Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[LostRangers]

This year won’t be about winning. It’ll be about the development of the young players and what we get for our vets in trade.

On a vet instigating with a rookie:

After a clean Bilecki hit, the much bigger (6’6” 226lbs) and older (‘05 born) Winegard was in the process of jumping the much smaller (6’1” 165lbs) and younger (‘08 born) if not for Bottineau intercepting him.

So there’s that.

That is why I asked why Ando was fighting a rookie. If the kid did something, or was chirping everyone, then he has it coming. If not, a 19 year old shouldn’t be instigating against a 16 year old, regardless of size.
We would have the same reaction if Wonegard had jumped Bilecki.

 

[rve24]

Might have simply been chirping in a blowout. The kid could have said the wrong thing. Andonovski sends a message.

I mean, when you have the Windsor players in the box doing the YMCA, yucking it up, tempers will flare.

Ya, if they were doing the YMCA thing in the box.......that's a bit much ( alot too much lol) and disrespects the game.

 

[Krangers08]

I think they’ll review the Dirracolo fight. Arquette did not throw any punches (did a double leg takedown). Vermeulen will be tho

 

[K2]

If I’m the Rangers, I appeal the Dirracolo fight.

Without the benefit of replay, I’d make the argument he was instigated upon. If memory serves, it wasn’t a jumping, but Lemieux tried to get the jump on him. I’d argue Dirracolo didn’t have a choice.

Gloves drop in unison.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere49]

View attachment 910904

Yeah you aren’t winning that appeal I don’t think

 

[EvenSteven]

Gloves drop in unison.

View attachment 910904

Agree 100%.

As I said though, without the benefit of replay.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

Sunday Oct 15 2023. Maybe check the score of that game and ask the same question?

No need. It's not something that should be done IMO by anyone including the Rangers.

 

[Coaches Coroner]

If you want a soft Spott team, keep re litigating Ando and Dirracolo's fight lol. If they had just let everyone fill the net 12 times with 0 pushback, everyone would be complaining about that imo. Ando is likely getting traded so I don't care if he goes over the fight limit for us, even if that means sitting a few of the games he has left with us.

 

[EvenSteven]

If you want a soft Spott team, keep re litigating Ando and Dirracolo's fight lol. If they had just let everyone fill the net 12 times with 0 pushback, everyone would be complaining about that imo. Ando is likely getting traded so I don't care if he goes over the fight limit for us, even if that means sitting a few of the games he has left with us.

The last thing we need here is a soft Spott team. “We’ll get them on the PowerPlay” was his mantra and it did not work. He stood around with a dumb look on his face in the post season when penalties were not called and we were ran out of rinks, exiting post seasons early.

The last Ranger team that had a true shot at a championship was the 17–18 team. That team was incredibly tough. MM needs to get back to that and in my opinion, has begun the process.

You’re exactly right on Andonovski and his fight totals, etc. He is wearing the C for a reason. Part of his leadership is to show the young players that it’s not OK to roll over and accept a lopsided score against. So, I don’t really know exactly how that fight started and don’t much care. But if I’m Andonovski, and I’m out there looking for a reason to send a message, I may be looking for the next Spit who directs as much as a snear or laugh my way. I don’t care who it is, he is getting it.

Years ago, when PD was brought here, his first order of business was to bring in a leader. He brought in Nick Policelli. By putting the C on his chest, he was sending the message to his teammates and around the league the type of team he was going to run here in Kitchener. I equate that to today’s captaincy. Policelli knew when to send a message as well. One game over in Guelph during a stoppage and scrum, Daniel Paille gave him a slash on the back of the leg. Wasn’t a major slash, but still, Policelli felt there was a message to be sent. Needless to say, after the pummelling, Daniel Paille never slashed him again.

Hey, as has been said before by myself and others, we’re not looking for a goon team out there. But what we are looking for is a team that is willing and very able to stand up for itself, that is going to be able to withstand the rigours of the long playoff runs that are in our future down the road.

 

[K2]

I may be looking for the next Spit who directs as much as a snear or laugh my way. I don’t care who it is, he is getting it.

If the kid did something, or was chirping everyone, then he has it coming.

Ellinas dumps Nesbitt, Nesbitt stays down seeking a (slew?) call, Belchetz then approaches Ando, stick bumps him twice and gets in Ando's face which immediately draws punches. Belchetz only drops one glove.

