Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)

[sbpointer]

Man you guys need to cheer up a bit. I came in here and thought I was in the Windsor board for a second...

 

[Tim Wallach]

Jan 7

SBY

Waivers

CHL

Kevyn Brassard

OHL Media Notes. Not sure what this entails?

Sudbury just claimed him off CHL waivers after he was waived through the entire QMJHL. After those teams all passed, O and W teams can make claims.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I know you were sort of joking there but honestly Im all for that. With these players and coaching staff currently the Rangers may win a playoff round and then no playoffs for a cpl seasons. Or offload now and probably miss the playoffs this season but sets up (with coaching changes...asst's has to go also) for some possible fruitful seasons.
I'm all for the latter, especially with those two first rounders next season! Not sure if I want an empty chamber trying to build around them.

Definitely was half tongue in cheek; half serious. I mean, if you recoup the picks and break even that wouldn't be a bad move even, at this point.

 

[RangerNation]

Man you guys need to cheer up a bit. I came in here and thought I was in the Windsor board for a second...

Just for commenting you get a complementary pitchfork. How tall are you? We only have smalls left. Or if fire is your thing, we have lots of torches left!

 

[rangersblues]

How long does it take to drive from Conestoga College (Doon) to WLU?

Depends on the time of day too. If it's rush hour it could get a little backed up in spots.

 

[GeoBlue]

Just for commenting you get a complementary pitchfork. How tall are you? We only have smalls left. Or if fire is your thing, we have lots of torches left!

You are mistaken, RN. We traded our 7 pitchforks for 6 dinner forks and a 5th rounder.

 

[sbpointer]

Definitely was half tongue in cheek; half serious. I mean, if you recoup the picks and break even that wouldn't be a bad move even, at this point.

That would be a bold turn of events. Plus I think they would then have to find somewhere for Mesar as well. I'm sure he was assigned on the pretense he would be playing on a competetive team.
So on the bright side you could come out plus assets but it won't happen. A GM taking that big of a turn being right or wrong I think is equal to putting a note on the presidents desk that reads fire me...

 

[All the Answers]

If only we had a president/dictator/someone in that position who truly cared about the on ice product and had a clue what they were doing.

 

[GeoBlue]

Sudbury just claimed him off CHL waivers after he was waived through the entire QMJHL. After those teams all passed, O and W teams can make claims.

Not sure why they would want him? Unless they are of the same mindset we are and think that one OA goaltender is going to magically change their fortunes. Are they really THAT weak in net?

Scratch that last comment. I just had a Richardson / Pheil flashback.

 

[bobber]

Man you guys need to cheer up a bit. I came in here and thought I was in the Windsor board for a second...

Windsor board just celebrated Festivus. Airing of the grievances was great.

 

[GeoBlue]

Peterborough just got Avery Hayes, Gavin White and Owen Beck in separate deals. But they are no Danny Zhilkin. (Sarcasm)

 

[Jives]

Landon McCallum. Right wing. 19 year old. I don’t think we have the assets to get him but since we are all in I’d try. This player is 90% to return next season as an OA so maybe Sudbury isn’t even consider trading him. I still think we desperately need a solid RW to complete the depth.

Martin - Pinelli - Mesar
Arcuri - Zhilkin - Valade
Sop - Rehkopf - McCallum
Swick to sub in if injury.

That’s a 3rd line of pretty much point per game players. And talent wise would be arguably one of the best 3rd lines in the OHL. I mean…if we had a coach that could actually coach them.

 

[Gondrex]

Reading Brown's twitter the 4th line has zero goals. Dennis said " No excuses now. It's go time"! I laughed when I read that statement. Sounds like an episode of Seinfeld. To put things in perspective Saginaw is one of the top teams in the league. The Rangers despite the trades are not. Looking further down Brown's twitter feed and see where Jeff Marek has his guesses at where some of the most skilled players are possible going the Rangers will have a a hard time competing even with what they have achieved before the deadline. MM better sh..t or get off the pot. He has to react.

Good article by Josh Brown - as usual.
Two points where I likely have a difference of opinion though.

Hamilton is an example of emptying the cupboard, and then totally restocking one year later. In my opinion this seems like apples / oranges. Does Kitchener really have the tradable assets to do the same by next January? Perhaps he didn't necessarily mean to get it done in one year.

