Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[rve24]

Potential big add with Mesar. Hopefully he has a solid year n puts in the work. ( except vs. London lol)

 

[rangersblues]

Everyone knows the Rangers do not employ Brown. You really don't have to tell us. Brown and other media folk surely get some perks by being associated with the team. Farwell loves his lunches in the Media Rooms. Just asked the little guy. I am also sure if a "sports reporter" writes too many negative articles he will either be ignored or replaced at the behest of the Rangers powers that be in charge of such things. Last we heard Jeff Hicks he was a garden reporter. As a Media Critic I am sure you know this. Correct? PS , Notice Bill Doucet wrote the article in the Record for last nights game. Maybe Brownie is on vaca?

The radio guys (Farwell and sidekick) are employed by the team I believe. In any case they both travel on the team bus. Brown has mentioned several times he drives himself to remain an arm's length and objective.

I doubt Brown's been replaced. I think he's too respected on the OHL beat. Possibly vacation or something else that needs his attention. Although the way local coverage is headed with newspapers across the country, anything is possible.

 

[RangerNation]

From Farwell on Twitter (err, X)

Mesar will join his new/old teammates today in Mississauga but will not play. He could be in the line-up as early as Tuesday, pending the necessary paperwork with the IIHF.

 

[Gondrex]

Which is why it’s important to deal our top end guys for players + 2nds and 3rds spread over the next two drafts primarily.

Absolutely agree. For 2024, good to have Erie's 2nd. To increase the odds of successful consecutive 2023/2024 draft results though, I'd ensure that we add an extra 2nd for 2024 and get that Sudbury 3rd covered.

 

[Jives]

Bottineau and Stark (when healthy) need to be playing every game. Have to make a trade soon (not even a big move just unload a forward) to make this happen. Mercer, Pug, Morey…someone has to go.

Swick - Carson - Missle
Martin - Sop - Mesar

Top 6 that could all be traded. I’m letting them play together to really play well and bring up their trade value. No way in hell are you adjusting that top line. Way too much going well with them right now.

 

[Krangers08]

Bottineau and Stark (when healthy) need to be playing every game. Have to make a trade soon (not even a big move just unload a forward) to make this happen. Mercer, Pug, Morey…someone has to go.

Swick - Carson - Missle
Martin - Sop - Mesar

Top 6 that could all be traded. I’m letting them play together to really play well and bring up their trade value. No way in hell are you adjusting that top line. Way too much going well with them right now.

Does Jussi stack the top 2 lines and play the 07s together on the 3rd line?

 

[Jives]

Does Jussi stack the top 2 lines and play the 07s together on the 3rd line?

I think so until trades are made. Stark probably on 4th line my guess though when he returns.

 

[bobber]

The radio guys (Farwell and sidekick) are employed by the team I believe. In any case they both travel on the team bus. Brown has mentioned several times he drives himself to remain an arm's length and objective.

I doubt Brown's been replaced. I think he's too respected on the OHL beat. Possibly vacation or something else that needs his attention. Although the way local coverage is headed with newspapers across the country, anything is possible.

I like Brownie. Guy is very informative and does give hints of things going on once in a while. I wonder if it's his idea to keep at arms length or his employer? We subscribed to the Record for several decades but trailer life from spring to fall got in the way. Recently purchased one a few weeks back to look at a Ranger article. Nothing to be found and the paper is the size of a Hollywood Rag now.

 

[Habsrule]

Bottineau and Stark (when healthy) need to be playing every game. Have to make a trade soon (not even a big move just unload a forward) to make this happen. Mercer, Pug, Morey…someone has to go.

Swick - Carson - Missle
Martin - Sop - Mesar

Top 6 that could all be traded. I’m letting them play together to really play well and bring up their trade value. No way in hell are you adjusting that top line. Way too much going well with them right now.

I don’t think that anyone has to go as of yet. There are only two extra forwards. If you say that Stark is off hurt right now then their is only one extra available forward right now.

I get it that the team has been winning and Ahokas has not changed the lineup following a win. If you want players to cycle in and out of the lineup more than just switch the depth players in and out every game based upon their play.

