Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)

[GeoBlue]

He didn’t give McKee that consideration.

Just sayin.

McKee had a few years under his belt. Dennis is not even a year in so I feel that it may make it a bit more difficult to rid a coach that has 2 years on his contract. It's been done, mind you.

 

[GeoBlue]

I don’t think there’s any way we can make any trade of significance right now. Not with the picks we have left in the cupboard.

Speaking of picks in the cupboard........Morrison went to Ottawa for 2 x 2nds, 2 x 3rds and 2 x 4ths. So when you take this into consideration, the "big fish" will probably go for more. From what I see, the only contenders that might be able to pull off getting Wright with picks alone are Ottawa (Yikes!), Saginaw, Flint and Barrie? A couple others are in if they include some quality warm bodies. Barrie is intriguing as they have Clarke coming back. Bringing in Wright would sure give them a boost.

Not looking good for us Rangers.

I remember at one of the Rangers upper management saying the OHL is not just a development league for players but also GMs and head coaches.

I've heard this many times and shake my head as to how contradictory this statement sounds! If you a developing players for the NHL, how do you do this with coaches that aren't developed???

 

[Jives]

Speaking of picks in the cupboard........Morrison went to Ottawa for 2 x 2nds, 2 x 3rds and 2 x 4ths. So when you take this into consideration, the "big fish" will probably go for more. From what I see, the only contenders that might be able to pull off getting Wright with picks alone are Ottawa (Yikes!), Saginaw, Flint and Barrie? A couple others are in if they include some quality warm bodies. Barrie is intriguing as they have Clarke coming back. Bringing in Wright would sure give them a boost.

Not looking good for us Rangers.


I've heard this many times and shake my head as to how contradictory this statement sounds! If you a developing players for the NHL, how do you do this with coaches that aren't developed???

Wright will have the final say where he plays. If his only choice is London then that’s where he will end up going for a very good price for London. Most insiders believe that is his preferred destination.

 

[EvenSteven]

MM was a Steve B hire as GM. Since Joe Birch replaced Steve B, would that make it easier for MM to be replaced?

Birch has been around the OHL world for a long time. Obviously, he’s developed friends and colleagues in the hockey community who he could see as future hires.

No doubt at some point, he’d want to bring in “his guy” if he feels MM isn’t getting it done.

I wonder if this is weighing on MM’s mind through the last few months? Has Birch put any heat on him? Could this be influencing his actions this year?

 

[Coaches Coroner]

The new additions are producing well and have passed the eye test skill/ability wise, but the coaching staff is still getting the same embarassing results.

McKee had a few years under his belt. Dennis is not even a year in so I feel that it may make it a bit more difficult to rid a coach that has 2 years on his contract. It's been done, mind you.

Wasn't McKee just one of Eerie's Assistant Coach's when we hired him?

 

[ohloutsider]

The new additions are producing well and have passed the eye test skill/ability wise, but the coaching staff is still getting the same embarassing results.

Wasn't McKee just one of Eerie's Assistant Coach's when we hired him?

Didn't McKee do well when he left?

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Didn't McKee do well when he left?

He sure did. Not sure what explains his poor performance and the drastic turnaround when MM took over for him. He's gone on to bigger and better things since...that's why I'm just a tiny bit curious to see what Dennis does after this gig; is he as brutal a coach as us fans think, or does this organization somehow exacerbate a coaches weaknesses (or little of column A, little of column B).

 

[ohloutsider]

He sure did. Not sure what explains his poor performance and the drastic turnaround when MM took over for him. He's gone on to bigger and better things since...that's why I'm just a tiny bit curious to see what Dennis does after this gig; is he as brutal a coach as us fans think, or does this organization somehow exacerbate a coaches weaknesses (or little of column A, little of column B).

Yes sometimes too close to the action blurs the vision. I think you need to look higher than Denis or MM. If the "inexperienced" ownership group trys to interfere/control things too much it has a direct impact on the final product. Your seeing similar issues in Niagara although a lot worst for them.

 

[EvenSteven]

He sure did. Not sure what explains his poor performance and the drastic turnaround when MM took over for him.

We had multiple injuries under McKee. Just before they were scheduled to return, and the firing took place. McKenzie’s first game as coach, for example, was the goaltender Ingham’s first game back.

I would’ve loved to have seen McKee coach that team at least for another few weeks to see how he would’ve fared with a healthy lineup.

McKee went on to do big things in the league after his time in Kitchener. Maybe MM holds up on firing Dennis the same way. Maybe he gives him a few weeks with a healthy lineup see if he can write the ship.

 

[Tim Wallach]

Let’s not lose sight of just how god awful our drafting has been. Any analysis shows us right near the cellar for scouting/drafting competence. Coupled with limited, passive, in over their heads coaches and it leads to what we’re seeing.

