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

[waitin425]

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

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

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

Fair enough everyone. Just thinking out loud about which teams may be looking for a rebuild. I think the Knights are looking strong these next two years.

 

[LDN]

Fair enough everyone. Just thinking out loud about which teams may be looking for a rebuild. I think the Knights are looking strong these next two years.

Who is looking to be weak? Pete’s? Windsor, Kitchener, sarnia?

 

[tjziel]

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?

Ummmm neither! They have 2 years left in the OHL and their respective teams will compete in the playoffs.

Look at some of the 04’s and then get back to me

 

[LDN]

Ummmm neither! They have 2 years left in the OHL and their respective teams will compete in the playoffs.

Look at some of the 04’s and then get back to me

Petes-beck, Windsor-Wright

Ummmm neither! They have 2 years left in the OHL and their respective teams will compete in the playoffs.

Look at some of the 04’s and then get back to me

Petes-beck, Windsor-Wright

What’s the expected output from Cowan, Barkey and Halttunnen?

 

[Starry Knight]

I don't think this is the year to go all in when the Knights could have Hagens and Moore showing up the following season. The Knights will undoubtedly be near the top of the West this season with their defence, but the 04 crop really aren't the 19 year old group to make a run with. George and Edward are good players, but are not top-end talent like Bonk/Cowan/Barkey/Halttunnen. That core + a potential 18 year old 1st overall talent in Hagens with a top-10 talent in Moore, is far better than anything you can reasonably build this season.

Trading away depth in O'Rielly/Nicholl/draft capital for a run this season would hurt the efforts to build a Memorial Cup caliber team for the following season.

 

[Kingpin794]

I don't think this is the year to go all in when the Knights could have Hagens and Moore showing up the following season. The Knights will undoubtedly be near the top of the West this season with their defence, but the 04 crop really aren't the 19 year old group to make a run with. George and Edward are good players, but are not top-end talent like Bonk/Cowan/Barkey/Halttunnen. That core + a potential 18 year old 1st overall talent in Hagens with a top-10 talent in Moore, is far better than anything you can reasonably build this season.

Trading away depth in O'Rielly/Nicholl/draft capital for a run this season would hurt the efforts to build a Memorial Cup caliber team for the following season.

If you're just going to replace O'Reilly and Nicholl next year with Hagens and Moore (as you insinuate), then why wouldn't you just take a shot this year? Both of those guys would slot into a rebuilding team's top six. I doubt you'd have to throw much draft capital on top of them to bring in players this season.

Note: I don't think a GM should be team building based on the assumption that he is going to recruit TWO top ten American prospects in the coming year.

 

[tjziel]

If you're just going to replace O'Reilly and Nicholl next year with Hagens and Moore (as you insinuate), then why wouldn't you just take a shot this year? Both of those guys would slot into a rebuilding team's top six. I doubt you'd have to throw much draft capital on top of them to bring in players this season.

Note: I don't think a GM should be team building based on the assumption that he is going to recruit TWO top ten American prospects in the coming year.

That’s the issue. Getting those two players to come to the OHL isn’t a guarantee. But I see what he is saying, and would be okay with a 2025 run.

Let’s say we do gain James Hagens and William Moore. We probably lose Kasper Halttunen to the AHL next year. We will lose Isaiah George only to be replaced by hopeful import Daniil Ustinkov.

Zach Bowen may have some growing pains as a starter this year, but he should be a fully capable start by 2025.

 

[LDN]

That’s the issue. Getting those two players to come to the OHL isn’t a guarantee. But I see what he is saying, and would be okay with a 2025 run.

Let’s say we do gain James Hagens and William Moore. We probably lose Kasper Halttunen to the AHL next year. We will lose Isaiah George only to be replaced by hopeful import Daniil Ustinkov.

Zach Bowen may have some growing pains as a starter this year, but he should be a fully capable start by 2025.

I’m in the go for it every year category

 

[three dog night]

Petes-beck, Windsor-Wright


Petes-beck, Windsor-Wright

What’s the expected output from Cowan, Barkey and Halttunnen?

Wright not coming back to the OHL

 

[OHL4Life]

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

they said that about levin as well

 

[Maxxim1]

Wish we could have this in London

 

[Starry Knight]

If you're just going to replace O'Reilly and Nicholl next year with Hagens and Moore (as you insinuate), then why wouldn't you just take a shot this year? Both of those guys would slot into a rebuilding team's top six. I doubt you'd have to throw much draft capital on top of them to bring in players this season.

Note: I don't think a GM should be team building based on the assumption that he is going to recruit TWO top ten American prospects in the coming year.

O’Reilly and Nicholl wouldn’t be really replaced by Hagens and Moore. They’d be important contributors for the 2024-2025 season as 18 year olds as either second or third line forwards.

As it stands, the 04 group for the Knights is pretty weak with the expectation that the 05 group will be heavily relied to carry the load this season. Every year can’t be a ‘go for it’ year and with the lack of top end 04s or OAs, you’re going to have to buy your way into the top spot.

While it seems silly to bank on Americans to report, it’s part of the Knights’ drafting strategy. Matt Tkachuk is what put the Knights over the edge in his draft season and the Knights should look for the same strategy for the 24-25 season with Hagens.

I also doubt Halttunnen goes to the AHL as a 19 year old. He needs time to blossom in juniors offensively so he progresses instead of stunting himself against men like last season.

