Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 4)

[All the Answers]

Good teams find ways to win. Last 2 months we've found new ways to lose. I'm not saying Kitchener is a bad team per se, but there is no killer instinct, and playing scared. Confidence is shook and today won't help.

 

[All the Answers]

Also, the game was lost (most likely) but from the 1 replay they showed on TV that penalty call on Sop on the faceoff was absolute horse poop.

 

[Krangers08]

2 months until the draft….

 

[RCN83]

2 months until the draft….

Also, the game was lost (most likely) but from the 1 replay they showed on TV that penalty call on Sop on the faceoff was absolute horse poop.

Same blind bat who “saw” interference on the Pugliese dive that led to the Rangers 2nd goal. Clearly it tends to even out over a game/season

 

[Krangers08]

Parsons wanted that hometown win. Was good today

 

[OMG67]

Also, the game was lost (most likely) but from the 1 replay they showed on TV that penalty call on Sop on the faceoff was absolute horse poop.

100%. I couldn’t see the puck scooped back. I saw the gloves move forward and the Rangers player sift it out from behind and pass it back to the line. I couldn’t see an infraction there at all. Not even close.

 

[Ranger77]

Tim you are right on the money here, Sale shows very little effort right now. Crazy the picks we gave for him, would have been much better holding on to those picks or getting another solid D

It's still early, but the Sale trade could go down as one of the worst in recent memory. Some of you have been around the team a long time. So., I'm just wondering, what, in your opinion, was the worst trade the Rangers have ever made?

 

[Billyjack]

I guess we should all be happy we could have home ice in playoffs considering where we were predicted to be, contending for a spot. Hopefully they surprise us in the playoffs

 

[bobber]

Rangers really don't have a lot of player missing anymore other than Reid and Martin. Not sure what is going on here. Players bragged about being a band of brothers earlier in the season. All lines looked crisper and were impactful. It look like Jussi had installed a real system here and got away from MM's " create confusion" system. They were basically an all offense team with maybe half decent defense. Now they struggle in both ends. Kept to the outside they are neutralized.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Nice to see Blair Scott taking advantage of his opportunity with Barrie … playing regular minutes, being physical and has put up 5 points in his 14 games (more points than both Sale and Savard).

Maybe Jussi and staff should have given him a bit more leash here… could use it right now.

 

[rangersblues]

The last two games that Kitchener had Hamara and Schmidt were back to back shutouts. They weren't an all offense only team. They were a complete team.

 

[GeoBlue]

Quote from the London Free Press.........

"The Knights were 11 points behind the Kitchener Rangers for first place in November. Now, they are 13 up on the Blueshirts in the Midwest division racing. It’s a stunning turnaround."

They should have added that it is also a combination of a stunning collapse by the Rangers.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Also, the game was lost (most likely) but from the 1 replay they showed on TV that penalty call on Sop on the faceoff was absolute horse poop.

I didn't see the "hand on the puck" but others who have claimed Sop's hand wasn't anywhere near it. Not a great call to make in the final minute (or so) in a game that was close. No chance to tie it up at that point.

 

[bobber]

The last two games that Kitchener had Hamara and Schmidt were back to back shutouts. They weren't an all offense only team. They were a complete team.

Blues that team that we saw back then could have been a mirage. It seems to have faded away as we get closer to the play offs. It's a mystery as to what is going on. Jussi blew a fuse last night but it was too little too late. Can't be like the Leafs and try to tie up games with the goalie out every contest. MM put this group together so he has to earn his pay cheque and find out what is missing here.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Comments re the game vs Ottawa.

Rehkopf back in scoring mode...a truly good thing.

I felt the Rangers played a much better game than Kingston. There's no instant miracle switch. It's going to take time to build it back and regain confidence.

Ottawa goalie was bigger than the goal.

Shot count guy(s) "missed" a few shots here and there. Saw it more than once. Just saying.

Saw glimpses of what made Rangers the #1 team in the OHL. They need to keep doing more of this and get back their mojo.

Didn't fade in the 3rd and in fact, made a game of it. Unfortunately, did not get a chance to tie it up at the end due to a questionable call.

Team needs to keep working hard and push themselves. It's not going to be easy. As a fan, I got too used to Rangers winning...maybe the Rangers did too...

 

[rangersblues]

Blues that team that we saw back then could have been a mirage. It seems to have faded away as we get closer to the play offs. It's a mystery as to what is going on. Jussi blew a fuse last night but it was too little too late. Can't be like the Leafs and try to tie up games with the goalie out every contest. MM put this group together so he has to earn his pay cheque and find out what is missing here.

I don't think it was a mirage. That was as solid of a defensive core as we've had in a long long time and it freed up the forwards to free wheel. Now that our dmen are considerably weaker our forwards are trying to cover for them, even though they're obviously not doing a great job. It's affected every aspect of our game.

 

[bobber]

I don't think it was a mirage. That was as solid of a defensive core as we've had in a long long time and it freed up the forwards to free wheel. Now that our dmen are considerably weaker our forwards are trying to cover for them, even though they're obviously not doing a great job. It's affected every aspect of our game.

