Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

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agree on Bilecki but I suspect McNiel will be slotted in above him in the playoff lineups. Bilecki does have some weakness on the defensive side of things. I think that's due to his youth and lack of physical strength at this time,
Agree.

When it comes to the forward group, I have Hlacar in. But can a now healthy Stark be a better forward option than Arquette? I’m thinking he might be.

Hlacar and Stark in gives us four LWers (Swick. Vermeulen, Stark. Hlacar). Otherwise, bringing in RW Arquette has us having someone playing out of position on the left side
 
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Agree.

When it comes to the forward group, I have Hlacar in. But can a now healthy Stark be a better forward option than Arquette? I’m thinking he might be.

Hlacar and Stark in gives us four LWers (Swick. Vermeulen, Stark. Hlacar). Otherwise, bringing in RW Arquette has us having someone playing out of position on the left side
At the time Stark went down, I felt he was our best player.
 
Maybe this is in anticipation of the AHL allowing younger players into the league?
Either that, or anticipation of expansion. Adding another import player across the OHL means the equivalent of one more team (20 players) to the league. Thats helps avoid a watering down of talent. Add one more OA per team and there’s your two team expansion in the O.
 
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What better message to other Ranger flyers than the words of a fellow flyer who reported and in his own words, had his development “skyrocket” by coming here to this city and playing under this coaching staff.

Surely those other flyers will take notice and look to the OHL and Kitchener as the best place to play for their development.
 
What better message to other Ranger flyers than the words of a fellow flyer who reported and in his own words, had his development “skyrocket” by coming here to this city and playing under this coaching staff.

Surely those other flyers will take notice and look to the OHL and Kitchener as the best place to play for their development.
No surprise really Kitchener has always been a great OHL city. Few years back struggled a bit with coaching (Matthew Barnaby as Defensive Coach LOL) but MM has it back on the desired path.
 
Glad to be wrong on this one! He had a lot of good things to say about the welcome by his teammates.

If I've got this figured out correctly (and I might not), that means 15 returning forwards - enough for 5 lines. Something has to give (kinda as Ward Cornell had wisely alluded to in a previous post). If you're going to make room for an '09 or two from the upcoming draft, one would think a veteran or two would have to be traded or even possibly be released......and that isn't even taking any possible import forwards into consideration (and they are considering 3 now ?). Mind you, one would have to show up :) .
 
Rangers from this OHL draft in April will likely play on B or OHJL teams, practice with the team, and get called up occasionally to play. Unless, of course, they are spectacular.

Who knows who may come up from the U.S.? I wonder too about the imports?
One thing is for sure, it's going to be one heck of a team this coming season!! But for now, let's see how far the current team can go in the playoffs. Deep I hope!!
 
If I've got this figured out correctly (and I might not), that means 15 returning forwards - enough for 5 lines. Something has to give (kinda as Ward Cornell had wisely alluded to in a previous post). If you're going to make room for an '09 or two from the upcoming draft, one would think a veteran or two would have to be traded or even possibly be released......and that isn't even taking any possible import forwards into consideration (and they are considering 3 now ?). Mind you, one would have to show up :) .
Not including OA’s, imports, flyers, and 2025 draft picks, we have 12 returning signed forwards.

It’s going to be crowded in September. MM likely tries to move out a F or two for value over the summer - especially if he’s successful in getting a flyer(s) and an import or two to report. If our 1st rounder is a F, you can bank on him playing too.
 
Not including OA’s, imports, flyers, and 2025 draft picks, we have 12 returning signed forwards.

It’s going to be crowded in September. MM likely tries to move out a F or two for value over the summer - especially if he’s successful in getting a flyer(s) and an import or two to report. If our 1st rounder is a F, you can bank on him playing too.
This is how you stay at the top. Having quality assets that garner high draft picks can help to keep a team competitive year after year.
 
Not including OA’s, imports, flyers, and 2025 draft picks, we have 12 returning signed forwards.

