Kitchener Rangers 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[Jives]

Anyone have an idea as to when Elinas returns?

How about Stark too?

 

[EvenSteven]

Xu I like but I can’t see MM pissing off Bilecki, Dirracalo and MacNeil off even more. I see Xu as a great option for call ups when needed but can’t see him wanting to sign an A card unless it’s a full time spot and not a player that plays 50% to 60% of games. If that’s the case then MM has really pissed off the 3 Dman that would have to fight for the 6th spot. It might be a short term gain but long term you are pissing off too many players. Sale is different as he goes right into the top 6 and there is no question he belongs there. Xu is not in our top 4 this year on D.

I don’t know where Dirracolo would be pissed off about anything. He’s an undrafted FA into this league (playing with house money) that has earned his way into the lineup just about every night (47 of 49 games). Signing Xu to an A card would have no effect on his status with the Rangers.

As an underage D that has played the majority of the time 37 of 49 games), and risen above MacNiel and Schneider on the D depth chart, Bilecki has played around the same frequency as many past underage D on this team. Getting into more than than two thirds of the games seems about right.

If I’m MacNiel though, I’m pissed off and a little worried that I’m seventh on a depth chart of seven D. Looks like he released some of that stress with that flurry of lefts up in the Soo last Wednesday. The kid is a player and his time is coming.

But at the end of the day, a team that expects to go on a long playoff run, the deeper the back end you have the better. If this team goes through to the third round, we’re going to need more than six D. Injuries are a thing in this league and expecting to go through a long playoff run without experiencing injury is a fools game. Nothing wrong with getting guys like MacNiel, and yes Xu, into the lineup as often as you can down the stretch in preparation for possibly having to play in the event of post season injuries.

The Rangers have two cards left. Saving one for Sale is easy. Fingers crossed there. Using the other on a D who’s shown he can play in this league as a #6 if need be makes all the sense in the world.

I don’t see any reason why Xu would be upset at signing an A card. Signing an A card doesn’t relegate you to the press box at the Aud. He’d still play a ton with the Rebellion while getting into games here, without having to worry about the 10 games, to gain experience. I bet he’d be excited to get into unlimited games here (10 game issue) while playing in the OJ at the same time. Vs playing exclusively in the OJ? I’m thinking he’d sign the A card if it’s offered.

When his season with the Rebellion is done, he’ll be coming up here anyway. He might not play, but he’ll be available. Same goes for Cameron, Schneider, and Antis. Our press box in the postseason will be full of hopefuls at the ready, just like MacNiel was last year.

There’s a reason that he was traded from one of the better teams in the OJ (Trenton), to the Rebellion “in preparation to signing here” as was reported. He was traded from Trenton to a team whose season will likely be over much quicker than Trenton’s, to have him available down the stretch and into the postseason here in Kitchener.

 

[Rangers True Blue]

And the boys are the only ones who let one get away this weekend. Our friend in green were up 3-0 yesterday but Windsor roared back with 4 unanswered goals. I would say that it's safe to say that Tuesday night is going to be a barn burner between these two. As for Windsor...not a team I'd want to see in the playoffs.

 

[RangerNation]

Tuesday will be a fun game to watch, but lately, good times are doing a great job of protecting home ice. London’s loss against Kitchener and Windsor (x2) have both been on the road. I think both fan bases will asking themselves "which version of our team will show up tuesday?"

 

[EvenSteven]

Ya, I find it hard to complain even at some of these losses. I didn't see them having any shot at 1st and would have no problem really if they finished lower in the standings. A competitive playoff run and the highest draft pick possible while being able to accomplish the former, is all I'm after.

Not complaining about losses. Just pointing out missed opportunities. After London losing to Windsor last night, a win on Tuesday would have had us leapfrogging London for top spot.

That’s significant.

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Not complaining about losses. Just pointing out missed opportunities. After London losing to Windsor last night, a win on Tuesday would have had us leapfrogging London for top spot.

That’s significant.

I don't think it's too fair to the organization to nitpick this game or that game as missed opportunities. If that was the case, it was a missing opportunity to not get the 24 points they didn't get in their 10 regulation and 4 OT/SO losses... same goes for the other 19 teams.

If I analyzed every game as a missed opportunity, I probably wouldn't be sleeping at night cause I would be worrying why Kitchener isn't 49-0 right now.

 

[SFC]

With the Rangers' gaudy OT/SO record I was curious as to what the standings would look like counting just regulation outcomes. Here it is. SCP is "skills competition points," so overtime or shootout wins, and percentage is regulation winning percentage with ties counting as a half win. I left in actual point totals for comparison, you can subtract SCP from them if you want to see "regulation points".

Nothing too shocking, the Rangers are 11-4 in OT/SO which is both the most games and the most wins. Looking just at regulation they fall well behind Windsor in the "standings".

Personally I think these standings are a lot more informative. 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts are fun but not really hockey. (Certainly not playoff hockey.)

Peterborough only has eight regulation wins. But, hey, flags fly forever.

 

[Matttheleaf]

With the Rangers' gaudy OT/SO record I was curious as to what the standings would look like counting just regulation outcomes. Here it is. SCP is "skills competition points," so overtime or shootout wins, and percentage is regulation winning percentage with ties counting as a half win. I left in actual point totals for comparison, you can subtract SCP from them if you want to see "regulation points".

Nothing too shocking, the Rangers are 11-4 in OT/SO which is both the most games and the most wins. Looking just at regulation they fall well behind Windsor in the "standings".

Personally I think these standings are a lot more informative. 3-on-3 overtime and shootouts are fun but not really hockey. (Certainly not playoff hockey.)

Peterborough only has eight regulation wins. But, hey, flags fly forever.

I wouldn't read too much into what their record is in the extra frame and the shootout compared to regulation time. Take the NHL for example, the Dallas Stars last year won 12 games in OT or a SO and lost 9 more in those as well for 21 total games going beyond 60 minutes but still made the Western Final. Then the Florida Panthers played in 16 total games that didn't end in regulation and won the Stanley Cup.