Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[robertmac43]

November is going to be a telling month for this team. My guess is we come down to earth a bit.

 

[Krangers08]

2024 #OHLDraft Advanced Scouting: Braidy Wassilyn (Markham Majors) - Ontario Hockey League

Markham Majors forward Braidy Wassilyn is the focus of our fourth 2024 #OHLDraft Advanced Scouting feature.

chl.ca

Projected number 1 pick this year who will have interest from US programs. Finding a way to be a lottery team wouldn’t be a bad thing.

 

[EvenSteven]

2024 #OHLDraft Advanced Scouting: Braidy Wassilyn (Markham Majors) - Ontario Hockey League

Markham Majors forward Braidy Wassilyn is the focus of our fourth 2024 #OHLDraft Advanced Scouting feature.

chl.ca

Projected number 1 pick this year who will have interest from US programs. Finding a way to be a lottery team wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Agreed. Also, would be nice to swing a deal with Sudbury where our 2nd ‘24 comes back to us.

If we did have a lottery pick, then that 2nd would come very early in the 2nd round.

 

[EvenSteven]

Our of curiosity, can this year’s Saginaw team be compared to last year’s Ranger team?

Underachieving teams who are scheduled to contend but just aren’t getting it done.

We tried to trade our way into righting the ship. Saginaw will have to as well. No surprise there. But I hope they have better luck with it than we did.

 

[Krangers08]

Our of curiosity, can this year’s Saginaw team be compared to last year’s Ranger team?

Underachieving teams who are scheduled to contend but just aren’t getting it done.

We tried to trade our way into righting the ship. Saginaw will have to as well. No surprise there. But I hope they have better luck with it than we did.

I believe it’s a mindset thing. Players already have their heads thinking about the mem cup and probably believe since training camp they’ll run through the league. Would they consider letting go Lazary if it continues ( I wouldn’t personally)

 

[Krangers08]

On the the trade front. I think every trade they make will be considered an overpay by some. Teams will charge the host a premium for players

 

[EvenSteven]

Another “out of curiosity” :

Many, including myself, have speculated that Brzustewicz may call his shot, as Bracco did, and might only accept a deal to just one team. We figure the obvious destination would be host Saginaw.

But, has anyone thought that the team he may call his shot to is London? His brother is there now and they are a top contender.

Before his trade to London, we surmised that defected Henry may call his shot to only play in Kitchener, to play with his brother.

You have to think, from a Brzustewicz family point of view, that it would be pretty cool if they had a chance to play together on a contender. It may be the only chance they’ll ever get to play on the same team.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

Another “out of curiosity” :

Many, including myself, have speculated that Brzustewicz may call his shot, as Bracco did, and might only accept a deal to just one team. We figure the obvious destination would be host Saginaw.

But, has anyone thought that the team he may call his shot to is London? His brother is there now and they are a top contender.

Before his trade to London, we surmised that defected Henry may call his shot to only play in Kitchener, to play with his brother.

You have to think, from a Brzustewicz family point of view, that it would be pretty cool if they had a chance to play together on a contender. It may be the only chance they’ll ever get to play on the same team.

not for nothing, Bracco had behind the scene's issues that seemed to be somewhat known secret in hockey circles. I suspect that didn't help, but we still got great value for him in the handshake deal that saw us trade him to Windsor for not that much, then them trading us Stanley for a similar below-market-value deal.

 

[EvenSteven]

not for nothing, Bracco had behind the scene's issues that seemed to be somewhat known secret in hockey circles. I suspect that didn't help, but we still got great value for him in the handshake deal that saw us trade him to Windsor for not that much, then them trading us Stanley for a similar below-market-value deal.

100%.

I lost my crap at the initial return for Bracco. But once the other shoe dropped, the deal worked out just fine for the Rangers.

I suspect a Hunter B to London deal wouldn’t be one sided in London’s favour. MM would make sure we get compensated fairly.

 

[HockeyPops]

I suspect a Hunter B to London deal wouldn’t be one sided in London’s favour. MM would make sure we get compensated fairly.

lol

 

[rangersblues]

100%.

I lost my crap at the initial return for Bracco. But once the other shoe dropped, the deal worked out just fine for the Rangers.

I suspect a Hunter B to London deal wouldn’t be one sided in London’s favour. MM would make sure we get compensated fairly.

We have every opportunity to be compensated fairly. Historically that's been easier said than done between Kitchener and London .

2024 #OHLDraft Advanced Scouting: Braidy Wassilyn (Markham Majors) - Ontario Hockey League

Markham Majors forward Braidy Wassilyn is the focus of our fourth 2024 #OHLDraft Advanced Scouting feature.

chl.ca

Projected number 1 pick this year who will have interest from US programs. Finding a way to be a lottery team wouldn’t be a bad thing.

Finding a way to get a lottery pick would be ideal but I don't think likely. I will gladly accept a team that excels developing our young players this season - which we are well on the way to doing.

 

[bobber]

On these boards we all do a lot of speculating about the future of the Rangers. None of us know what is being bandied around behind close doors. Jussi and his staff changed the dynamic here over night. The play of the Rangers is head an shoulders better than what fans have seen here in a long time. Wonder how this changes the process or plan going forward. It certainly does give MM more options to think about. I still think they will want gate receipts from a playoff round. They have to pay the mortgage.

 

[RangerNation]

Latest article by Josh Brown (looks like he's back)

Kitchener Rangers … a contender?

Blueshirts first in OHL’s western conference after a blistering 9-4 start.

www.therecord.com

Looks like it's a "wait and see" until Christmas.

 

[Petes1987]

100%.

I lost my crap at the initial return for Bracco. But once the other shoe dropped, the deal worked out just fine for the Rangers.

