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

[TheOrangePylon]

It is not that I don’t have all the faith in the Hunter boys ! I was just curious why Mark would invest in a future instead of a player who will be here now. More of a musing than anything else.

Yes for sure, but lets not judge the move in May, still lots of time to see how it plays out. If he doesn't come at all, then for sure, a wasted pick. But they must believe there is a legitimate shot for him to come play, whether it is this coming season or a future season, time will tell!

I really think, with them investing a first round pick. We will see him sooner then later, might not for sure be next year. Even if its in future seasons, we still get him for hopefully 2 or more season and those seasons could be very succesful ones for Moore, the 16 year old season for players traditonally is a learning year, unless they are complete studs, which from reports I have read. Moore could be that but either way they may not be losing a ton next year and can let him develop elsewhere, then come tear it up.

 

[Knights Watcher]

I don't see why a lot of people are trashing the Petes performance at the Mem Cup so far (I'm looking at you RP)
In a short round-robin tournament like this, anything can happen from game to game.
A blowout loss in one game can turn into a redemptive win the next.
There is a ton of firepower on the 2 teams from the W and on the Remparts as well.
Not so sure the Knights would have fared any better, even with BB30 in net.

 

[Purple Phart]

It is not that I don’t have all the faith in the Hunter boys ! I was just curious why Mark would invest in a future instead of a player who will be here now. More of a musing than anything else.

Well, being an American, he can't be parked in JR B as can Canadian born players. There may be other plans for the 4 roster spots allowed for 16 year old players, and staying where he is and developing within that program avoids some placement issues. His development will be monitored, and when the timing is more advantageous for the Knights, he will be afforded his chance, or possibly even be traded.

 

[Postulates]

Well, being an American, he can't be parked in JR B as can Canadian born players. There may be other plans for the 4 roster spots allowed for 16 year old players, and staying where he is and developing within that program avoids some placement issues. His development will be monitored, and when the timing is more advantageous for the Knights, he will be afforded his chance, or possibly even be traded.

Yeah if he's as good as advertised the Hunters probably prefer he gets 1st line minutes in the USHL and NCAA opponents in his U17 and U18 years allowing him to be ready for that same role in London when he comes over. It forces him to learn to play that role against junior-level kids and get good ice time.

 

[EvenSteven]

Yes for sure, but lets not judge the move in May, still lots of time to see how it plays out. If he doesn't come at all, then for sure, a wasted pick. But they must believe there is a legitimate shot for him to come play, whether it is this coming season or a future season, time will tell!

I really think, with them investing a first round pick. We will see him sooner then later, might not for sure be next year. Even if its in future seasons, we still get him for hopefully 2 or more season and those seasons could be very succesful ones for Moore, the 16 year old season for players traditonally is a learning year, unless they are complete studs, which from reports I have read. Moore could be that but either way they may not be losing a ton next year and can let him develop elsewhere, then come tear it up.

We were going through the same uncertainty last year at this time with Micheal Hage. We expected he’d sign, just like Rehkopf did since there was “no way” McKenzie would “waste” a 1st on a player unless he knew he was coming. All reports were that Hage wanted to wait a year and enter into the OHL, at 17 years old, as Greg Meireles did. This had us believing that taking him in the 1st round was a safe pick - until it wasn’t.

Either Moore will sign this year, or you’ll have another Hage situation (comp pick), or it’ll be a Max Jones thing all over again.

I’m all about getting the best players into this league no matter who they play with. Here’s hoping he reports sooner than later.

 

[Petes1987]

Not sure if he'll return to the O next season or turn pro, but one player that I think would look good in a Knights uniform is Avon. He's a Peterborough kid who might be content to remain with his hometown team to finish off his career, but with his speed, skill, and PK prowess, he'd fit in nicely. May be worth a phone call if he plays an OA season. It can't hurt.

First it is very unlikely that JR Avon will play in the OHL next season. He will likely play in the AHL. If he did return I don’t know if the Petes will trade him. He is a local player. I think he would like to finish his career with the Petes but he is such a team player that he will likely do what is best for the Petes in the long run. If they did trade him, he would likely cost London at minimum a player, a 2nd and a 3rd round draft pick.

 

[dirty12]

Well, being an American, he can't be parked in JR B as can Canadian born players. There may be other plans for the 4 roster spots allowed for 16 year old players, and staying where he is and developing within that program avoids some placement issues. His development will be monitored, and when the timing is more advantageous for the Knights, he will be afforded his chance, or possibly even be traded.

As an OHL fan, I’m hoping Moore plays one season in the league before going to the AHL

 

[superdee]

He is Canadian born. He was born in Toronto

 

[TheOrangePylon]

One guy I am still keeping my eye on and hoping the Knights can sign is, Kasper Halttunen. He's regarded as a fringe first round pick in this draft and is a big body power forward. I think a lot will depend on which NHL drafts him, but if the right team drafts him and requests him to play OHL. Could be a big add for the Knights.

