Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[bobber]

On the big hits, in his first couple years here, Swick dished out some huge open ice hits. But the problem at this level is that clean or not, the arm goes up on most open ice hits. Swick may be a bit gun-shy after earning 5 and games for these hits.

Even this is true of the OHL. You really only see a few hits in a game in the regular season. If a team is considered fast you will see opposing teams throw more hits on them in the play offs. The play offs seem to be a different animal. Yet watching the NHL it's a totally different story. The game is played with incredible speed and players are expected to hit when the opportunity presents itself. Fighting is almost non existent in the OHL which is probably a good thing with the age difference and the physical difference. On hitting I remember a Missy team a few years back. They would come out throwing hits in the first period which some teams do to set a tone for the rest of the game. Usually the hitting stops after the first as it takes it's toll on players on both sides. This Missy team just seem to keep hitting even into the 3rd period. Just don't see a lot of this these days in junior.

 

[Ward Cornell]

I expect a tough game vs London. Physically tough I mean. From what I understand, the Boultons have brought a very physical aspect and the rest of the team are following suit. I look for Andonovski to get chased around all night.

Let the Boultons play their game but don't retaliate when they obviously trying to goat a person into a fight or a penalty. Let Jussi talk to the officials (see Hunter) then when the Boultons act up (or any Knight players) do what Knights do, take a dive and draw a penalty.
Ando....keep calm and dont get suckered into penalties. No sense in losing our top 2 dman.

 

[Krangers08]

I guess the new fear in RTown is if Rake continues to develop at this pace, will he really be back next year? It seems our whole row last night was saying, "Did the announcer say 16 for number 16? He's got that many already?" Then Rake clarified things for us by getting his 17th. Wow! That is a 70+ goal pace.

Seattle seems to be taking time with the young guys and will likely promote Shane Wright next year, so there isn’t really a whole Seattle needs to fill next year. Him pulling a Wyatt Johnson will have a major impact on the organization. I expect him and Bru to sign next month.

 

[nelli27]

Let the Boultons play their game but don't retaliate when they obviously trying to goat a person into a fight or a penalty. Let Jussi talk to the officials (see Hunter) then when the Boultons act up (or any Knight players) do what Knights do, take a dive and draw a penalty.
Ando....keep calm and dont get suckered into penalties. No sense in losing our top 2 dman.

Jussi will do what other coaches have been doing with the last change. Put out top line when Knights 4th line lines up at faceoff circle in their own zone. London has lost 2 games with opponent feasting on a Jr B, 4th line. Rangers should take this game, I'll say 5-1.

 

[Ward Cornell]

Jussi will do what other coaches have been doing with the last change. Put out top line when Knights 4th line lines up at faceoff circle in their own zone. London has lost 2 games with opponent feasting on a Jr B, 4th line. Rangers should take this game, I'll say 5-1.

3-2 Knights in OT

 

[Billyjack]

4-3 Rangers in shootout

 

[GeoBlue]

Jussi will do what other coaches have been doing with the last change. Put out top line when Knights 4th line lines up at faceoff circle in their own zone. London has lost 2 games with opponent feasting on a Jr B, 4th line. Rangers should take this game, I'll say 5-1.

Doesn't London get the final change?

 

[nelli27]

Doesn't London get the final change?

Isn't the game at the Aud? Maybe I should learn to check the schedule. Lol!

 

[RangerNation]

Isn't the game at the Aud? Maybe I should learn to check the schedule. Lol!

At least if you made the trip up, Strykers is open, and may have let you in. Maybe.

 

[GeoBlue]

Isn't the game at the Aud? Maybe I should learn to check the schedule. Lol!

 

[GeoBlue]

Isn't the game at the Aud? Maybe I should learn to check the schedule. Lol!

It's all good. Oddy, the first time we see the Knights in our barn is half way through January. By then, we could be icing a completely different team.

 

[RangerNation]

Sawyer Boulton and Jackson Stewart with a staged fight tonight in OS. Pretty sure that's a 1 game suspension?

 

[rangersblues]

It's all good. Oddy, the first time we see the Knights in our barn is half way through January. By then, we could be icing a completely different team.

Indeed. We'll be stocked up for a championship run .

 

[Krangers08]

Cameron Reid OT winner tonight

 

[GeoBlue]

Cameron Reid OT winner tonight

Just curious.........Does anyone know how they choose the players for this tournament? Meaning if they are "white" or "red"? Do they have sort of a draft or do the coaches pick them" Or do half make the "stronger" team and the rest are the other team?

 

[Smithsy]

Sawyer Boulton and Jackson Stewart with a staged fight tonight in OS. Pretty sure that's a 1 game suspension?

Both suspended 3 games

 

[EvenSteven]

Just an aside. Or an observation while enjoying Friday’s post game show via podcast this morning.

Farwell said on the post game show, when debating about should we be selling to stock the draft the cupboard, that “this team has 2nd and 3rd round picks up the Ying Yang over the next six years”. He said he doesn’t know what the obsession is with draft picks.

Huh? We have
2nd ‘24
2nd ‘28
2nd ‘29
3rd ‘27
3rd ‘28
3rd ‘29

I don’t know what his definition of Ying Yang is, but this team is nowhere near as flush with high draft picks that he seemed to convey the other night.

The obsession though, is that this young group needs a quality supporting staff. The best way to get that quality supporting staff is via high picks in the draft.

Not ripping him, but I’m not so sure he’s fully aware of how shallow our cupboard is.

