2024-25 Prospect Thread

[Chapin Landvogt]

Oshawas Achilles heel is their coaching. It’s been in flux all year. London while being a talented roster, is also extremely well coached team by Hunter.

When one combines "success in the standings" with "development of future NHL talent", I'd say London is widely considered one of the top 3 overall addresses in junior hockey.

And the OHL title this year is theirs to lose.

Almost surprisingly, they've only been to 6 Memorial Cups since 2005, having won just twice.

But yep, Dale Hunter has been coaching the team since he took over in the 2001-02 season.

He's been the club president for 25 years and spent most of that time as a franchise owner as well.

Hate to say it in light of what transpired oh so many moons ago, but if I could send my son to just one club on the planet when he turns 16, it'd be London.

***
In light of all this, it makes Nurmi's season so much less impressive than it already was statistically for a 20-year old skater. At least he's surely picked up some valuable lessons and impressions along the way.

 

[scott99]

Oshawas Achilles heel is their coaching. It’s been in flux all year. London while being a talented roster, is also extremely well coached team by Hunter.

Watching the highlights, looks like Oshawa’s Achilles heel has been their defense and goaltending.

And this Cowen kid for London, he’s been a beast all series.

 

[SI90]

Oshawa getting there asses kicked again by London but Ritchie just scored again

 

[JRD76]

Oshawa getting there asses kicked again by London but Ritchie just scored again

Just like last night, I turned it off at 4-0 lol. Oshawa looked like a mess. Just all over the place. Not playing with much energy. I guess they turn it up a bit in the 3rd

 

[SI90]

Just like last night, I turned it off at 4-0 lol. Oshawa looked like a mess. Just all over the place. Not playing with much energy. I guess they turn it up a bit in the 3rd

They look like they have no discipline or plan as a team. London plays like a well oiled machine.

 

[BelovedIsles]

Oshawa getting there asses kicked again by London but Ritchie just scored again

Cal can shoot. I emphasize this bc he’s known as a fluid, ‘cerebral playmaker.’ f*** 3rd liner—let’s aim for top-6.

 

[Taswell]

Cal can shoot. I emphasize this bc he’s known as a fluid, ‘cerebral playmaker.’ f*** 3rd liner—let’s aim for top-6.

I don’t see any reason he can’t be a 2nd line center for the majority of his career.

 

[saintunspecified]

Cal can shoot. I emphasize this bc he’s known as a fluid, ‘cerebral playmaker.’ f*** 3rd liner—let’s aim for top-6.

It's not the shot that makes me thing he's not going to be a top-6 center soon (doesn't mean I don't think he can't get there eventually) - it's that he's got to increase his pace of play. Right now he doesn't look like the kind of guy who can play against another team's top line for 18 minutes per game.

I know Notre Dame took a step back this year (they had a lot of losses), but imo Nelson increased his pace of play a good bit, and he's a physical force. There's no way to make a direct comparison, but I think he's ahead of Ritchie in pretty much every area right now.

 

[SI90]

Oshawa London game 5 on NHL network about to start. Could be Ritchie’s last OHL game

 

[SI90]

Oshawa season is over and so is Ritchie’s junior career.

Nurmi and London wins OHL championship and will play in the memorial cup

 

[SI90]

 

[Thrasymachus]

Not every forward has to be an all-star. If Ritchie is a 20g, 50point forward that can play a two way game, then thats not bad at all in my books.

 

[leeroggy]

Not every forward has to be an all-star. If Ritchie is a 20g, 50point forward that can play a two way game, then thats not bad at all in my books.

The national pastime of this Forum is to find faults in our players, potential draft picks, heck, even the temperature of the hot dogs . . .

NO prospect will ever exceed expectations, just fall short . . .

 

[mm11]

The national pastime of this Forum is to find faults in our players, potential draft picks, heck, even the temperature of the hot dogs . . .

NO prospect will ever exceed expectations, just fall short . . .

I was burned waiting for Hector Marini.

 

[leeroggy]

I was burned waiting for Hector Marini.

 

[JRD76]

The national pastime of this Forum is to find faults in our players, potential draft picks, heck, even the temperature of the hot dogs . . .

NO prospect will ever exceed expectations, just fall short . . .

This is so true. Some put prospects under the microscope looking for any little faults in their game to say they won’t make it at the nhl level or it goes like this…. Player is playing well “He could be on the islanders roster next season” Player makes a mistake “Not an NHL caliber player”

 

[Thrasymachus]

I am happy to eat crow when I am wrong.

I hated Holmstrom pick and didn't think he would pan out. Meanwhile I thought MDC and Wahlstrom were sure things.

 

[JRD76]

Not every forward has to be an all-star. If Ritchie is a 20g, 50point forward that can play a two way game, then thats not bad at all in my books.

Why would anyone be upset if Ritchie just turns out to be a 3rd liner. Islanders didn’t use a pick to draft him. Lou wanted a 1st and an A level prospect for Brock and I bet a lot of GM’s were like “No thanks Lou. That was most likely the best offer and it was a good one. Did people expect to get 2 1st rd picks for Brock? Or would you rather have gotten a 1st and 2nd instead of a 1st and Ritchie? If he turns out to be good, then great. If not? Then oh well.

 

[doublechili]

In a strong 2026 draft, there will be players as good as Ritchie available with the COL pick. So he's maybe 50% of what we got for Brock. And yeah, I'm hoping for another Brent Sutter, but if he turns out to be a very good 3C no problem with that. Hey, maybe we got Shane Pinto after all.

 

[MJF]

The national pastime of this Forum is to find faults in our players, potential draft picks, heck, even the temperature of the hot dogs . . .

NO prospect will ever exceed expectations, just fall short . . .

Don’t forget finding faults with the reporters.