The other is about fans complaining about the team never going for it, and now complaining that it finally is. To his credit, I think he shed light on part of the problem.....at least the part on fans complaining about not going all in - i.e. poor drafting, creating a poor base to build upon. This year, as he pointed out, they had the pieces to make a case for going all in......and I believe close to 100% on this board at least back up that decision knowing it was now or never. (Although for the longest while many of us were wondering if it was worth emptying / wasting away the cupboard on an underachieving team). MM makes the moves, the team wins 6 straight and we're all on board. The complaint isn't about the decision to go all in. The complaint is that this team is back to inconsistency, and 9th place....even after all the deal-making.

In fairness, may be too early. However, all players should soon be back in the line-up and practicing as a full team. At that point if this team is still losing, then I would say fans will have good reason to be upset.

 

[RangerNation]

Good article by Josh Brown - as usual.
Two points where I likely have a difference of opinion though.

Hamilton is an example of emptying the cupboard, and then totally restocking one year later. In my opinion this seems like apples / oranges. Does Kitchener really have the tradable assets to do the same by next January? Perhaps he didn't necessarily mean to get it done in one year.

The other is about fans complaining about the team never going for it, and now complaining that it finally is. To his credit, I think he shed light on part of the problem.....at least the part on fans complaining about not going all in - i.e. poor drafting, creating a poor base to build upon. This year, as he pointed out, they had the pieces to make a case for going all in......and I believe close to 100% on this board at least back up that decision knowing it was now or never. (Although for the longest while many of us were wondering if it was worth emptying / wasting away the cupboard on an underachieving team). MM makes the moves, the team wins 6 straight and we're all on board. The complaint isn't about the decision to go all in. The complaint is that this team is back to inconsistency, and 9th place....even after all the deal-making.

In fairness, may be too early. However, all players should soon be back in the line-up and practicing as a full team. At that point if this team is still losing, then I would say fans will have good reason to be upset.

The reasoning behind what MM has done made sense. Stats don't lie and it worked in his favour to go for it based on the pieces he had this year, and not next year. The problem is now how this team is being coached. Going all in is more than just the players that are brought in, clearly.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Landon McCallum. Right wing. 19 year old. I don’t think we have the assets to get him but since we are all in I’d try. This player is 90% to return next season as an OA so maybe Sudbury isn’t even consider trading him. I still think we desperately need a solid RW to complete the depth.

Martin - Pinelli - Mesar
Arcuri - Zhilkin - Valade
Sop - Rehkopf - McCallum
Swick to sub in if injury.

That’s a 3rd line of pretty much point per game players. And talent wise would be arguably one of the best 3rd lines in the OHL. I mean…if we had a coach that could actually coach them.

Unfortunately with no picks you can’t afford McCallum. We would need back a high end younger D, which if your are all in, maybe you are prepared to do it.

 

[Wolfman Jack]

Unfortunately with no picks you can’t afford McCallum. We would need back a high end younger D, which if your are all in, maybe you are prepared to do it.

Kitchener owes us one since we took Hage from them before the deadline to get a compensation pick in the first round. Andonovski and a pick for McCallum and Anania.

WJ

 

[rangersblues]

Good article by Josh Brown - as usual.
Two points where I likely have a difference of opinion though.

Hamilton is an example of emptying the cupboard, and then totally restocking one year later. In my opinion this seems like apples / oranges. Does Kitchener really have the tradable assets to do the same by next January? Perhaps he didn't necessarily mean to get it done in one year.

If MM (or whoever is in charge) can't fill the draft cupboard with Rehkopf, Brzustewicz and possibly Hamara we're in big big trouble. Possibly Arcuri and/or Zhilkin come back as OAs too.

It's going to be painful to watch.

 

[rangersblues]

Unfortunately with no picks you can’t afford McCallum. We would need back a high end younger D, which if your are all in, maybe you are prepared to do it.

I'll have a look in our "high end younger D" room to see if we have an extra one and get back to you .

 

[bobber]

Good article by Josh Brown - as usual.
Two points where I likely have a difference of opinion though.

Hamilton is an example of emptying the cupboard, and then totally restocking one year later. In my opinion this seems like apples / oranges. Does Kitchener really have the tradable assets to do the same by next January? Perhaps he didn't necessarily mean to get it done in one year.

