Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[Krangers08]

Predictions on What will be the rangers record after the first 10 games?
Saginaw x2
Flint
Owen sound x2
Sarnia x2
Barrie
Mississauga
Erie

 

[EvenSteven]

3-7.

Wins against Erie, Flint, Sarnia.

 

[HUSH10]

For what its worth, DiFelice is no longer listed on the roster and Tristan has obviously been added. Kitchener continues to have 3 Goalies signed to the active roster.

 

[Matttheleaf]

Final predictions on the lead ship group before the season starts tonight?
I'll go:
Sop for the C
Motew for an A
Rehkopf for an A
Martin for an A
And if they do 4 A's then I'll throw Brzustewicz down as one as well.

 

[Krangers08]

Lineup for Tonight. Bottineau and Scott are scratches. No captain

 

[Matttheleaf]

View attachment 747399
Lineup for Tonight. Bottineau and Scott are scratches. No captain

Interesting. Does this mean this is what has to be on their jersey for tonight, or can it change to be a show for the fans? Almost put Ando down so he would be a good choice too.

 

[Jives]

Interesting how Bottineau sits? Injured - I don’t think so? I’d really prefer these young players play every game this year. Ship out Pug or Morey asap please.

 

[Krangers08]

Interesting how Bottineau sits? Injured - I don’t think so? I’d really prefer these young players play every game this year. Ship out Pug or Morey asap please.

Yea seems odd. Likely wanted to give all the new guys a chance to play in front of family.

 

[Krangers08]

Interesting. Does this mean this is what has to be on their jersey for tonight, or can it change to be a show for the fans? Almost put Ando down so he would be a good choice too.

Yes. They mention on the news they are playing a couple games before announcing a captain. Want the right guy. With Martin and Sop not having a letter it’s likely between them

 

[Matttheleaf]

Yes. They mention on the news they are playing a couple games before announcing a captain. Want the right guy. With Martin and Sop not having a letter it’s likely between them

Well hopefully they don't do the Co-Captian thing

 

[GeoBlue]

Yes. They mention on the news they are playing a couple games before announcing a captain. Want the right guy. With Martin and Sop not having a letter it’s likely between them

......or maybe Sop, Martin and Hunter get the A's for the next game?

 

[Jives]

You give a players captain you are most likely going to trade in a couple months? Sop, Hunter or Martin? Ando is my chance. He should be around for 1.5 years before we trade him middle of next season.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

So

FIrst thoughts.

Going to be a long but promising season.


2nd

CAMPBELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I love him already. He never comes out of the line up! Don't you dare Juicy!!!!

Yea seems odd. Likely wanted to give all the new guys a chance to play in front of family.

I think a forward will be on the move whether waivers or trade anyways.

I love the kid but I just don't see room for 44 anymore. He can play with a BIT of bite but not enough to have him ride the 4th line. Get Bottineau in. I believe he will be of more use.

 

[Krangers08]

So

FIrst thoughts.

Going to be a long but promising season.


2nd

CAMPBELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I love him already. He never comes out of the line up! Don't you dare Juicy!!!!



I think a forward will be on the move whether waivers or trade anyways.

I love the kid but I just don't see room for 44 anymore. He can play with a BIT of bite but not enough to have him ride the 4th line. Get Bottineau in. I believe he will be of more use.

They do seem to dip in the free agent pool halfway throughout quite often. They need the extra bodies rn. Campbell destroyed that man, like the trade already

 

[TheBlueMonster]

You give a players captain you are most likely going to trade in a couple months? Sop, Hunter or Martin? Ando is my chance. He should be around for 1.5 years before we trade him middle of next season.

That would be the perfect time to hand it over to Ando.

Let a vet like Marty or Sop run with the C during the thick of things. These next few months are going to be difficult for a young squad. If they both get dealt, you have Ando take over for the rest of the year.

 

[TheBlueMonster]

How refreshing was that game?

it wasn't perfect. But they never quit. It got a bit sloppy but that was more the inexperience than anything.

Carson Campbell making an immediate impact.
Marty showing why he's among the best of the best in the OA group.
Parsons showing that he'll be just fine.
Ando being a pest, a sniper and a leader.
44 showed up tonight as did 23.
Thought Lam was the best ranger tonight. Him Romano and Strark OMG I am excited about them.


It's a #NewWave in Kitchener and right now, we're 1-0 after a gutsy win tonight. You can feel change in this organization. And it's refreshing.

 

[Krangers08]

Ellinas is a hound on the back check.
Lam is nasty
Romano has great edges.
Stark has some chances and showed his 2 way game.
Reid I didn’t notice much but that isn’t a bad thing for a defender.
Pug throwing the body.
Sop had a tough night but will only improve
4 line was really good tonight.

 

[EvenSteven]

You give a players captain you are most likely going to trade in a couple months? Sop, Hunter or Martin? Ando is my chance. He should be around for 1.5 years before we trade him middle of next season.

You give the letters to those that deserve them. If one or more of them are traded down the road, then just assign successors.

Still my picks:

C- Martin
A- Motew
A- Brzustewicz
A- Rehkropf
A- Andonovski

If any of the above are dealt, then a guy like Sop is a successor.

I want Andonovski wearing a letter this year. He’s my pick for captain next year.