 

[Jives]

We had multiple injuries under McKee. Just before they were scheduled to return, and the firing took place. McKenzie’s first game as coach, for example, was the goaltender Ingham’s first game back.

I would’ve loved to have seen McKee coach that team at least for another few weeks to see how he would’ve fared with a healthy lineup.

Are you saying you want CD to stick around for 2 or 3 weeks? How much heart have you seen out of this team this year? Less than a hand full of games. You can still play with heart / energy and not have a full line up. Even I like what you usually say but CD has shown nothing he should stick around another day imo.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Let’s not lose sight of just how god awful our drafting has been. Any analysis shows us right near the cellar for scouting/drafting competence. Coupled with limited, passive, in over their heads coaches and it leads to what we’re seeing.

That's what nepotism hires do. I'm really curious what, outside of dad's word and an interview with a hockey loving kid (of which there are tons of), got our head scout his first gig with our organization...and what track record they are looking at (beyond round 1) that got him promoted to Head Scout from within.

Really kicking myself for not getting that interview with EJ Maguire asap when it was offered, and talking with scouts at the WJ training camp two decades ago who thought I knew a lot about hockey/scouting based on my (10-11 years old) assessment of Phaneuf "Having all the tools, but rocks for brains"...starting to think I might have had the kind of resume the Rangers would hire for...if only I had a parent working for the team.

 

[Tim Wallach]

That's what nepotism hires do. I'm really curious what, outside of dad's word and an interview with a hockey loving kid (of which there are tons of), got our head scout his first gig with our organization...and what track record they are looking at (beyond round 1) that got him promoted to Head Scout from within.

Really kicking myself for not getting that interview with EJ Maguire asap when it was offered, and talking with scouts at the WJ training camp two decades ago who thought I knew a lot about hockey/scouting based on my (10-11 years old) assessment of Phaneuf "Having all the tools, but rocks for brains"...starting to think I might have had the kind of resume the Rangers would hire for...if only I had a parent working for the team.

No, you demonstrated far too much scouting aptitude in that moment to be hired by Kitchener.

 

[StingUpdates]

Guys he just wants you to be patient.. come on now...

 

[bobber]

No, you demonstrated far too much scouting aptitude in that moment to be hired by Kitchener.

Always bugged the hell out of me when MM fired McKee. MM never got a cup of coffee in pro hockey and he fires an NHL pro. It all fit in to the old boys narrative here in KTown. Sometimes this storied franchise does seem a little tacky around the edges.

 

[Jives]

Always bugged the hell out of me when MM fired McKee. MM never got a cup of coffee in pro hockey and he fires an NHL pro. It all fit in to the old boys narrative here in KTown. Sometimes this storied franchise does seem a little tacky around the edges.

I don’t think if you played pro or not depends on if you are good for coaching. McKee had 10x the hockey career that DeBoer had but imo is not nearly as good as a coach as DeBoer. It would help I get that but it’s not everything. I don’t know how you can complain about that end results. MM made that call and the team completely changed once that happened. It wasn’t even a slight change in how the team played….it was a complete switch.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Guys he just wants you to be patient.. come on now...

I'm about to be a patient at a hospital with the migraine his interviews are giving me.

 

[EvenSteven]

Are you saying you want CD to stick around for 2 or 3 weeks? How much heart have you seen out of this team this year? Less than a hand full of games. You can still play with heart / energy and not have a full line up. Even I like what you usually say but CD has shown nothing he should stick around another day imo.

Nope. Just wondering what MM may be thinking regarding Dennis.

Though I have been on record on here criticizing the McKee firing.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

McKee firing was the right call at the time by any metric; his success with Hamilton is just further indication than something stinks in this organization.

Come to think of it, even though MM's been pretty good (his reputation perhaps bolstered by the gong shows that came before), it almost certainly helps that he is Bob's Son...can't be a coincedence both Bob's Son's have landed strong jobs in the hockey industry (MM here and Sean with Sportsnet).

 

[GeoBlue]

McKee firing was the right call at the time by any metric; his success with Hamilton is just further indication than something stinks in this organization.

Come to think of it, even though MM's been pretty good (his reputation perhaps bolstered by the gong shows that came before), it almost certainly helps that he is Bob's Son...can't be a coincedence both Bob's Son's have landed strong jobs in the hockey industry (MM here and Sean with Sportsnet).

