Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part 4)

[bobber]

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These last two games smells like a tank to allow Guelph into 5th place. I won’t accuse them of it, but some will.

If it wasn't a tank they are in for a rude awakening. Storm may have lost their number one goalie for the season with a supposed high ankle sprain against Saggy. Rangers played 5 rookies tonight. Wonder if they send a video in on the Reid incident? Refs ignored it.

 

[LostRangers]

Just blame McKenzie… that’s the go-to ‘round here

I wasn’t. But if you want to go down that road…

 

[StormWatcher]

.

If it wasn't a tank they are in for a rude awakening. Storm may have lost their number one goalie for the season with a supposed high ankle sprain against Saggy. Rangers played 5 rookies tonight. Wonder if they send a video in on the Reid incident? Refs ignored it.

Guelph played 6 rookies tonight, just as an FYI... three of them scored. (c;

 

[PuckLucker]

Parsons made a lot of quality saves in the first period, Guelph had so many great chances early on in the 1st period.
#4 looked good tonight, beauty goal following up his own shot, I'm not sure why he doesn't have more goals this year but I guess the Rangers don't really need much offensive help.

 

[Krangers08]

With Reid and Andnovski potentially missing this weekend it likely results in Brzustewicz not getting a night off.
The aggressor suspensions this year have been 3-4 games but with the president set with Sudbury who really knows.

 

[All the Answers]

Just saw the replay. Boarding/interference. If they play in the first round Namestnikov better have his head on a swivel. Dirty dirty hit on a guy who hadn't even reached the puck.

 

[bobber]

Whatever the plan was these last two games it wasn't a good look. If the Storm is the 1st rnd opponent they sent the Rangers a serious message. Refs whether good or bad are part of the game. Rangers could get the same ref in the first round and get more of the same.
Burchell is a one man show and when he gets a burr under his saddle against a coach he takes it personal. Rangers will have to suck it up and play on or they won't advance. The top two line forwards have to show up and put the team on their backs. There are almost always upsets in the first round. Jussi mentioned the Rangers don't usually send video in to the league. Said the hit on Reid was dirty and away from the play. Said "We'll see" when asked if he will have the league take a look at the hit.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

If the refs are bad and the game is out of hand, sometimes I think they should just take as many penaties as possible as a way of taking the game out of the control of the ref and in doing so embarassing them by showing that they are unable to keep the lid on things. Over crowd the penalty box, have barely enough players to put on the ice etc.

I think this team has a mandate not to get too out of control because the franchise still wants to cater to that "family friendly" image. Too worried it will turn parents with young kids off if the players are "bad examples" and behave as poorly as other teams.

This team is very frustrating too watch and as every game goes by it feels like we should have at least soft-sold. The additions really don't add much to our team today.

 

[K2]

Wonder if they send a video in on the Reid incident? Refs ignored it.

Doubtful, Mike's said that we never do this countless times. Probably should send in any
video of Lord Burchill berating Jussi to the Academy for Oscar consideration

Our effort was pretty light, I left early in the second for the first time ever.

I hope Reid isn't out for the season, he wasn't looking good when he came off and I've never seen Swick lose it like that.

RIP Chris Simon

 

[Rangers True Blue]

These last two games smells like a tank to allow Guelph into 5th place. I won’t accuse them of it, but some will.

I hate to say it (but will) but I'd had the same feeling watching them these past two games. Playing but not really pushing all that hard like they did with OS. Play like this against Oshawa on Friday and they're going to be demolished. Then they travel to Erie and how will that go? Not the way you end the season before playoffs.

Side note.....I do hope Reid is ok and that his wrist wasn't targeted. Swick sent a message but the little coward played the victim even to the point of laying there well after until he finally hobbled to the bench. Miraculously though, he was able to participate in the PP.....

