London Knights 2023-24 Season Thread (Part One)

[LDN]

We are 15 games in and in 3rd in the west. We were gone to lose the game to Kitchener regardless, can’t win when you’re in the box most of the game.

I’m not panicking yet but the Paris/Humphrey trade is hurting us right now.

Paris/Humphrey trade was to recoup assets correct?

 

[LDN]

Okay so if we don’t have the capital for the big fish can’t we get something done with Flint for Hayes? I feel like a player like that would create room for guys like Cowan and Barkey. Instantly make our top 6 good. What about Dubois from PBO for McCue + ? That would be a big faceoff winning centre.

What about Kressler for Mackinnon + and Hayes for the rest of our draft capital and Nicholl. Somehow get Konnor Smith from PBO for Leonard+, somehow get Crane into one of these deals.

Cowan-Dubois-Hayes
Barkey-Kressler-Halttunen
Gazizov-Julien-O’Reilly
R.Boulton-Sim-S.Boulton

George-Dickinson
Smith-Bonk
Edward-Brzustewicz

Simson
Willmore

Tell me if this is doable or just me being crazy?

 

[Frank the Skank]

there are no excuses for losing so much

They have a .633 winning % this season. Go outside and get some fresh air

 

[LDN]

They have a .633 winning % this season. Go outside and get some fresh air

With the back end D&G we have we shall not waste it. We should be at the top of the league!

 

[ohloutsider]

Okay so if we don’t have the capital for the big fish can’t we get something done with Flint for Hayes? I feel like a player like that would create room for guys like Cowan and Barkey. Instantly make our top 6 good. What about Dubois from PBO for McCue + ? That would be a big faceoff winning centre.

What about Kressler for Mackinnon + and Hayes for the rest of our draft capital and Nicholl. Somehow get Konnor Smith from PBO for Leonard+, somehow get Crane into one of these deals.

Cowan-Dubois-Hayes
Barkey-Kressler-Halttunen
Gazizov-Julien-O’Reilly
R.Boulton-Sim-S.Boulton

George-Dickinson
Smith-Bonk
Edward-Brzustewicz

Simson
Willmore

Tell me if this is doable or just me being crazy?

Crazy

With the back end D&G we have we shall not waste it. We should be at the top of the league!

Your expectations might be a tad high.

 

[dmead]

Okay so if we don’t have the capital for the big fish can’t we get something done with Flint for Hayes? I feel like a player like that would create room for guys like Cowan and Barkey. Instantly make our top 6 good. What about Dubois from PBO for McCue + ? That would be a big faceoff winning centre.

What about Kressler for Mackinnon + and Hayes for the rest of our draft capital and Nicholl. Somehow get Konnor Smith from PBO for Leonard+, somehow get Crane into one of these deals.

Cowan-Dubois-Hayes
Barkey-Kressler-Halttunen
Gazizov-Julien-O’Reilly
R.Boulton-Sim-S.Boulton

George-Dickinson
Smith-Bonk
Edward-Brzustewicz

Simson
Willmore

Tell me if this is doable or just me being crazy?

son, you are going to hurt yourself. Lets get through November and see where we stand.

 

[StormWatcher]

Idk man Cowan and Dickinson might be gone next year. GO FOR IT NOW

That's the fan in you speaking. Smart retool for next year when those players peak is the strategy. Find the best '05 forward on the trade block, offer up a D that will vibe gone next year and picks. Next year Cowan/Barkey/Dickinson will have another year's experience under their belts.

 

[dmead]

With the back end D&G we have we shall not waste it. We should be at the top of the league!

You can 6 Paul Coffeys back there, if the coaches dont have a workable system it doesn't matter.

 

[LDN]

You can 6 Paul Coffeys back there, if the coaches dont have a workable system it doesn't matter.

You saying the system is broken?

 

[Woody Dumart]

You are what you are. 9-5-1. Flawed team with positives and negatives like most junior teams. Tweak and practice and hope for the best. All you can ask for.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Okay so if we don’t have the capital for the big fish can’t we get something done with Flint for Hayes? I feel like a player like that would create room for guys like Cowan and Barkey. Instantly make our top 6 good. What about Dubois from PBO for McCue + ? That would be a big faceoff winning centre.

What about Kressler for Mackinnon + and Hayes for the rest of our draft capital and Nicholl. Somehow get Konnor Smith from PBO for Leonard+, somehow get Crane into one of these deals.

Cowan-Dubois-Hayes
Barkey-Kressler-Halttunen
Gazizov-Julien-O’Reilly
R.Boulton-Sim-S.Boulton

George-Dickinson
Smith-Bonk
Edward-Brzustewicz

Simson
Willmore

Tell me if this is doable or just me being crazy?

Take a deep breath, everything will be okay!
We don't need to blow this team up, nor do I think the opposing teams are going to make those trades, they are a bit ludicrous.

Do they need to improve in the face off dot, 100%, do the Hunters know this, 100%.
They also need to work on special teams, PK has been good, but staying out of the box to not over work the PK, the PP needs a revamp as well, but Dale will get these sorted out.

Don't worry, it is November, they will tinker with the lineup and figure things out. This team was rated #1 in the pre season rankings for a reason, because it is a talented group who went to the final last year. I seem to remember similar freak outs last year around this time. They weren't winning and dominating like we all hope they would, but come late season and playoff time, there they were.

They will be okay, they have too much talent and depth not to be. Mark will make some deals to improve the team as well, it may not be what you are expecting or the rumoured big fish out there, as we saw with Winterton last year. But they will make sure, the pieces are in place to give them their best chance.