The Knights will also have a few days after the NHL draft, before the CHL Import draft to maybe get an idea of the direction he is leaning. If they sign him, their Imports would be set with him and Gaz (Assuming Gaz Returns, haven't heard otherwise). But if unable to sign him, maybe they can grab another player in the import draft in July.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

If Halttunen is a first rounded the Knights can still make a priority selection and still protect his rights. Either way next year we will have two import spots filled.

We graduate Brochu, Winterton, Diaco, Mcgurn, Mailloux

Already added: Nichol, O’rielly, Arrowsmith, Medvedev, (Import), Paris*

*Likely traded to make room

We are in great shape

 

[dmead]

If Halttunen is a first rounded the Knights can still make a priority selection and still protect his rights. Either way next year we will have two import spots filled.

We graduate Brochu, Winterton, Diaco, Mcgurn, Mailloux

Already added: Nichol, O’rielly, Arrowsmith, Medvedev, (Import), Paris*

*Likely traded to make room

We are in great shape

Maybe its my advancing age, but what import has been added? Only import Im aware of at this time is Gazizov.

 

[Knightsfan90]

It is not that I don’t have all the faith in the Hunter boys ! I was just curious why Mark would invest in a future instead of a player who will be here now. More of a musing than anything else.

That's how you retool and not rebuild he will be here just like Max Jones

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

Maybe its my advancing age, but what import has been added? Only import Im aware of at this time is Gazizov.

It’s either Halttunen, or a new import in the draft. It depends what round Halttunen is drafted in, if he is first round he doesn’t have to show up and the knights can protect him and still draft a third import. If it’s later rounds they have to make a decision whether to cut ties or have him report.

Either way the Knights will fill the empty import spot next year.

 

[Maxxim1]

Toronto, Ont. – The Ontario Hockey League today announced that Mark Hunter of the London Knights is the 2022-23 recipient of the Jim Gregory OHL General Manager of the Year Award.


The Knights overcame the tragic loss of friend and teammate Abakar Kazbekov in December of this past season, skating to a fourth consecutive Midwest Division title with a record of 45-21-2-0, surrendering a Western Conference-low 214 goals-against. The Knights would go on to win the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as Western Conference champions, doing so for the seventh time in franchise history.
Hunter was selected as winner of the annual honour after he and runner-up Adam Dennis of the North Bay Battalion finished as front-runners in voting by OHL General Managers. The final winner was decided upon by a committee consisting of media representatives from a market in each of the OHL’s four divisions, a representative from NHL Central Scouting, as well as a representative from the Ontario Hockey League.
“It’s an honour to be recognized with this award,” said Hunter. “This is first and foremost a team award, and I’d like to take the opportunity to recognize everyone in the Knights community who came together during a very challenging season. Losing Abakar was tremendously difficult for all of us, and the players, their families, our staff and billet families all had a part in helping us persevere as an organization.”
The Knights were powered by a number of talents drafted and developed within the organization including overage netminder Brett Brochu, 6-foot-3 defenceman Logan Mailloux and third-year co-captain Sean McGurn. A trio of 2021 OHL Priority Selection choices in draft-eligible talents Denver Barkey, Easton Cowan and Oliver Bonk also played prominent roles in helping the Knights continue their run of consistency while Zach Bowen won the F.W. “Dinty” Moore Trophy for the lowest goals-against average by a rookie goaltender at 3.10. In addition to seeing the emergence of 16-year-old blueliner Sam Dickinson, Hunter would add experienced veterans in former OHL champions George Diaco, Ryan Winterton and Ryan Humphrey in trades with the Hamilton Bulldogs over the course of the season.
The Knights led the OHL with a total of 18 shorthanded goals, with McGurn and San Jose Sharks prospect Max McCue scoring four apiece. On the blue line, Mailloux, who was London’s second round (33rd overall) pick in the 2019 OHL Priority Selection and a first round (31st overall) pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2021, led the OHL in goals by a defenceman with 25.
“On behalf of my mother, Rosalie and entire Gregory family we wanted to express how thrilled we are to have Mark Hunter as this year‘s winner of the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award,” said David Gregory, son of Jim Gregory and Director of Scouting Services with the National Hockey League. “Mark is a man that my father respected greatly. His life in hockey speaks for itself. After another great season on the ice and his leadership fighting through the adversity his team experienced, Mark is a most worthy winner. Congratulations Mark and all the best on and off the ice.”
A native of Oil Springs, Ont., Hunter, along with older brother and Head Coach Dale Hunter, has owned the Knights since the beginning of the 2000-01 season. He’s overseen the club’s Hockey Operations throughout that span, save and except for a four-year window as Director of Player Personnel and Assistant General Manager for the NHL’s Toronto Maple Leafs from 2014-18. Throughout his ownership tenure in London, the Knights have won a pair of Memorial Cup titles (2005, 2016), four OHL Championships (2005, 2012, 2013, 2016), six Western Conference titles (2005, 2006, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2023) and 12 different Midwest Division banners (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007. 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023). Hunter has also coached parts of six seasons in the OHL, including five with the Sarnia Sting from 1994-96 and 1997-2000 and one championship season in London (2011-12) when brother Dale took a position as Head Coach of the NHL’s Washington Capitals. He also served as Head Coach of the AHL’s St. John’s Maple Leafs in 1996-97.


