Kitchener Rangers 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[TheBlueMonster]

Me either. Unfortunately.

Ditto.

Once in a while you can get a free one but I wont sub for it.



Tonight's game:

A loss that I can take.

5-2 loss to the Attack in a game I thought Kitchener played well. They had control, lost control, worked to gain it back but the lack of finish and George who is a stud in that OSA net came back to bite.

Swick and Lam could have had 5-6 goals between them.

Sop and bruiser getting the goals tonight. 2 guys who've been close but no cigar before tonight. Sop will come close to 40. Might be a hot take but I believe in him.

Parsons was great tonight. Hard to fault him on any of the goals.

I am conflicted on Hamara. I wasn't a massive fan of his last year. Felt he had more to offer, still feel the same.

Would like to see some more work done on faceoffs. Sop is doing well but it falls off after that. Anytime we can gain possession is a positive.

Ellinas continues to impress me. I am really digging the signing. Makes striking out in his draft year feel not so bad lol.

4th line had another excellent game. They where relentless.

Martin I thought had a bit of a rough night. He'll bounce back

Overall, I think it was a good game and learning experience.

Onto the next one!

 

[Stellar29]

For a team that is supposed to be rebuilding, I don't think you're going to get any boring hockey games this year. Really impressed with the tempo and puck movement from the Rangers. That's not going to be fun to defend against.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Great effort from the young Rangers roster tonight against a much older Attack squad.

Down early due to some penalty issues which I’d like to see limited but still so refreshing to see the players still push to get back in the game all the way up to getting some good looks on the 6on5 at the end, plus outshooting them 37-23 just supports that.

No complaints in productive losses! Onto the rematch with Saginaw tomorrow!

 

[Krangers08]

Didn’t have leading the league in PIM on my card this year. This team is fun to watch effort right to end and playing a fast pace. Group feels like they have a really close bond, a couple even have Ranger Varsity jackets that they wear on road trips.

 

[Habsrule]

Now that they have lost a game it should be time to tinker the lineup. I assume that Bottineau gets in to play but who would you take out?

I can’t see any changes on defence as Scott is definitely the 7th.

 

[bobber]

Rangers out shoot the Attack by almost 50% last night which is something not expected. Coach doesn't mince words in his post game interview. Dumb penalties cost them the game basically. Jussi hits all the right buttons as a head coach. He gives a little credit to the Owen Sound goalie but says the Rangers should have scored more on him. He wants players driving the net harder and more net front screening. He wasn't happy with the amount of giveaways but the Attack vets deserve credit for their experience at picking of weak passes. Jussi has the right system in place. Just has to get everyone on board. Bottineau must want out if they are playing rookies ahead of him IMO,

 

[Rangers True Blue]

5-2 which, if you take away the empty netter and the 5 on 3 PP, is 3-2. Add in more shots on net than OS and several good scoring chances that weren't finished, the young Rangers did very well against a more experienced team. No complaints for their effort (right to the end).

OS came at them hard in the first and Rangers weren't finding it so easy to get their game going. In the 2nd, Rangers came hard at OS but George was a brick wall. No let up in the 3rd even when OS went up 4-1. They kept going until the closed it to two goals back.

OS showed the Rangers what happens when you make soft passes, don't make decisions fast enough, and why Jussi preaches "go hard to the net". One thing is for sure....the Rangers made sure that OS knew they were in a game last night.

On to Saginaw.....a top team that didn't play Thurs or Fri and has had time to plan their revenge. Are Rangers up for the challenge?

 

[Krangers08]

Rangers out shoot the Attack by almost 50% last night which is something not expected. Coach doesn't mince words in his post game interview. Dumb penalties cost them the game basically. Jussi hits all the right buttons as a head coach. He gives a little credit to the Owen Sound goalie but says the Rangers should have scored more on him. He wants players driving the net harder and more net front screening. He wasn't happy with the amount of giveaways but the Attack vets deserve credit for their experience at picking of weak passes. Jussi has the right system in place. Just has to get everyone on board. Bottineau must want out if they are playing rookies ahead of him IMO,

Part of the new culture is earning a spot. He didn’t score or play physical in the pre season.They seem to like Morey at centre and Pug seems to be the only one that consistently plays with physicality. 4th line tonight should be Mercer at C with botts and Pug

 

[rangersblues]

Part of the new culture is earning a spot. He didn’t score or play physical in the pre season.They seem to like Morey at centre and Pug seems to be the only one that consistently plays with physicality. 4th line tonight should be Mercer at C with botts and Pug

Yup. The chatter previous years was always you earn your icetime. Now it's really happening.

 

[EvenSteven]

Yup. The chatter previous years was always you earn your icetime. Now it's really happening.

Yup. Spott said it all the time back in the day, but then the opposite would happen.

Part of the new culture is earning a spot. He didn’t score or play physical in the pre season.They seem to like Morey at centre and Pug seems to be the only one that consistently plays with physicality. 4th line tonight should be Mercer at C with botts and Pug

But, Bottineau should look to hit it out of the park when he does get in the lineup.

 

[Krangers08]

Bottineau and Scott are in. Campbell and Stark are out, Parsons get the start tonight

 

[TheBlueMonster]

Bottineau and Scott are in. Campbell and Stark are out, Parsons get the start tonight

Rough night at the DOW.

Credit where credit is due first off. Saginaw is an elite team. Very good.

I wont be to harsh on the Rangers. This is still a very young team. 4th youngest in the OHL.

I'd rather learn some of these lessons early on.

Now, the offense just lacks some finish, another game in which another goal or two could have been scored. That's a positive.

Would have loved to see Beef in net. Would hate for a game like this to kill the confidence of Parsons who is just retuning after missing a year.

No way you split it, an 8-2 loss is not good but i am looking forward to seeing how the boys rebound.