 

[bobber]

Mike's said that we never do this countless times. Probably should send in and video of Lord Burchill berating Jussi

Hunter's Knights can beat a team 10 zip. If he feels slighted by the refs he sends in a video. Burchell thinks people are paying to watch him. Rangers have to be mentally tougher in the play offs.Teams want them to lose it and get under their skin. The league hands out suspensions like Halloween candy lately. Rangers could end up on the short end of the stick going forward here.

 

[EvenSteven]

I think you can get another teams 1st from the upcomming draft in a Rehkopf trade next but it is far from ideal. My main worry is we do decent next year at the start and he holds Rehk.

Based on the players that 1st rounders were traded for this year, as the likely top trade chip next year, Rehkopf brings someone’s 1st, ++++.

 

[StormWatcher]

Just saw the replay. Boarding/interference. If they play in the first round Namestnikov better have his head on a swivel. Dirty dirty hit on a guy who hadn't even reached the

I hate to say it (but will) but I'd had the same feeling watching them these past two games. Playing but not really pushing all that hard like they did with OS. Play like this against Oshawa on Friday and they're going to be demolished. Then they travel to Erie and how will that go? Not the way you end the season before playoffs.

Side note.....I do hope Reid is ok and that his wrist wasn't targeted. Swick sent a message but the little coward played the victim even to the point of laying there well after until he finally hobbled to the bench. Miraculously though, he was able to participate in the PP.....

However you feel about the Namestnikov hit, it was not targeted.... Max is not a dirty player and you have absolutely nothing to back that up. Be pissed if you want, I think it ended when Brz was there starting the "retaliation" but instead Swick comes out of absolutely nowhere, gloves already off and starts pounding on Namestnikov while he was skating away/back turned. If you can't control your emotions now, good luck in the playoffs. Guelph's forechecking was too much for the Rangers, Guelph didn't give them any room to work. If that was intentional by the Rangers, it's an interesting strategy... lets see if it pays off.

 

[EvenSteven]

Just saw the replay. Boarding/interference. If they play in the first round Namestnikov better have his head on a swivel. Dirty dirty hit on a guy who hadn't even reached the puck.

Maybe that’s what Guelph will be counting on. A repeat of the 2002 Kit / Gue series.

Time and place gentlemen. Time and place.

 

[EvenSteven]

Just blame McKenzie… that’s the go-to ‘round here

He has earned his share of blame.

 

[ohloutsider]

However you feel about the Namestnikov hit, it was not targeted.... Max is not a dirty player and you have absolutely nothing to back that up. Be pissed if you want, I think it ended when Brz was there starting the "retaliation" but instead Swick comes out of absolutely nowhere, gloves already off and starts pounding on Namestnikov while he was skating away/back turned. If you can't control your emotions now, good luck in the playoffs. Guelph's forechecking was too much for the Rangers, Guelph didn't give them any room to work. If that was intentional by the Rangers, it's an interesting strategy... lets see if it pays off.

I watched the game last night and although probably not a " targeted" hit, it was a dirty hit. Whether a 2 or 5 minute variety was hard to tell because they never showed a friggin replay!

The Swick response was also over the top so likely the right call, not that I don't blame him

Now about the camera work. This is a trend across the league but they need to get volunteers that understand the game and can follow the puck and the play. I have no idea how many times the puck was not in the shot but it was numerous. Also the directors don't seem to understand either. Last night the announcers were talking about an ongoing scrum and the camera was focused on Parsons taking a drink, what the H was that?
Anyway rant over, be safe.

 

[bobber]

The Namestnikov hit was only a small part of the game last night. It's up to the Ranger staff and the league to deal with it if they go that route. Rangers do have issues with teams using a heavy forcheck. The Storm drafted players with a physical edge for a reason. Hockey is a physical game. In the playoffs the hitting and physicality will bump up. Teams should be aware of that fact before going in and prepare the team for it.

