Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 5)

[OhSheilaa]

Chris Pope is no longer on the Rangers radio play by play team. I'll never understand the decisions media companies like Rogers make. I enjoyed Pope on the broadcasts, he made great observations and did a good job interviewing coaches and players, especially after a tough loss.

Paul Fixter is who they picked to replace him with. Massively underwhelming choice.

 

[Gondrex]

Chris Pope is no longer on the Rangers radio play by play team. I'll never understand the decisions media companies like Rogers make. I enjoyed Pope on the broadcasts, he made great observations and did a good job interviewing coaches and players, especially after a tough loss.

I agree. Although there are others that may disagree with me (everyone has their opinion), I felt he did a good job. I may not have agreed with all of his views, but will miss the guy's passion for the team if this news is true.

 

[rangersblues]

I'm guessing Pope may have been a little too critical at times.

I'm unsure how Fixter will do. He should have some insights if he chooses to share them. But I recall his interviews being fairly bland in his coaching days (in Kitchener at least ).

 

[EvenSteven]

I'm guessing Pope may have been a little too critical at times.

I'm unsure how Fixter will do. He should have some insights if he chooses to share them. But I recall his interviews being fairly bland in his coaching days (in Kitchener at least ).

I have not been a fan of the Farwell / Pope pairing from the start. Seems like they were more intent I’m looking for laughs than anything. Hopefully, going forward, we’ll see a more mature show. Farwell was just fine when paired with Don Cameron or Gary Doyle.

But I will admit, I did respect the fact that Pope was not afraid to speak his mind and at times was critical of the team and/or players. I agree, that might be what got him axed, if he actually was axed.

He may have just resigned?

 

[Jives]

Pope twitter account says axed via email. Someone (I’m thinking Farwell) got him fired is the impression I get from the twit.

 

[K2]

Paul Fixter is who they picked to replace him with. Massively underwhelming choice.

Paul's informed comment will upgrade the broadcast IMO and he's pretty funny once he loosens up. What would be really funny ... probably once... would be if they gave Paul the call-in show assignment

Someone (I’m thinking Farwell) got him fired

All will be revealed. Sucks that City/Rogers simply sent Chris an email after 15 years...

 

[Voice from the North]

Chris Pope is no longer on the Rangers radio play by play team. I'll never understand the decisions media companies like Rogers make. I enjoyed Pope on the broadcasts, he made great observations and did a good job interviewing coaches and players, especially after a tough loss.

Paul Fixter is who they picked to replace him with. Massively underwhelming choice.

For your sake, I hope he's a better commentator than he was a coach.

 

[RB76]

After watching the games the past two days, IMO the:
Goaltending: looks strong with Parsons and Mallet
Defence: solid lead by Brzu/Ando,
Offence: Rehk/Martin/Swick/Sop/Misal lead the way with Mercer, Morey, Botts, Besner, Akimov capable. The kids (07s) had a good couple of days. Reid, Romano, Stark, Lam and McNeil looked legit.

 

[rangersblues]

For your sake, I hope he's a better commentator than he was a coach.

All I know is he did the best post game interview ever while coaching in Sudbury

 

[Gondrex]

Cuts have been made per Ranger site. I guess no real surprises here.

 

[EvenSteven]

Cuts have been made per Ranger site. I guess no real surprises here.

Umm……that’s five 16 year olds. Have they changed the rule?

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Umm……that’s five 16 year olds. Have they changed the rule?

No limit to 16 year olds in exhibition games as far as I know.

Since MacNeil is signed, he’ll likely play in the exhibition games and then head to Fort Erie (GOJHL) where he signed to play with this season.

 

[EvenSteven]

No limit to 16 year olds in exhibition games as far as I know.

Since MacNeil is signed, he’ll likely play in the exhibition games and then head to Fort Erie (GOJHL) where he signed to play with this season.

Curious, has he been signed to a B card?Or is that decided on the eve of the regular season.