Happy thanksgiving everyone.

 

[bobber]

Looking at the replays of the Saggy game on the OHL site you expect to see that the goalies both had a bad game. Instead it was massively poor coverage by the Rangers leaving Saggy players wide open in front of the net on almost every goal. The Ranger D seemed to get outmuscled on a couple also. Guess it will be parr for the course this year. The young players are looking at the vets to show them the ropes. They need to step up their games. Third and 4th year players need to be visible every game. On the broadcast Farwell said the Saggy coaches ripped a strip off the players on the bench in the first period and the whole game tilted towards the Rangers end after. I know it's a rebuild. Looking at replays it was a little reminiscent of some of last years games. I am sure Jussi was ripping his hair out.

 

[Krangers08]

Prospect updates.
Owen edwards 3 wins 0 loses .873 Sv%
Andrew Macniel 6 points in 8 games
Cameron Arquette 2 goals in 8 games
Giancola (NCAA committed) 7 points 9 GP
Meireles 5 points 7 GP
Mcgurn 3 points 6 GP
Thomakos 6 points 9 GP
Lex Terrence appears to have quit hockey and attending school in Switzerland (Instagram).

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Sag well rested at home with no Thurs or Friday game, top tier team, lots of vets, and a desire for revenge versus a young Rangers team who played the night before and learned quickly what they aspire to be one day. This was expected in a rebuild year. They need to get back on the horse and keep riding. I would think there will be lots of video this week...

 

[Krangers08]

With Landeskog being at the game Friday, I feel like it was a missed opportunity to not retire his number. 18,92,53 should be in the rafters. Mitch Martin has stated in the past on a podcast that he was not allowed to wear 92 as there is plans to retire it.

 

[Matttheleaf]

With Landeskog being at the game Friday, I feel like it was a missed opportunity to not retire his number. 18,92,53 should be in the rafters. Mitch Martin has stated in the past on a podcast that he was not allowed to wear 92 as there is plans to retire it.

I find it a little whack that we seem to only retire numbers of those who went into the Hall of Fame, when a player like Landeskog who was a fantastic leader here, went onto be one of the youngest captains in NHL history, win the Calder trophy and Captain the Avs to a Stanley cup may not have his number retired here unless he makes it to the Hall.

 

[Habsrule]

I see both sides of him having his jersey retired by Kitchener and not having it retired.

If he had his jersey retired then it would be more based upon his NHL resume and not his OHL one. He only played 114 games for Kitchener, 141 including playoffs. He totalled 112 regular season points and 145 including the playoffs. He was just barely over point per game during his Kitchener tenure.

 

[Krangers08]

Erie seems to be willing to ship out picks to become competitive , which could result some overpayments and a team to watch.On one hand the worst they are the higher the 2nd round pick we hold, but also could be a negative if they are bad Sova will take up some Brzustewicz market that is already be shared with Nelson.

 

[Krangers08]

I see both sides of him having his jersey retired by Kitchener and not having it retired.

If he had his jersey retired then it would be more based upon his NHL resume and not his OHL one. He only played 114 games for Kitchener, 141 including playoffs. He totalled 112 regular season points and 145 including the playoffs. He was just barely over point per game during his Kitchener tenure.

I see both sides. I just want a new one to take the attention away for number 1 retirement for the “fans” feels very corny

 

[rangersblues]

I see both sides of him having his jersey retired by Kitchener and not having it retired.

If he had his jersey retired then it would be more based upon his NHL resume and not his OHL one. He only played 114 games for Kitchener, 141 including playoffs. He totalled 112 regular season points and 145 including the playoffs. He was just barely over point per game during his Kitchener tenure.

Right now having a banner is entirely based on a player's NHL career and the bar is the Hall of Fame. Paul Coffey played a whole 52 games for a team that finished last overall in Kitchener. We drafted Brian Bellows first overall the next year. Bellows was captain at age 16, led the Rangers to their first two OHL championships and first Memorial Cup championship. He doesn't have a banner

It's entirely wrong imo but I don't see it changing.

 

[GeoBlue]

I see both sides of him having his jersey retired by Kitchener and not having it retired.

If he had his jersey retired then it would be more based upon his NHL resume and not his OHL one. He only played 114 games for Kitchener, 141 including playoffs. He totalled 112 regular season points and 145 including the playoffs. He was just barely over point per game during his Kitchener tenure.

Why do you assume they are buyers? All best they went out and got a real goaltender? Their other 2 have a 6..00 GGA combined.

Right now having a banner is entirely based on a player's NHL career and the bar is the Hall of Fame. Paul Coffey played a whole 52 games for a team that finished last overall in Kitchener. We drafted Brian Bellows first overall the next year. Bellows was captain at age 16, led the Rangers to their first two OHL championships and first Memorial Cup championship. He doesn't have a banner

It's entirely wrong imo but I don't see it changing.

I once mentioned that they should have 2 separate HOF's. One for NHL excellence and one for OHL. Your example is dead on to why the current system is wrong. Like, is Dwight Foster up there? And they don't have to "retire" any numbers, if you ask me, just hang up the sweaters in recognition.

 

[Habsrule]

Why do you assume they are buyers? All best they went out and got a real goaltender? Their other 2 have a 6..00 GGA combined.

Where did I say anything about them being buyers or about their goaltending?

 

[GeoBlue]

Where did I say anything about them being buyers or about their goaltending?

Ignore my reply. Something funky is going on here. My reply was supposed to be to another poster and it seems they deleted the post I was replying to. Sheesh! I guess that is why some posts have "last edited on......." ;-)

 

[Krangers08]

I know it’s a tiresome topic but does anyone have insight on if Mesar will make Laval? Tried looking on Twitter but every other tweet just Rips Kitchener and wants him traded.