Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part V

[Sal Iaccuzzo]

The addition cost of those players below. They gave up a 7th and got back an 8th for those 3 players. That’s a buying season?

The Kitchener Rangers have announced a trade with the Kingston Frontenacs, acquiring defenceman Jakub Chromiak and Sault Ste. Marie’s eighth round draft choice in 2026 in exchange for Kitchener’s seventh round pick in 2028 and a conditional Kitchener eighth round draft choice in 2027.

They got two first line forwards for free from the new agreement.

They would have had to pay a lot within the OHL for that but they got to add heavy to the forwards and keep picks and players.

Just like how the Knights got Montgomery and Fimis and only had to pay up for Allen.

 

[Jives]

They got two first line forwards for free from the new agreement.

They would have had to pay a lot within the OHL for that but they got to add heavy to the forwards and keep picks and players.

Just like how the Knights got Montgomery and Fimis and only had to pay up for Allen.

I know they did. But this wasn’t a buy season for them. They gave up some low picks at the start of the season for Vermeulen (looks like a great trade) and Grisola just because we started with a lot of injuries. They added Chromiak for dirt cheap. They got a boat load of picks for 1 of the best goal scorers in the league. You consider because we added those 3 players you mention that this was a buy year for us? It was way more a rebuild year then a buy year on what we spend vs what we got.

 

[All the Answers]

They got two first line forwards for free from the new agreement.

They would have had to pay a lot within the OHL for that but they got to add heavy to the forwards and keep picks and players.

Just like how the Knights got Montgomery and Fimis and only had to pay up for Allen.

And the Knights sold a guy like Rehkof, too... top 5 G in the league, right? Yes, they had very similar models, lol.

Also, no offence to Pridham or Humphreys, but they're borderline 2nd and most likely 3rd liners on what was already a stacked London team. Making the top line of this Kitchener squad was no big feat. They traded their only bona-fide top line player.

 

[superdee]

Montgomery was a Lnights draft pick that wanted college so the new NCAA rules helped and Fimis was a free agent signed because of same rules. Pridham’s penalty on Cowan was very close if it was not a slewfoot. The Romana knee was his fault trying avoid check. It ended up knee on knee but should not have been a match. Woolley was laughing because he was challenged and the Kitchener player wouldn’t go because he was chicken. Amazing water in dressing room to cure Romona. Can Knights get some for Barkey?

 

[Jives]

In:
Pridham
Humpfreys
Ellis
Xu (wasn’t supposed to come)
Chromiak
Grisola
Vermeulen
2nd
2nd
2nd
3rd
3rd
3rd
4th
4th
4th
5th
7th
8th
9th

Out:
Bottineau
Rehkopf
7th
8th
15th conditional

I think with spending so little, getting 100 points, getting to the Western finals, adding a bunch of picks and keeping ALL young talent - I call it a very successful season that almost everyone had us 8th to 10th in the west at the beginning of the season. Hats off to MM.

 

[Sal Iaccuzzo]

And the Knights sold a guy like Rehkof, too... top 5 G in the league, right? Yes, they had very similar models, lol.

Also, no offence to Pridham or Humphreys, but they're borderline 2nd and most likely 3rd liners on what was already a stacked London team. Making the top line of this Kitchener squad was no big feat. They traded their only bona-fide top line player.

Yeah now conveniently your two over a PPG players aren't good to make an argument. Just some 3rd line grinder additions to the forever rebuilding Rangers.

 

[Sal Iaccuzzo]

I know they did. But this wasn’t a buy season for them. They gave up some low picks at the start of the season for Vermeulen (looks like a great trade) and Grisola just because we started with a lot of injuries. They added Chromiak for dirt cheap. They got a boat load of picks for 1 of the best goal scorers in the league. You consider because we added those 3 players you mention that this was a buy year for us? It was way more a rebuild year then a buy year on what we spend vs what we got.

The cost is irrelevant in a year with a unique situation like the NCAA agreement. They added two what would normally be expensive players for free.

It may not have been in the plans to begin the year but the free adds made them a solid playoff contender.

 

[All the Answers]

Yeah now conveniently your two over a PPG players aren't good to make an argument. Just some 3rd line grinder additions to the forever rebuilding Rangers.

Kitchener had 4 players above a point a game. London had 4 players with greater ppg than any of them. Is this hard to understand? Yes they were top line additions to the Rangers, they weren't top tier additions to the league. Pridham (#1 ppg player) over the course of a full season would have slotted in about low 20s on the leaderboard. Kitchener got where they did playing stingy D on the shoulders of a remarkable Jackson Parsons season. Always seemed like smoke and mirrors to me.

 

[Squirrel88]

Stark looked good. Bilecki got more ice then I thought he would get…made a bunch of good passes for scoring chances. I’ve also liked Ellis when he gets ice time in the playoffs.

Stark got more ice as the game went on and Ellis less. Hlachar was stapled to the bench most of the game.

4 on 4 late in the game had a Xu/Bilecki pair - that was fun. As a silver lining, the young D are getting a taste of the playoffs, which should be good for next year. I assume Diracollo is trying to play through an injury as he saw less icetime than the other three experienced D. Ando/Chromiak and Reid were looking gassed late.

Arquette has been great in the playoffs. Hopefully he and Stark can build on it for next year.

Hilarious that the Windsor fans seem to think that series was physical. There were more hits in the first 10 minutes of Kitchener/Flint than the whole Windsor series.

 

[bobber]

Windsor fan here.....just wanted to say this to you ......Pot....Kettle?

Went buy a Windsor golf course and heard a group of old golfers singing that old ditty" Oh say can you see any Spitfires on me". Hadnt heard that since the Rangers took the Spits out four straight. Aw! The good old days!

 

[bobber]

Kitchener had 4 players above a point a game. London had 4 players with greater ppg than any of them. Is this hard to understand? Yes they were top line additions to the Rangers, they weren't top tier additions to the league. Pridham (#1 ppg player) over the course of a full season would have slotted in about low 20s on the leaderboard. Kitchener got where they did playing stingy D on the shoulders of a remarkable Jackson Parsons season. Always seemed like smoke and mirrors to me.

Jussie , Parsons , a couple of drafted players Pridham and Humphreys arriving plus a well placed horse shoe help the Rangers get to 100 points. Great accomplishment.

 

[Jives]

The cost is irrelevant in a year with a unique situation like the NCAA agreement. They added two what would normally be expensive players for free.

It may not have been in the plans to begin the year but the free adds made them a solid playoff contender.

And the needed cost to add more players we didn’t have to compete with London. Could we have pissed away all young players and all picks to get a Pinelli and a solid top 4 D….sure. But that would have got us most likely a loss in the western conference finals.
That is the exact same spot we are at with not spending anything and keeping the strong group of 2007 / 2008 together. Seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[bobber]

What exactly does Boulton add to this London team? I've never seen a player look so awkward during the pregame warm-ups. He barely touched a puck and spent most of his time skating along the red line hoping a Ranger player would come by and engage, but they just ignored him. Luckily, he had a linesman to keep him company. He did get to play one shift in the first period!

Was that Boulton? I thought it was the Knights mascot Rocky Racoon. Had two black eyes like an old coon.

 

[Krangers08]

bu wants him but i believe that kitchener has convinced him to stay for an oa year. not sure bu is all that happy with kitchener right now

 

[Travis Bickle 77]

Went buy a Windsor golf course and heard a group of old golfers singing that old ditty" Oh say can you see any Spitfires on me". Hadnt heard that since the Rangers took the Spits out four straight. Aw! The good old days!

Wow! That was a really bad attempt at humour......

 

[BenchedGuy]

As for the game last night....I like how the boys came out and seemed to play a full game. Shots on net improved but have to start firing from everywhere, still not enough. Also those 2 goal line attempts that didnt cross, have to get more net front presence to jam those in. Those are the opportunities you have to capitalize on.

