Calgary Wranglers 2023-24 Season thread

[Cheese]

Originally Posted by boogerz

I finally made it to a Wranglers game this season. It was a pretty good debut for Lipinski on the Wranglers fourth line. The smarts are there, but his poor skating (speed + mechanics) limited his effectiveness. He really, really needs to improve that if he wants to make it to the NHL.

Grushnikov was as advertised. Solid defensively, really smooth skater, moved the puck okay, and made some nice hits.

Klapka was noticeable all over the ice in a good way, but he still plays a little too soft for his size.

Morin had a pretty good debut for a 19 year old. Played third pairing with Poolman. He didn't do much on the ice, but he also didn't make any mistakes.

Dansk played quite well...he kept the Wranglers in the game for most of it.

Poirier was underwhelming. He had two brutal giveaways, including one that led to a Canucks goal. As a second year pro, he should know better than to pull some of the risky moves he pulls

Damiani was not impressive. The effort is there and he was noticeable on the forecheck, but he's small and not very strong. Pettersen is more skilled and a better player based on tonight's showing.

Trent Cull made some questionable decisions, like sending Sutter out as the sixth man when Dansk was pulled for the empty net

How does Poolman look?

[boogerz]

Originally Posted by Cheese

How does Poolman look?

He looked steady and played a mistake-free game. He'll be a career AHLer though

[DuckSauce]

Originally Posted by boogerz

I finally made it to a Wranglers game this season. It was a pretty good debut for Lipinski on the Wranglers fourth line. The smarts are there, but his poor skating (speed + mechanics) limited his effectiveness. He really, really needs to improve that if he wants to make it to the NHL.

Grushnikov was as advertised. Solid defensively, really smooth skater, moved the puck okay, and made some nice hits.

Klapka was noticeable all over the ice in a good way, but he still plays a little too soft for his size.

Morin had a pretty good debut for a 19 year old. Played third pairing with Poolman. He didn't do much on the ice, but he also didn't make any mistakes.

Dansk played quite well...he kept the Wranglers in the game for most of it.

Poirier was underwhelming. He had two brutal giveaways, including one that led to a Canucks goal. As a second year pro, he should know better than to pull some of the risky moves he pulls

Damiani was not impressive. The effort is there and he was noticeable on the forecheck, but he's small and not very strong. Pettersen is more skilled and a better player based on tonight's showing.

Trent Cull made some questionable decisions, like sending Sutter out as the sixth man when Dansk was pulled for the empty net

Wicked update - much appreciated!

Ahh man that’s so disappointing about Poirier. I have a dream that some combination of of Poirier, Morin, and Hunter provide great offence from the back end with Solo, Yan, and Gru being great steady defensive partners. There are only so many roster spots and I am still hoping we get a blue chip d prospect this draft and the assumption is OK and Andersson will be around with Weegar for a while.

Fun to get excited about but far from sure things.

[Jiggy]

Poirier has one full AHL season under his belt. He had a major injury this year that was life threatening, not just career threatening. Give the kid some time.

[AndyM]

He's undoubtedly a high-risk, high-reward player. It would be nice to see a little more intensity from him, and when he makes a mistake, to work a little harder to rectify it. However, this season is a wash. The summer will do wonders for him to get back to full health.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Two games left, both against Abbotsford. Wranglers dropped a pair by identical 3-1 scores this week. Right now, they are in 7th place in the Pacific Division and would face Tucson in the first round.

As expected, Radomsky and Nikolaev have been called up from Rapid City.

[Roof-Daddy]

Wranglers will get Wolf and Pelletier back when the Flames are done correct?

Wolf is a massive difference maker. Hopefully they pull a couple of upsets in the playoffs.

[D as in David]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Wranglers will get Wolf and Pelletier back when the Flames are done correct?

Wolf is a massive difference maker. Hopefully they pull a couple of upsets in the playoffs.

Wolf and Coronato will be back. Pelletier is already with the Wranglers.

[AndyM]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Wolf is a massive difference maker. Hopefully they pull a couple of upsets in the playoffs.

Goaltending has been fine with the Wranglers. Connor Murphy has done an impressive job stepping in.

They need more skill up front. Coronato should give them that. That Pettersen trade is looking more puzzling, though, because Damiani is, well, not good. The effort is there, but he doesn't get anything done.

They also need more discipline. Constant offensive zone penalties are just putting you behind the eight ball, and they are always chasing.

[MrSector9]

The last 2 games were also plagued by the "dump and chase" method which normally they do not use as frequently, seeing it tried 3 times with failure in the same powerplay should tell them enough to move on from it.

Abbotsford (like Coachella) have them figured out, wherever a Wrangler player is they are covered well, meanwhile on the opposite side you will watch Abbotsford/Coachella players skate around alone in the offensive zone.


Lipinski looked great in his first game, off the first faceoff made a drive to the net. Wedman is another player not mentioned much but is always worth watching.

Morin looked decent at times, did have a bad turnover where he passed from behind the net directly to an opposing player when he was trying to clear the puck, after that he seemed to play a little more reserved, also like mentioned previously he seemed to slow down a lot as the game progressed, then again you got nerves, a new team, flying across the country and most importantly elevation change.

Damiani I must agree with previous statements, he is not "bad" he is also not contributing (1g/0a in 13 games, Petterson 3g/3a in 10 games for the Stars) in any meaningful way, I would rather see someone up from Rapid City prepping for next season.

[Reggie Dunlop]

The Wranglers have released G Seth Eisele from his ATO. He was the college FA out of U of Nebraska-Omaha.

[EVERLAST]

1st rd match up???

Tuscon?

[getbak]

Originally Posted by EVERLAST

1st rd match up???

Tuscon?

That seems the most likely given everyone's remaining schedule. There's still a chance it could be Ontario or Colorado too.

[IceBergYYC]

Poirier has looked... rusty since his return, but he was completely off the ice for most of the season. Pushes back the likelihood of a call-up to next trade deadline (provided we see some good development). I second the comments on finding Damiani underwhelming, but the main reason for the trade doesn't really seem to be anything other than the fact this organization is... depleted in terms of right-hand shots. Which he at least brings that to the table. Very little of the potential late-bloomer NHL upside Pettersen possessed IMO.

Side note:
Walttteri Ignatjew seems like he'll be a good workhorse in net for the Wranglers next season, handles a heavy workload well, which seems to be where Dansk struggles. The Wranglers net picture next season seems muddy, with Muphy making a good case for staying up.

[MrSector9]

Matthew Wedman released from PTO

[getbak]

https://twitter.com/user/status/1781168557214081273

Getting the band back together.

[DuckSauce]

Could someone post the projected lines for the playoffs? Here’s hoping for a playoff run with the reinforcements!

[TheIronMaiden]

Someone with more clout than me needs to put a wranglers playoff series GDT on FOI.

[greyshep]

I am hoping for some playoff hockey in Calgary this spring but AHL playoffs are pretty lame with the schedule they follow. Short little best of 3 series in the first round really kills the playoff feel for me. Best of 7 doesnt start until the conference final round unfortunately.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Wranglers lose 4-3 in OT to Abbotsford.

McLain, Bishop, Pelletier with the goals. Murphy in net.