO