Reigndrops keep fallin' on my head! the 2025-26 Ontario Reign thread

[Mully12]

I like it for the AHL but I really hope the NHL doesn't look to the 'byes' style brackets. I do like a good re-seeding, though.

Last year when I really started going to Reign games and following the team, at first glance the AHL playoffs looks complicated as hell, but this year its been pretty easy to follow. Agree the NHL needs to stay away from Byes, but I'm also all for re-seeding.

 

[Herby]

I think Lord talked about Brzustewicz having some struggles early in games because he isn't used to the pace. He is still working on how quickly the game is played.

The Kings have a very easy way to lessen this next season for Brz.

He should 100% be playing in the NCAA next season.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

The Reign paid tribute to the Kings and their playoff success by getting shutout in Game 1.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

The Kings have a very easy way to lessen this next season for Brz.

He should 100% be playing in the NCAA next season.

He can't. He has already signed his pro contract. So unless the NCAA changes the rules in the next couple of months than it's NHL or back to the OHL.

 

[Herby]

He can't. He has already signed his pro contract. So unless the NCAA changes the rules in the next couple of months than it's NHL or back to the OHL.

Why are the Kings still doing this?

Hard to fault them for Greentree and George, because the landscape completely changed right after. In this case there is zero reason for them to give him an ELC at age 18.

I think with the rule changes, he will be eligible to be assigned to the AHL next season. But this gets back into the whole Turcotte situation, where teenagers in the AHL has usually not been successful, other than for Euros who have years of pro experience.

This team is it's own worst enemy when it comes to prospect development.

 

[lumbergh]

Why are the Kings still doing this?

Hard to fault them for Greentree and George, because the landscape completely changed right after. In this case there is zero reason for them to give him an ELC at age 18.

I think with the rule changes, he will be eligible to be assigned to the AHL next season. But this gets back into the whole Turcotte situation, where teenagers in the AHL has usually not been successful, other than for Euros who have years of pro experience.

This team is it's own worst enemy when it comes to prospect development.

The Kings have a very easy way to lessen this next season for Brz.

He should 100% be playing in the NCAA next season.

Brzustewicz has played 3 full seasons in the OHL and wants to go pro. You're arguing that the Kings should make him apply for college and walk on to a NCAA team? His options other than the AHL are to play professionally in Europe or play a fourth season in the OHL, right? Unless you're suggesting that the Kings pencil him in on the big club in October after admitting to difficulty adjusting to the pace of play in the AHL?

I get that you like college hockey, but I think that door is shut for Brzustewicz.

 

[CarlSneep]

I mean, if the Kings development team really can't convince a kid that it'd be better for him to go play heavy minutes for a Midwest college team and earn 3 times more than he'll be making in Ontario playing bottom pairing minutes while riding a bus to Bakersfield every other weekend then they should probably find someone who can. But I'm guessing the Kings want him playing bottom pairing minutes while riding a bus to Bakersfield every other weekend for some nebulous development reason.

 

[Herby]

Brzustewicz has played 3 full seasons in the OHL and wants to go pro. You're arguing that the Kings should make him apply for college and walk on to a NCAA team? His options other than the AHL are to play professionally in Europe or play a fourth season in the OHL, right? Unless you're suggesting that the Kings pencil him in on the big club in October after admitting to difficulty adjusting to the pace of play in the AHL?

I get that you like college hockey, but I think that door is shut for Brzustewicz.

Well I wasn't aware the Kings had stupidly signed him to an ELC already when I made my comment.

But yes, the NCAA would have been the best spot for him, a perfect middle ground between the OHL and AHL. The changes in the past year have significantly changed both the NCAA and the CHL, there is a reason why so many players are going the NCAA route before going pro.

He is a 1st round pick, he would not have been walking on or applying anywhere. He would have been aggressively pursued by a number of NHL factory programs in the B10 and the NCHC and given an ideal environment to develop and reach his ceiling, surrounded by people with much more of a clue how to maximize player potential than Glen Murray and LA's lousy development staff.

If the Kings hadn't given him a contract there would have been 3 options.

