London Knights 2022-23 Off-Season Thread (Part 1)

[Holden Caufield]

Probable to happen?! I don't think so!

Winterton, Nazar, Hagens, Moore, Castagna, Mailloux and Minnetian are more probable NOT to happen, but I guess you can dream all you want!

A little off-season humour.
If Knights somehow landed 2 of the 8 (Including Haltunnen) we would be doing very well.

 

[imarriedawitch]

Let’s get it back on track here; Anyone see holes in this lineup ?

Cowan - Winterton(OA) - Barkey
Haltunnen (IP) - Nazar - Hagens
McCue (OA) - W. Moore - Gazizov (IP)
Sim - Castagna - Julien
(Crane, O’Reilly)

Bonk - George
Mailloux (OA) - Dickinson
Edward - Minnetian
(Leonard)

One too many right shot defenseman, minor issue.
Everything else seems legit and probable to happen. Don’t need to make a single trade. Super team confirmed.

No room for the 14 players other teams will acquire that some will think the Knights should have acquired, and that's just before the end of October.

 

[zman77]

NHL COMBINES 2023:
VO2 Max (ml/kg/min)

 

[zman77]

Body Composition by Percentage of Body Fat

 

[zman77]

Pro Agility Left (sec)

Pro Agility Right (sec)

 

[zman77]

Pull-Ups Consecutive (max #)

2023 NHL Combine results: Top 10 prospects in every drill

The NHL Scouting Combine returned to Buffalo, with all 32 teams getting a final opportunity to assess this crop of big-league hopefuls before the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville. Here is the top 10 in every drill.

www.sportsnet.ca

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

It makes sense for Halttunen to come this year or he isn’t ever coming and we can select another team import.

Moore is in the same position next year coming to the OHL or going the NCAA route.

The knights are in the enviable position where they don’t need either of these players to compete. But if the big fish come it’s hard to see them not be able to dominate and run the table.

So glad this offseason is so short!

How?

Do you understand at all that those Finnish prospects
who already are under contract with any SM liiga team they very rarely come to CHL.

Finnish young players aren't anymore so interested to play in CHL
especially if thre is a chance to sign SM liiga contract before NHL draft age.

The number of Finnish players in CHL has been on the decline for a years
this past season ( 2022-2023 ) only Brad Lambert and two others played in CHL teams.

SM liiga teams try to make professional contracts for their own juniors
as early as possible usually it happens a year or two years before the prospect is NHL draft eligible.

Halttunen is under contract with HIFK next 2 years ( 1+1 )
and if / when he won't make HIFK's SM liiga team next season
HIFK can loan him to smaller SM liiga team like Jukurit, Koookoo, Saipa etc.
Also Mestis is an option and so is HIFK's U20 team.

And it doesn't mean nothing
Halttunen follows London Knights and some Knights players into instagram.

If Halttunen's NHL team wants him to CHL
then NHL team who has Halttunen's player rights needs to sign
Halttunen with ELC contract immediately after the NHL draft to get power
and jurisdiction authority to decide where Halttunen plays next year and so long when
Halttunen is not signed ELC contract HIFK decides where Halttunen plays if he isn't playing to SM liiga.

Here's a list of some 2024 Finnish NHL prospects who might get drafted to CHL this summer
but their reporting is a question due to SM liiga contract.

Aron Kiviharju ( signed 2 years with HIFK )
Niilo-Pekka Muhonen ( signed with Kalpa Kuopio )
Veeti Väisänen ( signed with Kookoo Kouvola )
Eemil Vinni ( signed with HIFK and loaned to mestis for a season 2023-2024 ).
Konsta Helenius ( Signed with Mikkelin Jukurit )

 

[LDN]

Let’s get it back on track here; Anyone see holes in this lineup ?

Cowan - Winterton(OA) - Barkey
Haltunnen (IP) - Nazar - Hagens
McCue (OA) - W. Moore - Gazizov (IP)
Sim - Castagna - Julien
(Crane, O’Reilly)

Bonk - George
Mailloux (OA) - Dickinson
Edward - Minnetian
(Leonard)

One too many right shot defenseman, minor issue.
Everything else seems legit and probable to happen. Don’t need to make a single trade. Super team confirmed.

This is quite the dream

 

[BiffTannen]

The one thing i really liked about the 2022/23 Knights was that is wasn't your protypical Knights team of high-end talent that carry the weight. This was a D core that had some one obvious stud (Mailloux), but it also went 6 deep. The forward group lacked star power, but was good through all 4 lines. As well, having the best goalie in the league in Brochu between the pipes, even though he's not a real pro prospect, was a luxury to have.

 

[superdee]

I guess come Labor Day we will know what’s going on. Nazar might sign and ELC with Chicago much like Brady Tkachuk did. It would be nice to get Hagens and Minnation off US Development team as they scooped Moore. I can’t see the Finnish kid coming here unless he talked to Maata and others who have played here.

