Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 4)

[bobber]

Rangers always go stunned if the go down by two goals. They have all season. Just not enough leaders and a way too many passengers tonight.
If Pinelli doesn't step up someone else has to take the lead. Knights speed was a factor and they got contributions from their whole team. They have been the best defensive team in the league and it showed tonight.

 

[HolyRoller]

 

[robertmac43]

Mesar was great tonight. Hollett sticking up for his team mate, was nice to see some bite for him. Really hope we can find room to keep him next season.

The fourth line in general had some solid moments. They had a great shift to start the second that I thought may lead to something. Hollet a huge part of it with some big hits and good energy.

 

[All the Answers]

Arcuri is Rehkopf in 2 years. Million dollar shot, but no heart to do what it takes to win. Sure hope we offload him.

Poor time for Hunter B to literally have his worst game of the year. Why he saw any ice in the 3rd is beyond me.

 

[rangersblues]

The fourth line in general had some solid moments. They had a great shift to start the second that I thought may lead to something. Hollet a huge part of it with some big hits and good energy.

Hollett had a great shift in the London end early in the second period. Three big hits and the 4th line had the Knights bottled up. I only saw him on the ice one more shift that period, although I could be wrong.

 

[robertmac43]

I only saw him on the ice one more shift that period, although I could be wrong.

I think he got one more shift after that in the second. I could also be wrong though lol

 

[TheBlueMonster]

The fourth line in general had some solid moments. They had a great shift to start the second that I thought may lead to something. Hollet a huge part of it with some big hits and good energy.

100%,


Honestly, down the stretch or at least the last 2 weeks of the season and the playoffs,

Hollett, Mercer, Missle, and Bottineau showed quite a bit of promise. None that will be life changing but they've put together a tidy run and all together look like they will turn into solid role players

 

[EvenSteven]

Rangers won't win many games when the defense plays so loose and the goalie lets in a goal every 6 shots. Hunter made adjustments like I said he would and all MM can do is stand there and watch the results. A lot of invisible Rangers through two. As for Rehkopf trying the Michigan. Stick that move where the sun don't shine unless you're up by 6 goals. Then he loses his man and takes a penalty.

We couldn’t hold the line all night at even strength or on the PP.

And on the PK, when we got a hold of the puck, we looked for outlet passes that most often got picked off. What we should have been doing is icing the puck.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Well it was a fun ride. Will remember that upset over Windsor for a while. I think MM will have his hands free for the draft Friday at this point.

 

[bobber]

When you look at the game sheet on the OHL site you see a mess of misconduct penalties in the third period. The first 2 periods looked like a love fest. This is how the whole game sheet should look for the Rangers if they want to beat the Knights. Rangers are not going to beat them trying to match their speed. Switching back and forth to the NHL playoffs no one gets a free ride without getting hit if they carry the puck along the boards. Hopefully the 8th seed Rangers give us one game where they use their size. MM and his assistants have to get them playing with more spark. The 10th seed could have beat them last night. Coaches standing there behind the players with a stunned look on their mugs doesn't cut it. Play the players that want to contribute and sit the passengers. If your going to go out , go out in style and give us something to remember. If Hunter was coaching this bunch they would be held to account in tomorrows contest. At the very least tomorrow make the Knights realize they are in the playoffs and not on the ice at practice.

 

[EvenSteven]

Well it was a fun ride. Will remember that upset over Windsor for a while. I think MM will have his hands free for the draft Friday at this point.

The Windsor series was a fun ride. But in the grand scheme of things, getting booted in the 2nd round is an epic fail for a team that went all in the way we did this year.

Graduating assets in:
Arcuri. Moore. Zhilkin. Costantini.

Returning assets out:
Zidlicky.
6 x 2nds
7 x 3rds
2 x 4ths
5th*
6th*
8th

 

[Coaches Coroner]

The Windsor series was a fun ride. But in the grand scheme of things, getting booted in the 2nd round is an epic fail for a team that went all in the way we did this year.

Graduating assets in:
Arcuri. Moore. Zhilkin. Costantini.

Returning assets out:
Zidlicky.
6 x 2nds
7 x 3rds
2 x 4ths
5th*
6th*
8th

Sure, but that's more how it feels now. Maybe it's not as much a bummer to me because I expected to lose in Windsor in 5. In 10 years the disappointing 2nd round will be footnote, while I think most of us (I think I will at least) will mostly remember that one time we became the first 8th seed to sweep a 1 seed. Hopefully they give us better memories in the intervening years

 

[bobber]

Brock Ottens mock draft has the Rangers taking at 10th Forward Owen Griffen. Let the ETA in points this season. At 11th he has Rangers taking a two way Dman from Aylmer Ontario that plays for the Rochester Selects (USA). He has Henry Brzustewicz taken by Hamilton at 8th. One of the best skaters in the draft. It is a crap shoot doing mock drafts. The draft hardly ever turns out the way prognosticators think they will. Otten does garner all his info from top scouts and by some observations himself. His scouting reports are fairly accurate because of this. Got the word "prognosticators" from when Wiarton Willie saw his shadow. For those interested there is a post on the Spits thread that has Otten's scouting reports and mock draft. Good read. I still think Hunter's bro will end up here in KW. I also thought the Spits would make short work of the Rangers so take that with a grain of salt.