Perhaps he shows he’s more than good enough to stay and, say, Lam shows he needs more development at a lower level this year. Could they drop the B card on him?

Just a hypothetical.

 

[HockeyPops]

Pretty sure the cards can retroactively be reassigned right up to the trade deadline.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Curious, has he been signed to a B card?Or is that decided on the eve of the regular season.

Perhaps he shows he’s more than good enough to stay and, say, Lam shows he needs more development at a lower level this year. Could they drop the B card on him?

Just a hypothetical.

Yeah he’s on a Jr. B card from when he originally signed.

I believe it can be bumped up to a “full contract” if they wanted to.

Always easy to tell cause the Jr. B guys have a cage on when they play but if it switches to a visor, they got bumped up to a full contract.

 

[Habsrule]

I am happy that the roster is set but I was hoping / expecting a few players that got cut to be left on the team until after an exhibition game or two. It would be nice seeing the hard work being rewarded and would still create that internal competition for the last roster spots. Even if the coaches have made up their minds the players don’t know that.

 

[Fergus31]

delete

 

[dirty12]

Pretty sure the cards can retroactively be reassigned right up to the trade deadline.

Or up to I think 10 games played. The four true rookies can be the first two selected and any other two.
I’m pretty sure teams acquiring 16 yr olds can have more (Miss had 5 in the playoffs), but I’m not sure if the comp-1st allows the rangers to have five

 

[EvenSteven]

but I’m not sure if the comp-1st allows the rangers to have five

That would make sense some sense.

 

[Jives]

James Boyd GM OTT has said “we are in a process with the league that would allow us to trade Henry BRZ to another team if he wishes”.

This trade should be happening in the next couple days. Wait and see to where but Kitchener would have to be a top 3 option of his.

 

[Gondrex]

James Boyd GM OTT has said “we are in a process with the league that would allow us to trade Henry BRZ to another team if he wishes”.

This trade should be happening in the next couple days. Wait and see to where but Kitchener would have to be a top 3 option of his.

So I guess it's kinda official. This will mean that Kitchener may have to completely "empty the cupboard and throw in the kitchen sink" in an effort to outbid another team in the HB Sweepstakes. Unlike the poker player who could bluff his way to win a hand on weaker cards than his opponents, others know Kitchener's limits. In the end will their limited trade currency be enough? I think my money would be placed on Windsor from what dirty pointed out, but we'll see soon enough what Ottawa is willing to accept.

 

[Jives]

If Henry just says I want to go to only Kitchener then OTT will have no choice but to trade him for what MM thinks is fair and OTT get the comp 1st back. So Windsor might offer more but that won’t matter if Henry wont report. OTT can’t play super hard ball because they want / need that 1st round pick back.

 

[EvenSteven]

Pope twitter account says axed via email. Someone (I’m thinking Farwell) got him fired is the impression I get from the twit.

I’m not on Twitter so I can’t read the post. What leads you believe that Farwell was the reason? Just wondering.

 

[OMG67]

If Henry just says I want to go to only Kitchener then OTT will have no choice but to trade him for what MM thinks is fair and OTT get the comp 1st back. So Windsor might offer more but that won’t matter if Henry wont report. OTT can’t play super hard ball because they want / need that 1st round pick back.

You’d think it was that easy but it isn’t. It depends on what the player wants but Ottawa can play hardball back and say they are fine with just the comp pick and let HB sit out of the OHL for the year. He’d then have to play in an alternate league.

I’m not saying a team would do that but they would if the compensation packages were vastly different.

I cannot see a player that is simply looking for a good place to play with the right opportunities narrowing his list of teams down to one. I think he’d likely be looking at a handful of teams that would suit his desired developmental path. It is fair for the player and fair to the 67’s. Both sides win in that situation.

 

[Jives]

I’m not on Twitter so I can’t read the post. What leads you believe that Farwell was the reason? Just wondering.

Some in the comments mention Mike. He later says it was not Mike. So unknown who got him fired. Could still of been Mike but he is just saying that. Who knows….