Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[OttersFan]

Gaudreau sat on the bench for their last visit too.

Gaudreau has played every game since being acquired from Sarnia. I think Gibbons may have played one game?

Gaudreau will probably play all three games for us this weekend.

 

[Jives]

Great game. Good to see Pug put up a bunch. Sop looked off. He had a lot of issues handling the puck and taking passes. If we are going for it Misa needs to be the 3rd guy on the 2nd line (1st line seems set). He is currently the 2nd guy. Ellinas as much as Iike him is not a 2nd line player (maybe in a year or 2 will be) on a team going for it. If Martin is the OA traded then they really need to acquire a legit 2nd line player to make Misa the complimentary 2nd line player and let Sop and the new guy (or Martin) control that line and Misa be the 3rd guy. Much like Swick is doing on the first line although different style as the 3rd guy on the line. Neither one of them can control the play like Mesar, Carson, Sop or Martin.

Either way we need to acquire a 2nd line player (Martin traded) or top 4 D (Schmidt or Motew) when the OA spot is figured out.

 

[EvenSteven]

Great game. Good to see Pug put up a bunch. Sop looked off. He had a lot of issues handling the puck and taking passes. If we are going for it Misa needs to be the 3rd guy on the 2nd line (1st line seems set). He is currently the 2nd guy. Ellinas as much as Iike him is not a 2nd line player (maybe in a year or 2 will be) on a team going for it. If Martin is the OA traded then they really need to acquire a legit 2nd line player to make Misa the complimentary 2nd line player and let Sop and the new guy (or Martin) control that line and Misa be the 3rd guy. Much like Swick is doing on the first line although different style as the 3rd guy on the line. Neither one of them can control the play like Mesar, Carson, Sop or Martin.

Either way we need to acquire a 2nd line player (Martin traded) or top 4 D (Schmidt or Motew) when the OA spot is figured out.

At this trade deadline, we’ll be bringing a knife to a gunfight if we want to contend.

 

[LDN]

Stop being so goooood

 

[Billyjack]

Stop being so goooood

In a rebuild like London last year

 

[Jives]

At this trade deadline, we’ll be bringing a knife to a gunfight if we want to contend.

If Martin goes we use the little picks we have to fill the 2nd line spot with an import.

Import - Sop - Misa

I’m ok with that 2nd line which also bumps Ellinas to where he should be playing 3rd line. I think Ellinas and Lam are good enough 3rd line players. Mercer, Morey and Romano….don't mind any of them as the 4th line center but I’m not sold on any of them being 3C.

And….i don’t see how we don’t go for it anymore. Every game they win MM will find it impossible explaining to a common fan they are selling Hunter, Sop, Mesar, etc.

 

[Krangers08]

Seems like people are forgetting how good Martin has been in the last 2 playoffs. His trade value has also dropped with back to back years with serious injuries.

Hope Romano is alright went down the tunnel at the 10 minute mark limping and didn’t come back.

Love the accountability of benching the top 6 when not performing. Sop sat for a shift which resulted in the lam goal.

Bottineau is rolling.

 

[Jives]

Seems like people are forgetting how good Martin has been in the last 2 playoffs. His trade value has also dropped with back to back years with serious injuries.

Hope Romano is alright went down the tunnel at the 10 minute mark limping and didn’t come back.

Love the accountability of benching the top 6 when not performing. Sop sat for a shift which resulted in the lam goal

I don’t think Romano was a leg injury. He got a elbow to the head right in front of where we were sitting and slowly skates to the bench and left the game.

Was it a benching of the top 6? I just thought it was a coaches call the score if bad enough (in a good way) and let’s give the 3rd and 4th line some extra minutes. Sop was not good tonight though.

 

[Krangers08]

Was it a benching of the top 6? I just thought it was a coaches call the score if bad enough (in a good way) and let’s give the 3rd and 4th line some extra minutes. Sop was not good tonight though.

Kyrzakos gave a tap before the line was about to go out and he was sitting right behind the door ( when I played that usually meant you were sitting). Was right after the short handed goal and 4-3 at the time of the Lam goal.

 

[Krangers08]

The only way I'm selling is if you can tell me Romano is going to turn into Rehkopf and Reid is going to turn into Brzustewicz. Otherwise - no!

The return would be nice tho and would get a 07 back. I selfishly enjoy rebuilds and seeing the young players grow. Idk why but I’m just not sold on this team being a serious threat in the playoffs.

 

[East Avenue Bully]

Stop being so goooood

Early times still. Lots to work on, rookie coach, not a lot trade ammo in the cabinet. It's probably still a sell year

 

[LDN]

Early times still. Lots to work on, rookie coach, not a lot trade ammo in the cabinet. It's probably still a sell year

So much humility haha you guys have really had a great start. Enjoy it and you rangers fans are awesome

 

[Gondrex]

At this trade deadline, we’ll be bringing a knife to a gunfight if we want to contend.

True, and with the recent signing of Arquette, is that a signal that MM is possibly considering parting with one of his 07's in order to upgrade from a pocket knife to a butcher knife ?

[edit] Kitchener would still be at a disadvantage though IMO.

