I just say that because I doubt he's played in front of 7000 people before. That's got to be a little nerving for any 18 year-old. He can definitely handle it and probably won't show any nerves but it just seems like unneeded pressure. Just because he's drafted doesn't mean he gives us a better chance. Again I think he's the #1 guy, but most of us have seen him play one game (an awesome game it was though).
Kitchener Rangers 2015-16 Season Thread
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I just say that because I doubt he's played in front of 7000 people before. That's got to be a little nerving for any 18 year-old. He can definitely handle it and probably won't show any nerves but it just seems like unneeded pressure. Just because he's drafted doesn't mean he gives us a better chance. Again I think he's the #1 guy, but most of us have seen him play one game (an awesome game it was though).
I'm sure he'll be nervous, but he's played big games before and I don't think it's a big difference. It's not like he's jumping into the WJC. He's gonna be the guy for us this year most likely and I'd rather just give him the ball. He's much more talented than Carty and I think, especially after his training camp/exhibition season, it would be a mistake to not put him in there. Label him number one and give him some rope.
bobber
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Thought the Rangers looked good in the first. After that it was back to the same struggle as last year. No defensive coverage. Too many opposing players getting in the goalie's face. The D needs to get into the weight room. They lost a ton of battles tonight. I give the Attack credit for playing a decent game. They looked well coached always seem to have players open to accept nice crisp passes.
I thought with those 7 penalties all in a row we lost a lot of momentum especially in the 2nd period. We just stopped skating and looked out of sync. 5 on 5. However, I like the style of play, not just that chip and chase game that went on all last year.
rangersblues
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One thing I noticed is Owen Sound had a lot of open ice and odd man rushes. While I don't want to see us resort to being a mind numbing defensive team, that's going to have to change.
bobber
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Some of the penalties were questionable for sure but the hooking penalties infur a lack of foot speed or maybe positional problems. Owen Sound has a system that stymied the Rangers. They seemed to do a number on them in both ends. Defensively the Rangers seemed to lack strength to hold off the Attack forwards. Similar to what we saw in the last few seasons. Opilka seemed to be slightly injured twice last night. The Rangers need to add another huge OA defender for sure. I agree the nine PP's they gave up wore on them.
Sorry but l couldn't help but see similarities to last year such as playing 3 lines over and over.The first game what happened to developing players?4th line had 5 shifts so when they get the chance their is no rythmn legs are stiff etc.16 games last year without a lose why,we were rolling 4 lines.Bzowey saw about 3 min of ice and Davies,McHugh maybe 4minutes.lts the first game and its starting all over again a former first round draft pick ranked 185 by CS for this years NHL draft getting no ice.l know l am no pro coach and what l say means nothing but you have to at least give a kid an opportunity to fail instead of never giving him a honest look at playing on a top line with icetime.
rangersblues
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In fairness to Van Ryn it's difficult to roll 4 lines when you're killing that many penalties. Especially when guys like Mascherin aren't on pk and you have to get them minutes. Definitely something to keep an eye on though.
bobber
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Guess MVR said the mistakes he saw are correctable. Personally from my uneducated observation it did look a lot like last year. The question I would ask posters is there a lack of speed on this team? They took a few hooking penalties which seems to indicate a lack of foot speed in some cases. I think for this team to have some real success they have to inject some speed. I think it's best to jump on those things early.
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It could also be lack of positioning. But it's just one game, so we'll see how they look moving forward. Getting Sergeev back will help a lot, as will MacInnis, but especailly Sergeev since the D lacks the depth of the forward corps.
Thats what I saw. The players being out of position ALOT defensively. That is coachable, see if ours do. As for team speed, we do have it, just have to come together as a team.
I liked what I saw from Cagasnette, was pleasantly surprised at his improvement over the summer. I know it is one game, hope he can keep it up.
I know we were on the PK for most of the 2nd period but I hope MVR can get Mascherin more icetime. I think he needs it to get into the flow of the game.
EvenSteven
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I know it was only one game, but with Sergeev due to return to the lineup soon I think, who of the six that played game one will be bumped out of the lineup? IMO, Roberts did enough to stay in. As well, based on their play, I can't see DiPerna, Hora, or Blaisdell coming out. Perhaps it's down to Allen or Brosnan. I'd be surprised to see the OA sitting out but IMO, he's the guy Sergeev would bump.
Any idea how long Sergeev will be out? I was under the impression that he was just a day to day thing. However, this decision maybe doesn't have to be made just yet.
It's a lot easier to pick a guy to sit in favour of MacInnis next game. Any one of Bzowey, Davies or McHugh.
I was pleasantly surprised of the play of Cascagnette by the way. Seems the coaching staff had a lot of faith in him. Let's hope he repays them by putting some points on the board.
I'm thinking we'll see a trade of DiPerna or Blaisdell sooner rather than later if Roberts shows he can stick. The overager (especially when he's the only one in our lineup right now) would be a surprise to me but who knows. Hall and Allen have to play eventually after spending last year in B. We might be looking at a rotation until someone plays themselves into a demotion or a trade.
EvenSteven
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I'd be wary of dealing anyone just yet. As you said, a rotation should be the way to go to give the Ranger brass a good idea of who to keep, who to deal or demote, and get a good idea of what their value would be in trade.
DeBoer always waited until late October until he made any major deals and likely for the reasons I've listed. I'm not in favour of dealing someone away in a knee jerk fashion so early in the season as we've seen done here in the resent past (the Prince and Sterk deals come to mind. Had we waited a month or more on those guys, perhaps their true value would have been recognized.
