Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[Krangers08]

The Canadiens Looking To Boost Mesar’s Development In OHL

The Montreal Canadiens could have kept Filip Mesar with the Laval Rocket in a bottom-six role, but, by sending him to the OHL, they showed they still have big plans for the young forward. Although some Montreal Canadiens fans may have already soured on the 19-year-old, general manager Kent...

t.co

Mesar states that he has been watching games and is excited about playing in these systems.
His paperwork was approved 6:59PM on Tuesday.

 

[EvenSteven]

Idk how I feel about these lines but here is a option I think we will see
Rehkop-Mesar-Misaljevic
Martin-Sop-Lam
Swick-Stark-Romano
Ellinas-Mercer-Pug
Mercer and stark could swap

I wouldn’t take Swick out of the top six. Right after his best offensive output of the season?
I don’t think it’s a good idea.

 

[robertmac43]

Mesar will be drawing in tomorrow I assume?

 

[Krangers08]

Will Parsons play back to back this weekend or Malboeuf tomorrow.
Erie is playing a 3 in 3 starting tonight.

 

[Gondrex]

The Canadiens Looking To Boost Mesar’s Development In OHL

The Montreal Canadiens could have kept Filip Mesar with the Laval Rocket in a bottom-six role, but, by sending him to the OHL, they showed they still have big plans for the young forward. Although some Montreal Canadiens fans may have already soured on the 19-year-old, general manager Kent...

t.co

Mesar states that he has been watching games and is excited about playing in these systems.
His paperwork was approved 6:59PM on Tuesday.

Good article.

"The expectation in Kitchener is for Mesar to get top-line minutes with prime powerplay usage right from the get-go..... "

As already discussed, line combos should be interesting.
Reading between the lines a bit here but based on the article, I would assume PP1 will now look different. We'll also have to see what the trickle down effect is for PP2.

The team's record in the cozy confines of the Aud have been quite good. Hopefully the team's road record improves a bit with the Mesar addition. I don't want to look past Erie, but I think the game at the always tough-to-play-in-Bayshore will be another good test. Yeah, I know it's only been 5 games away from our barn and the overall record is still impressive.

 

[robertmac43]

Kitch has confirmed Mesar will be in the lineup tomorrow.

 

[Krangers08]

Good article.

"The expectation in Kitchener is for Mesar to get top-line minutes with prime powerplay usage right from the get-go..... "

As already discussed, line combos should be interesting.
Reading between the lines a bit here but based on the article, I would assume PP1 will now look different. We'll also have to see what the trickle down effect is for PP2.

The team's record in the cozy confines of the Aud have been quite good. Hopefully the team's road record improves a bit with the Mesar addition. I don't want to look past Erie, but I think the game at the always tough-to-play-in-Bayshore will be another good test. Yeah, I know it's only been 5 games away from our barn and the overall record is still impressive.

He’ll take Romano’s spot on PP1 and Sop will move down to Netfront. Mesar and Rehkof on sides brzustewicz up top, swick and sop at the net

 

[Gondrex]

I wouldn’t take Swick out of the top six. Right after his best offensive output of the season?
I don’t think it’s a good idea.

I'd consider an Ellinas-Mercer-Lam 3rd line....at least to start, and see how things go from there.

I think there would be a good mix in a Romano-Morey-Pugliese 4th line. Romano has the "raw talent" that MM speaks of, Pugliese brings feistiness and creates chances in the offensive zone, and Morey's work ethic is starting to show some promising results.

 

[EvenSteven]

Will Parsons play back to back this weekend or Malboeuf tomorrow.
Erie is playing a 3 in 3 starting tonight.

I’d go with Malboeuf vs Erie and let Parsons have another shot at Owen Sound on Saturday night.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Others are putting together their potential lineups so I’ll throw mine into the pile too:

Swick-Rehkopf-Misaljevic
Martin-Sop-Mesar
Ellinas-Morey-Lam
Pugliese-Mercer-Romano

ex: Bottineau, Stark (inj.)

I think the consensus is that T6 are all playing together in some sort of fashion but that is my take on it.

Keeping Ellinas/Morey and Pugliese/Mercer together were important to me as they have worked well together and I feel Lam has earned the 3RW spot over Romano at this moment especially based on his playmaking ability while having Romano and his strong shot for a 16 year old gives that hard working pair of Pugliese/Mercer a finisher with their tireless forecheck.

Chat tomorrow everyone!

 

[RB76]

I think it ends up:

Misaljevic-Rehkopf-Mesar
Martin-Sop-Lam
Swick-Stark-Romano
Elinas-Mercer/Morey-Pugliese

No one in the top six deserves to drop but the coaches are going to do what best for the team. I like adding skill and size to the top three lines with an effective 4th shut down line.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Jussi keeps his lines together (rather than swapping out a zillion times...) so he has some hard choices to make for today's game against Erie. The two players that could be affected by the insertion of Mesar are Swick and Lam.

With Swick up on the top line, you have that big body in front of the net (and goalie) causing havoc. This is much like Martin on the 2nd line. Moving Swick to the 3rd line might seem like a demotion if you will - especially after scoring two recently. But Swick himself says that he's no Razer and Missile. He knows what his job is on that line.