 

[Jives]

Reid is actually needed. We trade him and we need to find another D. Romano is tradeable right now. He currently is playing the level of a 4th liner. I see the potential and everything. I’m just saying you really can’t trade Reid as he is a very good 5th or 6th dman right now that we don’t have anyone to replace him with. Romano we have depth up front to replace him. I 100% would not trade either of them. I’d rather a Carson or Ando 2 part trade then trading one of our 2007s.

 

[rangersblues]

The return would be nice tho and would get a 07 back. I selfishly enjoy rebuilds and seeing the young players grow. Idk why but I’m just not sold on this team being a serious threat in the playoffs.

Sometimes the thrill is in the chase. But Rangers have been chasing for far too long now.

 

[East Avenue Bully]

What do y'all think of Pugilese for the C?

 

[rangersblues]

Reid is actually needed. We trade him and we need to find another D. Romano is tradeable right now. He currently is playing the level of a 4th liner. I see the potential and everything. I’m just saying you really can’t trade Reid as he is a very good 5th or 6th dman right now that we don’t have anyone to replace him with. Romano we have depth up front to replace him. I 100% would not trade either of them. I’d rather a Carson or Ando 2 part trade then trading one of our 2007s.

It depends on the trade and what player is returned. I think if we trade Romano or Reid, Beck and Nelson come into play. Although Peterborough is now nationally ranked and find themselves in a situation similar to Kitchener.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

The more the Rangers buy-in to their new culture and system - the better they get. It was thought maybe 8th place this season. Now at 1st place in the league and 4th in Canada. Can they improve?

Jussi says so and I do too. But they listen and they execute. As long as they continue on this path, they will be in contention in some form or another. Who knows how much better teams will get by adding? It doesn't always work aka Shane Wright in Windsor.

Sure I'd like to see some adding to the cupboard but not at the expense of the best draft seen here in years and certainly nothing that could upset the chemistry they truly have.

 

[Ward Cornell]

I'm a very firm "I don't know which direction the Rangers should go".
But I suspect deep down do a soft buy and then sell in the off season before the draft, just to kick start the rebuild. I would probably try picking up a depth 19 yr old dman, trade Schmidt and retain Martin upfront.
Keep Romano and definitely keep Reid. As for Lam, more and more impressed with him. Where the heck does he get the power behind his wrist shots with his 145lbs?

 

[Stellar29]

I'm a very firm "I don't know which direction the Rangers should go".
But I suspect deep down do a soft buy and then sell in the off season before the draft, just to kick start the rebuild. I would probably try picking up a depth 19 yr old dman, trade Schmidt and retain Martin upfront.
Keep Romano and definitely keep Reid. As for Lam, more and more impressed with him. Where the heck does he get the power behind his wrist shots with his 145lbs?

Kitchener has a second and third for this coming OHL draft so if they don't touch those picks there's no immediate harm in holding firm and running with what they brought to the dance. They don't really have the pieces to be big buyers but maybe they don't need to? They can still reset and rebuild next year selling the 05s in Rehkopf and Andonovski. Only potential downfall would be Rehkopf making the Kraken.

I think if they remain patient and hold off on any decisions until closer to the deadline, they can sell if the team falls off or ride it out with what they have if the performance remains at this high level. It would be awfully tough to sell off with the way this team plays right now. I think you can sell it to the players that they were supposed to sell but because they earned it they decided to change course and give them a chance. I wouldn't move the 1st round 07s.

Just my two cents as neutral observer.

 

[Ward Cornell]

What do y'all think of Pugilese for the C?

Honestly...keep it as it is.
No need to change what's not broken and upset the teams chemistry.

 

[RangerNation]

The return would be nice tho and would get a 07 back. I selfishly enjoy rebuilds and seeing the young players grow. Idk why but I’m just not sold on this team being a serious threat in the playoffs.

I know where you're coming from..BUT..try reading this with all the stats and standings in front of you and pretend to be an outside observer. Gotta say, if it's any other team im looking at with the same numbers, id be yelling 'go for it'. 2027 seems very far away right now.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Getting Stark and Lam's emergence make Romano the piece I would be ok trading for a big fish. I think he will be good, but if he gets us a star player, having Reid, Stark, Lam and Arquette and MacNeil in the wings is still a really good base to work with from 1 draft. I've been holding on in the sell camp until now, but if we really do have lightning in a bottle with this group and coaching staff, maybe you do need to make some tough calls. I just don't think we can trade both of our 1st rounders.

 

[HockeyPops]

Does this team need to add a star forward, or would a bigger need be adding to the back end? Looking at the other teams in the west considered to be possible contenders, whether it be Saginaw, London, Soo, they all have two (or more) scoring defensemen.

 

[rangersblues]

Getting Stark and Lam's emergence make Romano the piece I would be ok trading for a big fish. I think he will be good, but if he gets us a star player, having Reid, Stark, Lam and Arquette and MacNeil in the wings is still a really good base to work with from 1 draft. I've been holding on in the sell camp until now, but if we really do have lightning in a bottle with this group and coaching staff, maybe you do need to make some tough calls. I just don't think we can trade both of our 1st rounders.

Never both - 100%. And either Reid or Romano would have to be a really huge return.