Kitchener Rangers 2022-23 Season Thread

[Billyjack]

Cudos to the Rangers today, they stepped up against a very good NB team. Ranger defense is very good when they play to their potential

 

[Lycanthrope]

Not sure what colour guy you were referring to. In the pre-game show on 570, the Ranger broadcasters clearly outlined the Ranger struggles on the road - poor PK and poor PP stats - along with the usual slow start. Couple that with their mentioning that the Wolves had been playing better, and have had quick starts as of late. Quite frankly the quick lead, and the end result didn't surprise me at all. Perhaps it surprised others. Many of us on this board already know that this team is vastly under-performing this season.

I will also point out that the Sudbury broadcaster made the comment about Kitchener starting their back-up against the Wolves and proceeded to give the audience a similar misleading impression that you outlined above. A simple bit of pre-game research would have helped the broadcaster realize that the Rangers were playing 3 games in 3 days. The typical plan is to play your back-up in game 2. The Wolves started their back-up vs. the Rangers back at the Aud in their 7-2 win. Were Ranger fans supposed to get the same impression ?

Hey friend. Naw just the lanky fellow that does the tv broadcast.Not hard to see why considering the game in Kitchener and the standings. As you said though a broadcaster should have good knowledge of the talent on the teams regardless of their records. No big deal for sure.

Really I’m just excited about the way they’re playing and I half way expected that kind of performance might happen, was just happy.

Looks like your Rangers bounced back by beating the Bay. Cheers, divisional team for us.

 

[bobber]

Hey friend. Naw just the lanky fellow that does the tv broadcast.Not hard to see why considering the game in Kitchener and the standings. As you said though a broadcaster should have good knowledge of the talent on the teams regardless of their records. No big deal for sure.

Really I’m just excited about the way they’re playing and I half way expected that kind of performance might happen, was just happy.

Looks like your Rangers bounced back by beating the Bay. Cheers, divisional team for us.

Putting that Sudbury win in perspective. The Wolves are a decent team. Rangers beat them in KW. This last game in Sudbury was a bit of a mulligan. Wolves were scoring on a Jr. B goalie. He had only played 2 games earlier this year and came in raw.

 

[Gondrex]

Putting that Sudbury win in perspective. The Wolves are a decent team. Rangers beat them in KW. This last game in Sudbury was a bit of a mulligan. Wolves were scoring on a Jr. B goalie. He had only played 2 games earlier this year and came in raw.

You're right Bobber. The Wolves are a good team, and quite honestly I'm glad to see a turnaround for them. Great battles in that entire Eastern Conference, and even more so now with Othman in Peterborough.

The Rangers didn't exactly help themselves in Sudbury either though. Referring specifically to that game, I think that the North Bay commentator said it best (they were very good broadcasters by the way IMO); that teams can play differently - perhaps more defensively? - when they don't have their #1 in net....I am paraphrasing a bit here, but the Rangers played totally different against Mississauga and North Bay. Vandenberg likely would have liked to have a couple of those back, but the Ranger skaters created little offense which didn't help. The Wolves, to their credit, were relentless and with that combination, that is the result you get.

I'm still uncertain about this Ranger team. They played very well yesterday considering it was a "3 in 3", so a ton of credit to them. However, once again the Battalion outshot, and may have arguably, slightly out-chanced Kitchener in this game. It was yet another win vs a back-up goaltender, and one may even say that Costantini was a big reason the Rangers grabbed the two points. So I dunno. Before the game CD mentioned the importance of puck possession and keeping it in the offensive zone (again paraphrasing). The Rangers did a better job of that against the Battalion and it went a long way in getting the W IMO.

 

[bobber]

You're right Bobber. The Wolves are a good team, and quite honestly I'm glad to see a turnaround for them. Great battles in that entire Eastern Conference, and even more so now with Othman in Peterborough.