 

[EvenSteven]

Brock Ottens mock draft has the Rangers taking at 10th Forward Owen Griffen. Let the ETA in points this season. At 11th he has Rangers taking a two way Dman from Aylmer Ontario that plays for the Rochester Selects (USA). He has Henry Brzustewicz taken by Hamilton at 8th. One of the best skaters in the draft. It is a crap shoot doing mock drafts. The draft hardly ever turns out the way prognosticators think they will. Otten does garner all his info from top scouts and by some observations himself. His scouting reports are fairly accurate because of this. Got the word "prognosticators" from when Wiarton Willie saw his shadow. For those interested there is a post on the Spits thread that has Otten's scouting reports and mock draft. Good read. I still think Hunter's bro will end up here in KW. I also thought the Spits would make short work of the Rangers so take that with a grain of salt.

With the draft coming up this weekend, I’m wondering if MM will gamble on a flyer in the 1st round.

I notice that mock draft has William Moore, who’s signed with the NTDP, going 6th overall to Oshawa.

Even though he’s signed with the Program, the fact he applied for exceptional status last year tells me, and as obviously displayed in the mock draft, that he could report to the OHL if the right team drafts him.

It’s not a lock that Oshawa takes him at #6. I mean, it’s just a mock draft. You never know. But, if he’s still on the board when we pick, should we take a flyer on him? We have two 1sts. Can we afford to use one on him?

Kitchener would be a good situation for him. The roster will be hit hard by graduation. There’ll be plenty of spots open. If Pinelli and Rehkopf were able to play up the lineup and spend time on the PP as 16 year olds, surely Moore could walk in and play at least those minutes but likely more as a 16 year old based on our returning roster.

I doubt we do unless MM “knows” he’ll report as he “knew” Pinelli and Rehkopf would report. Sure he stubbed his toe on Hage, but he has displayed in the past that he won’t take the best player on the board just because. Hence his passing on Fantilli when he was on the board in ‘21. He has to have enough inside info to be confidant the player will come.

Knowing he can’t get a comp pick in consecutive years, he has to take players that will report. So IMO, that means if Moore is still on the board when we pick, and we take him, then it’s a virtual guarantee that he’s coming.

We’ll see.

 

[Purple Phart]

Sure, but that's more how it feels now. Maybe it's not as much a bummer to me because I expected to lose in Windsor in 5. In 10 years the disappointing 2nd round will be footnote, while I think most of us (I think I will at least) will mostly remember that one time we became the first 8th seed to sweep a 1 seed. Hopefully they give us better memories in the intervening years

That sweep of Windsor is a Ranger record that'll probably endure for a good many seasons before it's ever duplicated.

The Knights happen to own the current record for the worst performance over the regular season ( winning only 3 games ) I sat through that season, and maintained my seasons ticket long enough to witness them establish a new record for the winningest season ( that they still own ).

What goes around, comes around, and eventually the Rangers will have a season that'll make their fans proud .

 

[bobber]

Find it hilarious how some Knight fans fluff off the hit on Martin as an embellishment and find Pinelli's hit worthy of a suspension. I guess when you are "OHL royalty" you are to be treated with kid gloves. We all look at games with our rose coloured glasses I guess. Rangers made their bed.
According to Pope the Rangers have allowed 6 goals in the 1st or final minute of the 1st period. It is a pattern this season. Not including empty net goals they have allowed 35 goals this season in the 1st or final minute of a period. I think this issue goes back a long way. I remember one season when we had season tickets where the Rangers seemed to get scored on in the first minute or two every home game.

 

[rangersblues]

Sure, but that's more how it feels now. Maybe it's not as much a bummer to me because I expected to lose in Windsor in 5. In 10 years the disappointing 2nd round will be footnote, while I think most of us (I think I will at least) will mostly remember that one time we became the first 8th seed to sweep a 1 seed. Hopefully they give us better memories in the intervening years

I'll also remember this as another wasted season with an awful coach who got fired much too late. London looked like a team with superior coaching since September. Kitchener looked like a team in the second month of the season.

Please please please hire a competent, professional HC next season.

 

[bobber]

I'll also remember this as another wasted season with an awful coach who got fired much too late. London looked like a team with superior coaching since September. Kitchener looked like a team in the second month of the season.