- Sign him to a contract, take advantage of the new rule, and put him in the AHL as a teenager, under the control of the Kings development staff.

- Send him back to the OHL. A league that doesn't have anywhere close to the 18/19 year old talent level it had before the NCAA floodgates opened.

- Let him play 1-2 seasons in the B10 or NCHC before turning pro

I don't know, seems like a no-brainer to me. But I'm guessing you have more faith in the Kings development staff than I do.

But I'm sure the Kings will have him riding busses, learning the system, paying his and playing the Kings way. I bet it will be great for his development.

 

[tigermask48]

Brzustewicz has played 3 full seasons in the OHL and wants to go pro. You're arguing that the Kings should make him apply for college and walk on to a NCAA team? His options other than the AHL are to play professionally in Europe or play a fourth season in the OHL, right? Unless you're suggesting that the Kings pencil him in on the big club in October after admitting to difficulty adjusting to the pace of play in the AHL?

I get that you like college hockey, but I think that door is shut for Brzustewicz.

That is kind of Herby's point. He is having trouble adjusting to the AHL game, so the Kings either didn't see that and signed him to a NHL contract too early closing off other options, or did see that signed him anyway and have now put themselves in the posion to mis-handle yet another young player.

Either wqy is not a great look for anyone involved in prospect development.

 

[Herby]

That is kind of Herby's point. He is having trouble adjusting to the AHL game, so the Kings either didn't see that and signed him to a NHL contract too early closing off other options, or did see that signed him anyway and have now put themselves in the posion to mis-handle yet another young player.

Either wqy is not a great look for anyone involved in prospect development.

I just don't understand how with all the changes, why they are signing guys to ELC's who are years away from seeing NHL ice? They are completely cutting off what is very clearly now the preferred development path for a lot of drafted prospects, and what are they getting out of it?

 

[Fat Elvis]

I just don't understand how with all the changes, why they are signing guys to ELC's who are years away from seeing NHL ice? They are completely cutting off what is very clearly now the preferred development path for a lot of drafted prospects, and what are they getting out of it?

So, you're saying the Kings brass is out of touch?
Who'd a thunk......
I mean, signing 2&5 to those contracts is working out so well

 

[lumbergh]

Well I wasn't aware the Kings had stupidly signed him to an ELC already when I made my comment.

But yes, the NCAA would have been the best spot for him, a perfect middle ground between the OHL and AHL. The changes in the past year have significantly changed both the NCAA and the CHL, there is a reason why so many players are going the NCAA route before going pro.

He is a 1st round pick, he would not have been walking on or applying anywhere. He would have been aggressively pursued by a number of NHL factory programs in the B10 and the NCHC and given an ideal environment to develop and reach his ceiling, surrounded by people with much more of a clue how to maximize player potential than Glen Murray and LA's lousy development staff.

If the Kings hadn't given him a contract there would have been 3 options.

- Sign him to a contract, take advantage of the new rule, and put him in the AHL as a teenager, under the control of the Kings development staff.

- Send him back to the OHL. A league that doesn't have anywhere close to the 18/19 year old talent level it had before the NCAA floodgates opened.

- Let him play 1-2 seasons in the B10 or NCHC before turning pro

I don't know, seems like a no-brainer to me. But I'm guessing you have more faith in the Kings development staff than I do.

But I'm sure the Kings will have him riding busses, learning the system, paying his and playing the Kings way. I bet it will be great for his development.

I can't think of a single person who has played three years of juniors who then switches to college for a year or two on their way to the NHL.

 

[Mully12]

Team looked bad last night, hopefully just rusty from 11 days off and Coachella coming off 2 big wins against Bakersfield. I don't get why they keep deciding to dress Logan Brown who is often one of the biggest guys on the ice but plays charmin soft. Would much rather see Isogai get a shot over him. Not sure if Jamsen was hurt, but if he wasn't and was just a healthy scratch, that has me shaking my head as well, as he's been one of the better offensive guys for the team all season when it comes to creating chances.