The Rangers didn't exactly help themselves in Sudbury either though. Referring specifically to that game, I think that the North Bay commentator said it best (they were very good broadcasters by the way IMO); that teams can play differently - perhaps more defensively? - when they don't have their #1 in net....I am paraphrasing a bit here, but the Rangers played totally differently against Mississauga and North Bay. Vandenberg likely would have liked to have a couple of those back, but the Ranger skaters created little offense which didn't help. The Wolves, to their credit, were relentless and with that combination, that is the result you get.

I'm still uncertain about this Ranger team. They played very well yesterday considering it was a "3 in 3", so a ton of credit. However, once again the Battalion outshot, and may have arguably, slightly out-chanced Kitchener in this game. It was yet another win vs a back-up goaltender, and one may even say that Costantini was a big reason the Rangers grabbed the two points. So I dunno. Before the game CD mentioned the importance of puck possession and keeping it in the offensive zone (again paraphrasing). The Rangers did a better job of that against the Battalion and it went a long way in getting the W IMO.

Great post Gondrex. Hit the nail on the head. Last season our goaltending gave the fans a false sense of what this team was going forward. I think without the goaltending the Rangers would have never got as far as they accomplished. Constantini won the game for the Rangers yesterday. The Rangers only had one shot in the 3rd but managed to pull out a win. Credit to the Rangers for beating a top squad like the Battalion on the road.

 

[barclayplager]

Ranger D held the fort nicely..Battalion beat by better goaltending...Ranger hustle...played with desperation....48 is smart and really good......nice game to watch...

 

[bobber]

Good read down below on Brock Ottens Top Fifty Thread for next year's draft. I believe four Rangers were mentioned.​

 

[EvenSteven]

Just to clarify......my thoughts are ONLY if we turn things around. True, where we sit now, we should be selling, as I mentioned in an earlier post. It is still a bit early but I agree if we do down today, especially if we are held to one or 2 goals, some hard decisions will have to be made soon. Personally, if that happens, I would sell, sell, sell!

It’s a little early to talk about selling right now in Kitchener. Take away the five-game losing streak to start the season, and the Rangers, currently with a 0.436 winning percentage, would be among the top three in the conference with a 0.636 winning percentage.

As a comparable, last year‘s London Knights finished third in the conference. But if you take away their 9 game winning streak to start the season, they only had a 0.508 winning percentage. And that’s who they were going into the playoffs.

Can Kitchener be a 0.636 winning percentage team going to the playoffs? Obviously, it’s a little early for that. But, it’s also way early to decide to sell.

For me, I think we’re still in a “wait and see” mode.

 

[RichieRice]

It’s a little early to talk about selling right now in Kitchener. Take away the five-game losing streak to start the season, and the Rangers, currently with a 0.436 winning percentage, would be among the top three in the conference with a 0.636 winning percentage.

As a comparable, last year‘s London Knights finished third in the conference. But if you take away their 9 game winning streak to start the season, they only had a 0.508 winning percentage. And that’s who they were going into the playoffs.

Can Kitchener be a 0.636 winning percentage team going to the playoffs? Obviously, it’s a little early for that. But, it’s also way early to decide to sell.

For me, I think we’re still in a “wait and see” mode.

I think we'd all like to see more straight line progression instead of this roller coaster, but I agree we need a few more weeks to evaluate. Saturday was the only real stinker on the weekend.

 

[Lycanthrope]

Putting that Sudbury win in perspective. The Wolves are a decent team. Rangers beat them in KW. This last game in Sudbury was a bit of a mulligan. Wolves were scoring on a Jr. B goalie. He had only played 2 games earlier this year and came in raw.

Interesting comment about the goalie. Actually, from what I saw your goalie might have had a rocky start but settled in quite nicely and make some pretty good stops or I think the score came could have been considerably worse. Especially evident when I watched the game again. I can see the Wolves putting up some 10 spots if they keep going like this, many teams might have a long night. Team was unrecognizable from the one that played in KW. Defensively play and discipline a complete 180. Good luck to the Rangers.

 

[bobber]

I think we'd all like to see more straight line progression instead of this roller coaster, but I agree we need a few more weeks to evaluate. Saturday was the only real stinker on the weekend.