Please please please hire a competent, professional HC next season.

I agree blues they do need to hire a pro coach next year. Hunter should be a prototype of what to look for in a coach. Proof is in the pudding.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I'll also remember this as another wasted season with an awful coach who got fired much too late. London looked like a team with superior coaching since September. Kitchener looked like a team in the second month of the season.

Please please please hire a competent, professional HC next season.

It being another of many wasted seasons means that will all blend together for me, it won't stick out as much as the sweep.
I'm not happy about being out in 5 to London likely, but it also isn't going to ruin that first round for me. If that happens for you guys, well that's unfortunate to me.

 

[bobber]

It being another of many wasted seasons means that will all blend together for me, it won't stick out as much as the sweep.
I'm not happy about being out in 5 to London likely, but it also isn't going to ruin that first round for me. If that happens for you guys, well that's unfortunate to me.

Coroner , for me what happened in the first round was the best hockey we saw out of the Rangers in a long time. Not just talking this season. Can't say for sure what happened to the first place Spits but the Rangers played incredible in those four games. A series like that will certainly be remembered down the road by many fans. I think it tempers the Dennis fiasco and the mediocre season that came with it somewhat. Getting the second for this draft to add to the two firsts helps make the draft at least interesting going forward.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Coroner , for me what happened in the first round was the best hockey we saw out of the Rangers in a long time. Not just talking this season. Can't say for sure what happened to the first place Spits but the Rangers played incredible in those four games. A series like that will certainly be remembered down the road by many fans. I think it tempers the Dennis fiasco and the mediocre season that came with it somewhat. Getting the second for this draft to add to the two first helps make the draft at least interesting going forward.

Ya the 2nd was something I didn't see coming and helps. I have a feeling if Brz gets traded to Sag, we might see 1 less 2nd and few mid round picks instead. Still not a "successful" season, but that series was something else.

 

[EvenSteven]

Ya the 2nd was something I didn't see coming and helps. I have a feeling if Brz gets traded to Sag, we might see 1 less 2nd and few mid round picks instead. Still not a "successful" season, but that series was something else.

For sure the trade with Saginaw is easily the beginning of something big when trade moratoriums are lifted.

I don’t believe there’s ever been a trade like this one, a 2nd in the current draft for lesser picks further down the line.

To get a 2nd in this draft, historically, you’d have to give up a distant 2nd plus a 3rd or 4th.

Hunter B is the likely candidate to be moved across the border. As I posted a while back in my Kit / Sag trade scenario, moving Hunter in the off season makes more sense to get max return. This 2nd we just acquired from Saginaw is part of that return.

 

[EvenSteven]

…… Hollett sticking up for his team mate, was nice to see some bite for him. Really hope we can find room to keep him next season.

As far as there being room for Hollett as an OA next year, I feel confident that there will be. We’re going into a massive rebuild which means a massive selloff. Our prime overage candidates should be in demand around league.

Motew, for example, was our plus minus leader all year and in the playoffs. If nothing else, his play in these playoffs as elevated his status as an in demand OA next year.

Martin’s size and scoring ability will also have him in demand for teams looking for that power forward type presence who can score.

Sop should be a point a game player next year and could find himself to be in demand as well. Could he be next year’s George Diaco? Maybe.

In any event, I’d look for two of those three to be moved for good value. That leaves room for a guy like Hollett to be around to provide the veteran presence that you’d like to see on a young rebuilding team.

 

[Rangers2022]

For sure the trade with Saginaw is easily the beginning of something big when trade moratoriums are lifted.

I don’t believe there’s ever been a trade like this one, a 2nd in the current draft for lesser picks further down the line.

To get a 2nd in this draft, historically, you’d have to give up a distant 2nd plus a 3rd or 4th.

Hunter B is the likely candidate to be moved across the border. As I posted a while back in my Kit / Sag trade scenario, moving Hunter in the off season makes more sense to get max return. This 2nd we just acquired from Saginaw is part of that return.

Hunter B had his worst game as a Ranger last night.
Think he was nervous with the Saginaw scouts watching him Lol.

 

[GeoBlue]

For sure the trade with Saginaw is easily the beginning of something big when trade moratoriums are lifted.

I don’t believe there’s ever been a trade like this one, a 2nd in the current draft for lesser picks further down the line.

To get a 2nd in this draft, historically, you’d have to give up a distant 2nd plus a 3rd or 4th.

Hunter B is the likely candidate to be moved across the border. As I posted a while back in my Kit / Sag trade scenario, moving Hunter in the off season makes more sense to get max return. This 2nd we just acquired from Saginaw is part of that return.

Question on the Hunter trade potential..............Can he veto any trades? I'd hate to see us draft Henry and then Hunter decides to stay put in order to play with bro.