The other is about fans complaining about the team never going for it, and now complaining that it finally is. To his credit, I think he shed light on part of the problem.....at least the part on fans complaining about not going all in - i.e. poor drafting, creating a poor base to build upon. This year, as he pointed out, they had the pieces to make a case for going all in......and I believe close to 100% on this board at least back up that decision knowing it was now or never. (Although for the longest while many of us were wondering if it was worth emptying / wasting away the cupboard on an underachieving team). MM makes the moves, the team wins 6 straight and we're all on board. The complaint isn't about the decision to go all in. The complaint is that this team is back to inconsistency, and 9th place....even after all the deal-making.

In fairness, may be too early. However, all players should soon be back in the line-up and practicing as a full team. At that point if this team is still losing, then I would say fans will have good reason

Hamilton has some really high end player.100 point players fetch assets. Brown never mentioned that part.

 

[bobber]

Kitchener owes us one since we took Hage from them before the deadline to get a compensation pick in the first round. Andonovski and a pick for McCallum and Anania.

WJ

Wolfman , might have already got skinned in the Zidlicky deal. There is only so much room on the barn door to tack skins on. MM better proceed with caution before giving up another young prospect.

 

[rangersblues]

Hamilton has some really high end player.100 point players fetch assets. Brown never mentioned that part.

I really like Josh. Just the fact that he travels to road games on his own to keep an arms length away from the team. There are times he does conveniently skips things to support his arguments though.

In any case we're extremely fortunate to have a reporter of Josh's stature covering the Rangers, especially in this day and age of shrinking print media.

 

[bobber]

I really like Josh. Just the fact that he travels to road games on his own to keep an arms length away from the team. There are times he does conveniently skips things to support his arguments though.

In any case we're extremely fortunate to have a reporter of Josh's stature covering the Rangers, especially in this day and age of shrinking print media.

You are correct Blues. Brown says he loves talking to fans. Not being a STH any longer this is good to hear. Brown gets first hand knowledge of what fans in the seats are actually thinking about the state of the team. They are the ones paying to keep the franchise viable. I love the fact they fill the building. Shows the passion here in KTown for the game.

 

[bobber]

Looking at the trades made just today. Petes picked up three high skilled players. It would be one hell of a challenge for the Rangers to even get out of the conference. Looking at the young players going back to teams giving up their top assets. These young players are going to be future stars down the road. You have to be able to give something of value to get these top assets. I really don't think the Rangers have done enough even if MM pulled another trade to bolster the bottom end. I think he started from a weak position with no real tradable assets other than picks to acquire any of these top players.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Looking at the trades made just today. Petes picked up three high skilled players. It would be one hell of a challenge for the Rangers to even get out of the conference. Looking at the young players going back to teams giving up their top assets. These young players are going to be future stars down the road. You have to be able to give something of value to get these top assets. I really don't think the Rangers have done enough even if MM pulled another trade to bolster the bottom end. I think he started from a weak position with no real tradable assets other than picks to acquire any of these top players.

Mike McKenzie drafts players that actually show up this year and maybe that deal that Missy made with Sarnia is the trade Kitchener makes. Acquiring a top 2 D and a 1st line Forward.

I am not sure how Kitchener makes another move. They haven't done enough to even move into the top 4 talk in the conference. Get to the dance (Playoffs) any way you can because as we seen last year anything can happen but the difference this year is we're likely not getting home ice so we're playing a power house in the 1st round. London although they was good last year didn't really add anything to their already good roster and had a goalie who couldn't skate or take a knee.

Looking at assets, nothing coming off the roster that we would move is appealing to other teams. Ziddy might have been it. Mercer is on pace for 6 points. Swick is valuable but he's not getting moved so someone else coming in can take his spot in the line up, he's been fine. Bottineau and Morey are non factors and one of them can't be moved. Vandenberg is interesting if Defelice is coming in for the season but that would be a bad move.

Then you move onto picks. In the next 6 drafts we have TWO 2nds and Four 3rds.

The database is showing 3 2nds but one is tied up in the McDonnell trade and its not coming back.

We have nothing left. I hate to be doom and gloom but the roster is complete.

 

[Billyjack]

We are going to meet one of the top 4 if we make the playoffs and get our ass handed to us. Really thought we would have got 1 or 2 of the top dogs via trade. I'm one of the ones in the sell mode before this all happened. This team for whatever reason is underachieving and I don't see that changing anytime soon.