It’s going to be crowded in September. MM likely tries to move out a F or two for value over the summer - especially if he’s successful in getting a flyer(s) and an import or two to report. If our 1st rounder is a F, you can bank on him playing too.

Defense looks pretty much set - especially if this team is fortunate enough to have Andonovski return. Perhaps Xu in, Chromiak out ? A "higher-end '09 pick replaces Schneider ? A couple of things to be determined.

Goaltending may be a bit of question mark also. Yes Schaubel returns, but there is the obvious gap between him and Parsons - size, age, experience, etc. With all those one-goal wins this past season, IMO Parsons was a huge reason for grabbing all those "W's". Still, Schaubel's talent is obvious, but does management consider bringing in an experienced '06 or '07, maybe draft an import at this position for next season? Or will they stick with a still relatively young Shaubel and inexperienced Edwards combo? Will an 18 year-old Schaubel be the guy to count on the following year when the team is supposedly "all in"?

Many questions still in my mind.
 
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Defense looks pretty much set - especially if this team is fortunate enough to have Andonovski return. Perhaps Xu in, Chromiak out ? A "higher-end '09 pick replaces Schneider ? A couple of things to be determined.

Goaltending may be a bit of question mark also. Yes Schaubel returns, but there is the obvious gap between him and Parsons - size, age, experience, etc. With all those one-goal wins this past season, IMO Parsons was a huge reason for grabbing all those "W's". Still, Schaubel's talent is obvious, but does management consider bringing in an experienced '06 or '07, maybe draft an import at this position for next season? Or will they stick with a still relatively young Shaubel and inexperienced Edwards combo? Will an 18 year-old Schaubel be the guy to count on the following year when the team is supposedly "all in"?

Many questions still in my mind.
I think a high regarded import goalie is in the future for next season. It's the one obvious weakness we have going into next season. No offense to Schaubel who I think has done a great job, especially for a 16 year old, but there's no way they leave the crease in the hands of a 17 year old with 18 games OHL experience, when you're expecting to compete for a championship.
 
One item regarding next yrs roster, is that the OHL seems to have expansion planned ahead for next yr. With the latest success of the NHL first yr expansion teams, the OHL may have a limited number of "experienced" OHL players they can protect of certain age groups. With MM not really trading away excessive players at trade deadline, perhaps he was long range planning by giving some players "x" number of OHL games to qualify for the dispersal draft?
 
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Re: increasing the quota on imports due to expansion.
I like this idea to maintain the high level of competitiness. I understand the necessity to limit the imports but with an asterisk. Using just the existing teams and with 2 imports per team which makes it 40 imports overall. I would like to maintain that 40 league wide but make it possible for a team to trade for an import even though it give them 3 or 4, asking as the 40 remains in place league wide. Of course these numbers would be increased due to expansion.
Opinion?
 
I think a high regarded import goalie is in the future for next season. It's the one obvious weakness we have going into next season. No offense to Schaubel who I think has done a great job, especially for a 16 year old, but there's no way they leave the crease in the hands of a 17 year old with 18 games OHL experience, when you're expecting to compete for a championship.
I see a tandem of Kerkola / Schaubel next year. It’s Kerkola’s draft year and he’s ranked late 2nd round. Hopefully the “rumour” is true and we did claim him on waivers and he reports.

Should he report and likely spend two years here, we could find ourselves in a Leenders / Ivankovic situation by the next trade deadline or the following off season.

Hey, Schaubel’s numbers weren’t that good this year. But I think we can agree that he passes the eye test. He’s had some high end performances this year and I think is developing just fine. Easily a #1 in the making in this league.
 
Defense looks pretty much set - especially if this team is fortunate enough to have Andonovski return. Perhaps Xu in, Chromiak out ? A "higher-end '09 pick replaces Schneider ? A couple of things to be determined.