 

[EvenSteven]

Ellinas dumps Nesbitt, Nesbitt stays down seeking a (slew?) call, Belchetz then approaches Ando, stick bumps him twice and gets in Ando's face which immediately draws punches. Belchetz only drops one glove.
View attachment 911019

This certainly wasn’t a vet picking on an unsuspecting young rookie type of instigation. Seems like Belchetz had a part in it. Maybe he bumped Andonovski thinking it was he who dumped Nesbitt?

 

[Krangers08]

2 games for Dirracolo and Vermeulen

 

[GeoBlue]

2 games for Dirracolo and Vermeulen

And 2 for Jean-Christoph Lemieux and Tanner Winegard. Even Steven. The easy way out.

 

[EvenSteven]

And 2 for Jean-Christoph Lemieux and Tanner Winegard. Even Steven. The easy way out.

2nd fight same stoppage is an automatic two games. No surprise there.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

This certainly wasn’t a vet picking on an unsuspecting young rookie type of instigation. Seems like Belchetz had a part in it. Maybe he bumped Andonovski thinking it was he who dumped Nesbitt?

This was a rookie.........a 6'4" 231 lb rookie....who absolutely bumped Ando twice and then got in his face. You reap what you sow, kid.

 

[EvenSteven]

I had always thought that you could only “buy back” suspensions in playoffs. But now that we have seen that a suspension can be bought back in the regular season, (Boulton in London), do the Rangers buyback one or both games of the Dirracolo and Vermeulen suspensions? 2nd fight same stoppage is the type of suspension that can be “bought back”.

Worth asking.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

So is this a Mesar scenario and he eventually come back OR have we seen the last of him?

 

[EvenSteven]

View attachment 911396

So is this a Mesar scenario and he eventually come back OR have we seen the last of him?

I’m not sure how it’ll all play out, but based on his season last year, I can see him going the same path that Mesar did.

Both had sketchy rookie years in the OHL. Mesar followed his rookie year up with a pretty good 19-year-old season. I think it makes all the sense in the world for Sale to play a second season in the OHL.

I can’t see any why Seattle would rush him into pro hockey. I have a hard time seeing him get top six minutes in the AHL. On the other hand, he’d play top line minutes here in all situations.

 

[rangersblues]

I had always thought that you could only “buy back” suspensions in playoffs. But now that we have seen that a suspension can be bought back in the regular season, (Boulton in London), do the Rangers buyback one or both games of the Dirracolo and Vermeulen suspensions? 2nd fight same stoppage is the type of suspension that can be “bought back”.

Worth asking.

If the OHL is going to have buy back rules, Rangers should and will buy back every suspension possible. Most teams will.

It's a dumb rule imo.

 

[bobber]

This was a rookie.........a 6'4" 231 lb rookie....who absolutely bumped Ando twice and then got in his face. You reap what you sow, kid.

Mike Tyson that great orator said" Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth".

 

[frontsfan67]

I’m not sure how it’ll all play out, but based on his season last year, I can see him going the same path that Mesar did.

Both had sketchy rookie years in the OHL. Mesar followed his rookie year up with a pretty good 19-year-old season. I think it makes all the sense in the world for Sale to play a second season in the OHL.

I can’t see any why Seattle would rush him into pro hockey. I have a hard time seeing him get top six minutes in the AHL. On the other hand, he’d play top line minutes here in all situations.

Also to add to your point- Coachella has a great team and I believe has gone to the AHL finals or deep runs in the playoffs atleast the following 2 seasons. A couple of them should be graduating into the NHL this year but guys like Goyette, Firkus, Nelson will be added in.

I think the best scenario for him is heading back to the OHL or playing pro in Europe for a year followed by the jump to the AHL

 

[sbpointer]

If you want a soft Spott team, keep re litigating Ando and Dirracolo's fight lol. If they had just let everyone fill the net 12 times with 0 pushback, everyone would be complaining about that imo. Ando is likely getting traded so I don't care if he goes over the fight limit for us, even if that means sitting a few of the games he has left with us.

and if he were dealt to London I don't care if he comes already over the fight limit he's a guy 20 teams want to have.

The YMCA in the penalty box is typical bush league stuff that karma catches up with.. Things like getting swept by the 8 seed in round one happen to those teams