OHL: Restocking Kitchener Cupboards

Graduation certainly affected the Kitchener Rangers losing their top eight scorers as well as goaltender Steve Mason. This season, the Rangers are a collection of Tier II players and cast offs from other organizations. The cost of bringing in top talent was at the expense of mortgaging their future and dealing many draft picks. The team suffered a huge blow when Jason Akeson was sidelined with a shoulder injury, however McKeen's correspondent David Burstyn looks at a handful of Rangers who should lead this team back to respectability.

Scott Timmins (2009), C, Kitchener

Centring the top line due to graduations, the Hamilton-born native is also an assistant captain this season .. more of a defensive-minded forward, his offensive prowess is somewhat limited despite his hot start averaging more than a point a game in the first dozen games .. he works hard for his opportunities, positioning himself well in the slot to take advantage of his snapshot .. his release is quick but it does not have the velocity to be considered a triggerman .. has always been on the slender side, this season he has gained a little bit of weight in the off-season, as he is using his wiry frame to drive to the net, dropping his shoulder and pushing defenseman out wide .. his commitment to stay with plays and the way he disguises his actions helps him be successful as well .. has presence in the neutral and defensive zone .. skates well to cut down angles and stays with his man .. there is nothing spectacular about his play, as he does not excel in any one particular aspect, yet is able to put forth an honest effort that should see him potentially captain this team next season as one of the better over age players in the league.

Simon Gronvaldt (2009), D, Kitchener

The Rangers once again turn to Denmark for their Import selection, as Gronvaldt (57th overall) has already represented his country in both the Under 18 and the WJC .. marries his healthy skating style with decent offensive ability .. fluid skater with proper mechanics, his feet serve him well to launch an attack .. has yet to find the score sheet with regularity but the poise and decision-making he exhibits in the offensive zone are encouraging .. the same however, cannot be said about his defensive-zone coverage .. his decision-making and gapping control need serious work .. he is easily confused and drawn out of assignments .. his mobility helps him keep up but he does not retain his positioning on the ice and constantly chases down puck carriers only to loose valuable ice down low .. has much to learn about the North American game and has learned to keep his stick up, as he has become the victim of many late hits .. at 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, he is a big target and does not have much meat on his bones yet .. given the injury to Dan Kelly (broken ankle), the Rangers will lean heavily on him to play within the top two rotations.

Jeff Skinner (2010), C, Kitchener

The first round selection joined the Rangers amidst speculation that he would be exploring the NCAA route, thus resulting in his draft stock dropping .. a sensational puckhandler who can dazzle with his vast arsenal of moves .. very slippery in tight quarters, he has a great set of hands but does not always use his linemates .. he is a very individualistic player who plays the game by himself on most shifts and more than likely could not tell you who his linemates are .. his shot is already goal-scorer calibre and he releases it quickly .. Skinner is brutal away from the puck .. rarely if ever does he come back into the defensive zone, constantly cheating to push up for offence .. he is very one dimensional, however his multitude of offensive skills has already drawn comparisons to a young Derek Roy .. coupled with the fact that he is already developing a reputation as a diver and the similarity between the two appears apt .. not afraid to assert himself, however he is easily taken off his game once he becomes the subject of abuse .. Skinner has all the tools to be a dominant player in this league in two to three years, however he needs to play a more team game.

Alex Aleardi (2010), C, Kitchener

The Rangers second pick in last year's OHL draft was Aleardi, a standout for the fabled Detroit Compuware team .. an offensive dynamo that averaged well over a point a game last season .. Aleardi needs to assert himself more in all areas of the ice and be more determined in his play .. he competes but not hard enough and needs to physically pay the price .. short, precise strides enable him to muster strong levels of speed .. he is bumped around a lot something that never happened last season in minor, as players simply could not land a check on him .. he needs to revert to his old style of fearlessly attacking and retrieving the puck from the boards and down low .. he is physically underdeveloped so this type of game will take its toll on him, but also needs to be done for him to be successful .. with his puckhandling skills and hockey sense, he plays the game eerily similar to Justin Azevedo.