 

[LDN]

Who is the most likely of this group to join?

Nazar
Minnetian
Hagens
Moore
Halttunnen
Castagna
Cerrato
Vansaghi

What’s the word on Del Monte?

I would expect Barkey, Cowan and Bonk to be locks to get drafted

 

[LDN]

Does McGurn get a pro sniff?

 

[superdee]

I think he is eating his options and might go the school route. Not being drafted means he is behind the 8 ball right out of the gate. I think Diaco is in the same boat. I think the ceiling for both would be Europe or AHL/ECHL

 

[zman77]

Craig's List: Plenty of intrigue surrounding Matvei Michkov ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

Connor Bedard is the runaway favourite to be taken first overall by the Blackhawks on June 28 in Nashville but don’t be surprised if Matvei Michkov ends up being the biggest talking point.

www.tsn.ca

25: Halttunen
34: Cowboy
43: Bonk
52: Barkey

 

[Buttsy]

I think he is eating his options and might go the school route. Not being drafted means he is behind the 8 ball right out of the gate. I think Diaco is in the same boat. I think the ceiling for both would be Europe or AHL/ECHL

Agreed I would be surprised to see either get an NHL shot. But University and then Europe would be such a sweet deal and well within reach for two skilled players!

 

[Buttsy]

Craig's List: Plenty of intrigue surrounding Matvei Michkov ahead of NHL Draft | TSN

Connor Bedard is the runaway favourite to be taken first overall by the Blackhawks on June 28 in Nashville but don’t be surprised if Matvei Michkov ends up being the biggest talking point.

www.tsn.ca

I’m a little surprised, I wouldn’t have been shocked to see Mr Button (AKA Mr Butthead) be the only “Hockey Expert” to not pick Bedard as the favourite to be Number One! Must admit not my favourite TV guy ….

 

[zman77]

OHL prospects perform well at 2023 NHL Scouting Combine​

Body Composition Juhasz % Body Fat:
7. Nick Lardis (Hamilton Bulldogs) – 7.44
10. Easton Cowan (London Knights) – 7.54
12. Coulson Pitre (Flint Firebirds) – 7.6
20. Denver Barkey (London Knights) – 8.26
21. Cam Allen (Guelph Storm) – 8.29
22. Carey Terrance (Erie Otters) – 8.32
Anaerobic Fitness – Fatigue Index:
2. Carson Rehkopf (Kitchener Rangers) – 36.0
18. Oliver Bonk (London Knights) – 44.6
Force Plate – No Arm Jump (inches):
1. Nick Lardis (Brantford Bulldogs) – 20.53
5. Colby Barlow (Owen Sound Attack) – 19.86
6. Cam Allen (Guelph Storm) – 19.63
14. Carey Terrance (Erie Otters) – 18.27
15. Brad Gardiner (Ottawa 67’s) – 18.24
16. Beau Akey (Barrie Colts) – 18.19
21. Easton Cowan (London Knights) – 17.84
Musculoskeletal – Bench Press 50% of Body Weight (Power, watts/kg):
6. Cam Allen (Guelph Storm) – 7.09
9. Brad Gardiner (Ottawa 67’s) – 7.04
T-10. Luca Pinelli (Ottawa 67’s) – 7.03
12. Ethan Miedema (Kingston Frontenacs) – 6.87
16. Denver Barkey (London Knights) – 6.70

Ontario Hockey League

The OHL consists of 20 member teams, including 17 in the province of Ontario as well as three in the United States, with two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania.

ontariohockeyleague.com

 

[LDN]

 

[dmead]

Radk definately had a mullet. Oliver, no. Long hair is not by default a mullet. People really dont have a clue these days.

 

[LDN]

Radk definately had a mullet. Oliver, no. Long hair is not by default a mullet. People really dont have a clue these days.

Maybe he’ll bring the mully in this year

 

[imarriedawitch]

I don't think the Knight's conditioning regimen gets enough credit. Not necessarily in regards to the Combine stats but more so in watching newly acquired players. The new comers always seem to be the first ones looking to end their shift ahead of their team mates in their first few games. I'm sure they were in shape for where they came from but in my observations not necessarily in Knights shape.

 

[Purple Phart]

I don't think the Knight's conditioning regimen gets enough credit. Not necessarily in regards to the Combine stats but more so in watching newly acquired players. The new comers always seem to be the first ones looking to end their shift ahead of their team mates in their first few games. I'm sure they were in shape for where they came from but in my observations not necessarily in Knights shape.

I tend to agree with your observation, and while I don't have hard statistics to back this up, I also believe that as a team, the Knights lose fewer player/games to injury.....and that's probably the result of their team conditioning regimen.

 

[zman77]

 

[LDN]

What a warrior!

 

[horner]

I hope the leafs draft Oliver Bonk