Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread (Part 2)

[OHL4Life]

Or 06 group

there you go

 

[EvenSteven]

If Kitchener wants to make noise in the playoffs, they definitely need another scoring threat. The bottom six has staggeringly low goal production. That's not going to fly when the top guys get checked tightly.

Hence the need to upgrade the 3rd line. When you get deep in playoffs, contributions from your bottom six are huge.

 

[GeoBlue]

Why is Kitchener a buyer? They are two points out of being out of a playoff spot? The few games I've seen the play against Windsor, the Spits skated circles around them.

15 points separate the best in the West from the worst. I don't feel anyone is running away with it.

 

[bobber]

Not sure if MM goes all in. Wonder if he is looking at trying to win a round or two for revenue purposes ? I just can't see him cleaning out the draft cupboard after building it back up somewhat. It would cost a lot to pick up any of the league's top skilled players at this point in time. Rangers really don't have much to offer player wise so it would take a boat load of picks to really contend. To win a championship they would really have add some experienced skilled depth forwards to bolster the 3rd and 4th lines. Some of those players presently have no solid stats. It's really hard to see how MM could build this squad into a contender. Not trying to put a damper on things. Just being practical. Guess we wait and see.

 

[EvenSteven]

Not sure if MM goes all in. Wonder if he is looking at trying to win a round or two for revenue purposes ? I just can't see him cleaning out the draft cupboard after building it back up somewhat. It would cost a lot to pick up any of the league's top skilled players at this point in time. Rangers really don't have much to offer player wise so it would take a boat load of picks to really contend. To win a championship they would really have add some experienced skilled depth forwards to bolster the 3rd and 4th lines. Some of those players presently have no solid stats. It's really hard to see how MM could build this squad into a contender. Not trying to put a damper on things. Just being practical. Guess we wait and see.

You build up a base of picks to spend at times when you want to contend. By adding Moore, MM has indicated he’s buying.

Any time MM has bought, he’s bought hard. We can’t match the draft capitol of Ottawa or Barrie, but we could complete a two part deal where a player (Brzustewicz?) goes the other way in the off season. It’s happened here before and MM was the orchestrator of the deal. Bracco / Stanley.

 

[RangerNation]

Why is Kitchener a buyer? They are two points out of being out of a playoff spot? The few games I've seen the play against Windsor, the Spits skated circles around them.

I'd imagine it's because MM believes this team is better than they are and honestly, the west is kind of meh this year anyways so why not. Not to be THAT guy, but London skated circles around us for half the season last year. They did it again this year. It is what it is until the games matter. Buy, sell, stay, they usually have one goal and that's butts in seats during the playoffs. That's it. Only 2 visits to the finals in 20 years, have to gamble at some point I guess. Not holding my breathe though.

 

[Jives]

He has to add more. I believe he will put up a lot more to improve this team this year. You should have a good amount to deal away next year to recoup the picks giving away next year.

Not returning
Pinelli
Schmidt
Moore
Costantini
Valade

tradable assets
Martin OA (I think returns for OA season)
Sop OA
Motew OA
Hunter 19 (huge return)
Hamara 19
Swick 19
Rehkopf 18 (huge return)
Mesar 18 (huge return…if he returns)

Some other small tradable assets. Give away the picks but don’t care about making the playoffs next year. No reason in the OHL you can’t seriously contend every 3rd year if (big IF) you sell hard when you need to and you trade away everything when it’s time to put all your chips in. The mediocre middle of the pack team does not go all in hard and sell even harder. We have been in this state for awhile. I’d rather be Hamilton last year and give away everything and walk away with a championship (and sell hard this year) then add a couple pieces this year and then still be confused if we should go for it next year again. This is the year…but MM has to put all his chips in and go for it

 

[rangersblues]

He has to add more. I believe he will put up a lot more to improve this team this year. You should have a good amount to deal away next year to recoup the picks giving away next year.