Jussi said that Lam should have been selected for the Under 17. He is high on Lam's talent and ability at such a young age. Lam has been impressive from the pre-season right onwards. He's tied for 2nd in Rookies. Just the same, he certainly could make the 3rd line a dangerous one. His time will come and I think he will take on whatever role Jussi gives him.

I'm leaning towards leaving the first line alone, inserting Mesar on the 2nd line, and moving Lam to the 3rd line. If Mesar works his tail off (and I believe he will), the Rangers will be even more deadly starting tonight.

 

[bobber]

Jussi keeps his lines together (rather than swapping out a zillion times...) so he has some hard choices to make for today's game against Erie. The two players that could be affected by the insertion of Mesar are Swick and Lam.

With Swick up on the top line, you have that big body in front of the net (and goalie) causing havoc. This is much like Martin on the 2nd line. Moving Swick to the 3rd line might seem like a demotion if you will - especially after scoring two recently. But Swick himself says that he's no Razer and Missile. He knows what his job is on that line.

Jussi said that Lam should have been selected for the Under 17. He is high on Lam's talent and ability at such a young age. Lam has been impressive from the pre-season right onwards. He's tied for 2nd in Rookies. Just the same, he certainly could make the 3rd line a dangerous one. His time will come and I think he will take on whatever role Jussi gives him.

I'm leaning towards leaving the first line alone, inserting Mesar on the 2nd line, and moving Lam to the 3rd line. If Mesar works his tail off (and I believe he will), the Rangers will be even more deadly starting tonight.

Good ideas RTB. Coach did say you need a big body player like Swick in the position he is in at this point in time. Speculating on line ups is fun I guess. In the end it is what it is when the game starts. I use to go to practice years ago and you would know the line up on game day by observation. The odd time it changed because of a game day decision. Anyway the Rangers should be able to throw out two skilled lines at the Otters. Otters can't be underestimated. Rangers will give them all they can handle if they keep playing like they have been lately.

 

[Krangers08]

Draft pick News

I got out to See both Arquette and Edwards this week and they both look very impressive.

Arquette had a dominate game where he had 4 points (1 goal) multiple hits, and was the best player on the ice as you noticed him every shift. He has sky rocketed up the lineup and is playing 2nd line plus power play time as a 16 year old. Zsolt and Murray Hiebert were both at the game along with some NCAA recruiters. He’s listed at 5,8 but doesn’t fear anything and had guys bouncing off him.

Edwards just look steady and comfortable in the net. Stop 31/33 shots adding on the his 6-0 record this year as the backup. I think he’ll be the starter in the second half.

 

[EvenSteven]

Draft pick News

I got out to See both Arquette and Edwards this week and they both look very impressive.

Arquette had a dominate game where he had 4 points (1 goal) multiple hits, and was the best player on the ice as you noticed him every shift. He has sky rocketed up the lineup and is playing 2nd line plus power play time as a 16 year old. Zsolt and Murray Hiebert were both at the game along with some NCAA recruiters. He’s listed at 5,8 but doesn’t fear anything and had guys bouncing off him.

Edwards just look steady and comfortable in the net. Stop 31/33 shots adding on the his 6-0 record this year as the backup. I think he’ll be the starter in the second half.

Did Arquette spend enough time in camp to become NCAA ineligible?

 

[robertmac43]

Delete - wrong thread

 

[All the Answers]

I'm a bigger fan of Mesar as 2C and moving Sop to the 3rd line. Sop comes back th the 2nd line and Lam moves down when the (almost inevitable) rookie struggles start in the next 10 games as the schedule weighs on them.

 

[Offside by a mile]

Jussi confirmed on the 570 interview this afternoon that Mesar is playing the wing. When asked what his lines were for tonight? He replied he's not sharing that info.

But confirmed on the Wing to start and in the Top 6.

 

[GeoBlue]

Jussi confirmed on the 570 interview this afternoon that Mesar is playing the wing. When asked what his lines were for tonight? He replied he's not sharing that info.

But confirmed on the Wing to start and in the Top 6.

I heard Coaches Corner as well. He also mentioned that Mesar will play the PP with Rake. That either means they will be on the same line or will use one of the 2 on the point. Probably Rake since he played the part last year.

 

[Rangers2022]

I wouldn’t take Swick out of the top six. Right after his best offensive output of the season?
I don’t think it’s a good idea.

I totally agree, I would not mess with that first line the way their playing now.
I would put Mesar on the 2nd line.

 

[Krangers08]

I totally agree, I would not mess with that first line the way their playing now.
I would put Mesar on the 2nd line.

Got your wish. Mesar is playing with Martin and sop. Both teams playing the backups

 

[K2]

Got your wish. Mesar is playing with Martin and sop. Both teams playing the backups

Stark back too

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Finding ways to win. Never giving up!

Love this team.

 

[EvenSteven]

Good win. But can we gain center ice before shooting at the empty net?

 

[Krangers08]

Boring game but a wins a win .Swick shouldn’t be on in OT let alone starting