Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)

[Coaches Coroner]

Looks like just the streaming feed.

Is it the free game of the week or just for subscribers?

 

[RangerNation]

Is it the free game of the week or just for subscribers?

Just for subscribers it looks like. That being said, game time may come and it could say not televised, It's happened before.

 

[GeoBlue]

Is it the free game of the week or just for subscribers?

I don't recall one needing to be a subscriber. You can buy individual games.

 

[GeoBlue]

Is it the free game of the week or just for subscribers?

I'm getting it free.

 

[Gondrex]

Looks like we're not getting the game on tv today from what I can tell

Just a heads up. I don't believe the upcoming home game vs Peterborough is being televised either. At least according to the Rogers schedule I have.

 

[RangerNation]

Missy has gold in net. Leenders is keeping them in this and will be a treat to watch over the next couple years.

 

[Gondrex]

It may have been a lopsided win, but we've seen this movie before. In Mesar's first game, the Rangers pasted the Wolves 7-1. Personally I'm going to try to keep my recency bias in check before drawing optimism from one game. On the other hand, maybe the majority of the players on this team by now have finally bought into CD's systems that this sort of result continues. Let's hope so.

Okay starting to believe.

Pinelli now has the 2nd best P/G in the entire league. Man this kid is on a tear.
Mesar is #19.

Good to see Valade's hard work paying off.

Four points for Moore in 2 games.
Three points [correction] for Arcuri in two.
Looking forward to seeing Mesar, Martin and Hamara back in the line-up to see how things shape up.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Looks like the Rangers are advancing smoothly through the corner they need to make.

 

[RangerNation]

This team doesn't let many in. 32-7 in 6 games.

Boat load of games coming after Christmas. January will be a telling month for this team. Can't wait to watch it all unfold. Finally some excitement this season!

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I don't recall one needing to be a subscriber. You can buy individual games.

Yup. I buy individual games when needed. $9 but I played it with the sound down. The colour commentator was super annoying...

Great game this aft and the right way to go into the break.

 

[rangersblues]

Back in the day, trading for the top talent to come along in every 5-10 years didn’t get that team out of the conference. JT (late birthday) at the same age Wright is now, and the deep London Knights still couldn’t get past Windsor in the post season.

Just sayin.

Windsor won the first of back to back Memorial Cups that season. London was let down by poor goaltending if I recall.

Many are obviously dead against trading for Wright. I'm in the minority - get him if we can. More than that I have complete faith in whatever MM tries. A month ago most here including myself were ready to flush the season. At the end of the day no matter what MM does, the best he can do is put us in a position to win. There are no guarantees.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

Kitchener are one of those teams that are better than their record indicates.

You lot should absolutely buy this year - and rightfully so.

 

[EvenSteven]

Question:

Are we done big game hunting? We don’t have a ton of picks left but we could make one more big add plus a minor one if we were so inclined.

Is that big add an OA upgrade? A month ago I would have been ok with an upgrade on Valade but since the Erie game at the end of November, he’s picked it up to where we expected going into the season. He’s over a point a game since then.

If it makes sense to go after another big add up front at OA, could we move Valade for some value? He may be a consolation prize to a contender looking to upgrade at OA. That’s if we’re in on a Morrison.

Or would we be leaving a hole moving out Valade? Maybe we go after another ‘03 with Valade/Sop bumped down to give us a scoring threat from the 3rd line?

With the possibility of Mississsuga deciding to sell, buying may become a tad cheaper with more vets available on the market.

 

[Gondrex]

This team doesn't let many in. 32-7 in 6 games.

Boat load of games coming after Christmas. January will be a telling month for this team. Can't wait to watch it all unfold. Finally some excitement this season!

Yeah, the process of improving their game in their own end seemed to take forever, but it looks like they're now there. So is their offensive game. CD's whole plan on team puck control appears to be paying dividends.

It has taken a ton of patience, and it turned out to be way past that "roughly end-of-October" marker where you get a pretty good idea of what your team's destiny would be for the season, but IMO we're seeing many positive signs.