Not returning
Pinelli
Schmidt
Moore
Costantini
Valade

tradable assets
Martin OA (I think returns for OA season)
Sop OA
Motew OA
Hunter 19 (huge return)
Hamara 19
Swick 19
Rehkopf 18 (huge return)
Mesar 18 (huge return…if he returns)

Some other small tradable assets. Give away the picks but don’t care about making the playoffs next year. No reason in the OHL you can’t seriously contend every 3rd year if (big IF) you sell hard when you need to and you trade away everything when it’s time to put all your chips in. The mediocre middle of the pack team does not go all in hard and sell even harder. We have been in this state for awhile. I’d rather be Hamilton last year and give away everything and walk away with a championship (and sell hard this year) then add a couple pieces this year and then still be confused if we should go for it next year again. This is the year…but MM has to put all his chips in and go for it

I think you're right. The next couple of years will be rebuilding around the two first round picks next draft. At least I hope that's the case. At least we'll have a plan in place going forward too.

 

[EvenSteven]

I think you're right. The next couple of years will be rebuilding around the two first round picks next draft. At least I hope that's the case. At least we'll have a plan in place going forward too.

That’s another reason to go all in now. Our 04 group is thin but it’ll be thinner next year should Mesar move on. Have to take advantage of that group this year.

Because of the thin 04 group, next year is an obvious sell. The kick in the groin that the 06 group looks to be makes it hard to contend two years from now unless Longacre comes and we get a couple surprises from the remaining 06 draft class.

 

[beastintheeast]

Or 06 group

I had them pegged as a seller. Unless the GM went to the Larry Mavety school of trade in the future to get two, maybe 3 games in the playoffs,

It makes little sense. I still wonder what the talk in the Pinelli house is going to be like.

 

[dirty12]

I had them pegged as a seller. Unless the GM went to the Larry Mavety school of trade in the future to get two, maybe 3 games in the playoffs,

It makes little sense. I still wonder what the talk in the Pinelli house is going to be like.

Games prior to the Christmas break are very important for the final seeding, and finding out what you have and need.
Ignoring the current standings, compare the rosters of the ‘67s & rangers …maybe you peg the ‘67s as sellers.

 

[EvenSteven]

I had them pegged as a seller. Unless the GM went to the Larry Mavety school of trade in the future to get two, maybe 3 games in the playoffs,

It makes little sense. I still wonder what the talk in the Pinelli house is going to be like.

I had the Rangers pegged as buyers going into the season.

On Dec 1, I myself was leaning towards a sell but understood either buy or sell.

The Moore deal tells be that MM is all in. We are buyers.

 

[bobber]

The most exciting times on this board for Ranger fans is the lead up to the trade deadline. The draft is second. GMs have to know when to pull the trigger and when to sell off assets. MM has some big decisions to make. It will be interesting to see if he can pull off some trades that make this team legit. Also we have the Dennis factor to deal with going forward. Rangers have one projected 20 goal scorer on the roster. IMO going into the playoffs a contender should have 6 or more.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

The most exciting times on this board for Ranger fans is the lead up to the trade deadline. The draft is second. GMs have to know when to pull the trigger and when to sell off assets. MM has some big decisions to make. It will be interesting to see if he can pull off some trades that make this team legit. Also we have the Dennis factor to deal with going forward. Rangers have one projected 20 goal scorer on the roster. IMO going into the playoffs a contender should have 6 or more.

That's not true. Pinelli, Mesar, Rehkopf, Valade, Martin all project over 20 over the course of a full 68 game season, and Serpa did too before we traded him for Moore who looks like an upgrade overall. The first 3 are well on their way to getting to 20 if they keep up their pace at all.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I'd imagine it's because MM believes this team is better than they are and honestly, the west is kind of meh this year anyways so why not. Not to be THAT guy, but London skated circles around us for half the season last year. They did it again this year. It is what it is until the games matter. Buy, sell, stay, they usually have one goal and that's butts in seats during the playoffs. That's it. Only 2 visits to the finals in 20 years, have to gamble at some point I guess. Not holding my breathe though.

I think it is strange to omit the playoffs, which is more important than regular season imo.