Goaltending may be a bit of question mark also. Yes Schaubel returns, but there is the obvious gap between him and Parsons - size, age, experience, etc. With all those one-goal wins this past season, IMO Parsons was a huge reason for grabbing all those "W's". Still, Schaubel's talent is obvious, but does management consider bringing in an experienced '06 or '07, maybe draft an import at this position for next season? Or will they stick with a still relatively young Shaubel and inexperienced Edwards combo? Will an 18 year-old Schaubel be the guy to count on the following year when the team is supposedly "all in"?

Many questions still in my mind.
Depending on the import rumours (proposed increase to 3 per team next year), using an OA spot on an import becomes a lot easier to do. So, should Andonovski not be returned, MM would weight the value of using Chromiak as an OA vs trading for one. With our thin draft cupboard, I’m thinking he’d lean towards Chromiak.

Yes I agree the D looks set next year. Seven signed returning plus I’ll assume one of Andonovski / Chromiak takes up a spot? Factor in one 09 and there should be a move or two the get the D down to a manageable number.

Speaking of the D:
Should MacNiel get the nod ahead of Bilecki, this post season could be his coming out party. He could be an Andonovski in the making. Just throwing that out there.

 
Re: increasing the quota on imports due to expansion.
I like this idea to maintain the high level of competitiness. I understand the necessity to limit the imports but with an asterisk. Using just the existing teams and with 2 imports per team which makes it 40 imports overall. I would like to maintain that 40 league wide but make it possible for a team to trade for an import even though it give them 3 or 4, asking as the 40 remains in place league wide. Of course these numbers would be increased due to expansion.
Opinion?
It would increase the trade value of imports I’d think. Contender that already has two high end imports could be in the market for a third.
 
....and maybe even Valentini reporting to spend a year (or more) with the Rangers.
By all his accounts he’s enjoying his time in the Windy City.
Could they meet his/agency’s potential demands in terms of role and TOI ( top 6 Centre role with PP1?). With the Humphrey’s return, and Romano, and Ellinas I don’t see him leaving to play 3rd line. Big decision in his draft year.

Excited to watch the goalie battle in this series. Every game will be a nail biter

*Rumblings Brantford is getting their top flyer next year
** Listowel has been swept so Anstis can join the team as a black ace
*** Stark/Labrash will score a big goal in this series and Lam will be a difference maker.
 
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Patrik Kerkola watch. Sam14 on the Boards in Dec 2024:

"Kerkola was not aware of any possible deal when he was drafted by Barrie. When Barrie got word that Eliasson was not signing in Niagara, they offered the IceDogs Kerkola in a swap, however, when Kerkola was told of the trade he opt to sign a pro contract in Finland instead of signing in Niagara."

There's some truth in there somewhere which resulted in a rumour that MM has expressed an interest in Kerkola. NHL draft will tell the tale. Can't imagine an NHL team not wanting Kerkola to get more accustomed in North American hockey and what better team than Kitchener in 2025-26? Not to mention that Rangers have a certain Finnish coach who has taken Kitchener to new heights. I would think that Kerkola would not only excel but be happy in Kitchener.

I could see the Kerkola and Schaubel tandem with a game split that favours Kerkola.
 
By all his accounts he’s enjoying his time in the Windy City.
Could they meet his/agency’s potential demands in terms of role and TOI ( top 6 Centre role with PP1?). With the Humphrey’s return, and Romano, and Ellinas I don’t see him leaving to play 3rd line. Big decision in his draft year.

Excited to watch the goalie battle in this series. Every game will be a nail biter

*Rumblings Brantford is getting their top flyer next year
** Listowel has been swept so Anstis can join the team as a black ace
*** Stark/Labrash will score a big goal in this series and Lam will be a difference maker.
I can see a way that this could work with Valentini.

We’ll be light on quality veteran wingers with the graduations of Swick, Miseljevic and expected graduation of Pridham.

Both Romano and Ellinas have both played wing here.

Is there a world where the following could be a possibility?

Ellinas. Humphreys. Romano.
Stark. Valentini. Lam.

Should Pridham return, Romano is the second line right wing bumping Lam out of the top six. Should an impact import forward report, that would bump Stark out the top six.

Food for thought.
 

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