Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 2)

[GeoBlue]

That defenceman Ride #10 is a big boy. We should try and trade for him. Kinda like the thought of a dyslexic pairing on the back end.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

It was like Vandy knew where the Rangers were going to shoot from...

Rangers were not going to the net like they used to. Not enough pushback. Defensively sloppy far to much. Their passing was not crisp and accurate like it once was. PP is still not firing on all cylinders.

Kudos to young Reid for stepping up in support of Motew against 19-year old Klein.

Team needs to snap out of its lull and get back to business.

 

[bobber]

It was like Vandy knew where the Rangers were going to shoot from...

Rangers were not going to the net like they used to. Not enough pushback. Defensively sloppy far to much. Their passing was not crisp and accurate like it once was. PP is still not firing on all cylinders.

Kudos to young Reid for stepping up in support of Motew against 19-year old Klein.

Team needs to snap out of its lull and get back to business.

The Rangers started out with a bang this season. A high flying offensive team that caught many other teams by surprise. Opposing teams looking at video now of the Attack wins (as an example) opened up a play book on how to stymie that Ranger system. The Dogs played physical in the second period and you could see the Rangers had no real response. To beat a goalie like Vandenberg when he is on his game someone has to get in his face and screen him. Standing off to the side looking for tip ins doesn't work. He played a hell of a game but Jussie mentioned they made him look better than he is. One big issue the Rangers have had the last few seasons is being to slow retrieving pucks dumped into their end. Doing it again. There is something missing in their game that was there and seems to have disappeared lately IMO. Maybe the opposing teams are starting to gel and the Rangers are coming back to earth.

 

[Billyjack]

The Rangers started out with a bang this season. A high flying offensive team that caught many other teams by surprise. Opposing teams looking at video now of the Attack wins (as an example) opened up a play book on how to stymie that Ranger system. The Dogs played physical in the second period and you could see the Rangers had no real response. To beat a goalie like Vandenberg when he is on his game someone has to get in his face and screen him. Standing off to the side looking for tip ins doesn't work. He played a hell of a game but Jussie mentioned they made him look better than he is. One big issue the Rangers have had the last few seasons is being to slow retrieving pucks dumped into their end. Doing it again. There is something missing in their game that was there and seems to have disappeared lately IMO. Maybe the opposing teams are starting to gel and the Rangers are coming back to earth.

Bang on, I noticed there is something off as well

 

[bobber]

Bang on, I noticed there is something off as well

Martin seemed to be a player that was always around the net in opposing players faces and getting under their skin. Pug does this also but not built the same way. These are character types that every team needs to move the needle. All goals don't need to be highlite reels. Garbage goals in scrums win a lot of championships. Sometimes teams need to forget about finesse and win a dirty game or two.

 

[RB76]

It’s tough not to believe all the things and accolades that are being written about you. I agree the challenge for the coaches is to get this team to forget about the standings and individual stats and get them back to working hard to support each other.

On a positive note, I think our young kids are going to be OK. Reid is a gamer and going to be a stud; Lam is going to put up some crazy numbers; and Romano is gaining confidence with every game.

 

[bobber]

It’s tough not to believe all the things and accolades that are being written about you. I agree the challenge for the coaches is to get this team to forget about the standings and individual stats and get them back to working hard to support each other.

On a positive note, I think our young kids are going to be OK. Reid is a gamer and going to be a stud; Lam is going to put up some crazy numbers; and Romano is gaining confidence with every game.

Guess we have to keep in mind this is really basically a rebuild year full of surprises. It's not like they built a team through trades to make a run. What ever was ailing the squad last year seems to be gone. Reid reminds me of Dan Kelly. Looks like he has played in the league for a couple of years.

 

[rangersblues]

It’s tough not to believe all the things and accolades that are being written about you. I agree the challenge for the coaches is to get this team to forget about the standings and individual stats and get them back to working hard to support each other.

On a positive note, I think our young kids are going to be OK. Reid is a gamer and going to be a stud; Lam is going to put up some crazy numbers; and Romano is gaining confidence with every game.

The kids are fantastic, especially Lam and Reid who I can't say enough about. I'm at the point that I wouldn't trade either except for possibly one other player in the league straight up. And that's a maybe!


The way the team is playing the past 7 games I wouldn't consider trading either unless they snap out of it.

 

[Billyjack]

I've said this a few times that maybe they have been reading their own press clippings and don't think they have to work hard but just show up. I'm praying MM doesn't give up part of the future if he thinks this team is good enough to go for it. I'm not convinced they are good enough

 

[rangersblues]

I've said this a few times that maybe they have been reading their own press clippings and don't think they have to work hard but just show up. I'm praying MM doesn't give up part of the future if he thinks this team is good enough to go for it. I'm not convinced they are good enough

The way they're playing right now they aren't good enough. As they were climbing the rankings, which are meaningless, I was wondering if it would be a curse. I think the evidence shows that's the case right now. We'll see if Jussi and the coaching staff can turn it around in the next month.

 

[bobber]

The way they're playing right now they aren't good enough. As they were climbing the rankings, which are meaningless, I was wondering if it would be a curse. I think the evidence shows that's the case right now. We'll see if Jussi and the coaching staff can turn it around in the next month.

Jussi had these guys flying in all three zones using their speed and winning puck battles in the first quarter. After the departure of Hamara and Martin's injury they haven't been the same.