If the Rangers do decide to sell, they could pick up quite a few assets. I think if they do they need to bring in some young skilled players into the mix. Missing the first two picks this past draft leaves them short in development for the next couple of years. They do have some players being mentioned as possible NHL draft picks for next year in Brock Ottens article. This bodes well if MM plays the right cards. In saying this it seems a shame to have Constantini and Mesar in the mix and not try something to bolster this line up. Just for the sake of giving the fans a boost this season. Nothing terrifies an opponent finishing higher in the standing having to face a goalie like we have at the moment. Ask the Knights. They went through that misery last year.

 

[GeoBlue]

It’s a little early to talk about selling right now in Kitchener. Take away the five-game losing streak to start the season, and the Rangers, currently with a 0.436 winning percentage, would be among the top three in the conference with a 0.636 winning percentage.

.........Or take away the 4 game win streak after those 5 losses and they would sit at a .250 winning percentage. The wonderful thing about numbers and speculation, eh? LOL!

 

[Gondrex]

It’s a little early to talk about selling right now in Kitchener. Take away the five-game losing streak to start the season, and the Rangers, currently with a 0.436 winning percentage, would be among the top three in the conference with a 0.636 winning percentage.

As a comparable, last year‘s London Knights finished third in the conference. But if you take away their 9 game winning streak to start the season, they only had a 0.508 winning percentage. And that’s who they were going into the playoffs.

Can Kitchener be a 0.636 winning percentage team going to the playoffs? Obviously, it’s a little early for that. But, it’s also way early to decide to sell.

For me, I think we’re still in a “wait and see” mode.

Admittedly it's easy to get emotionally whipsawed game to game. I'm guilty. I had vented after those two straight losses to Erie. I can understand why MM would be a buyer this season though. The Rangers are an older team and they have a few top-end players, along with very good and reliable goaltending. I think you kinda alluded to it EvenSteven. Although there are some good teams in this conference, IMO it is arguably weaker than the East. MM may feel that with a few tweaks, at the very least he could challenge within the conference, and if so fortunate as to get to the league final, hope that anything can happen in a series against the Beast from the East.

In gauging this team, I still find it hard. The Rangers have just faced, what seems to have been a lot of the opposition's back-up goaltenders. From this past weekend, I think the only reliable yardstick was the game vs Mississauga....and Kitchener did play reasonably well in that game. Maybe someone can point out some others, but those two games vs Erie were also worth taking a hard look at......unfortunately Kitchener did not play so well that weekend.

So I'm hopeful that the next two weeks will give us a clearer picture. I think barring any collapse, MM is leaning towards buying. In the end, it's not every day you can grab an import like Mesar, have a future 1st round NHL draft pick in Brzustewicz and acquire an excellent goaltender in Costantini. Adding a couple of meaningful trades (and they definitely would need to do this) and along with **playing with some consistency** (!!) could give this team a shot in the west. Of course when they lose their next stinker I'll totally change my mind again .

 

[Greatger]

Ranger D held the fort nicely..Battalion beat by better goaltending...Ranger hustle...played with desperation....48 is smart and really good......nice game to watch...

Most feel the goal that was called back was the turning point of this game. The goal called back (by a rookie referee), should never have been called back. There was absolutely no goaltender interference that had occurred.

 

[Billyjack]

Most feel the goal that was called back was the turning point of this game. The goal called back (by a rookie referee), should never have been called back. There was absolutely no goaltender interference that had occurred.

Beg to differ, sure was goalie interference, It was called back by both referees

 

[bobber]

Most feel the goal that was called back was the turning point of this game. The goal called back (by a rookie referee), should never have been called back. There was absolutely no goaltender interference that had occurred.

Most? You mean all Battalion fans, right? Just to be clear. Sounds like a "grassy knoll" conspiracy theory from our point of view Greater

 

[EvenSteven]

So I'm hopeful that the next two weeks will give us a clearer picture. I think barring any collapse, MM is leaning towards buying. In the end, it's not every day you can grab an import like Mesar, have a future 1st round NHL draft pick in Brzustewicz and acquire an excellent goaltender in Costantini. Adding a couple of meaningful trades (and they definitely would need to do this) and along with **playing with some consistency** (!!) could give this team a shot in the west. Of course when they lose their next stinker I'll totally change my mind again .

