Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)

[EvenSteven]

This team on paper could do well in the playoffs. But that’s on paper.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we don’t get out of the first round.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

This team on paper could do well in the playoffs. But that’s on paper.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we don’t get out of the first round.

18 of the remaining games are against the likes of London, Windsor, Sarnia, Ottawa, Barrie and Owen Sound. Owen Sound is starting to look like a 4-8 team. But teams of those nature, teams that are debatably clearly better.


Its hard not to imagine this team failing to miss the playoffs but the slow start and the inconsistency could cost them massively to the point, finishing 9th isn't out of the question.

 

[rangersblues]

18 of the remaining games are against the likes of London, Windsor, Sarnia, Ottawa, Barrie and Owen Sound. Owen Sound is starting to look like a 4-8 team. But teams of those nature, teams that are debatably clearly better.


Its hard not to imagine this team failing to miss the playoffs but the slow start and the inconsistency could cost them massively to the point, finishing 9th isn't out of the question.

I have a difficult time seeing this team missing the playoffs. But I have an equally difficult time seeing this team winning a series with Dennis behind the bench. It seems that the players we've traded for have sunk to the Rangers level of play - once again.

 

[Ranger77]

Wow! Good thing we've made all those trades! Hard to imagine how bad this team would be without the reinforcements.
MM needs to seriously stepping behind the bench. Something is obviously not working. If he waits much longer, the Rangers may find themselves trying to win the draft lottery.

 

[Rangers2022]

Zidlicky scored 2 goals in his first game with Mississauga.

 

[Ranger77]

Zidlicky scored 2 goals in his first game with Mississauga.

The Rangers could have used him tonight!

This team on paper could do well in the playoffs. But that’s on paper.

It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if we don’t get out of the first round.

You're assuming that they will make the playoffs.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

I have a difficult time seeing this team missing the playoffs. But I have an equally difficult time seeing this team winning a series with Dennis behind the bench. It seems that the players we've traded for have sunk to the Rangers level of play - once again.

Same. It is hard to see. The roster is there. But we're about to drop to 9th again so as it stands it's not out of the question but I agree with everything you said.

The roster was always there. We saw what this team was capable of last season. Not just in the playoffs but when the calender switched from 2021 to 2022, they was in every game for the last 3 months of the season minus one or two where you could clearly tell it was a rebuild year.

 

[rangersblues]

Same. It is hard to see. The roster is there. But we're about to drop to 9th again so as it stands it's not out of the question but I agree with everything you said.

The roster was always there. We saw what this team was capable of last season. Not just in the playoffs but when the calender switched from 2021 to 2022, they was in every game for the last 3 months of the season minus one or two where you could clearly tell it was a rebuild year.

Last year they competed. Too many nights they mail it in this season.

 

[Jives]

So streaky this team is. Can’t be streaky come playoffs. I’d be totally fine with MM taking over the bench…..again.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

So streaking this team is. Can’t be streaky come playoffs. I’d be totally fine with MM taking over the bench…..again.

Agreed. It was poor timing for him to step down. Coming off that little run last season and heading into an all or nothing season.

 

[rangersblues]

So streaking this team is. Can’t be streaky come playoffs. I’d be totally fine with MM taking over the bench…..again.

Our best streak was Guelph x2, Soo, Niagara, Missy and Peterborough. Only Peterborough was a quality team.

 

[EvenSteven]

I have a difficult time seeing this team missing the playoffs. But I have an equally difficult time seeing this team winning a series with Dennis behind the bench. It seems that the players we've traded for have sunk to the Rangers level of play - once again.

The jury is still out on this coach. MM’s hire.

No Hage. Crappy conditionals in his trade to Sudbury. If Hage plays in this league, and all we get are those conditionals, MM looks like a fool. Hell, Sudbury could trade his rights to a team he’d report to for more than double those conditionals.

Stubbed his toe on Longacre. To make matters worse, after diplomatically keeping relations open with Hage, saying he hoped to sign him even after knowing he didn’t want to play in the OHL til next year, he proceeded to coldly state publicly that if he knew Longacre wouldn’t sign, he wouldn’t have picked him. For me, if I’m Longacre, I’m not happy with that and look to demand a trade to another team if I want to play in the OHL.