 

[Gondrex]

Based on what some posters have already outlined (i.e. the weakness in our 04 and 06 groups) you knew MM was leaning towards buying and needed any reason to do so. Over the last couple of months there were definitely times where this seemed like a crazy idea. I posted previously that if MM decided to buy, that non-Ranger fans would be scratching their heads wondering why based mostly on what they see in the standings.

On paper they are, or at least had been underachieving. There have been positive signs recently (eg. some success vs NB and Peterborough), but they need to keep the current momentum going. Getting Moore is one piece, but obviously is not enough. Tim W is right, you can't totally rely on your top 6 all of the time. There needs to be the odd goal coming from the 3rd and 4th lines. I'd like to keep those draft picks that EvenSteven mentioned too, but we may not have any choice. As a back-up, Vandenberg's solid play over the last number of games appears to me to be good news. Maybe MM no longer needs to consider spending at that position.

Yeah I know, it's too early to look far out into the future. A lot can change. But as it stands, it looks like the 07's are going to be the ones that bring some sort of future prosperity to this team......and those kids haven't even been drafted yet. Also, when they are 19, this team will need to find some quality 06's as OA's. Not getting your 1st and 2nd rounders to report doesn't help at the moment. Maybe the kids in the later rounds surprise. So might as well go for it now, and we'll see how things pan out in the future after that.

 

[bobber]

That's not true. Pinelli, Mesar, Rehkopf, Valade, Martin all project over 20 over the course of a full 68 game season, and Serpa did too before we traded him for Moore who looks like an upgrade overall. The first 3 are well on their way to getting to 20 if they keep up their pace at all.

Maybe I worded it wrong. I meant presently. The others you mentioned could possibly get there if the team starts to put something solid together. Hope you are correct in your assumption. Still think it will be a stretch looking at their stats. I could see 3 at the moment going by potential. Still to really make a splash in the playoffs a team requires one or 2 of the top point getters similar to what Hamilton had last season. Only way the Rangers achieve this is by trade this season. A player like Morrison as an example. I think if the Knights add one or 2 high end forwards to go along with their stingy defense they could win the west. Not sure the Rangers defense is tight enough to get past a couple of teams above them at the moment.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Maybe I worded it wrong. I meant presently. The others you mentioned could possibly get there if the team starts to put something solid together. Hope you are correct in your assumption. Still think it will be a stretch looking at their stats. I could see 3 at the moment going by potential. Still to really make a splash in the playoffs a team requires one or 2 of the top point getters similar to what Hamilton had last season. Only way the Rangers achieve this is by trade this season. A player like Morrison as an example. I think if the Knights add one or 2 high end forwards to go along with their stingy defense they could win the west. Not sure the Rangers defense is tight enough to get past a couple of teams above them at the moment.

You said we have 1 that projects as a 20 goal scorer, I just did very simple math that shows based on current production, the guys I listed (more than one) statistically project as 20 goal scorers over a full season. Who knows what happens, just saying if we're stastically projecting their production, there are several on pace for 20+ over a full season.

Pinelli is 2 away, Rehkopf is 6 away, Mesar is half way there with fewer games played than everyone else, Martin was easily on pace before injury. Serpa was half way there with more than half a season to go (traded for a point producing Dman who probably won't hit 20 but will get a bunch of points).

 

[bobber]

You said we have 1 that projects as a 20 goal scorer, I just did very simple math that shows based on current production, the guys I listed (more than one) statistically project as 20 goal scorers over a full season. Who knows what happens, just saying if we're stastically projecting their production, there are several on pace for 20+ over a full season.

Pinelli is 2 away, Rehkopf is 6 away, Mesar is half way there with fewer games played than everyone else, Martin was easily on pace before injury. Serpa was half way there with more than half a season to go (traded for a point producing Dman who probably won't hit 20 but will get a bunch of points).

As a fan I hope your "simple math" is right. The most exciting hockey we had as STH was the Stanley group was put together. Love to see that again. Serpa did well last year but is no longer a factor. Martin has been out long term at the moment sitting at 7. He is the player on the Rangers that was impacting every game he was in before he was injured. Just not sure when he will be back. Big power forward. The 3 you mentioned are the three I was referring to if you read that part of the statement. Valade was up there last year. I think he would be a great checker with his speed on a contending team if the Rangers do get there. I think Lleyton should improve the stats of some of the forwards if handled properly.

