London Knights 2023 - 24 Season Thread (Part Three)

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Knightsfan90

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Sep 17, 2014
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Honestly I dont believe the endorsement rules are a big factor here. It is more that US hockey leagues have caught up in quality and more NHL teams are willing to take players from those leagues. CHL is losing its luster as the only league that can develop players.

It was starting to change before Covid, but the Canadian rules imposed at that time merely pushed US players to opt for home. And it has accelerated since.
Trevor Whiffen thinks the endorsement rule plays a big role and hinted that the OHL might mirror the move soon 👀 see ,"the knight shift podcast episode 99" 34 mins in for reference
 
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LDN

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Kitchener dommed Guelph last night. We better come out strong
 

tjziel

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I don’t know how we say American recruitment is dead….. Brzustewicz and Arrowsmith are two this year.

Historically in the Hunter era we sit at 50%…. There is no better place for a 16 year old player to be than the USNDP and if we had something similar in Canada everyone would cry foul as it would dilute the CHL as the USNDP dilutes the USHL.

The US does have better men’s league options that Canada cannot compete with but the scholarship program in the CHL moderates that effect with junior age players.

Overall each system has pros and cons and the CHL is a better option for kids that could turn pro but may not be at the very top tier. Give me more of the Dakota Mermis’s and I’m happy.
I don’t think American recruitment is dead for the Knights, like I said in my last post it’s the “high end American prospects” that all of us on the board dream about. Yes we’ve been able to recruit Gilmartin, Stranges, Arrowsmith etc.

Gone are the days we can recruit Tkachuk, Kane, Werenski, Moore, Hagens etc
 
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Purple Phart

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Apr 4, 2016
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I don’t think American recruitment is dead for the Knights, like I said in my last post it’s the “high end American prospects” that all of us on the board dream about. Yes we’ve been able to recruit Gilmartin, Stranges, Arrowsmith etc.

Gone are the days we can recruit Tkachuk, Kane, Werenski, Moore, Hagens etc
Well, here's the situation: If the Knights can't recruit " high end American prospects" then what chance do other teams have of accomplishing the same thing ???

In a sense, there's a built-in equality in that most OHL teams won't be attracting those players, and the difference between have & have-not teams shrinks. Scouting Canadian players becomes more important, since that'll be the pool from which most teams will pick players from. Teams with the stronger scouting staffs will become the top performers, more so than when American-born players could tip the balance.
 

Ward Cornell

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Dec 22, 2007
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Well, here's the situation: If the Knights can't recruit " high end American prospects" then what chance do other teams have of accomplishing the same thing ???

In a sense, there's a built-in equality in that most OHL teams won't be attracting those players, and the difference between have & have-not teams shrinks. Scouting Canadian players becomes more important, since that'll be the pool from which most teams will pick players from. Teams with the stronger scouting staffs will become the top performers, more so than when American-born players could tip the balance.
Plus it's even more difficult when the NCAA can now say to the recruits to take a look at the US successes at the WJHC. In which 90%+ consists of NCAA/USHL players.
 

dmead

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Trevor Whiffen thinks the endorsement rule plays a big role and hinted that the OHL might mirror the move soon 👀 see ,"the knight shift podcast" 34 mins in for reference
Interesting, I will have to give it a listen. Still stick to my original premis, "The incentives for US players to migrate to the CHL are not so powerful anymore, the US leagues have essentially gained attention of both the NHL and the players".
 
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LDN

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Trust the Hunter brothers. These guys are legends in this city! They have made us the most successful (biased) junior franchise in the world.
 
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Knightsfan90

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Interesting, I will have to give it a listen. Still stick to my original premis, "The incentives for US players to migrate to the CHL are not so powerful anymore, the US leagues have essentially gained attention of both the NHL and the players".
Episode 99 I believe
 

SFC

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Jan 4, 2023
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For the Knights fans claiming that they are the underdogs tonight and tomorrow: the Rangers haven't had home-ice advantage in the playoffs against the Knights since 1984.

You are the favourites. Feel the pressure!
 
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Fastpace

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For the Knights fans claiming that they are the underdogs tonight and tomorrow: the Rangers haven't had home-ice advantage in the playoffs against the Knights since 1984.

You are the favourites. Feel the pressure!
We don't want it, beside, you have the most points, and we play much better as the underdog ;)
 

dmead

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For the Knights fans claiming that they are the underdogs tonight and tomorrow: the Rangers haven't had home-ice advantage in the playoffs against the Knights since 1984.

You are the favourites. Feel the pressure!
There are no underdogs in these two games.

I just hope neither team comes out flat. It would be great to see them both firing on all cylinders.
 
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Fastpace

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Jul 25, 2015
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The top five teams in Western conference will come down to depth and coaching system. That's right, who have the best bottom six forwards, the best third pair of defenders and top backup in net as well as all players above should be coming out on top. We know now why Mark wasn't budging much at the deadline and of course we all know Dale's record behind the bench along with his staffs. We are past talking about top star players on the team, we are now talking about top laborers on each teams. I have plenty of confidence in London Knights again this year
 

GoKnightsGo44

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I will call this game that the team that wins will be the one that scores more goals and gets two points!

In all seriousness, I think the knights dominate and use their speed to get behind the Kitchener D. Use the same game plan as with the win over Saginaw and they can beat any team out there….



JUST STAY OUT OF THE BOX!!!!!!!!!!
 

BobHockey

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Jul 9, 2015
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I will call this game that the team that wins will be the one that scores more goals and gets two points!

In all seriousness, I think the knights dominate and use their speed to get behind the Kitchener D. Use the same game plan as with the win over Saginaw and they can beat any team out there….



JUST STAY OUT OF THE BOX!!!!!!!!!!
This weekend will be a good test for both teams. I am excited to see how they stack up against one another. Tonight Rangers 4 Knights 3
 
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