We’ve loaded up big time. Almost no significant assets left in the cupboard and still haven’t addressed our needs. We have an underwhelming 04 group. The 05 group is weaker with the Zidlicky trade (see what he did tonight?). See above for the 06 group. We have two 1sts to start the 07 group and not much else to give those 1sts a supporting cast.

This team has a hard time more nights than not beating even lower ranked teams.

This team won’t miss the playoffs, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we exit in the first round.

With all this in mind, you have to think MM’s job is on the line. We don’t win a round, how does he keep his job?

 

[Jives]

Here’s hoping MM finishes his GM duties on Tuesday adding 1 or 2 more pieces (cheap depth players) and then does what is right and takes over as coach.

 

[rangersblues]

The jury is still out on this coach. MM’s hire.

No Hage. Crappy conditionals in his trade to Sudbury. If Hage plays in this league, and all we get are those conditionals, MM looks like a fool.

Stubbed his toe on Longacre. To make matters worse, after diplomatically keeping relations open with Hage, saying he hoped to sign him even after knowing he didn’t want to play in the OHL til next year, he proceeded to coldly state publicly that if he knew Longacre wouldn’t sign, he wouldn’t have picked him. For me, if I’m Longacre, I’m not happy with that and look to demand a trade to another team if I want to play in the OHL.

We’ve loaded up big time. Almost no significant assets left in the cupboard and still haven’t addressed our needs. We have an underwhelming 04 group. The 05 group is weaker with the Zidlicky trade (see what he did tonight?). See above for the 06 group. We have two 1sts to start the 07 group and not much else to give those 1sts a supporting cast.

This team has a hard time more nights than not beating even lower ranked teams.

This team won’t miss the playoffs, but it wouldn’t surprise me if we exit in the first round.

With all this in mind, you have to think MM’s job is on the line. We don’t win a round, how does he keep his job?

Longacre and Hage have zero effect on the status of this year's team. But we're going to pay for it in the future, particularly if Longacre doesn't report. Hage we recouped the first rounder.

I do agree that MM's job is on the line if this team doesn't vastly improve. I think 2 rounds might even be the threshold for how he mortaged everything, virtually wasting Rehkopf and Brzustewicz except for recovering draft picks.

The jury may be out on Dennis for you, but I think the clock is close to midnight. Originally I thought he'd get to the end of the month but I didn't see this tailspin coming.

Agreed. It was poor timing for him to step down. Coming off that little run last season and heading into an all or nothing season.

I think he had to concentrate on trying to build this team so he stepped away as coach. Right now it's not clear if he was successful.

 

[EvenSteven]

Last year they competed. Too many nights they mail it in this season.

That’s what happens when you lose your character to graduation (Petizian primarily) and don’t replace it.

Longacre and Hage have zero effect on the status of this year's team. But we're going to pay for it in the future, particularly if Longacre doesn't report. Hage we recouped the first rounder.

I do agree that MM's job is on the line if this team doesn't vastly improve. I think 2 rounds might even be the threshold for how he mortaged everything, virtually wasting Rehkopf and Brzustewicz except for recovering draft picks.

The jury may be out on Dennis for you, but I think the clock is close to midnight. Originally I thought he'd get to the end of the month but I didn't see this tailspin coming.


I think he had to concentrate on trying to build this team so he stepped away as coach. Right now it's not clear if he was successful.

In that post, including my points on Hage / Longacre, I was referring to MM’s multiple faux pas as the GM, and reasons why his job is on the line.

 

[Tim Wallach]

I hate calling for heads but we’re in January and I have seen zero indication this coaching staff has any clue at all. Players are stagnating or regressing, there is zero emotion or intensity. It’s the same old lame run through the motions night in and night out.

It is hard to get so little out of what he has on paper. It takes a special kind of incompetence. I realize players are missing, but there is simply no improvement. No tactical advances or even passion.

I can’t see how this improves to any reasonable level. McKenzie blew the bank and completely mailed in his coaching staff hires. It’s looking like his fatal flaw.

 

[rangersblues]

I hate calling for heads but we’re in January and I have seen zero indication this coaching staff has any clue at all. Players are stagnating or regressing, there is zero emotion or intensity. It’s the same old lame run through the motions night in and night out.

It is hard to get so little out of what he has on paper. It takes a special kind of incompetence. I realize players are missing, but there is simply no improvement. No tactical advances or even passion.