 

[sbpointer]

Neutral observer here.. If I'm a Rangers fan I'm ok with Swick's reaction knowing the circumstance ( dirty hit in a Burchell officiated game ) and that isn't Swick's MO.
Namestnikov is probably fortunate they weren't playing the 2020 Kitchener Rangers or today's London Knights his outcome might not have been as favourable.
The league has to be better with the officiating. Yes mistakes will be made but this guy is constantly the theme of games and it's never good.. Mistakes fans can tolerate consistent incompetence or negligence you choose is not tolerable and is a bad look for the league. It is part of the need for the Sawyer Boulton's of the OHL and part of the cause of players getting suspended 15 games for text messages because there is no control of the game on the ice to often..

 

[All the Answers]

Neutral observer here.. If I'm a Rangers fan I'm ok with Swick's reaction knowing the circumstance ( dirty hit in a Burchell officiated game ) and that isn't Swick's MO.
Namestnikov is probably fortunate they weren't playing the 2020 Kitchener Rangers or today's London Knights his outcome might not have been as favourable.
The league has to be better with the officiating. Yes mistakes will be made but this guy is constantly the theme of games and it's never good.. Mistakes fans can tolerate consistent incompetence or negligence you choose is not tolerable and is a bad look for the league. It is part of the need for the Sawyer Boulton's of the OHL and part of the cause of players getting suspended 15 games for text messages because there is no control of the game on the ice to often..

That was the comment at the game as well. If Adam Keefe is on these Rangers and sees that liberty taken with a rookie defenseman Namestnikov is having facial surgery.

The game is better for it today, but the league needs to be better, too.

 

[moose311]

There are almost always upsets in the first round.

Upsets are actually very rare in the first round.

2023: better seeds went 7-1 (#8 over #1)
2022: 7-1 (#7 over #2)
2019: 8-0
2018: 8-0
2017: 8-0
2016: 7-1 (#7 over #2)
2015: 7-1 (#5 over #4)
2014: 7-1 (#6 over #3)
2013: 7-1 (#5 over #4)
2012: 7-1 (#5 over #4)

 

[bobber]

Swick isn't really known to get into scraps. Only saw him fight one other time. Guess undrafted he is trying to show a physical element. He did have a foot in height on the Storm player Nametnikov. Who by the way likes to agitate and hopes there is back up close by. Probably why he took a run at a 06 rookie. On Burchell. Is there a reason he was not asked to return to the NHL? My guess he made the same mistakes up there and they refused to tolerate his attitude anymore. Now OHL fans have to suffer his clown show here.

 

[LDN]

So you want to play Guelph then?!

 

[StormWatcher]

Neutral observer here.. If I'm a Rangers fan I'm ok with Swick's reaction knowing the circumstance ( dirty hit in a Burchell officiated game ) and that isn't Swick's MO.
Namestnikov is probably fortunate they weren't playing the 2020 Kitchener Rangers or today's London Knights his outcome might not have been as favourable.
The league has to be better with the officiating. Yes mistakes will be made but this guy is constantly the theme of games and it's never good.. Mistakes fans can tolerate consistent incompetence or negligence you choose is not tolerable and is a bad look for the league. It is part of the need for the Sawyer Boulton's of the OHL and part of the cause of players getting suspended 15 games for text messages because there is no control of the game on the ice to often..

Officiating can be horrible AND players still need to be responsible for their emotions/actions. In the real world, you will encounter a boss, co-worker, etc. doing something "unfair"... how do you cope with that?

Officiating needs better quality control, no doubt... the answer isn't more Boultons.

 

[bobber]

So you want to play Guelph then?!

Nope. London.

 

[K2]

Guelph played 6 rookies tonight

Alrikkson isn't a rookie since he's 19 (also 6'6" 215lb, SWE U20 + NHL drafted). Rangers had 6 16/17 year old rookies playing, including a call up that's played 5X fewer OHL games than Alrikkson.

Upsets are actually very rare in the first round.

2023: better seeds went 7-1 (#8 over #1)
2022: 7-1 (#7 over #2)

Beat both the Knights and their off-ice officials in 2022! Besides the Ranger sweep of the top seed Spits (West), the 10th overall seeded Petes went on to beat all the other Division winners and play in the Memorial Cup final.