But it was also a frustrating game from another point too. Have to stop taking penalties, there were times when it was absolutely not necessary (Ando's and Pridham). Those shouldnt happen. It takes the momentum away. Glad to see the refs called an unsportmanlike, could have been 2 more called.

Give credit to London for tightening up their D style and cycled the puck more while waiting for their chances.
As others mentioned, really like Xu and Bielecki's game last night as well. Going to be good watching those 2 for the next few years (hopefully Xu sticks and doesnt go to Harvard right away).

 

[bobber]

Montgomery was a Lnights draft pick that wanted college so the new NCAA rules helped and Fimis was a free agent signed because of same rules. Pridham’s penalty on Cowan was very close if it was not a slewfoot. The Romana knee was his fault trying avoid check. It ended up knee on knee but should not have been a match. Woolley was laughing because he was challenged and the Kitchener player wouldn’t go because he was chicken. Amazing water in dressing room to cure Romona. Can Knights get some for Barkey?

Superdee you are a great Knights fan. You make all Knight supporters proud with your home baked rhetoric. As they said in the hippy days " Tell it like it is man". PS: Knights spelled with a "K" not and "L" just for future reference.

 

[All the Answers]

Wow! That was a really bad attempt at humour......

Let's hope Windsor has a better attempt at a 2nd line.

 

[ohloutsider]

Let's hope Windsor has a better attempt at a 2nd line.

????

 

[Fastpace]

Montgomery was a Lnights draft pick that wanted college so the new NCAA rules helped and Fimis was a free agent signed because of same rules. Pridham’s penalty on Cowan was very close if it was not a slewfoot. The Romana knee was his fault trying avoid check. It ended up knee on knee but should not have been a match. Woolley was laughing because he was challenged and the Kitchener player wouldn’t go because he was chicken. Amazing water in dressing room to cure Romona. Can Knights get some for Barkey?

I am a Knights fan, you know that, superdee. Can you find in the OHL Rule Book the clause that says a player must take the hit from a big 6'5"- 215 lbs players coming at him with some speed? If you find such a rule, I will put a like onto your post.

 

[Buttsy]

As many know I enjoy watching and cheer for Rangers success just not when they play London. I recognize the many youthful pieces you all have in place for a competitive team in the next couple of seasons. Now serious question here not poking but who replaces Parsons and also where are the "stars" of the next couple of years teams? I mean flat out definite legit star players? Trading Repko got some capital but is it enough to address these perceived "holes" in the roster? Now it could just be that I don't see them play enough so perhaps I'm missing these youngsters that are ready to become 1st round NHL picks? Cheers guys ...

 

[BenchedGuy]

As many know I enjoy watching and cheer for Rangers success just not when they play London. I recognize the many youthful pieces you all have in place for a competitive team in the next couple of seasons. Now serious question here not poking but who replaces Parsons and also where are the "stars" of the next couple of years teams? I mean flat out definite legit star players? Trading Repko got some capital but is it enough to address these perceived "holes" in the roster? Now it could just be that I don't see them play enough so perhaps I'm missing these youngsters that are ready to become 1st round NHL picks? Cheers guys ...

I think the next step towards contending comes from the development and maturation of the current NHL draft prospects ( Reid, Romano, Lam, Stark ) as well as the next class ( Headrick, Bilecki, Xu ). Other are expecting flyers to report such as Valentini or Hextall/Bray, which may or may not happen but I also think in the off-season we will be looking to add to our top 6. If not by a flyer, then a trade looking for a player in the likes of Brady Martin or Malcolm Spence type players, whoever may be available. A reverse Rehkropf trade if you will.
In terms of goaltending, I think it will come in the way of an import. We should have at least 2 spots available next year. There is rumors of a waiver claim that may have been made or a new import selection coming in June/July. This will have Schaubel as the backup for another year or two.

Thats just my 2 cents but I think with development, the core is in place already to start taking the next step for the next 2 years with this group.