My first opinion on a guy like, say Davies, who looks to play on the 4th line again this year, was to move him now and get what we can for him. As a former 1st rounder, he should have enough value to get us a decent third OA F or D, depending on what direction the team decided to go with the 3rd OA spot. But if we wait a month or so, maybe put Davies in game situations where his potential can be realized to the point where we can get more in return for him in trade or maybe allow him to play his way into the top 9. But to be honest, once MacInnis returns I'd suspect Cascsgnette would be back on the 4th line (who else would you put there?), I don't see who Davies can bump off the top 9.
So I see him being a top candidate to be dealt that we could get a good return on. He'd likely welcome the opportunity.
I agree - early season everyone is getting into gear and it's best to wait for a large enough sample size before making decisions. I'm pretty sure Prince and Sterk demanded trades, and deBoer sought to accommodate them quickly either out of professional obligation or concern for team chemistry.
I feel bad for Davies - he seems to work hard and has a good shot, but hasn't been able to get a real shot in the top 9. A forward will have to go at some point after MacInnis returns, barring injury.
bobber
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Good point Even. I think making trades has to be opportunistic. If a skilled player or prospect becomes disposable by an opposing team sometimes you have to take a chance and grab him if he will better the club better. I am sure the Rangers being an older club they are looking at different avenues to make the club more competitive. I agree it's good to try and gain value by playing certain players for a number of games. In Sterk and Prince's cases both asked for more ice. I liked both players. Sometimes a manager has no choice but to trade a player with legitimate demands that the team feels they cannot guarantee. They usually try to expedite these issues quickly to remove any negativity in the room. Davies has been here for three years and I can see him being not happy with his ice as a former first pick but maybe he has something to prove.
EvenSteven
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Perhaps they take a page out of DeBoer's book and once the season is a month or so old, scour the AHL for possible OA candidates. Peter Tsmilalis was an incredible find in 2006-07. Sure we got him for nothing, but even if that caliber of player was destined to be returned to junior from the AHL a couple months into the season, Hiebert should be in on any trade discussions for such a player should the team who holds his junior rights feel they'd like to move him.
I hope they hold off for a bit before trading assets to fill the third OA spot. If the above happens, the eventual change reaction would make maybe a better caliber OA available at that time.
Speaking of OA's, along with MacInnis returning to the lineup, Robinson will be back in a month or so as well. No matter how it all pans out, I think we'll have a pretty good top 9 forwards.
Even, I would agree with you on the D end. I was not impressed with Brosnan at all. He seemed to be a step behind or out of position all night. Allen did not impress as much as 10 game Hall, but with his youth, do you waste that asset and sit him over the limited upside potential of an OA'er? And I think Hall is a keeper when he comes back. There won't be many of the opposition who will float through the middle of the ice when he is around.
As others have mentioned, I hope MH gives this another month or so not only to assess our roster, but also our competitive position in the West. If we aren't in any position to make a run in the playoffs, then let's develop the younger guys for a shot down the road.
rangersblues
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Prince was in an unfortunate situation. Our forwards lacked size for the most part. Skinner, MacKinnon, Aleardi, Cattenacci, Akeson and Prince were all 5'9" - maybe smaller. Looking back it was a good group. Very skilled. Just tough to compete with that many young, under sized forwards.
I thought I would wait until the season progressed some more but boy oh boy Brosnan needs a wake up call. I agree with other posters that he seems really slow but last night he was checked of the puck quite easily and then made that bonehead move on a power play late in the game. The defence to me still seems to keep backing up into their zone and letting the opposition have easy entrance into the Ranger zone.
Haha was literally about to make the exact same post. I don't really know what I was expecting of him before the season started, but for any overager this would be considered underperforming. And yes it is early, but I noticed him being out of it in the scrimmage, preseason, and now the first two games of the season. As of right now, I think he's the odd-man out for when Sergeev comes back. Roberts is playing too good. Got our first win though
Wonder how Davies is doing, that close-up shot of his face on tv when he was helped up made him look like he didn't know where he was. Hopefully they don't take the Wolves lightly tonight.
K2
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I too hope Brosnan gets in the game before long - awful gaffe last night and general lackluster play late in both games so far. Seems we're still snakebitten for scoring at times as well ... a couple quick starts then lots of posts and fans. Early days all around though. Wish we would have scouted the pond where Erie found DeBrincat ... he's on pace for 204 goals
Was up in N Bay yesterday and was able to stay up and watch the game. We were sitting behind the Rangers' goal in the third, and before I could say 'what are you thinking', the puck was chipped in behind an unsuspecting Opilka before he could move. May have cost him a shutout, and although team comes before ind stats, it would have been a good confidence booster for our rookie tender.I too hope Brosnan gets in the game before long - awful gaffe last night and general lackluster play late in both games so far. Seems we're still snakebitten for scoring at times as well ... a couple quick starts then lots of posts and fans. Early days all around though. Wish we would have scouted the pond where Erie found DeBrincat ... he's on pace for 204 goals
A couple of my buddies I watched the game with played at a higher level of hockey, and were quite impressed with Roberts. The kid has it figured out how to 'minimize' his size disadvantage. As someone stated earlier, if Brosnan doesn't get his s&*t together soon, he may be in the pressbox when Sergeev and Hall return.
It was nice to see that although time remaining was limited, Brosnan sat on the end of the bench for the rest of the game.
We played with good speed last night and for the most part forced N Bay to make quick plays, sometimes resulting in turnovers. Ryan McInnis looks very poised out on that ice - and is making some great plays.
I do notice that our D is standing up a little more at the opposing blue line than we have seen in the past, which is a positive change. Don't know if that is a change in philosophy or just having the team to allow you to do that knowing that someone has your back.
Hope the boys can keep the momentum going in Sudbury tonight!
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