London Knights 2023 - 24 Season Thread (Part Three)

[LDN]

Current lineup:

Cowan-Barkey-Halttunnen
Gazizov-Julien-McCue
Lawrence-O’Reilly-Sim
Van Gorp-Nicholl-Brzustewicz
Rotated in and out of the 4th line: R. Boulton, S.Boulton, Van Bommel, Arrowsmith, Johnston

Dickinson-Bonk
Edward-George
Woolley-Leonard
extra: Jenkin, Fagen,Brzustewicz

Simpson
Willmore
Medvedev

 

[Fastpace]

I was sleeping...did I miss anything??

Season over, come back next year

 

[LDN]

How about Patrick Thomas?!

 

[zman77]

Homegrown London Knights blue-liner exits hockey after concussions​

Ethan MacKinnon is stepping away from hockey due to concussion-related symptoms and will spend the rest of the OHL season as a player development coach with the London Knights.
by; Ryan Pyette
MacKinnon, a London native, had been a top candidate to be a captain for the Knights, who have yet to name one this season.
“Ethan is a leader in our room and he still will be,” Knights GM Mark Hunter said. “The players look up to him and he shows them what it means to be a London Knight. Ethan has been a warrior for this team over the past few seasons. His health is the top priority and though it’s difficult and disappointing, it’s the right thing to do for his bright future ahead.”
MacKinnon is expected to act as a mentor for the team through the 2024 playoffs. The 2019 fifth-round pick gradually earned an important role with his hometown club as a steady and reliable blue-liner in scoring four goals and 11 points with a plus-18 rating in 49 games last season.

Homegrown London Knights blue-liner exits hockey after concussions

Ethan MacKinnon will spend the rest of the OHL season as a player development coach with the London Knights.

lfpress.com

 

[zman77]

KALEB LAWRENCE
by: Ryan Pyette
Monday after the Knights acquired big over-age forward Kaleb Lawrence from Ottawa for an eighth-round pick in 2026.
Lawrence, who turns 21 Wednesday, scored 10 goals and 18 points in 30 games with Ottawa this season. Ottawa was over the league limit of three over-agers after trading for Flint forward Braeden Kressler and Peterborough defenceman Samuel Mayer on the weekend.
“James (Ottawa GM James Boyd) called me after our game the other night and told me what was going on,” the native of Orleans, Ont., said. “I’m just really happy that it worked out that I came to London.
“It’s unfortunate Ethan MacKinnon wasn’t able to finish his final OHL season, but I’m really looking forward to meeting him, working with him and getting to know all the guys on the team.”
The Knights needed some more veteran scoring up front and a powerful force at the faceoff dot. The 6-foot-6, 221-pound Lawrence, who can play centre or wing, has won 234 faceoffs so far this season.
“It’s always fun to go into London and play in front of their fans,” he said, “and it’s going to be nice to play there and not getting booed off the ice. I’m going to be able to be good on the draws, can penalty kill and put the puck in the net and (get) some points.
“I definitely play a big-body game and throw hits and stand up for the boys whenever needed. When I go to NHL camps, I’m normally playing on the wing so I’m comfortable wherever Dale (Hunter) wants to use me.”
“I know the Knights treat their players with a lot of respect and give the guys every opportunity to get to the next level,” he said, “so I’m excited to get going. It’s been a long journey (sitting out a season due to the pandemic in 2020-21 and missing all but two games of the 2021-22 campaign due to a shoulder injury), but it’s in the rear-view mirror now and I want to help this team keep winning.”

 

[Knights Watcher]

I was sleeping...did I miss anything??

Nope. Typical London trade deadline. Crickets.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

I’m reminded of times past where Mark went out and got done what was necessary…. Mitchell Stephen’s comes to mind for 4x2nds….

Ludwindki?

 

[jamemcca]

Rob Simpson was GM

 

[Fastpace]

I would have like to see another experience defenceman to replace McKinnon for the playoffs, beside getting Lawrence. Our young core of defenders is developing extremely well, but it does not translate into playoffs hockey experiences, big deference here if one or two older ones gets hurt or suspended.

London needed help in the face-off circle and got it in a form of big Kaleb Lawrence, I must admit, he wasn't at all on my radar to get, but now that I am reading up on him, it does make so much sense. Mark did his homework, waited for the right moment, and made his move at the most affordable price. There are reasons why his numbers are low. He's almost lost two full seasons of junior hockey due to Covid, and injury, this put him behind his development. I am pretty sure Kaleb Lawrence will be accepted by his new teammates and London fans, a former Owen Sound second round pick and NHL draftee(LA King)

 

[dmead]

I'm in "Lets wait and see what we got" mode about Lawrence.