As far as Bru goes, they have him paired with the captain, Joe Hicketts, whcih I'm not sure is good for him as it seems like Hicketts has an issue playing with younger guys and doesn't seem to trust them, saw it with Salin earlier in the season as well. I agree with Herby, I think the NCAA route would've been better for his development,.

Portillo looked shaky, and has for his last few starts, wonder if Copley gets the nod for Friday's game as he's been the better goalie down the stretch. Also could get desperate and go with George or Slukynsky, Hammer looked real good in his 2 starts.

 

[Chaddeus Stevens]

I can't think of a single person who has played three years of juniors who then switches to college for a year or two on their way to the NHL.

It wasn’t even possible for CHL players until a year ago; one season of NCAA hockey isn’t exactly a good sample to draw from. I would be shocked if there weren’t examples of USHL or NAHL players who played three years of junior and then went NCAA.

 

[tigermask48]

I can't think of a single person who has played three years of juniors who then switches to college for a year or two on their way to the NHL.

Laughs in Kristian Epperson.

First year it's possible and the Kings had a prospect do it. Two years in the USHL, one season in the OHL and now at Denver.

 

[KingsOfCali25]

I just don't understand how with all the changes, why they are signing guys to ELC's who are years away from seeing NHL ice? They are completely cutting off what is very clearly now the preferred development path for a lot of drafted prospects, and what are they getting out of it?

Correct. I wouldn't sign any prospects until they literally have to sign or you lose them. The only exceptions are the Celebrini/Bedard types. There are so many development options teams can use if they don't sign guys to pro contracts.

The NCAA would have been perfect for him to develop with the 18-24 year olds playing less games and getting more practices than play in the AHL against career AHL guys that are pushing 30. But the Kings like to do the wrong thing hurt their prospects development. I guess the only good thing is he'll be paired with Woolley again next year.

I just wish the AHL team was more focused on development of the prospects than winning championships. Give the kids the chance to succeed in higher roles with more pressure to perform than relying on veterans to carry the team.

 

[kinghock]

That is kind of Herby's point. He is having trouble adjusting to the AHL game, so the Kings either didn't see that and signed him to a NHL contract too early closing off other options, or did see that signed him anyway and have now put themselves in the posion to mis-handle yet another young player.

Either wqy is not a great look for anyone involved in prospect development.

He is having trouble adjusting to the AHL game, because he does not look great after 5-6 games? I guess patients is not your virtue.

 

[tigermask48]

He is having trouble adjusting to the AHL game, because he does not look great after 5-6 games? I guess patients is not your virtue.

That's a quote from Andrew Lord regarding Brz dealing with the pace of play in the AHL. But by all means go off.

 

[kings11]

I just don't understand how with all the changes, why they are signing guys to ELC's who are years away from seeing NHL ice? They are completely cutting off what is very clearly now the preferred development path for a lot of drafted prospects, and what are they getting out of it?

They did the same with Lombardi

 

[Herby]

I can't think of a single person who has played three years of juniors who then switches to college for a year or two on their way to the NHL.

Porter Martone literally just did it this season, and this is the first year that CHL players have been allowed to play in the NCAA.

You seem to be ignorant to just how much the NCAA and CHL are going to be different going forward.

 

[Mully12]

What a complete 180 after Wednesday's loss. Copley played solid, earned first star. 34 saves but only really had to bail out the team a couple times and wasn't caught out of position. I'll eat crow on Logan Brown today, played a hell of a game and tied the game at 1 late in the 1st crashing the net.

Team looked dialed in, hitting everything that moves, Gave them too many powerplays but had 100% on the PK. Didn't get defeated after letting the Firebirds on the board first and answered back before the end of 1.

Kokko pissed off thee hockey gods last game by shooting the puck into the Reign's empty net after a whistle and during a scrum in the Firebirds zone and hopefully his shit karma follows him to Coachella. The boys came to play tonight and looked like the team that won the Pacific division. Rust is gone, take the next 2 in Coachella and call it a series,

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[kingsholygrail]

Reign take 2-1 series lead.

 

[Ziggy Stardust]

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Henry pushing Melanson's diving ass around the crease was hilarious