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

[Otto]

While that sounds nice...Nothing with actually be official until he is sent back. I fully expect him to start with the Barracuda unless he is disappointing in camp.

Sounds like it's a done deal and the Knights and Sharks had some in depth conversations

Sharks prospect Kasper Halttunen commits to Knights - Ontario Hockey League

The London Knights are proud to announce that Finnish forward, Kasper Halttunen has signed a player agreement with the club.

chl.ca

 

[rve24]

ive heard mark say how much dale hates playing kids, 'a year older a year better' he claims dale says. ive never heard it personally.

and you are right, here are a very rare group of 16 year olds who get ice, but they need to be the best players in the age group. guys like mete, domi dickinson where top 5 guys that got their way to london via trade after being suggested that he was a top 5 pick. harrington could have went 1st overall but he was 'going ncaa' before the days of trading drafted players for picks. marner was 8th on our list but his agent jason woolley at the time told us he was committed to michigan. they are all top top top players in their age group. ill give you thomas and bouchard, those are exellent examples of guys that earned ice when you think they wouldnt, but you have to admit they are outliers, not normal.

99 percent of the time, they dont play, thats what weve seen with rowe, evangelista, rolofs, etc. its how the culture is in london. i respect it in the fact that they dont lie about it and agents know there is no promise to play in london until they are 18 or 19.

I agree it's rare and takes a special type player. Just thought hate was strong. I've heard LK management discuss as well. Thou im out of loop last couple years. They have a model they follow, and its often successful in development but there is flexibility. Tough for some kids, parents n advisors to accept at times I'm sure but as ya said at least they are up front with challenges for PT as a rookie.
All good. TY for adding to discussions.

 

[OHL4Life]

I agree it's rare and takes a special type player. Just thought hate was strong. I've heard LK management discuss as well. Thou im out of loop last couple years. They have a model they follow, and its often successful in development but there is flexibility. Tough for some kids, parents n advisors to accept at times I'm sure but as ya said at least they are up front with challenges for PT as a rookie.
All good. TY for adding to discussions.

agents should know, i give mark credit he does not lie or tell kids thing that are untrue, he tells them your not playing alot to start. the problem starts that most kids think they are dickinson or marner and dont see that they are not that good.

i think it can come back to bite them sometmies with a roloff or popov where they dump a kid before ever giving them a shot, but it is what it is i dont love that the sign guys and never use them like levin or johnston, but thats on the agent, kid and the parents more then the knights.

 

[rve24]

agents should know, i give mark credit he does not lie or tell kids thing that are untrue, he tells them your not playing alot to start. the problem starts that most kids think they are dickinson or marner and dont see that they are not that good.

i think it can come back to bite them sometmies with a roloff or popov where they dump a kid before ever giving them a shot, but it is what it is i dont love that the sign guys and never use them like levin or johnston, but thats on the agent, kid and the parents more then the knights.

Yup. I've always said all parties don't have to agree but if it's transparent neither side can complain really. And thats on both sides of a fence. All about leverage, but I always support kids using it if they have it.

 

[Maxxim1]

For those looking for a goal scoring forward, we have one on the team right now: Ryan Humphrey. As an eighteen year old in Hamilton he scored 25 goals and was a +49.
Bring him to London and he was used as utility player. He never played on the same line two games in a row.
If you watch him without the puck he gives 100% and plays with much need sandpaper, even when he is in the penalty box.

 

[LDN]

For those looking for a goal scoring forward, we have one on the team right now: Ryan Humphrey. As an eighteen year old in Hamilton he scored 25 goals and was a +49.
Bring him to London and he was used as utility player. He never played on the same line two games in a row.
If you watch him without the puck he gives 100% and plays with much need sandpaper, even when he is in the penalty box.

Maybe we play him with Cowan and Halttunnen as the top line and form a second line with Julien, Barkey and Gazizov?

 

[LDN]

Congrats Easton Cowan on getting signed!

 

[rve24]

Congrats Easton Cowan on getting signed!

Well earned.

 

[superdee]

I think Rolof and Popov were given a chance but needed a change of scenery to develop.