 

[GeoBlue]

It was like Vandy knew where the Rangers were going to shoot from...

I knew where they were going to shoot from! That cross the ice, through the slot pass, to the other side of the cage! Getting a bit predictable. Vandy was already on the other side of the net before the pass was made. Mix it up, boys! The element of surprise will buy you goals!

 

[RangerNation]

I knew where they were going to shoot from! That cross the ice, through the slot pass, to the other side of the cage! Getting a bit predictable. Vandy was already on the other side of the net before the pass was made. Mix it up, boys! The element of surprise will buy you goals!

Yeah you knew where they were going to go, and that's before Rehkopf had his stick 8ft in the air calling for a one timer.

Honestly, Vandenberg still had 5 or 6 crucial saves, so while I agree it was a predictable offense, if those chances go in, this board isn't as grim. Vandy was great, and when this team becomes frustrated, they struggle.

 

[Habsrule]

The kids are fantastic, especially Lam and Reid who I can't say enough about. I'm at the point that I wouldn't trade either except for possibly one other player in the league straight up. And that's a maybe!


The way the team is playing the past 7 games I wouldn't consider trading either unless they snap out of it.

Who is the one player you are thinking of?

 

[rangersblues]

Who is the one player you are thinking of?

Owen Beck, but he's likely not available. And the way we've played the last 7 games I don't do it.

And no I don't want to start the great debate with Peterborough fans how they traded a 6th overall plus picks for Beck and Reid was 11th and Lam a 2nd rounder and ....

 

[EvenSteven]

Owen Beck, but he's likely not available. And the way we've played the last 7 games I don't do it.

And no I don't want to start the great debate with Peterborough fans how they traded a 6th overall plus picks for Beck and Reid was 11th and Lam a 2nd rounder and ....

He may not be available depending on the direction Peterboro decides to go in.

But if he’s put on the market, we can’t afford him. Saginaw, Sudbury and Guelph, if they want him, will outbid us easily.

And to be honest, I’m not sure he’d be enough to put us where we need to be if we’re buying, and assuming the cost would likely be one of our 1st rounders and the clearing out of our top few ‘24 draft picks, I’m not sure he’s worth it.

If we’re aren’t selling, I like our top two lines just fine once Martin returns. Help on the third line and D, once we presumably move an OA D, may be all we need.

But hey, I’m still on the fence as to the direction we go in.

 

[RB76]

Our D is looking a little rundown of late, if he moves Schmidt or Motew we’re going need a couple of Dmen to get us through the playoffs.

As for the forwards, Jussi likely will ride our horses and only play the third line sparingly depending on how tight things are.

 

[bobber]

It's not an easy job to even speculate what direction the Rangers will go this season. Maybe MM sticks to what he has and only makes the necessary trades. Obviously one of Ranger OAs has to be delt. Will he bring in another import? When a team has bought in as they say they have here and they are supposedly like a band of brothers it's easy to throw a wrench into the mix. Earlier the Rangers were playing hard in all three zones for 60 minutes. Haven't done this the last few games. When they get beat by a short staffed last placed Niagara there is work to do to get back to where they were in the first quarter. Just my lousy opinion but they need to get back to what got them into first.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

I don't think we should be adding anything until very close to the deadline. A lot can still happen between now and then, if this team looks more like it's going to be the recent one and not the early season team, I think you soft sell and plug the holes with cheap adds at most. If they show they are that early team, then add, but they have to show it wasn't a fluke between now and then.

 

[Krangers08]

It's not an easy job to even speculate what direction the Rangers will go this season. Maybe MM sticks to what he has and only makes the necessary trades. Obviously one of Ranger OAs has to be delt. Will he bring in another import? When a team has bought in as they say they have here and they are supposedly like a band of brothers it's easy to throw a wrench into the mix. Earlier the Rangers were playing hard in all three zones for 60 minutes. Haven't done this the last few games. When they get beat by a short staffed last placed Niagara there is work to do to get back to where they were in the first quarter. Just my lousy opinion but they need to get back to what got them into first.

On the import situation. Josh brown said they are keeping the spot open till the last possible minute and is reserved for Pobezal (currently hurt and not going to WJC).

Mentions Servac Petrovsky, Sandis Vilmanis, Linus Hemstrom, Simon Slavicek,

Cheap options Valentin Zhugin and Tommy Purdeller

Dream scenario Martin Misiak.

 

[Habsrule]

The kids are fantastic, especially Lam and Reid who I can't say enough about. I'm at the point that I wouldn't trade either except for possibly one other player in the league straight up. And that's a maybe!


The way the team is playing the past 7 games I wouldn't consider trading either unless they snap out of it.

Michael Misa says hello. I’d happily trade either of Lam or Reid for him.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Michael Misa says hello. I’d happily trade either of Lam or Reid for him.

Do you mean Luke Misa from Mississauga? Because Michael Misa plays for Saginaw and is their Exceptional status pick from last year.

 

[K2]

 

[Ward Cornell]

Looks like the last few games were a wake-up call!
Lam with a great snipe...lb for lb what a great pick!

 

[Krangers08]

Bottineau is flying tn and developing , Kyrzakos was a great hire. Great start against the mustard packs.
Something I’ve notice over the last couple games is Sop shift lengths. Multiple times he stays out to long and is gased in the defensive zone ie the OT Friday.