 

[Krangers08]

Should be an entertaining game today, the only downside is that we’re stuck listening to Sloan. If we can escape without injury and suspension I’d consider it a success

 

[Gondrex]

Just an aside. Or an observation while enjoying Friday’s post game show via podcast this morning.

Farwell said on the post game show, when debating about should we be selling to stock the draft the cupboard, that “this team has 2nd and 3rd round picks up the Ying Yang over the next six years”. He said he doesn’t know what the obsession is with draft picks.

Huh? We have
2nd ‘24
2nd ‘28
2nd ‘29
3rd ‘27
3rd ‘28
3rd ‘29

I don’t know what his definition of Ying Yang is, but this team is nowhere near as flush with high draft picks that he seemed to convey the other night.

The obsession though, is that this young group needs a quality supporting staff. The best way to get that quality supporting staff is via high picks in the draft.

Not ripping him, but I’m not so sure he’s fully aware of how shallow our cupboard is.

Mike is usually up on his stuff, but those comments had me really scratching my head. Not really sure if he is aware of the actual status quo as you outlined ES.

 

[rangersblues]

Just an aside. Or an observation while enjoying Friday’s post game show via podcast this morning.

Farwell said on the post game show, when debating about should we be selling to stock the draft the cupboard, that “this team has 2nd and 3rd round picks up the Ying Yang over the next six years”. He said he doesn’t know what the obsession is with draft picks.

Huh? We have
2nd ‘24
2nd ‘28
2nd ‘29
3rd ‘27
3rd ‘28
3rd ‘29

I don’t know what his definition of Ying Yang is, but this team is nowhere near as flush with high draft picks that he seemed to convey the other night.

The obsession though, is that this young group needs a quality supporting staff. The best way to get that quality supporting staff is via high picks in the draft.

Not ripping him, but I’m not so sure he’s fully aware of how shallow our cupboard is.

Our cupboard is shallow. But we have a huge card to play if we use Rehkopf as a two part deal. I never in my wildest dreams expected the Rangers had a chance to be in this position.

Good chance we have 4 WJC players - Rehkopf, Brzustewicz, Mesar and Hamara. If we would work out a 2 part deal for Rehkopf good chance we'd have 5. We have 4 players near the top of the scoring plus Mesar returned. It's been since Spott's 3rd season since we've had anything close to this - and we ended up losing Skinner and Morin early. I'm not sure we don't wait until the WJC to see how the rest of the players perform when we lose players to WJC. If they do ok I think MM needs to get creative. If it doesn't look great he can always sell. But standing pat shouldn't be an option.

I don't see another team that's a power house. I'm not sure when we'll assemble a roster with this much high end talent with a coach who seems to develop players. It's just a shame about last season.

Should be an entertaining game today, the only downside is that we’re stuck listening to Sloan. If we can escape without injury and suspension I’d consider it a success

I have a lot higher expectations than that. Good measuring stick today.

 

[EvenSteven]

Our cupboard is shallow. But we have a huge card to play if we use Rehkopf as a two part deal. I never in my wildest dreams expected the Rangers had a chance to be in this position.

Good chance we have 4 WJC players - Rehkopf, Brzustewicz, Mesar and Hamara. If we would work out a 2 part deal for Rehkopf good chance we'd have 5. We have 4 players near the top of the scoring plus Mesar returned. It's been since Spott's 3rd season since we've had anything close to this - and we ended up losing Skinner and Morin early. I'm not sure we don't wait until the WJC to see how the rest of the players perform when we lose players to WJC. If they do ok I think MM needs to get creative. If it doesn't look great he can always sell. But standing pat shouldn't be an option.

I don't see another team that's a power house. I'm not sure when we'll assemble a roster with this much high end talent with a coach who seems to develop players. It's just a shame about last season.


I have a lot higher expectations than that. Good measuring stick today.

How do you propose a two parter involving Rehkopf?

Any team trading for him will want him this year.

 

[rangersblues]

How do you propose a two parter involving Rehkopf?

Any team trading for him will want him this year.

Can't we trade him in the summer ala Stanley? I just really hate to waste the talent level this team apparently has.

 

[EvenSteven]

Can't we trade him in the summer ala Stanley? I just really hate to waste the talent level this team apparently has.

To maximize return, a team will want him for this post season and next.

 

[Gondrex]

Our cupboard is shallow. But we have a huge card to play if we use Rehkopf as a two part deal. I never in my wildest dreams expected the Rangers had a chance to be in this position.

Good chance we have 4 WJC players - Rehkopf, Brzustewicz, Mesar and Hamara. If we would work out a 2 part deal for Rehkopf good chance we'd have 5. We have 4 players near the top of the scoring plus Mesar returned. It's been since Spott's 3rd season since we've had anything close to this - and we ended up losing Skinner and Morin early. I'm not sure we don't wait until the WJC to see how the rest of the players perform when we lose players to WJC. If they do ok I think MM needs to get creative. If it doesn't look great he can always sell. But standing pat shouldn't be an option.

I don't see another team that's a power house. I'm not sure when we'll assemble a roster with this much high end talent with a coach who seems to develop players. It's just a shame about last season.


I have a lot higher expectations than that. Good measuring stick today.

If one of those high risk / "seemingly no reward" high-end U.S. draft picks actually decided to come here part way through the season, then perhaps one could make a case. Mind you, if that were to happen and they then stood pat, this team would miss the chance of regaining any '24 3rd round pick. The opportunity to bring a lot of additional picks from any Brzustewicz trade becomes a blown opportunity in my own opinion.

 

[K2]