I know CD has taken a lot of heat up until lately....the coach, in many cases does. If things stay on track here I will give him a tip of the hat for having the confidence to stick with his plan / systems, and having the faith that his players would eventually get it. Yet through it all I can't help but be impressed with Sop as being one of those guys who seemed to had play well since the beginning of the schedule.

 

[EvenSteven]

Yeah, the process of improving their game in their own end seemed to take forever, but it looks like they're now there. So is their offensive game. CD's whole plan on team puck control appears to be paying dividends.

It has taken a ton of patience, and it turned out to be way past that "roughly end-of-October" marker where you get a pretty good idea of what your team's destiny would be for the season, but IMO we're seeing many positive signs.

I know CD has taken a lot of heat up until lately....the coach, in many cases does. If things stay on track here I will give him a tip of the hat for having the confidence to stick with his plan / systems, and having the faith that his players would eventually get it. Yet through it all I can't help but be impressed with Sop as being one of those guys who seemed to had play well since the beginning of the schedule.

Entering the season, I had Sop as an 03 to improve on and give his minutes to younger players.

I don’t mind being wrong!

 

[Coaches Coroner]

For all the ragging I did on Motew and Sop early in the season, this last month and a bit or so they've been much better. Sop is producing and looking stronger on the puck and Motew is looking like he "gets it" in terms of what kind of player he can be effective as (two way puck mover vs. all offense D).

 

[EvenSteven]

For all the ragging I did on Motew and Sop early in the season, this last month and a bit or so they've been much better. Sop is producing and looking stronger on the puck and Motew is looking like he "gets it" in terms of what kind of player he can be effective as (two way puck mover vs. all offense D).

Motew’s play I believe has allowed MM to stand pat on the defence after the Moore addition.

Windsor won the first of back to back Memorial Cups that season. London was let down by poor goaltending if I recall.

Many are obviously dead against trading for Wright. I'm in the minority - get him if we can. More than that I have complete faith in whatever MM tries. A month ago most here including myself were ready to flush the season. At the end of the day no matter what MM does, the best he can do is put us in a position to win. There are no guarantees.

I get it.

But if we choose to improve this team by adding one more big chip, bringing in Harrison or DelBelbelluz (should Missy decide to sell) at a cheaper cost, instead of Wright, I’m going in that direction first.

Especially if that means not having to include Rehkopf or Brzustewicz, as part of the deal now or even as the second part of a two parter in the off season.

We’re selling the next couple years so having those two around for the sell off helps replenish the cupboard.

Harrison or DelBelbelluz for 2x2nds and 3x3rds, keeping Rehkopf and Brzustewicz for this run and to sell down the road, as opposed to Wright for those picks plus one of those two?

I like the first option better.

 

[Tim Wallach]

The problem with hunting the Mississauga players is that both Beck and Del Bel Belluz are likely back next year as well, so that'd jack up the price significantly or require a lot of conditions. Either would be a huge lift to this team though.

 

[EvenSteven]

The problem with hunting the Mississauga players is that both Beck and Del Bel Belluz are likely back next year as well, so that'd jack up the price significantly or require a lot of conditions. Either would be a huge lift to this team though.

DelBelbelluz is an 03, no?

 

[Tim Wallach]

DelBelbelluz is an 03, no?

Right, yes. He and Beck were the same draft year because he's a late birthday, but correct. I was leaning Beck I think for Kitchener, but DBB would help.

 

[Gondrex]

I gotta admit that I personally hate the thought of giving up more high draft picks to further improve this team, but Josh Brown made a good point in his article a few days ago. Next season the OHL hosts the Memorial Cup tournament - meaning more team's in this league potentially on the Buyer's side....at least in theory. I think there is little argument that next year the Rangers are sellers.

EvenSteven, I really like your thinking of possibly moving Valade and Sop on the 3rd line to improve in that area should the right additional player be acquired. I think it was CC who mentioned (?) that Valade tends to have a better 2nd half of the season. Perhaps were starting to see that.