I suspect a Hunter B to London deal wouldn’t be one sided in London’s favour. MM would make sure we get compensated fairly.

I am not sure how many trades London can make maybe one big or two smaller ones. They not have two, 2nds and three, 3rds. They have no players drafted in the 1st round that they are willing to trade. Outside their limited draft picks they have a couple of 17 year old forwards that are of any value. I would think their priority would be getting a true top line centre not a defenceman.

 

[dirty12]

I believe it’s a mindset thing. Players already have their heads thinking about the mem cup and probably believe since training camp they’ll run through the league. Would they consider letting go Lazary if it continues ( I wouldn’t personally)

I believe coach & GM received 4-5 yr extensions at the end of pre-season

 

[Krangers08]

great write up on Brzustewicz. Love this quote

 

[bobber]

Reading Brown's article does bring some clarification to the situation the Rangers find themselves in presently. MM and his staff will look at where the team is in the standings at Christmas and make a judgement on how to proceed the rest of the season. In hockey as we all know there are no guarantees that things will go the way you hope they will. There will be a lot of inquiries regarding certain players with teams wanting to take a shot at being involved in the Mem Cup. I would think any offers MM looks at will have to be over the top to make changes to the present squad if he decides to go in this direction. The question left open is what direction this will be?

 

[Gondrex]

Reading Brown's article does bring some clarification to the situation the Rangers find themselves in presently. MM and his staff will look at where the team is in the standings at Christmas and make a judgement on how to proceed the rest of the season. In hockey as we all know there are no guarantees that things will go the way you hope they will. There will be a lot of inquiries regarding certain players with teams wanting to take a shot at being involved in the Mem Cup. I would think any offers MM looks at will have to be over the top to make changes to the present squad if he decides to go in this direction. The question left open is what direction this will be?

Competing this season in the Midwest division is hard enough, let alone dealing with the West's Soo and Saginaw (who one would think will do whatever it takes - including throwing in the kitchen sink if they have to).

In the Midwest alone, Guelph is surging, London is always tough, Owen Sound appears to now be getting their act together, and Erie, as we discovered on our own home ice, is difficult to play against.

These are just my observations, and I will admit MM is a heck of a lot smarter than me when it comes to the management of a junior hockey team, but I can't help but shudder at the thought of "going for it" with the limited amount of assets that remain. Dunno. Maybe he's got some not so obvious tricks up his sleeve if that's the direction he goes in.

 

[EvenSteven]

Competing this season in the Midwest division is hard enough, let alone dealing with the West's Soo and Saginaw (who one would think will do whatever it takes - including throwing in the kitchen sink if they have to).

In the Midwest alone, Guelph is surging, London is always tough, Owen Sound appears to now be getting their act together, and Erie, as we discovered on our own home ice, is difficult to play against.

These are just my observations, and I will admit MM is a heck of a lot smarter than me when it comes to the management of a junior hockey team, but I can't help but shudder at the thought of "going for it" with the limited amount of assets that remain. Dunno. Maybe he's got some not so obvious tricks up his sleeve if that's the direction he goes in.

At absolute best we’re 6th in the conference. There’s a huge drop off after our top five or six scorers.

London. Guelph. Owen Sound. Saginaw. Soo. In no particular order, we wouldn’t beat in a playoff round.

Erie may be ahead of us as well.

MM has to say what he has to say at this time of year.

 

[Stellar29]

Just an outsider's perspective but if I'm Kitchener I'm committed to the restocking of the draft cupboard. I think you delay the sell off until closer to the deadline and focus on having your veterans set the standard and implement the culture shift the new coach has brought in. The new and younger players have the opportunity to learn and grow in preparation to slide into vacated roles when some players get shipped out. The early season success is great for all involved as it's certainly a lot more fun when you win. I think the tweaks that management have to consider is how hard do they sell? I think they could reasonably soft sell 04s and 03s and keep the 05 players. No need to strip it right down. They have good players who can insulate and protect the younger players and ensure they don't slip too much in terms of competitiveness post deadline. There's a whole lot to be excited about based on early season results and early returns on the new players brought in.

 

[Ward Cornell]

At absolute best we’re 6th in the conference. There’s a huge drop off after our top five or six scorers.

London. Guelph. Owen Sound. Saginaw. Soo. In no particular order, we wouldn’t beat in a playoff round.

Erie may be ahead of us as well.

MM has to say what he has to say at this time of year.

I'm getting very tired of being on the "hamster wheel to mediocrity".

 

[RangerNation]

I'm still in the mindset that even when they do sell, the team won't be that bad and could surpise some teams in the playoffs. Jussi is getting more out of these players than I have seen at the Aud in a long time. Maybe this is why MM doesn't seem to concerned with what to do.

 

[Section5Petes]

This Petes-Rangers OHL Final gonna be chills

 

[bobber]

I'm still in the mindset that even when they do sell, the team won't be that bad and could surpise some teams in the playoffs. Jussi is getting more out of these players than I have seen at the Aud in a long time. Maybe this is why MM doesn't seem to concerned with what to do.

If Jussi is the real deal and development is really happening and we are not in the twilight zone who the hell knows where this team is going to be at Christmas. Projections of all the other teams is questionable at best. I think MM will make the right decisions when the time comes. It certainly won't be another go for it run again this year. I have my doubts it won't anyway.

 

[rangersblues]

If Jussi is the real deal and development is really happening and we are not in the twilight zone who the hell knows where this team is going to be at Christmas. Projections of all the other teams is questionable at best. I think MM will make the right decisions when the time comes. It certainly won't be another go for it run again this year. I have my doubts it won't anyway.

I'm hoping MM will make the right decisions, but he was wildly wrong last year about everything from coach selection to talent level. And it wasn't the first time.

I'm guessing Jussi has a lot of input in the new plan.