I can’t see how this improves to any reasonable level. McKenzie blew the bank and completely mailed in his coaching staff hires. It’s looking like his fatal flaw.

Well said. Listening to the Rangers post game Pope all but said there needs to be a change behind the bench. Rare for a Ranger broadcaster.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Maybe MM was cornering the market on pieces to flip to contenders at the last minute ...not even in a playoff spot in January (albeit with 3 and 4 games in hand on the teams we're chasing). MM's gotta try and add some grit on the cheap; at this point it doesn't need to be a great hockey player, just someone with an element we lack that can keep pace on the 3rd and/or 4th lines...then with the bulk of his duties as GM over, take the reigns from the coach and get behind the bench again. Not something I want to see, but something that needs to happen.

 

[Habsrule]

I hate to call for a coach to get fired but unfortunately it has to happen.

When you look at the roster and then look at the standings just about at the trade deadline then somethings got to give.

There is far enough high end skill on the team to not be in the playoffs. MM has been very proactive this season being in Constantini and Moore and Arcuiri as early as he did.

Theoretically players should improve year over year in the CHL based upon their age. Pinelli has, Sop has and Swick have. Maybe Motew has a bit. Martin has in his limited games he has played. All other players have not progressed or even regressed like Schmidt and Mercer.

 

[beastintheeast]

I hate to call for a coach to get fired but unfortunately it has to happen.

When you look at the roster and then look at the standings just about at the trade deadline then somethings got to give.

There is far enough high end skill on the team to not be in the playoffs. MM has been very proactive this season being in Constantini and Moore and Arcuiri as early as he did.

Theoretically players should improve year over year in the CHL based upon their age. Pinelli has, Sop has and Swick have. Maybe Motew has a bit. Martin has in his limited games he has played. All other players have not progressed or even regressed like Schmidt and Mercer.

The problem I see is that at this stage of the seasn who doyou replace him with?

Who is available usually you hve an assistant that you think might work but really I think you should be looking at a new GM and therefore are going to be looking for a new coach as well. No one wants to get saddled witht he other guys stuff.

I think you are stuck with what you have until the end of the season unless one of the assistants could do a better job.

Yes you guys got better and were a better team until all the teams that were better than you made changes and upped their game.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

The problem I see is that at this stage of the seasn who doyou replace him with?

Who is available usually you hve an assistant that you think might work but really I think you should be looking at a new GM and therefore are going to be looking for a new coach as well. No one wants to get saddled witht he other guys stuff.

I think you are stuck with what you have until the end of the season unless one of the assistants could do a better job.

Yes you guys got better and were a better team until all the teams that were better than you made changes and upped their game.

You replace him with the guy who replaced the last coach that got fired.

Mike McKenzie is an excellent coach. Came in and replaced Jay McKee and we all saw a massive turn around.

 

[beastintheeast]

You replace him with the guy who replaced the last coach that got fired.

Mike McKenzie is an excellent coach. Came in and replaced Jay McKee and we all saw a massive turn around.

Yeah and that might work but it depends on MM.

Again this is his team to sink or swim with.
As GM to a point his fingers are still on this team even as GM.

I think he was in too much of a hurry to make deals and did not sit and look at the big picture of what happens after those deals are made and where will this team be.

Yes they looked great and powerful until everyone started making small changes to their team.

 

[GeoBlue]

All other players have not progressed or even regressed like Schmidt and Mercer.

..........and Zidlicky until he ended up in Mississauga. I'm over to their boards now.

 

[rangersblues]

Yeah and that might work but it depends on MM.

Again this is his team to sink or swim with.
As GM to a point his fingers are still on this team even as GM.

I think he was in too much of a hurry to make deals and did not sit and look at the big picture of what happens after those deals are made and where will this team be.

Yes they looked great and powerful until everyone started making small changes to their team.

Right now MM is sinking and it's because of the coach.

This team was actually floundering until MM started making the deals. That shook up the team. They started playing harder to compete for ice-time. Now complacency has sunk in again.

Time for change.

 

[bobber]

9		Kitchener Rangers	33	15	16	2	0	32
10		Erie Otters	33	12	18	0	3	27

Can we go from worse to first? They say Dennis did this in his resume. It will be the Cinderella sports story of the century. There are no excuses when a team can't score a goal with what the Rangers have in their line up.