Kitchener Rangers netminder Marco Costantini has agreed to a tryout deal with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, who are an affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks.
Th 20-year-old overager joined the Rangers in an early-season deal with the Hamilton Bulldogs and quickly became the team’s number one netminder.
He appeared in 47 games with Kitchener this season while posting a 3.23 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage.
While in Hamilton, he helped the Bulldogs to the OHL’s best record last season as the team eventually advanced in the playoffs to the Memorial Cup, where they lost in the championship game.
He is the second player from the Rangers to head to the AHL in the few days that have passed since the Rangers were eliminated from the playoffs by the London Knights.
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The Winnipeg Jets also recalled forward Danny Zhilkin and assigned him to their AHL affiliate, the Manitoba Moose, who are in the midst of their playoffs.
The Rangers picked up Zhilkin from Guelph in a January trade as the team’s brass were clearly hoping to make a long playoff run this year.
He had 29 goals and 27 assists in 60 OHL games with the Rangers this season.
The Tampa Bay Lightning have also recalled Rangers defenceman Roman Schmidt and assigned him to their AHL farm club in Syracuse.
Over two seasons in Kitchener, the Michigan-born defenceman has recorded 61 points in 132 games.
Both Schmidt and Zhilkin are among a number of Rangers who would qualify to play as overagers next season, a list that also includes Francesco Arcuri, Francesco Pinelli, Mitchell Martin, Matthew Sop, Simon Motew and Ty Hollett.
A number of those players are currently signed to NHL clubs and could spend next season playing at a higher level but decisions will have to be made about the three overage spots.