You can bet that MM is looking at all options. I think it's fair to say that he had paid a reasonable price for Arcuri and Moore. I have faith that he won't overpay for any potentially beneficial piece that might still be available to add to this line-up.

 

[OMG67]

I gotta admit that I personally hate the thought of giving up more high draft picks to further improve this team, but Josh Brown made a good point in his article a few days ago. Next season the OHL hosts the Memorial Cup tournament - meaning more team's in this league potentially on the Buyer's side....at least in theory. I think there is little argument that next year the Rangers are sellers.

EvenSteven, I really like your thinking of possibly moving Valade and Sop on the 3rd line to improve in that area should the right additional player be acquired. I think it was CC who mentioned (?) that Valade tends to have a better 2nd half of the season. Perhaps were starting to see that.

You can bet that MM is looking at all options. I think it's fair to say that he had paid a reasonable price for Arcuri and Moore. I have faith that he won't overpay for any potentially beneficial piece that might still be available to add to this line-up.

Either you have the proper foundation to build on or you don’t. Adding three players for example is fine. Restructuring your team isn’t. You can’t fall in love with the neighbours lawn. At some point you have to cut your own grass.

Make some additions to film gaps but pulling guys off your third line and such isn’t realistic. Too many moving parts.

Most of us mocked Niagara for making so many additions and such in the off-season because you essentially start with an entirely new team. You can’t do that at the deadline and expect it to work. Sometimes it does but most of the time it doesn’t.

 

[EvenSteven]

Either you have the proper foundation to build on or you don’t. Adding three players for example is fine. Restructuring your team isn’t. You can’t fall in love with the neighbours lawn. At some point you have to cut your own grass.

Make some additions to film gaps but pulling guys off your third line and such isn’t realistic. Too many moving parts.

Most of us mocked Niagara for making so many additions and such in the off-season because you essentially start with an entirely new team. You can’t do that at the deadline and expect it to work. Sometimes it does but most of the time it doesn’t.

I don’t think we’re talking about a whole new team, but if you can add pieces to complement what you have, that’s all good.

MM did that in 17-18 and that team went to Game 7 OT of the conference final.

At this poi t, bringing in another forward or two, one top six and one middle six, giving us three solid lines would go a long way.

 

[OMG67]

I don’t think we’re talking about a whole new team, but if you can add pieces to complement what you have, that’s all good.

MM did that in 17-18 and that team went to Game 7 OT of the conference final.

At this poi t, bringing in another forward or two, one top six and one middle six, giving us three solid lines would go a long way.

The problem is you make lines on paper. You have no clue whether there is chemistry. You don’t have a strong sense of what the room looks like after. The coach needs to find ways to motivate all the different players.

This is why I say it is fine to add maybe three players. You insert them into your existing foundation and they augment what is already there. If you add too many players, you alter the foundation into something completely different and you are not certain that the :”different” you are looking for is the different you want.

When you add too many players, you better have unreal team leadership in place because there will be a power struggle most certainly as to who the leader is. It is inevitable.

Guelph managed to make it work because the player they brought in (Suzuki) was their leader and was well respected etc. But, that team struggled mightily and teetered on the brink of destruction rather closely in every round of the playoffs.

All I am saying is if your team (or any team for that matter) requires tinkering on the 3rd line in addition to adding 3-4 players, the team isn’t good enough to contend to begin with. Swapping out 6 players isn’t realistic for any team.

I understand where youa re going but at some pint you need to be happy with where you are as a team and trust that you had the right foundation to begin with. Otherwise your players question whether they are the right players.

 

[OHL4Life]

The problem with hunting the Mississauga players is that both Beck and Del Bel Belluz are likely back next year as well, so that'd jack up the price significantly or require a lot of conditions. Either would be a huge lift to this team though.

Del Bel Belluz has a contact with the blue jackets, id be shocked if hes back