 

[RangerNation]

I think it is strange to omit the playoffs, which is more important than regular season imo.

That's why I mentioned It is what it is until the games matter. It's what I was trying to get at but I could have made it clearer. You're right though. The logic means nothing in the regular season. Rangers went 2-0 against North Bay, guess they aren't the best.

 

[EvenSteven]

I'd like to keep those draft picks that EvenSteven mentioned too, but we may not have any choice.

Can’t stress enough how important it is to hang onto those picks.

2nd 23 (Bar).
3rd 23 (Osh).
3rd 23 (Sag).

Those 3rds could be early in that round. Oshawa selling means they’ll be a possible lottery candidate. Saginaw selling and other teams buying in the west means that pick could be mid round or earlier.

What’s the point of having two first round picks if you don’t have a pick until the 4th round afterwards. For me, the best supporting cast possible makes us a threat in that age group. Look no further than the Windsor Spitfires 2009, 2010. Part of the reason they were so strong was because they had three second round picks in one year.

I understand that teams will want that 2nd in a deal for a top forward. And we do need to top forward. But if it means trading for the next best forward and saving that pick, I’d be all on board for that.

Excluding those three picks, we have three 2nds and five 3rds to deal, plus bodies. Surely we can get something done where we strengthen this team by adding a couple forwards, one high-end one secondary, and still hang onto those picks.

 

[OHL4Life]

for what its worth i nkow he made a prety substantial offer for zito

 

[EvenSteven]

for what its worth i nkow he made a prety substantial offer for zito

That’s good to know. Hopefully, we can see an addition up front sooner than later.

 

[Gondrex]

Can’t stress enough how important it is to hang onto those picks.

2nd 23 (Bar).
3rd 23 (Osh).
3rd 23 (Sag).

Those 3rds could be early in that round. Oshawa selling means they’ll be a possible lottery candidate. Saginaw selling and other teams buying in the west means that pick could be mid round or earlier.

What’s the point of having two first round picks if you don’t have a pick until the 4th round afterwards. For me, the best supporting cast possible makes us a threat in that age group. Look no further than the Windsor Spitfires 2009, 2010. Part of the reason they were so strong was because they had three second round picks in one year.

I understand that teams will want that 2nd in a deal for a top forward. And we do need to top forward. But if it means trading for the next best forward and saving that pick, I’d be all on board for that.

Excluding those three picks, we have three 2nds and five 3rds to deal, plus bodies. Surely we can get something done where we strengthen this team by adding a couple forwards, one high-end one secondary, and still hang onto those picks.

Nicely outlined. Then it just becomes a matter of scouting / drafting well in the spring of 2023. My advice would be to make sure the Ranger scout who covers the SCTA league gets locked out of the room on draft day .

 

[bobber]

Can’t stress enough how important it is to hang onto those picks.

2nd 23 (Bar).
3rd 23 (Osh).
3rd 23 (Sag).

Those 3rds could be early in that round. Oshawa selling means they’ll be a possible lottery candidate. Saginaw selling and other teams buying in the west means that pick could be mid round or earlier.

What’s the point of having two first round picks if you don’t have a pick until the 4th round afterwards. For me, the best supporting cast possible makes us a threat in that age group. Look no further than the Windsor Spitfires 2009, 2010. Part of the reason they were so strong was because they had three second round picks in one year.

I understand that teams will want that 2nd in a deal for a top forward. And we do need to top forward. But if it means trading for the next best forward and saving that pick, I’d be all on board for that.

Excluding those three picks, we have three 2nds and five 3rds to deal, plus bodies. Surely we can get something done where we strengthen this team by adding a couple forwards, one high-end one secondary, and still hang onto those picks.

Good post Even. Keeping some high end picks going forward is always a good plan to keep teams in the mix each season. It's a fact MM is trying to do something to get this squad into the playoffs for a run. Love to hear what he offered for Zito.