A bit pragmatic but look around the league, playoffs are going to be a bloodbath. If we are serious about challenging, we need a MacKinnon type on the backend and one more scoring threat.

 

[dino200022]

I have been saying it for a solid week now, all they are going to do is bring in a Vet forwrd and Vet D man but nothing big. Looks like it that is was is going to happen here, i fully expect a vet Dman to be brought in but lets keep level heads here as it will not be a big name.

 

[tjziel]

I'm in "Lets wait and see what we got" mode about Lawrence.

A bit pragmatic but look around the league, playoffs are going to be a bloodbath. If we are serious about challenging, we need a MacKinnon type on the backend and one more scoring threat.

I don’t think you’re gonna find that at a reasonable cost and in this market that was set.. We just don’t have the draft picks and Mark always does reasonable trades where it helps us now but doesn’t hurt our future .

 

[tjziel]

Also, anyone who may want to go to Sarnia tomorrow night I have two tickets. I just got over this cold, and my friend is also sick right now so maybe not this time.

Please direct message me if your interested and I’ll give you a deal on the tickets.

 

[Fergus31]

Rumor on the Petes board: Melee to London. Not sure of the credibility.

 

[User13452]

Rumor on the Petes board: Melee to London. Not sure of the credibility.

Melee makes a lot of sense for London get him for this year and then next as a OA. Would guess Petes would ask for Woolley and picks back. Would that be of interest to London? Or would they move Nicholl for for him

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

Melee makes a lot of sense for London get him for this year and then next as a OA. Would guess Petes would ask for Woolley and picks back. Would that be of interest to London? Or would they move Nicholl for for him

I’d rather move Nicholl, Woolley is an absolute stud

 

[LDN]

I’d rather move Nicholl, Woolley is an absolute stud

Agreed. Would rather move neither, but Nicholl is more stomachable

 

[User13452]

Agreed. Would rather move neither, but Nicholl is more stomachable

Petes can’t really move anyone out without a player coming back so if they do move him to London most likely someone will be coming back

 

[dino200022]

I do not think anyone is getting Woolley unless there is a superstar coming back. Nicholl would be the likely candidate, but even that almost seems like more of a sideways move than one that would help.

 

[LDN]

I do not think anyone is getting Woolley unless there is a superstar coming back. Nicholl would be the likely candidate, but even that almost seems like more of a sideways move than one that would help.

Agreed! Picks make more sense

 

[TheOrangePylon]

I do not think anyone is getting Woolley unless there is a superstar coming back. Nicholl would be the likely candidate, but even that almost seems like more of a sideways move than one that would help.

They do have an abundance of bodies up front now, maybe you can move a Johnston and add a higher pick or two to make it happen? While also clearing some of the logjam up front.

Not sure how much interest Pete’s would have in Johnston though.

 

[dino200022]

Agreed! Picks make more sense

I think Nicholl has far more production if he is playing top 6 minutes with some of ourtop guys. He is expected to drive the 3rd or 4th line which is why the production is not there.

 

[Wifi]

Rumor on the Petes board: Melee to London. Not sure of the credibility.

I would have to assume this is more of a fan rumor. From London's side this makes zero sense. He is less than a PPG player on a worse off team. In London he would be 3rd line, maybe 2nd at best. That pushes Lawrence down to 4th line. Knowing hunter will ride his top guys when goals are needed melee would turn into a .5ppg player. better off keeping the forwards that are currently on the roster + picks.

 

[LDN]

I would have to assume this is more of a fan rumor. From London's side this makes zero sense. He is less than a PPG player on a worse off team. In London he would be 3rd line, maybe 2nd at best. That pushes Lawrence down to 4th line. Knowing hunter will ride his top guys when goals are needed melee would turn into a .5ppg player. better off keeping the forwards that are currently on the roster + picks.

Nicholl for Melee would be pretty literal now and I think Nicholl will turn out to be a ppg guy later on so this doesn’t make too much sense

Prices seem pretty high!

 

[dino200022]

They do have an abundance of bodies up front now, maybe you can move a Johnston and add a higher pick or two to make it happen? While also clearing some of the logjam up front.

Not sure how much interest Pete’s would have in Johnston though.

Agreed Johnston has not shown me anything I would miss, but not too sure his value is there at this point either being an 05. Guys like Arrowsmith, Van Bommell etc can easily fill his shoes.