Rangers deal defenceman Roberts to IceDogs for picks
Eighteen-year-old needs more ice time and blue line was getting crowded
KITCHENER — The Kitchener Rangers blue line is a little less crowded.
The Ontario Hockey League team cleared up a logjam in the back end by trading 18-year-old defenceman Elijah Roberts to the Niagara IceDogs for three draft picks Wednesday.
In return, the Rangers got a second-round pick in the 2020 OHL draft as well as third round picks in the next two drafts.
“It’s always tough to see guys go,” said Kitchener Rangers general manager Mike McKenzie. “There is only so much opportunities and ice time for guys. We had to try to manage that a bit.”
The Blueshirts now have eight rearguards under contract for this season headlined by recently acquired Winnipeg Jets prospect Logan Stanley, who joined the team in a trade with the Windsor Spitfires last week.
Stanley, Pittsburgh Penguins draft pick Connor Hall, overager Doug Blaisdell and sophomore Giovanni Vallati will likely form the team’s top four on defence.
This year’s first round pick Grayson Ladd also needs big minutes to develop while Kyle Gentles, Andrew Burns and Alex Peterson all proved their worth last season and remain in the mix.
That didn’t leave much room for Roberts, who reportedly wanted a change of scenery in order to secure a bigger role. The Brampton native should get plenty of chances with the young IceDogs club.
“Elijah is a great kid and a very talented player,” said McKenzie. “The first thing that sticks out is his skating ability. He’s probably one of the fastest guys in the league at getting up and down the ice.”
Roberts was Kitchener’s second round pick in the 2015 OHL draft.
He had seven goals and 25 assists in 124 games over two regular seasons with the Rangers. He also represented Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Under-17 tournament last summer and is a member of Jamaica’s national hockey program.