 

[EvenSteven]

As many know I enjoy watching and cheer for Rangers success just not when they play London. I recognize the many youthful pieces you all have in place for a competitive team in the next couple of seasons. Now serious question here not poking but who replaces Parsons and also where are the "stars" of the next couple of years teams? I mean flat out definite legit star players? Trading Repko got some capital but is it enough to address these perceived "holes" in the roster? Now it could just be that I don't see them play enough so perhaps I'm missing these youngsters that are ready to become 1st round NHL picks? Cheers guys ...

I think the next step towards contending comes from the development and maturation of the current NHL draft prospects ( Reid, Romano, Lam, Stark ) as well as the next class ( Headrick, Bilecki, Xu ). Other are expecting flyers to report such as Valentini or Hextall/Bray, which may or may not happen but I also think in the off-season we will be looking to add to our top 6. If not by a flyer, then a trade looking for a player in the likes of Brady Martin or Malcolm Spence type players, whoever may be available. A reverse Rehkropf trade if you will.
In terms of goaltending, I think it will come in the way of an import. We should have at least 2 spots available next year. There is rumors of a waiver claim that may have been made or a new import selection coming in June/July. This will have Schaubel as the backup for another year or two.

Thats just my 2 cents but I think with development, the core is in place already to start taking the next step for the next 2 years with this group.

Oh, there’ll be no reverse Rehkopf deal. Rangers don’t have the assets. Along with most of our high picks, we’d have to include young prospect(s) to close a deal. And I’m thinking MM wants to go into every draft with picks in all the first few rounds.

I think next year will be like this year. Go with what we have. Develop our prospects. Hope for flyers. Hope for import signings (especially in goal). Maybe try to hit on a couple Campbell, Ellinas, Vermeulen type deals. Deal away excess player(s) for picks. Their big adds were 08’s Xu via the Agreement and Valentini should he report. I still think that our 08’s should eclipse our 07’s, especially if Valentini reports.

No disrespect. I’d be surprised to see Stark / Lam get drafted. Not enough sample size with Stark in the O or any league due to injury. Lam? I love the kid. Wizard at times with the puck. But in these playoffs he’s stickhandled his way into turnovers in the O zone way too many times. And he’s easily dominated physically. Maybe both get FA invites?

 

[BenchedGuy]

Oh, there’ll be no reverse Rehkopf deal. Rangers don’t have the assets. Along with most of our high picks, we’d have to include young prospect(s) to close a deal. And I’m thinking MM wants to go into every draft with picks in all the first few rounds.

I think next year will be like this year. Go with what we have. Develop our prospects. Hope for flyers. Hope for import signings (especially in goal). Maybe try to hit on a couple Campbell, Ellinas, Vermeulen type deals. Deal away excess player(s) for picks. Their big adds were 08’s Xu via the Agreement and Valentini should he report. I still think that our 08’s should eclipse our 07’s, especially if Valentini reports.

No disrespect. I’d be surprised to see Stark / Lam get drafted. Not enough sample size with Stark in the O or any league due to injury. Lam? I love the kid. Wizard at times with the puck. But in these playoffs he’s stickhandled his way into turnovers in the O zone way too many times. And he’s easily dominated physically. Maybe both get FA invites?

I think MM may surprise people if he doesnt get the players reporting that some are hoping for. I see him building for a 2 year Champ/Mem run. Give the coach/team the tools for a good chance for at least 2 years.

Our picks do look light, I agree. But our depth will bring in more picks or offset some picks needed in other deals. As I believe you have mentioned before, we wont have room for all our small forwards going forward. Players will have to be moved.

And when I talk NHL draft prospects, meaning they are or will be ranked in some lists. Will they get drafted is a totally different story. I see some team potentially taking a flyer on Lam but with Stark's injuries I believe he will be bypassed in this draft. But I have seen both on some lists with at least a HM.

 

[BenchedGuy]

And a huge congrats to Jackson Parsons!!

Rangers' Jackson Parsons awarded Jim Rutherford Trophy as OHL Goaltender of the Year - Ontario Hockey League

Jackson Parsons of the Kitchener Rangers is this year's recipient of the Jim Rutherford Trophy presented to the OHL Goaltender of the Year.

chl.ca