I agree that two weeks from now we’ll have a clearer idea where we stand. If we sell, I don’t see us contending next year.

Our 04 group is weak. Let me rephrase that. The 04 group we have guaranteed to return next year is week. Either import could, and just might, play pro next year. And Hunter B could very well make the NHL if he’s taken in the first round. That depends on how he develops this year going forward, and which team in the NHL takes him. Remember, he’s a late birthday and will be almost a year older than most of his draft class next year. And I believe he’s already moving up draft rankings.

So for me, it’s either all in this year, or wait at least two years from now to attempt at contending again.

This is why I believe MM is 100% all in this year - unless the bottom falls right out of this season between now and the new year.

 

[GeoBlue]

I agree that two weeks from now we’ll have a clearer idea where we stand. If we sell, I don’t see us contending next year.

Our 04 group is weak. Let me rephrase that. The 04 group we have guaranteed to return next year is week. Either import could, and just might, play pro next year. And Hunter B could very well make the NHL if he’s taken in the first round. That depends on how he develops this year going forward, and which team in the NHL takes him. Remember, he’s a late birthday and will be almost a year older than most of his draft class next year. And I believe he’s already moving up draft rankings.

So for me, it’s either all in this year, or wait at least two years from now to attempt at contending again.

This is why I believe MM is 100% all in this year - unless the bottom falls right out of this season between now and the new year.

The bottom has half fallen out already. We are 2nd LAST in our conference and talking about "going for it"? Something will have to change quickly. I wouldn't expect to go for it next year if this was a sell year. With 2 1st round picks coming up in June, I would think in 2 or maybe 3 years.

 

[Matttheleaf]

The bottom has half fallen out already. We are 2nd LAST in our conference and talking about "going for it"? Something will have to change quickly. I wouldn't expect to go for it next year if this was a sell year. With 2 1st round picks coming up in June, I would think in 2 or maybe 3 years.

Not saying they are a great team right now or one that needs to go for it, but in the 19-20 season they had a .362 winning percentage and a 7-10-4 record on November 23rd, before they made a coaching change and were on pace for potentially 95+ points and finished with a .635 winning percentage before covid stopped the season. There is still time if they pick it up before the rest of the month and prove they can go for it this year.

 

[EvenSteven]

The bottom has half fallen out already. We are 2nd LAST in our conference and talking about "going for it"? Something will have to change quickly. I wouldn't expect to go for it next year if this was a sell year. With 2 1st round picks coming up in June, I would think in 2 or maybe 3 years.

Well, in 19-20 we went all in.

Then:
20-21. Sell year. Covid or not,
21-22. Sell year.
22-23. Sell year?
23-24. Sell year as we won’t have the personnel to contend.
24-25. Our 05 group’s last year. Do we go all in? Without the 06 group’s 1st and 2nd rounders currently on board? I’m not sure.

Suggesting we should sell the next few years and focus on the 07 group as we’ll have two 1st rounders to build around? Focusing on perhaps a 2027 Memorial Cup bid?

That’s four years away!

Um, I’m not up for that. And I doubt MM is either.


We have the makings of a contender this year. MM traded his way into contention twice before. With the decent draft pick cupboard he has at his disposal, I expect he’ll do so again this year. He’s already started the process by bringing in Costantini.

By my estimation, we’re a solid, stay at home top four D (Hache?), a top line forward (Winterton?), and a top nine forward with grit (Savard?) away from disturbing some crap in the post season. Add in a less expensive veteran D (Hislop?) to give us depth and I think we’re all good to go deep in the post season.

Especially in the west this year where nobody really has been running away with the conference. There is no powerhouse in the west.

 

[ohloutsider]

I think the biggest problem for MM is not what the Rangers add to get better but what do the top teams add to stay on top? Sure the Rangers could add 1 or 2 studs but what if OS, Saggy or Windsor add? Rangers not only need to add players to get to the competition's level now but add to surpass anything they might do. That's a tough ask for any GM.