 

[Section5Petes]

I do personally think last years team was better at least on paper, but that really doesn’t matter, especially what i think. felt like last year had more depth and had big bane impact guys all around. This team can also get there, there will just have to be some creativity. this is just a new wave and a wave led by Mark and Dale Hunter, so tell me again why were are doubting them in any way?

 

[dmead]

You saying the system is broken?

it has some frailties. All Im gonna say.

This team can contend. Lets see what Mark has up his sleeve this season, shall we?

 

[LDN]

I do personally think last years team was better at least on paper, but that really doesn’t matter, especially what i think. felt like last year had more depth and had big bane impact guys all around. This team can also get there, there will just have to be some creativity. this is just a new wave and a wave led by Mark and Dale Hunter, so tell me again why were are doubting them in any way?

Right now it seems the projections don’t make sense. Look at Pete’s and Rangers!

it has some frailties. All Im gonna say.

This team can contend. Lets see what Mark has up his sleeve this season, shall we?

10-4…. Do you feel that only this year or other years as well?

 

[Petes1987]

Okay so if we don’t have the capital for the big fish can’t we get something done with Flint for Hayes? I feel like a player like that would create room for guys like Cowan and Barkey. Instantly make our top 6 good. What about Dubois from PBO for McCue + ? That would be a big faceoff winning centre.

What about Kressler for Mackinnon + and Hayes for the rest of our draft capital and Nicholl. Somehow get Konnor Smith from PBO for Leonard+, somehow get Crane into one of these deals.

Cowan-Dubois-Hayes
Barkey-Kressler-Halttunen
Gazizov-Julien-O’Reilly
R.Boulton-Sim-S.Boulton

George-Dickinson
Smith-Bonk
Edward-Brzustewicz

Simson
Willmore

Tell me if this is doable or just me being crazy?

I doubt Jax Dubois will be available. The Petes will not be trading him and Peterborough would not trade Konnor Smith for a 19 year old defenceman. The Petes would want a 17 or 18 year defenceman plus draft picks including a 2nd or a 3rd in return.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

I do personally think last years team was better at least on paper, but that really doesn’t matter, especially what i think. felt like last year had more depth and had big bane impact guys all around. This team can also get there, there will just have to be some creativity. this is just a new wave and a wave led by Mark and Dale Hunter, so tell me again why were are doubting them in any way?

I think last year's playoff team definitely had more depth up front, but at this time last year, the team did not have Winterton and Humphrey. Once Winterton got rolling, he was a top 10 maybe even top 5 player in the league last year. They also had Mailloux, who is a more impactful player then anyone on the D core right now. The D core is really good this year, but their top guys, Dickinson and Bonk, I don't think are as impactful as Mailloux was last year, at least not at this current moment.

It will be interesting to see what they do to address some if their needs going forward.

 

[Section5Petes]

I think last year's playoff team definitely had more depth up front, but at this time last year, the team did not have Winterton and Humphrey. Once Winterton got rolling, he was a top 10 maybe even top 5 player in the league last year. They also had Mailloux, who is a more impactful player then anyone on the D core right now. The D core is really good this year, but their top guys, Dickinson and Bonk, I don't think are as impactful as Mailloux was last year, at least not at this current moment.

It will be interesting to see what they do to address some if their needs going forward.

I think there are a lot of opportunities for this team to get even better. Could really see a lot of buy low candidates that nearly double their point production once they get to the Knights. Tough to simply just bank on that but either way this Knights team is going to be more than fine. It's a TEAM, not just a fancy collection of players

 

[EvenSteven]

London doesn’t have a deep draft cupboard so the cheapest way to improve would be upgrades on import and OA’s.

 

[LDN]

London doesn’t have a deep draft cupboard so the cheapest way to improve would be upgrades on import and OA’s.

Would have been nice if they had done this

 

[sbpointer]

Paris/Humphrey trade was to recoup assets correct?

Mainly to clear OA space for Simpson...
I wasn't a fan of that move but I'm not in the room to know what the feeling around Bowen was.
Maybe the kid needed a change of scenery...
In any event Humphry in particular would have helped this team a great deal and in Niagara Paris is putting the puck in the net.
That was the price to make room for an OA goalie..

EDITED: to provide some clarity.

 

[LDN]

Mainly to clear OA space for the Savior 31...

Not sure why we didn’t get more OAs from PBO?

 

[sbpointer]

Not sure why we didn’t get more OAs from PBO?

Not sure why we didn’t get more OAs from PBO?

That would have exasperated the issue.
Clearly there is loyalty to Mackinnon ( and thats ok he's been good when healthy )
They already gave away Humphry so unless the implication is there was a good enough upgrade on McCue to also give him away and then trade assets for the other OA you wanted it simply wasn't going to happen..

 

[LDN]

That would have exasperated the issue.
Clearly there is loyalty to Mackinnon ( and thats ok he's been good when healthy )
They already gave away Humphry so unless the implication is there was a good enough upgrade on McCue to also give him away and then trade assets for the other OA you wanted it simply wasn't going to happen..

I agree. In theory if they stick with these OAs that’s cool, but I always feel your OAs must be positive impact players…. Sometimes Q hurts us. Sometimes Mackinnon isn’t always our best or even a top 4 D….

 

[LDN]

Is Mark working hard on Will Moore? He is looking good at the U17s

 

[Fastpace]

I do personally think last years team was better at least on paper, but that really doesn’t matter, especially what i think. felt like last year had more depth and had big bane impact guys all around. This team can also get there, there will just have to be some creativity. this is just a new wave and a wave led by Mark and Dale Hunter, so tell me again why were are doubting them in any way?

Last years team is gone with some of their leaders, this is very early in a brand new season with new players added. Come back at the end of this season with your comparison it will be on more even term