So the first Rangers trade post Xmas happened yesterday.
Get the goods here on why the Rangers sent goalie Dawson Carty to the Hamilton Bulldogs.
Some think the deal is a sign that Kitchener is in sell-mode. I'm not saying they are or aren't but the Carty trade happened simply because of the OA situation and the depth in net.
A big game tonight as Owen Sound won again last night and is three up on the Rangers for fifth in the west. Erie also lost making the Soo the top team in the OHL.
Kitchener:
Darby Llewellyn-Mason Kohn-Adam Mascherin
Joseph Garreffa-RileyDamiani-Greg Meireles
Dylan Seitz-Jacob Cascagnette-Jake Henderson
Nick McHugh-Cedric Schiemenz-X
Doug Blaisdell-Frank Hora
Elijah Roberts-Dylan Di Perna
Kyle Gentles-Giovanni Vallati
Luke Opilka (4-4) starts.
Windsor:
Cristiano DiGiacinto-Aaron Luchuk-Luke Boka
Jeremiah Addison-Logan Brown-Gabe Vilardi
Hayden McCool-Connor Corcoran-Cole Purboo
Tyler Angle-X-X
Logan Stanley-Jalen Chatfield
Sean Day-Austin McEneny
Andrew Burns-Tyler Nother
Michael DiPietro (16-4-4-0) starts.
Game summary
Brownie points:
- Kitchener F Jeremy Bracco is at the worlds and out of action for the Rangers. Windsor is missing D Mikhail Sergachev and F Julius Nattinen.
- Windsor welcomed back forwards Gabe Vilardi and Logan Brown last night. Both hadn't played since November due to injury.
- Carty dressed for his first game with his new team in Hamilton last night (as the backup). The 'Dogs downed the Otters 5-3.
- Never would have guessed that the Rangers would only have a fifth round pick to show for the six OAs they had coming into this season. Just goes to show that it's all about timing. You have to anticipate the bad trading years and maybe move a guy a year early to get maximum value. As one GM told me, a big part of the job in the OHL is asset management.
- Some nice upgrades at the WFCU Centre in preparation for the Memorial Cup - new scoreboard, glass and boards. A nice bar outside the luxury boxes too.
- Jake Henderson is picking up his play of late and has four points in his past five games. Have heard a number of scouts drop his name in a good way recently. He'll join Luke Opilka, Doug Blaisdell, Mason Kohn and Jacob Cascagnette as OA candidates next season (Jeremy Bracco could be an OA as well but isn't likely to return).
- Luke Opilka played perhaps his best game of the season and made 34 saves. That's a good sign moving forward in the post-Carty era.
- Kitchener was hanging on in the third period and were outshot 19-2.
- Windsor clearly needs to make some adjustments if it wants to win a Memorial Cup. Word around the rink was that the team is looking to add top six talent.
- D Doug Blaisdell left the game in the first period and did not return. The veteran missed more than a month with a shoulder injury before returning just prior to Christmas. Did not see him but heard he was on crutches after the game.
- Trade rumours flying around as the deadline approaches. Sounds like the Petes are trying to be big players. No surprise here but the west's best are also looking to add. Lots of teams are interested in Saginaw's Mitchell Stephens though his recent injury at the worlds may affect that.
- Draws 24-24.
JB's top three Rangers: Luke Opilka, Jake Henderson, Kyle Gentles