How refreshing was that game?

it wasn't perfect. But they never quit. It got a bit sloppy but that was more the inexperience than anything.

Carson Campbell making an immediate impact.
Marty showing why he's among the best of the best in the OA group.
Parsons showing that he'll be just fine.
Ando being a pest, a sniper and a leader.
44 showed up tonight as did 23.
Thought Lam was the best ranger tonight. Him Romano and Strark OMG I am excited about them.


It's a #NewWave in Kitchener and right now, we're 1-0 after a gutsy win tonight. You can feel change in this organization. And it's refreshing.

Any video of the Campbell hit out there?

 

[EvenSteven]

Ellinas is a hound on the back check.
Lam is nasty
Romano has great edges.
Stark has some chances and showed his 2 way game.
Reid I didn’t notice much but that isn’t a bad thing for a defender.
Pug throwing the body.
Sop had a tough night but will only improve
4 line was really good tonight.

I like Pugilese. Next year, when we still aren’t contending, guys like he, Miseljevic, and Swick (if he’s still here) would be good OA’s that could play supporting roles to the young stars.

 

[Habsrule]

The biggest difference between this year and last was the forecheck. Rangers forwards were always pressing on the defence tonight. Nice seeing a system in place with a game plan. They won’t over skill many teams but if they outwork them then they will be a tough team to face.

Nice pushback to being down by two goals 1:42 into the game. Many young teams could fold up against one of the best teams in the league.



Also one more thing I need to point out; my son is 10 and loves to go before the game down to High Five Alley and watch the players warm up. Last year the players were all willy nilly and had a free for all as to what they wanted to do. Some stretched, some would stick handle a ball, some would hang out and just chat amongst themselves. Totally opposite tonight. We get down there and their strength and conditioning coach was running them through a warmup. Stretching, sprinting, quick steps, moving back and forth. It was so refreshing to see something in place for a pre game warmup before they even hit the ice for their on ice warmup.

 

[EvenSteven]

Can we consider this the standard price for a top D this year?

Wolves Complete Trade with Windsor Spitfires - Sudbury Wolves

The Sudbury Wolves announce that they have acquired two defencemen from the Windsor Spitfires, Nick DeAngelis and Trevor O’Dell in exchange for Conor Walton and 5 draft picks.

chl.ca

 

[Krangers08]

Will they run the same lineup tomorrow or slot in bottineau and Scott. Flint had 2 forwards kicked out including the captain who is the 1C. They were already short a forward so could be running 3 lines

 

[rangersblues]

The biggest difference between this year and last was the forecheck. Rangers forwards were always pressing on the defence tonight. Nice seeing a system in place with a game plan. They won’t over skill many teams but if they outwork them then they will be a tough team to face.

Nice pushback to being down by two goals 1:42 into the game. Many young teams could fold up against one of the best teams in the league.



Also one more thing I need to point out; my son is 10 and loves to go before the game down to High Five Alley and watch the players warm up. Last year the players were all willy nilly and had a free for all as to what they wanted to do. Some stretched, some would stick handle a ball, some would hang out and just chat amongst themselves. Totally opposite tonight. We get down there and their strength and conditioning coach was running them through a warmup. Stretching, sprinting, quick steps, moving back and forth. It was so refreshing to see something in place for a pre game warmup before they even hit the ice for their on ice warmup.

I often wondered why so many players were doing their stretching during on ice warm ups last year and in previous seasons. I always thought a lot of that should be taken care of before they hit the ice. Glad to hear it sounds a lot more structured now.

All secondary scoring last night. That's a very good sign for a young team.

 

[Gondrex]

Can we consider this the standard price for a top D this year?

Wolves Complete Trade with Windsor Spitfires - Sudbury Wolves

The Sudbury Wolves announce that they have acquired two defencemen from the Windsor Spitfires, Nick DeAngelis and Trevor O’Dell in exchange for Conor Walton and 5 draft picks.

chl.ca

I think you're right ES. It would certainly appear that the bar has been set .....and early, which kinda surprises me. Really hoping our tradeable assets show well over the first half. Seems like there are still some very good 04's and OA's out there.

I suppose if there was any doubt before, it now looks like all three of Sarnia, Kitchener and Windsor will (arguably) be battling it out for the 8th playoff spot. I admit that Flint is a bit of an unknown to me as to where they might finish. Would they be in that lower mix too (?)

 

[rangersblues]

I think you're right ES. It would certainly appear that the bar has been set .....and early, which kinda surprises me. Really hoping our tradeable assets show well over the first half. Seems like there are still some very good 04's and OA's out there.

I suppose if there was any doubt before, it now looks like all three of Sarnia, Kitchener and Windsor will (arguably) be battling it out for the 8th playoff spot. I admit that Flint is a bit of an unknown to me as to where they might finish. Would they be in that lower mix too (?)

One game into the season is much too early to say what the bar is. As the season goes on it will depend how many teams feel they can compete for a spot in the Memorial Cup. If a couple of teams seperate leaving the others behind, the price goes down. If it's wide open the prices go way up. And timing is everything. For example when Guelph got Suzuki etc on the cheap when everyone else was already done.

Although it's not a nice thing to say, these kids are commodities. It's all about supply and demand.