On the ice, Hunter played a 628-game NHL career from 1981-93, winning a Stanley Cup title as a member of the 1989 Calgary Flames. Hunter also competed in the 1986 NHL All-Star Game in the midst of a career-best season with the St. Louis Blues. Originally the seventh overall pick of the 1981 NHL Draft by the Montreal Canadiens, Hunter played his junior hockey with the OHA’s Brantford Alexanders from 1979-81, entering the league as the first overall pick of the 1979 Priority Selection.
First announced in August 2019, the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award is presented annually to the General Manager who best excelled in his role during the regular season. The award honours the memory of one of the game’s great builders in former long-time NHL executive Jim Gregory who passed away in October 2019 at the age of 83.
Hunter follows previous award winners in Steve Staios of the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2022 and James Boyd of the Ottawa 67’s in 2020. He’ll be formally presented with the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award at the OHL’s Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, June 14 at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

 

[Otto]

 

[rve24]

Props to Mark and the entire organization. We are fortunate as fans of the Knights OHL and hockey in general to have had this management staff since the Hunters took over. There have been people come n go but the consistency has always been there as an ownership group that knows how to to build n develop winning teams and professional players and more importantly develop people at the staff n player level regardless of their Jr or post Jr roles. They have made a positive contribution to people still involved in the game and elsewhere. Definitely an organization teams try n replicate in terms of what a successful org. means at this level. It's bigger than just hockey ( althou that part is sweet as fans)

 

[Otto]

 

[LDN]

This is what we know

Goaltender:

Bowen or Willmore (one will be the starter, one will be traded)
Medvedev (backup for sure 20+ games)


Defence:

Dickinson
Bonk
George
Edward
Leonard
Mackinnon (OA)

Likely Federkow traded (versatile and tough) should get traded in the offseason

Forwards:

Barkey
Cowan
Humphrey (OA)
Gazizov (Imp)
McCue (OA)
Julien
Crane
Sim
Paris
O’Reilly
Nicholl
Arrowsmith

I’d say our D and G are set once we figure out who the starter is. Need to add an impact import forward.

 

[LDN]

Could Willmore or Bowen + Federkow fetch us a forward?

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Could Willmore or Bowen + Federkow fetch us a forward?

I would say unlikely they fetch anything big, even as a package.

The impact forward could come via signing, a few options;
Halttunen
Moore
Hagens - Seems unlikely, till NHL drafted
Nazar - I would say this is very very low odds. But with the injury he had, you never know,

 

[Purple Phart]

This is what we know

Goaltender:

Bowen or Willmore (one will be the starter, one will be traded)
Medvedev (backup for sure 20+ games)


Defence:

Dickinson
Bonk
George
Edward
Leonard
Mackinnon (OA)

Likely Federkow traded (versatile and tough) should get traded in the offseason

Forwards:

Barkey
Cowan
Humphrey (OA)
Gazizov (Imp)
McCue (OA)
Julien
Crane
Sim
Paris
O’Reilly
Nicholl
Arrowsmith

I’d say our D and G are set once we figure out who the starter is. Need to add an impact import forward.

The only thing I know for certain, is that the actual roster will be determined following training camp and the exhibition games. Medvedev might make the backup role, but there's also the possibility he might get assigned to a Jr. B affiliate for a year of seasoning and more playing time, with a few call-ups during the season. Again, that'll be determined by the eye test at training camp & exhibition games. However it plays out, competition for the 2 goaltending positions is a good thing. It'll come down to who is best prepared, and who wants it most.

 

[ohloutsider]

Could Willmore or Bowen + Federkow fetch us a forward?

Can't see them moving Bowen.

 

[LDN]

Can't see them moving Bowen.

Okay so Willmore +Federkow for a middle 6 fwd?

We have a moderate draft cupboard. We can fire a few picks into a deal and try to get a high end forward

 

[KnightWatch]

Okay so Willmore +Federkow for a middle 6 fwd?

We have a moderate draft cupboard. We can fire a few picks into a deal and try to get a high end forward

Can't see either being traded for a player.....both should go for a later round pick.

Also, Willmore could outplay Bowen in camp, or Medvedev could outplay both of them! I don't believe anything will be decided re: goaltending until after camp is complete.

...but yes, Goaltending and D should be solid and the Knights will look to add offense.

 

[dirty12]

I saw that the only OHL draft out of the last 10 that the Knights did not have 5-6 selections by round 4 was 2022, but acquired Dickinson. Because the Knights do not have extra picks at this time, we should expect the Knights to acquire more picks than sending out this year?