 

[rangersblues]

I like Brownie. Guy is very informative and does give hints of things going on once in a while. I wonder if it's his idea to keep at arms length or his employer? We subscribed to the Record for several decades but trailer life from spring to fall got in the way. Recently purchased one a few weeks back to look at a Ranger article. Nothing to be found and the paper is the size of a Hollywood Rag now.

When he speaks about keeping at arm's length it sounds like his idea.

 

[GeoBlue]

The radio guys (Farwell and sidekick) are employed by the team I believe. In any case they both travel on the team bus. Brown has mentioned several times he drives himself to remain an arm's length and objective.

I doubt Brown's been replaced. I think he's too respected on the OHL beat. Possibly vacation or something else that needs his attention. Although the way local coverage is headed with newspapers across the country, anything is possible.

I wonder why Brown himself hasn't said anything? Did he say he was going on vacation? He is usually pretty consistent at telling his readers that he will be away, missing a game, etc. And I know that it would be he time off but I imagine that Brown is the type of professional that would take a quick look as to what is happening on the Net, even while sipping margaritas on the beach.

 

[DraftEligibleOHL]

Before puck drop on todays game I was wondering if any Rangers fans wanted to weigh in on how the transition to Jussi Ahokas coaching the Rangers has gone? Are you impressed so far? are there noticeable differences stylistically between last year and this year? Or is it too early to tell at this stage?

Thanks and enjoy the game.

 

[Tim Wallach]

The radio guys (Farwell and sidekick) are employed by the team I believe. In any case they both travel on the team bus. Brown has mentioned several times he drives himself to remain an arm's length and objective.

They aren’t employed by the Rangers. They’re employed by Rogers/CityNews 570 who has the broadcast rights. It’s a close relationship though.

Before puck drop on todays game I was wondering if any Rangers fans wanted to weigh in on how the transition to Jussi Ahokas coaching the Rangers has gone? Are you impressed so far? are there noticeable differences stylistically between last year and this year? Or is it too early to tell at this stage?

Thanks and enjoy the game.

Where to start?

Let’s just say it’s a night and day difference. The new coaching staff is incredible so far. The team is way harder working, smarter working and cohesive.

Highlights of changes:
- way more puck support with players not hesitating to skate to the puck to be options for the carrier
- much harder backcheck, taking away center lanes to snuff opposing rushes and not leave defending only up to the D
- way quicker puck movement, not allowing the opposition to set up traps
- more accountability where players sit for repeated dumb penalties
- a training camp that obviously featured a technical clinic as their body positioning and sticks are way better

 

[RangerNation]

Frustrating 1st period. I thought they played fairly well. 2 broken play goals from Missy. I don't even think they are playing their best. Refs are being a bit of a pain. Lots of missed hooking and holding calls out there.

 

[DraftEligibleOHL]

They aren’t employed by the Rangers. They’re employed by Rogers/CityNews 570 who has the broadcast rights. It’s a close relationship though.

Where to start?

Let’s just say it’s a night and day difference. The new coaching staff is incredible so far. The team is way harder working, smarter working and cohesive.

Highlights of changes:
- way more puck support with players not hesitating to skate to the puck to be options for the carrier
- much harder backcheck, taking away center lanes to snuff opposing rushes and not leave defending only up to the D
- way quicker puck movement, not allowing the opposition to set up traps
- more accountability where players sit for repeated dumb penalties
- a training camp that obviously featured a technical clinic as their body positioning and sticks are way better

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it.

 

[Ranger77]

Potential big add with Mesar. Hopefully he has a solid year n puts in the work. ( except vs. London lol)

So what happens if/when Tomas Pobezal decides to report this year? Do the Rangers trade Mesar?

 

[DraftEligibleOHL]

Rangers just couldn't beat Leenders today. Rehkopf eventually got one by him but KIT had 36 shots and only one goal.

Sop is hella shifty out there, good time wasting on the PK and has good vision moving the puck around the OZ.

Brust and Rehkopf are going to have to do a lot of heavy lifting.. and when/if the Rangers do deal them it's not going to be pretty.

 

[bobber]

Havent So what happens if/when Tomas Pobezal decides to report this year? Do the Rangers trade Mesar?