 

[superdee]

QMJHL announced it has banned fighting. What next no contact?

 

[SteveCrow1]

 

[rve24]

View attachment 735190

Now Mark H can take on the duo role he has always had in the minds of so many OHL fans. Commissioner and LK owner/GM

 

[Knights Watcher]

Nominations for the 'C' this coming season?
My picks are:
MACKINNON THE C
George and Humphrey 'A'

 

[LDN]

Nominations for the 'C' this coming season?
My picks are:
MACKINNON THE C
George and Humphrey 'A'

WHAT!?!?!?! Mackinnon no way! He’s not even for sure solidified his spot in the lineup. It’s between him and Federkow

Cowan/Barkey co C
Bonk, Humphrey, George, McCue A

 

[Ringing Iron]

WHAT!?!?!?! Mackinnon no way! He’s not even for sure solidified his spot in the lineup. It’s between him and Federkow

Cowan/Barkey co C
Bonk, Humphrey, George, McCue A

Mackinnon will be on the team. Look how much Dale played him last year.

 

[tjziel]

I’ve got Isaiah George as Captain McKinnon and Humphrey as alternates.

 

[superdee]

Oliver Bonk is your Captain with McCue, George, Cowan and Barkey alternates. I think that Bowen can carry the mail with Russian and Willmore as backups. I honestly believe the pressure and carrying the load wore the kid down in the playoffs. I think he is well on the way to breaking Houser’s team record for wins. Brouchu would have if Covid hadn’t happened. I also think Leonard will play key minutes this year probably partnered with Dickenson . That throw in for Keane is going to be Mark’s real steal of a deal. I thought trading Lloyd was a bad decision but where would he fit on this team? I think Reilly, Levin and Nichol might be surprises for doubters who don’t think we have depth scoring. Paris and Johnston could be flipped for a 19 year old top 6 forward.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

i would bet heavy money that leonard plays ahead of fagan, fagan will be in waterloo jr b.

maybe its just me, i would worry about a second line that scored 93 pts last year. i would think saginaw and owen sound would have more depth up front. london has the best d in the ohl thou.

Nicholl will be in your top 9, if not top 6 by mid-season. Don’t sleep in him.

 

[LDN]

Wow high praise

IMO any of Bonk, Barkey, Dickinson, Cowan, George, Mackinnon, McCue or Humphrey would be a good captain

 

[LDN]

Where are McGurn and Brochu playing this coming year?

 

[KnightWatch]

If I were basing the captaincy solely on last year's playoffs, McCue would be my captain; however, too many poor decisions prior to that make me want to shy away from giving him that much influence.

I have my concerns about giving George the captaincy because he doesn't seem to be overly vocal, but he does play the right way and would be a terrific leader-by-example.

So, I would probably give George the captaincy, with Barks, Cowboy and McCue getting the nod for A's.

 

[waitin425]

Going to be an exciting year to watch the Knights with Haltunnen coming on board.

Cowan, Halts, Barkey, McCue, George, Bonk, Dickinson.

I think they could take a run come trade deadline for a recent 1st round pick.

Who do you think is more likely of, Barlow, Musty, Ritchie?

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Going to be an exciting year to watch the Knights with Haltunnen coming on board.

Cowan, Halts, Barkey, McCue, George, Bonk, Dickinson.

I think they could take a run come trade deadline for a recent 1st round pick.

Who do you think is more likely of, Barlow, Musty, Ritchie?

Why would any of Owen Sound, Sudbury or Oshawa trade a player they have for 2 years still?

 

[cobra9850]

Musty will be an integral part of hopefully a dynamic offence in Sudbury. He won't be coming to the Knights.

 

[LDN]

Going to be an exciting year to watch the Knights with Haltunnen coming on board.

Cowan, Halts, Barkey, McCue, George, Bonk, Dickinson.

I think they could take a run come trade deadline for a recent 1st round pick.

Who do you think is more likely of, Barlow, Musty, Ritchie?

I’d say of those 3 Ritchie, but all 3 are too important to their teams IMO