Definitely the McKee firing was the right call. I am a bit surprised at all the warm fuzzy feelings over McKee. Did he have success after leaving the Rangers? To me, the jury is still out. We had the missed COVID year and then went into a year where McKee was given a very talented Hamilton team to work with. Sort of reminds me of the Mem Cup Joe Crozier won us even though most knowledgeable hockey fans know that it was Orval Tessier's baby.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

One thing that Mckee did well in Hamilton is that he had the approval of building the hockey team he wanted. Physical, games won in the dirty areas. The team could score but that team was a defensive, grinding machine that if he got the team to a 3-1, 3-2 lead, consider the game done lol and he excelled with that group.

Tells me that McKee and MM weren't on the same page. Also with Barnaby being a giant douche and the team rightfully firing him, that may have upset McKee a bit as well.

McKee wasn't the right coach for Kitchener. Kitchener would have never given him the freedom to get the team he wanted on the ice. But he was the right coach for Hamilton. Hamilton is a team/organization that adapts to the coaches needs top to bottom.

Right now, truthfully I miss the McKee days. Hell I'd take the Spott days. See, when we're saying this nonsense, it shows you how bad this guy is.

Mike McKenzies off season of flubbing on round 1 and 2 in the draft, Not hiring the best person for the HC position deserves to get him fired if he sticks this out and the team loses in round 1.

Definitely the McKee firing was the right call. I am a bit surprised at all the warm fuzzy feelings over McKee. Did he have success after leaving the Rangers? To me, the jury is still out. We had the missed COVID year and then went into a year where McKee was given a very talented Hamilton team to work with. Sort of reminds me of the Mem Cup Joe Crozier won us even though most knowledgeable hockey fans know that it was Orval Tessier's baby.

One big thing that also speaks loudly on McKee was last year Hamilton wasn't some stacked power house.

They where just the one team good enough to add at the deadline. Nobody else went out and made like significant changes. Lots of team conceded even if they where good enough because most of these teams had 20 players returning this year.

Hamilton was good last year but unlike this year where half the league is going for it, that wasn't the case last year.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Always bugged the hell out of me when MM fired McKee. MM never got a cup of coffee in pro hockey and he fires an NHL pro. It all fit in to the old boys narrative here in KTown. Sometimes this storied franchise does seem a little tacky around the edges.

Storied franchise? Too be honest I never understood that association with the Rangers accept for the attendance by the fans. Seems lately that narrative about storied is all "fairy tales".
To me like this franchise is in the same position like in the late 90's when the BoD and the other "Suits" involved with the team stepped back and gave a hockey guy in PD full control. Then when the team had success and PD left the "same old same old" started to happen when they stepped in to bathe in the teams glory brought in by PD. Very little effort in hiring by constantly hiring within aka "keep them under their control and looking out for each other" which went through all levels and departments.

For all the teams initiatives for being a community owned team, the prime one should be winning. With winning comes all the means to provide some of the community goodwill.

 

[rangersblues]

Definitely the McKee firing was the right call. I am a bit surprised at all the warm fuzzy feelings over McKee. Did he have success after leaving the Rangers? To me, the jury is still out. We had the missed COVID year and then went into a year where McKee was given a very talented Hamilton team to work with. Sort of reminds me of the Mem Cup Joe Crozier won us even though most knowledgeable hockey fans know that it was Orval Tessier's baby.

Even so Crozier had that team's attention. I ran across a couple of role players at a party one Saturday night. No drinking and they made curfew. Said they didn't want to give Crozier a reason to trade them.

 

[GeoBlue]

Storied franchise? Too be honest I never understood that association with the Rangers accept for the attendance by the fans. Seems lately that narrative about storied is all "fairy tales".
To me like this franchise is in the same position like in the late 90's when the BoD and the other "Suits" involved with the team stepped back and gave a hockey guy in PD full control. Then when the team had success and PD left the "same old same old" started to happen when they stepped in to bathe in the teams glory brought in by PD. Very little effort in hiring by constantly hiring within aka "keep them under their control and looking out for each other" which went through all levels and departments.

For all the teams initiatives for being a community owned team, the prime one should be winning. With winning comes all the means to provide some of the community goodwill.

IMO, we were a storied franchise in the 80's though most of that credit should go to Mike Penney. 4 Memorial Cup appearances and often at the top of the standings.

 

[rangersblues]

Storied franchise? Too be honest I never understood that association with the Rangers accept for the attendance by the fans. Seems lately that narrative about storied is all "fairy tales".
To me like this franchise is in the same position like in the late 90's when the BoD and the other "Suits" involved with the team stepped back and gave a hockey guy in PD full control. Then when the team had success and PD left the "same old same old" started to happen when they stepped in to bathe in the teams glory brought in by PD. Very little effort in hiring by constantly hiring within aka "keep them under their control and looking out for each other" which went through all levels and departments.

For all the teams initiatives for being a community owned team, the prime one should be winning. With winning comes all the means to provide some of the community goodwill.

I've maintained exactly what you said for a very long time.