I would say they cross that bridge when it happens. How good is Pobezal? Have never heard a thing about the player.

 

[Habsrule]

So what happens if/when Tomas Pobezal decides to report this year? Do the Rangers trade Mesar?

I can’t see it happen. Imports rarely come over late in the season. If they do it is before the season starts or near the start of the season because their playing situation is not the best at home.

Looking at his stats he has played 11 games so far this season. He has two goals and an assist playing in the Slovakia pro league. Looks like he is playing lots there.

 

[Habsrule]

Before puck drop on todays game I was wondering if any Rangers fans wanted to weigh in on how the transition to Jussi Ahokas coaching the Rangers has gone? Are you impressed so far? are there noticeable differences stylistically between last year and this year? Or is it too early to tell at this stage?

Thanks and enjoy the game.

I will just say that if Ahokas coached last years team that they would have been favourites to win the Robertson Cup.

This year the players are playing as a team. Last year it was like watching five individuals playing together at the same time. This year they are playing as a team and are on the same page. The players are forechecking and backchecking relentlessly and it has caused many turnovers. Forwards have been crashing the net in the offensive zone and they have got lots of rebounds. The defence is way more engaged this year. Last year their defence scored 20 goals total goals and this year they already have 8 through 10 games.

I have season tickets and our seats are first row right behind the Rangers bench. The whole coaching staff is way more interactive with the players. They come to the bench and the coaches are giving instant feedback and sometimes use an iPad. I will admit that I was wrong about Ahokas, he has that resting B face and I was expecting him to be a yeller. He is very engaging with the players and smiling.

A quick story;

A couple games ago Kitchener was up big late in the game. Kitchener got a power play and Motew goes out there. Ahokas calls him back and he send Andonvski out there. When Ahokas looks down the bench and he says get out there Andonovski points to himself and said “me?”. He goes out there and had a smile ear to ear on his face. The other defence were all smiling and cheering him on.

Another was Rehkopf turned a defenceman inside out and passed it over for a goal. When he got to the bench Ahokas looked at him and did this deeking motion with his hands and got his whole upper body and head wiggle into it. Rehkopf had such a smile on his face.

 

[EvenSteven]

May not mean anything but the recent imports to the OHL (Sale. Dvorsky. Mesar 2.0) has me maybe thinking that it may not be as big a long shot that Kiviharju winds up here in the next year or two.

Would be tough for a small D man to play in the NHL at 18. And he’s slipping a little in the rankings but it’s early.

Nobody really expected the above three to show up in the league but they did. Perhaps Kiviharju makes an appearance as well?

 

[EvenSteven]

I would say they cross that bridge when it happens. How good is Pobezal? Have never heard a thing about the player.

Pobezal, a late birthday, is ranked somewhere on the 2nd round on elite prospects for the 2025 draft.

That makes this player pretty good.

 

[EvenSteven]

So what happens if/when Tomas Pobezal decides to report this year? Do the Rangers trade Mesar?

Automatic. One of Mesar or Hamara would be moved. But as was said, highly unlikely he comes this year.

 

[EvenSteven]

I know the temptation will be to try and contend, but with Mesar coming back we are in the perfect position to sell and still likely have a competitive first round playoff series. You trade Mesar (who we've done well without) and Brz and you still have a strong team around the young players. Then you have Rehkopf to trade next year or in the off season after increasing his value over last season (provided he maintaints even 70% of this pace). Staggering your prospect and pick returns over 2 years.

Unless the goal is to acquire an ‘08 born 1st rounder in a deal for Rehkopf next year, it stands to reason that trading Rehkropf this year would bring considerably more in return vs moving him next year.

I agree we have to stagger asset return but as long as we fill in the gaps and then some over the next two or three drafts, we’ll be just fine. That can be done at this deadline.

 

[bobber]

One thing of note London Knights always seem to have a competitive squad every season. How are they doing this without cleaning out their draft cupboard or trading all the top players away? The Hunters have some sort of prototype player they draft to fit their system. I don't think their plan is to always look four years down the road. Here MM has everyone concerned with a future Mem Cup and the next one hasn't been played yet. I think MM has to keep his fingers crossed now for the next four plus years that he makes all the correct decisions.