Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread

[RangerNation]

i could hear the argument that the three teams are better then flint, but i think flint will have a way easier schedule.

I guess we will see how the easier schedule fairs in the playoffs. Maybe we have a 18/19 thing on our hands where the entire western conference beats up on each other.

 

[EvenSteven]

At the end of the day it's early, hopefully Mesar reports and Hamara acclimates more as the season goes on.

He’s one step closer.
Mesar demoted today to Laval.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Josh Brown article was posted late this afternoon re Mesar cut from Canadiens and going to Laval. Here's an excerpt:

There is still a chance that Mesar joins the Rangers if Montreal’s brass thinks junior hockey is a better fit for his development. The Laval Rocket is currently running its own training camp and doesn’t start the season until Oct. 14.

“We’ll just continue to see where it goes and see what happens,” said McKenzie. “It will come down to what Montreal thinks is best for him. We’ll just have to see how it plays out. They’ve been good in communicating with us.

“I think it’s fluid. I don’t think it’s 100 per cent either way. He’s a really talented player and they want to get as much time with him as possible, which is the right way to go about it.”

 

[Rangers True Blue]

With more players yet to be cut from the Canadiens, the Laval training camp will get even more loaded than it is today:

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Josh Brown article was posted late this afternoon re Mesar cut from Canadiens and going to Laval. Here's an excerpt:

There is still a chance that Mesar joins the Rangers if Montreal’s brass thinks junior hockey is a better fit for his development. The Laval Rocket is currently running its own training camp and doesn’t start the season until Oct. 14.

“We’ll just continue to see where it goes and see what happens,” said McKenzie. “It will come down to what Montreal thinks is best for him. We’ll just have to see how it plays out. They’ve been good in communicating with us.

“I think it’s fluid. I don’t think it’s 100 per cent either way. He’s a really talented player and they want to get as much time with him as possible, which is the right way to go about it.”

Earlier when Marek said Mesar was coming to Kitchener, MM said he'd not heard anything from Montreal. Now he's commenting on how they're handling him, praising the way they're doing it and now their communication with him.

Maybe doesn't mean anything, but his public comments on it seem in a better mood at least.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Currently at Laval training camp...9 Laval players on forward. Mesar in the mix? Or at his age, will more minutes and the opportunity to develop at the top end of the Rangers be more beneficial?

 

[GeoBlue]

Currently at Laval training camp...9 Laval players on forward. Mesar in the mix? Or at his age, will more minutes and the opportunity to develop at the top end of the Rangers be more beneficial?

View attachment 591397

I'm not sure where all these lists are coming from but this one doesn't have any of the top point-getters from last year. I'm going to assume many are still with the main Hab camp and will eventually find their way into the above mix.

 

[rangersblues]

I'm not sure where all these lists are coming from but this one doesn't have any of the top point-getters from last year. I'm going to assume many are still with the main Hab camp and will eventually find their way into the above mix.

Two more were sent down and the Habs roster seems to be set at forward.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ha...-on-the-blueline-roster-training-camp-nhl-ahl

 

[K2]

With Vandenberg sidelined, we've got Wyatt Perras in as emergency BUG tonight.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

I'm not sure where all these lists are coming from but this one doesn't have any of the top point-getters from last year. I'm going to assume many are still with the main Hab camp and will eventually find their way into the above mix.

That list is from Laval Rocket and agreed, not all have been sent down from Montreal. That makes the Forward positions even more crowded than shown for Mesar.

So......0 and 3 on the season. Does a change in coaches make that much difference in a team's adjustment?

 

[EvenSteven]

0-3 to start the season. Can’t say I expected that. But then, I also didn’t expect Sop to be tied for the scoring lead (pleasant surprise) after three games while Serpa and Valade have just a point each. As stud OA’s, they need to be producing more.

But of course, it’s early. But I’ll be a little concerned if we don’t take it to Kingston tomorrow.

 

[OhSheilaa]

No worries here.

Just need to start strong and stay consistent. Just a few little things need to start clicking and when they do, the wins will come. One win will start the ball rolling.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I'm still seeing a lot of individual players and not a lot of a team. Their have been flashes here and there, but it doesn't look like chemistry has developed, especially on the blueline. D zone coverage is bad, it's like no one really trusts the other guys out their to maintain their position and win their battles, so they try to help but in the process blow their own assignments.

Worst case scenario, we've got a lot of good pieces to sell at the trade deadline

 

[rangersblues]

0-3 to start the season. Can’t say I expected that. But then, I also didn’t expect Sop to be tied for the scoring lead (pleasant surprise) after three games while Serpa and Valade have just a point each. As stud OA’s, they need to be producing more.

But of course, it’s early. But I’ll be a little concerned if we don’t take it to Kingston tomorrow.

The possibility exists that they aren't stud OAs.

I agree it's way too early to panic. Or make any major moves. I think you need around 1/4 of the season to assess what you have then react accordingly.

 

[GeoBlue]

I'm a bit concerned about Parsons. Seen some soft goals but I'm hoping it is just a slow start for him as well.

 

[EvenSteven]

The possibility exists that they aren't stud OAs.

I agree it's way too early to panic. Or make any major moves. I think you need around 1/4 of the season to assess what you have then react accordingly.

DeBoer used to give himself until the area between Halloween and the American thanksgiving to figure out who is who on his team. I assume by that time, MM Will have a very good idea the holes we need to fill, and the players we may need to replace. And, even if we are a top contender or not.

Based on last year‘s play, Serpa and Valade should be stud OA’s this year. And, for us to be a top contender this year, they’re going to need to be or we’re gonna find ourselves with probably too many holes to fill to reach that status.

 

[EvenSteven]

I'm still seeing a lot of individual players and not a lot of a team. Their have been flashes here and there, but it doesn't look like chemistry has developed, especially on the blueline. D zone coverage is bad, it's like no one really trusts the other guys out their to maintain their position and win their battles, so they try to help but in the process blow their own assignments.

Worst case scenario, we've got a lot of good pieces to sell at the trade deadline

Perhaps we should be looking at a guy like Hache in Kingston. Maybe we keep an eye on him tomorrow and see how he is. NHL drafted, would be a good 4th at a decent price on the backend.

And a possibility to return as an OA next year.

 

[Devin]

If this 0-3 start becomes a theme this season can we start re-considering my offer .. give me pinelli this season and I'll send you Hunter Haight next year as a 2 part deal.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

@RDSca reports Laval coach as saying about Mesar: "It's going to be hard for him to stay in Laval because we have a lot of forwards."

 

[EvenSteven]

Worst case scenario, we've got a lot of good pieces to sell at the trade deadline

 

[RangerNation]

Going to need a lot more than Mesar moving forward. This is tough to watch.

 

[Billyjack]

This is brutal, hard to watch. May be too much for Parsons, maybe a OA/ import goalie would have been better

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Didn't watch the whole thing, but don't think a better goalie is going to do much when both of our D chase the same assignment and leave the net front completely uncontested at all times.

 

[Tim Wallach]

This is currently a very flawed team. I wouldn’t pile on after four games if it weren’t for the fact they’re playing the exact same way as last year’s boring, subpar team.

Losing basic assignments, not hustling to pick up trailers. Zero physicality. No pace at all. Terrible passing and receiving. Lots of solo attempts.

This team sorely lacks speed and pace to their game and the same ice time and deployment occurs regardless of who is going and who is not. Unless these things change, there won’t be development. The standards and accountability have to increase dramatically.

 

[Gondrex]

Agreed. The Ranger teams I've enjoyed watching in the past were the ones with speed and relentless forecheck. Completely absent from this year's version.