 

[Kingpin794]

O’Reilly and Nicholl wouldn’t be really replaced by Hagens and Moore. They’d be important contributors for the 2024-2025 season as 18 year olds as either second or third line forwards.

As it stands, the 04 group for the Knights is pretty weak with the expectation that the 05 group will be heavily relied to carry the load this season. Every year can’t be a ‘go for it’ year and with the lack of top end 04s or OAs, you’re going to have to buy your way into the top spot.

While it seems silly to bank on Americans to report, it’s part of the Knights’ drafting strategy. Matt Tkachuk is what put the Knights over the edge in his draft season and the Knights should look for the same strategy for the 24-25 season with Hagens.

I also doubt Halttunnen goes to the AHL as a 19 year old. He needs time to blossom in juniors offensively so he progresses instead of stunting himself against men like last season.

The last time they pried a top caliber American away from college was Tkachuck. They didn’t get Nazar. It’s more misses that hits and that’s the case with everyone.

 

[rve24]

The last time they pried a top caliber American away from college was Tkachuck. They didn’t get Nazar. It’s more misses that hits and that’s the case with everyone.

This.

Brady didn't follow his bros lead either and that was after a good experience and it benefited Matthew alot.
Many others also passed on London.
I'm hopeful with Moore, no idea on Hagens......
Bird in a hand, counting chickens hatching.... something something lol.

And really no need to decide anything at this point.
Add a vet F if one is avail at a good price is my option (Diaco type move) If not play it out til Dec.
Let the first half of the schedule play out and go from there.

 

[Starry Knight]

The last time they pried a top caliber American away from college was Tkachuck. They didn’t get Nazar. It’s more misses that hits and that’s the case with everyone.

Bit of a different situation with Hagens than Nazar. If I remember correctly, he was committed from very early on to going to Michigan whereas Hagens is still undecided. Also, being a late birthday and a probable top-five pick, Hagens is much more in the same path as Kane/Tkachuk where he wouldn't be in college for more than one year. That is the same situation as Fantilli this past season, so I don't want to give off the impression that I believe Hagens (or Moore) are 100% coming to London.

However, I don't subscribe to the sentiment that the Knights should be pushing in their chips every year. The '04 group is thin for the Knights. The lineups being posted in this thread pretty much exclusively have 05s/06s as the first line/top pairing, so why not go all in next year when your first line/top pairing are still on the team? Losing George and Edward is not insignificant, but besides that you have most of your impact players returning.

 

[dirty12]

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

If pressured and Niagara could manage a fair exchange, a Roobroek - Ritchie trade would not shock me.

 

[Otto]

I don't think this is the year to go all in when the Knights could have Hagens and Moore showing up the following season. The Knights will undoubtedly be near the top of the West this season with their defence, but the 04 crop really aren't the 19 year old group to make a run with. George and Edward are good players, but are not top-end talent like Bonk/Cowan/Barkey/Halttunnen. That core + a potential 18 year old 1st overall talent in Hagens with a top-10 talent in Moore, is far better than anything you can reasonably build this season.

Trading away depth in O'Rielly/Nicholl/draft capital for a run this season would hurt the efforts to build a Memorial Cup caliber team for the following season.

With the OHL hosting the Memorial Cup this season if the Knights are close at the deadline they will be going for it.

 

[LDN]

With the OHL hosting the Memorial Cup this season if the Knights are close at the deadline they will be going for it.

Absolutely!

If pressured and Niagara could manage a fair exchange, a Roobroek - Ritchie trade would not shock me.

How would that make sense for Niagara? Lol

 

[rve24]

Absolutely!


How would that make sense for Niagara? Lol

I don't think many decisions Nia has made over the last few years made much sense

But no I don't expect it.

 

[dirty12]

Absolutely!


How would that make sense for Niagara? Lol

I posted, ‘if pressured’. Niagara had players agree to report to the team and the team agree to move them when requested. Maybe the Icedogs were only able to recruit a legit lottery pick such as Roobroek on that condition.
If able to make a fair exchange, Ritchie would sense for Niagara because the core of their team is 2005 born, and Ritchie could make much needed D consider reporting if traded for.

 

[Fastpace]

The last time they pried a top caliber American away from college was Tkachuck. They didn’t get Nazar. It’s more misses that hits and that’s the case with everyone.

This league including this London Knights hockey club are not about the "gets" and the "misses", they are about the development of hockey players, may it be in London or somewhere else if the picked player succeed then it's a success for all.

 

[LDN]

This league including this London Knights hockey club are not about the "gets" and the "misses", they are about the development of hockey players, may it be in London or somewhere else if the picked player succeed then it's a success for all.

what!?! This is confusingly confusing

 

[Fastpace]

what!?! This is confusingly confusing

A whole lot less confusing to have all these players showing up and not having enough positions to fill them all in. If you have the picks might as well be good ones even if it mean they will develop with other organizations, there is always a chance one or two very good prospect in your system will show up one day all ready to play. IMHO

 

[LDN]

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

When will the Knights make a maneuver?

 

[Holden Caufield]

The last time they pried a top caliber American away from college was Tkachuck. They didn’t get Nazar. It’s more misses that hits and that’s the case with everyone.

Exactly. Always be in recruiting mode.
But at the same time you have to worry more about the kids that actually commit and show up.

This is going to be an excellent team. They deserve every chance to win. Makes no sense to save resources for a ‘potential season down the road ’ where a bunch of kids might show up.

Kind of shows how spoiled some Knights fans are. Most franchises would be licking their chops entering a season with this roster.