Rangers sign top pick Ladd
KITCHENER — The Kitchener Rangers took a big step in solidifying their back end for years to come by locking up first-round pick Grayson Ladd.
The 16-year-old defenceman was beaming as he officially signed his standard player agreement while surrounded by his family at the Aud Thursday afternoon.
“A whole bunch of good players have come out of here,” said Ladd, as he glanced at name plates of former Rangers greats in the team’s dressing room. “It’s very honourable, that’s for sure.”
Kitchener selected Ladd 13th overall and made him the first blueliner off the board in this year’s Ontario Hockey League draft.
But the native of Kent Bridge, Ont., near Chatham, isn’t feeling any pressure from that. “It’s a compliment,” he said. “It makes you feel good about yourself but the work is just starting now. It’s the stepping-stone of hopefully making a career in this game.”
Ladd follows fellow rearguard Giovanni Vallati as back-to-back first-round picks by the Rangers to give the club a young — but potentially potent — one-two punch on the blue line.
The double defensive dip was part of a plan to solidify the squad from the back out.
“It’s huge to have those pieces,” said general manager Mike McKenzie. “We’ve kind of put a focus on that. They’re tough guys to find so it’s nice when you have homegrown guys that can come up through the system and be Rangers right from Day 1.
“I think if you look back at all the trades in the last handful of years, it’s usually forwards getting traded. It’s very tough to find good defencemen.”
The Rangers allowed 251 goals last season, which ranked eighth in the OHL’s 10-team western conference. The development of Vallati, who went from the team’s third unit to the top pairing in the playoffs, and the addition of Ladd should help bring those numbers down.
“We want to make sure we protect our zone,” said McKenzie. “They’re guys that aren’t just good defenders but they can move the puck and add a little bit of offence, too.”
At six-foot-two, Ladd is already imposing. But when he fills out — he only weighs 160 pounds — he could be a force in the league.
“I think the sky is the limit for Grayson,” said McKenzie. “He already plays strong. He’s a very well rounded player. He defends extremely well and moves the puck.
“I think he has all the tools to become a high end player.”
Ladd is focused on adding muscle and speed during the off-season. He hopes to make an impact as a rookie but says he’ll bring a humble approach. “You don’t try to do too much,” he said.
“You come in and you learn and go from there. Hopefully you keep progressing every year.”
The Rangers are expected to announce another player signing early next week.