 

[bobber]

If MM acts desperate, he will get skinned and tacked to the barn door at this point in time. I doubt there is a GM in the league that feels the need to help the Rangers out of their misery. Don't quote me on this but I believe Sudbury has 2 disgruntled players sitting at home. One I believe is OA. The other is 17. These are probably the type of deals that are out there at the moment. The top teams in the league might be forced to make deals to keep up with each other which makes trading difficult. Ottawa is solid and has a ton of picks going forward. I think the Rangers new coach has to show they can start to compete and put a string of wins together before MM is forced to make a solid move or two. I agree the west does not look as strong as the east but that can be deceiving. If this was a year where the Rangers were supposed to be a contender going into the season the question has to be asked why did MM not grab a couple of top skilled players from other rebuilding franchises early? Constantini was brought in to right the ship. The team still put up a couple of stinkers in front of him.

 

[Gondrex]

Well, in 19-20 we went all in.

Then:
20-21. Sell year. Covid or not,
21-22. Sell year.
22-23. Sell year?
23-24. Sell year as we won’t have the personnel to contend.
24-25. Our 05 group’s last year. Do we go all in? Without the 06 group’s 1st and 2nd rounders currently on board? I’m not sure.

Suggesting we should sell the next few years and focus on the 07 group as we’ll have two 1st rounders to build around? Focusing on perhaps a 2027 Memorial Cup bid?

That’s four years away!

Um, I’m not up for that. And I doubt MM is either.


We have the makings of a contender this year. MM traded his way into contention twice before. With the decent draft pick cupboard he has at his disposal, I expect he’ll do so again this year. He’s already started the process by bringing in Costantini.

By my estimation, we’re a solid, stay at home top four D (Hache?), a top line forward (Winterton?), and a top nine forward with grit (Savard?) away from disturbing some crap in the post season. Add in a less expensive veteran D (Hislop?) to give us depth and I think we’re all good to go deep in the post season.

Especially in the west this year where nobody really has been running away with the conference. There is no powerhouse in the west.

Well outlined as usual ES, and Mattleaf added some good supportive info. I can't blame GeoBlue for the concern considering where the team currently stands. After all, if MM pulled off some big deal today, it would appear to be a real head-scratcher for most OHL fans when looking only at the standings. I have a feeling, and as mentioned here before, barring any streak of really bad results in the near term, I wouldn't be surprised if / when MM brings in some more pieces and go for it.

I can't predict the future and don't necessarily want to speculate here, but as a buyer, I would expect that MM would have some sort of contingency plan in place should the team still struggle afterwards.

 

[Gondrex]

I think the biggest problem for MM is not what the Rangers add to get better but what do the top teams add to stay on top? Sure the Rangers could add 1 or 2 studs but what if OS, Saggy or Windsor add? Rangers not only need to add players to get to the competition's level now but add to surpass anything they might do. That's a tough ask for any GM.

That is also a good point.
In the east, the Petes are one example of this.

Really looking forward to the Windsor vs Ranger game this weekend. I don't want to already make excuses here, but just wish that one wasn't the 3rd of 3.

 

[EvenSteven]

I think the biggest problem for MM is not what the Rangers add to get better but what do the top teams add to stay on top? Sure the Rangers could add 1 or 2 studs but what if OS, Saggy or Windsor add? Rangers not only need to add players to get to the competition's level now but add to surpass anything they might do. That's a tough ask for any GM.

These are fair points to consider. But, first off, from what I understand, Saginaw is actively shopping veterans. They plan on going all in, in a year or two. Also, the Western Conference right now, along with being wide-open, is upside down. Favourites are underachieving and bottom dwellers are overachieving. At some point this will iron itself out. Also, there isn’t anybody in our conference with a massive amount of assets in the way of picks with which to go all in with. There are no Ottawa‘s or Barrie’s in the west with a massive amount of 2nds and 3rds more than anyone else to deal. A couple have considerably less. Therefore, anybody willing to buy in the west are pretty much doing so with an even amount of assets.