Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Wranglers re-sign two key players

One showed promise, the other showed leadership and both will be asked to provide more than ever next season.

Chris Stanley, whose 11 power play goals led ECHL rookies last season, and Mike McBain, who will probably be the most senior player on the Wranglers roster next year, both re-signed with Las Vegas for next season, the team announced Thursday.

Stanley, the Canadian college player of the year in 2004, scored 16 goals and 20 assists in 57 games with the Wranglers before breaking his left elbow. McBain, along with his brother Jason, were the first players the Wranglers signed before their expansion season two years ago.

Reached at his home in Nova Scotia, Stanley said his rehabilitation has progressed rapidly since the injury ended his season.

"I was shooting pucks today, I felt pretty good," Stanley said. "I should be ready to roll when camp comes around."

Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan, reached late Thursday while driving to Calgary from Saskatchewan where he was scouting players, said that Stanley's flashes in his rookie year give him higher expectations for next year.

"We're looking for big things out of Chris Stanley for next season," Gulutzan said. "We're looking for him to carry the load a bit more."

Stanley said he feels that he's been able to make an adjustment to professional hockey that will help him next season.

"I was starting to feel comfortable, but those things happen," he said. "I was looking forward to coming back knowing what it takes to be successful. It was a bigger jump than I probably anticipated."

McBain will probably be voted as the team's captain this October, replacing Jason, who retired after last season. Mike McBain could not be reached Thursday.

In 72 games last year, the Wranglers' 28-year-old defenseman had five goals and 20 assists, plus 95 penalty minutes.

"I'm relying on Mike to take a real stand for that locker room as far as leadership goes both on and off the ice," Gulutzan said. "A lot of those tendencies come natural for Mike anyway. He's going to be our third-year guy here, and it'll be important that he steps up. With his brother gone here, he's going to have more of a leadership responsibility."

McBain and Stanley join Marc Magliarditi as the only Wranglers re-signed for next year. Eight players received qualifying offers from the Wranglers last week, including Keith Anderson, Morten Ask, Matt Dzieduszycki, Charles Linglet, Nathan Martz, Steve Munn, Christian Chartier and Jon Krall.

Gulutzan said he thinks next season's team might have a look similar to last year's in its youth.

"I don't know how young but we'll be fairly young," he said. "I think we're going to be a little bit bigger. If we can get that done, I think that'll help us out a little bit too."

The Wranglers open their season on October 21 at Utah, then host the Grizzlies on Oct. 25.

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