Fixter said they whole team seems to be playing nervous at this point in time. I guess when you lose 8 of 9 or what ever it is now the confidence level is extremely low. This isn't a team where a Mike Richards can take the team on his back and drive them forward. One player that was more noticeable yesterday was Ellinas. Scouts have asked Fixter and Farwell about him on more than one occasion. Not sure how Jussi digs them out of this hole. Fans of other teams are even mystified about the Rangers. We gave up our season tickets around the time covid hit. It's not the same watching on tv with the cameras up high in our barn and some other rinks. Miss seeing the jostling and chirping at face offs and scrums around the net.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

The last two games that Kitchener had Hamara and Schmidt were back to back shutouts. They weren't an all offense only team. They were a complete team.

They were also the only 2 games. We did great even with just 1 of them in the lineup. MM saw a free 2nd rounder for Schmidt and took it, when Motew or Martin would have been the correct choice to move on from. I feel like if MM had a better handle or better plan, he would have been able to keep 1 of them (Hamara may get the ice time he needs if Schmidt is gone; if Hamara really wanted out Schmidt was one of the OAs to keep for the teams competitiveness).

 

[Krangers08]

Rewatched some 03 games including the Season of Destiny and man were Roy and Campbell electric while having the luxury of Richard’s behind them. I miss Kanko all time favourite

 

[bobber]

Rewatched some 03 games including the Season of Destiny and man were Roy and Campbell electric while having the luxury of Richard’s behind them. I miss Kanko all time favourite

Back in the day when the Rangers drafted some character and grit.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Back in the day when the Rangers drafted some character and grit.

Hey, the Spott era had stretches of trying to draft character and grit and it was a massive failure.

The truth is they just don't make 'em like Richards anymore.

 

[bobber]

Hey, the Spott era had stretches of trying to draft character and grit and it was a massive failure.

The truth is they just don't make 'em like Richards anymore.

In this last draft the Rangers picked up four players that captained their previous squads. Hopefully down the road we see some character and leadership with this group going forward. They all seem solid with the amount of ice they are getting. Listening to the GM of Brantford in an interview on the tube a while back. He said the two things they look for in players are character and how they play away from the puck. They seem to have some success in their plan what ever it encompasses. Teams need some sort of identity.

 

[EvenSteven]

I guess we should all be happy we could have home ice in playoffs considering where we were predicted to be, contending for a spot. Hopefully they surprise us in the playoffs

I’d be happy having home ice in the playoffs considering where we were predicted to finish, if we’d have sold at the deadline.

 

[Krangers08]

Is there a timeline for Reid and his broken thumb? Haven’t heard if he’s back practicing or not. Maybe we see Martin return against his hometown team

 

[EvenSteven]

They were also the only 2 games. We did great even with just 1 of them in the lineup. MM saw a free 2nd rounder for Schmidt and took it, when Motew or Martin would have been the correct choice to move on from. I feel like if MM had a better handle or better plan, he would have been able to keep 1 of them (Hamara may get the ice time he needs if Schmidt is gone; if Hamara really wanted out Schmidt was one of the OAs to keep for the teams competitiveness).

Leading up to the Hamara trade, we were a top team in the league. Our D was deep and solid, especially once Schmidt was unexpectedly sent back to us. This helped the goaltending out and we were filling the net. All was good.

Andonovski. Brzustewicz.
Motew. Hamara.
Schmidt. Reid.
Campbell. Scott.

But it was decision time regarding OA’s. We were keeping Sop. Any two of Motew, Schmidt, or Martin was to be decided.

We could afford to move one of Schmidt / Motew out because of our depth on D as long as at some point we replaced that spot with a decent vet D.

Andonovski. Brzustewicz.
Schmidt or Motew. Hamara
(Decent D). Reid.
Campbell. Scott.

But once the Hamara trade demand entered the picture, all bets were off. Once Hamara was gone, the only way to make moving one of Schmidt / Motew logical, was if we brought in a comparable replacement for Hamara to go with the decent D we would need to acquire to compensate for the loss of one of the OA D. Two guys out, two guys in.

So we either had to look at option A or B:

A)
Andonovski. Brzustewicz.
OA D. Hamara replacement.
Decent D. Reid.
Campbell. Scott.

B)
Andonovski. Brzustewicz.
Motew. Hamara replacement.
Schmidt. Reid.
Campbell. Scott.

Option A would mean Sop, an OA D and Martin are the OA’s.

Option B would mean moving Martin. Not a popular choice considering what he is capable of bringing, but with our depth of scoring up front, and the fact we hadn’t missed a beat offensively after his injury, it could be a sound choice.

But in holding fast to not moving an ‘07 or ‘24 picks, we didn’t have the assets to go with option A. At the prices out there, no way we could have brought in two non OA D comparable to Hamara / Schmidt.

But MM went towards option A anyway. Schmidt was traded and Martin would be the third OA. But that’s when the wheels started falling off. By the time the deadline rolled around, MM had to know D was the top priority. We couldn’t afford a good non OA D so he should have revisited the OA situation again. Punnett was out there and went to Oshawa at an inexpensive price.

Our deal with Barrie should have included a Punnett / Martin swap whether Sale was going to be included or not. Just because Sale would only accept a trade to Kitchener did not mean we had to take him. He could’ve finished the season in Barrie. But to bring in all three of Sale, Savard and Punnett, we may have had to sweeten the deal by including Campbell instead of, or along with, Scott.

That being the case, our D would have looked something like this today:

Andonovski. Brzustewicz.
Savard. Punnett
Motew. Reid.
Dirracolo. Scott.

Nothing against Campbell. I like him and I think he’s going to be pretty good down the road. But our top six would look a lot better today with Campbell swapped out for Punnett.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Whatever Martin brings us better be good enough to make up for the void on D.