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London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

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TheOrangePylon said:
For me, Julien and Sim are OA locks. The last spot is between Leonard and Willmore, but I would give the edge to Leonard. I think Medvedev, can provide at worst, equal goaltending to what Willmore can without burning that precious OA spot. I like the veteran presence of Leoanrd, he really stepped up last year and played a great defensive game, with physicality. A guy I think every other team in the league would take.

For the locks, Julien for obvious reasons. Number 1 centre who plays a 2 way game and kills penalties. Sim, I see a lot of people writing him off. But he is the glue on this team, the team last year was terrible without him to start the season, while he recovered from surgery. As soon as he entered the lineup, the whole attitude of the team changed and they went on a roll. This year, I think we will see a bit more offense from him as well.
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I agree with you, Sim is going to be this years McCue. He is going to be the guy that is stirring this drink on a nightly basis. Might not be a guy loading up the score sheet but is out there getting every one motivated.

I also think that Leonard has more to give offensively and he showed it in glimpses last year. He is never called upon to do that but I think he has it in him. And like you said I love his physical game and with a guy like Edward gone we have no one of that "ilk" back there.
 
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Section5Petes said:
Not saying its going to happen or not, but there have been some rumblings of Liam Sztuska to London this afternoon...
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While I am not doubting the rumblings, it would seem to me that it would be a gigantic sideways move so I just dont buy it.

TheOrangePylon said:
That delays the OA Decision then, roll with Julien, Leoanrd and WIllmore for the first month.
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Makes life a little bit easier then for the first month or so.
 
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Section5Petes said:
Not saying its going to happen or not, but there have been some rumblings of Liam Sztuska to London this afternoon...
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this makes no sense unless there is more to it. OA for a OA goalie and both are probably the same caliber at the moment. On another note in the LFP when mentioning the Sim Injury comments make about Edwards and George are interesting saying they don't know what's going to happen because they are still in Camps. Hunters words not mine
 
bearfan said:
this makes no sense unless there is more to it. OA for a OA goalie and both are probably the same caliber at the moment. On another note in the LFP when mentioning the Sim Injury comments make about Edwards and George are interesting saying they don't know what's going to happen because they are still in Camps. Hunters words not mine
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They will both be cut within the next 2-3 days but then will be sent down to AHL camps which will start middle to end of next week. Sounds like both with be AHL bound from what I am reading.
 
Statistically it’s hard to compare Willmore and Sztuska. What would the trade look like?
 
LDN said:
Statistically it’s hard to compare Willmore and Sztuska. What would the trade look like?
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The Petes are in a really tough spot with their goaltending situation. They should have never taken Bowen back for Simpson, it doesn't make sense with their contending window two years down the road to have him and Sztuska this season....at all. And Sztuska is much better imo

If they trade Sztuska it would be a "do right by him" situation and clearing the decks for Bowen (05), Rye (06) and Johnston (07), as well as the overage spots for McIntyre, Lefebvre and Melee.

In other words. It would be very cheap I think. It's also something that has been bantered about around town for a month, so I don't know if there's any reason to think there's anything to it - aside from the Petes needing to resolve that roster crunch above, one way or the other.
 
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NorthernVoice said:
The Petes are in a really tough spot with their goaltending situation. They should have never taken Bowen back for Simpson, it doesn't make sense with their contending window two years down the road to have him and Sztuska this season....at all. And Sztuska is much better imo

If they trade Sztuska it would be a "do right by him" situation and clearing the decks for Bowen (05), Rye (06) and Johnston (07), as well as the overage spots for McIntyre, Lefebvre and Melee.

In other words. It would be very cheap I think. It's also something that has been bantered about around town for a month, so I don't know if there's any reason to think there's anything to it - aside from the Petes needing to resolve that roster crunch above, one way or the other.
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Makes sense to me! The thing that I like about Willmore is he does have deep playoff experience. Not many goalies have that!
 
Julien and Nicholl are back. Sim is injured.

Opening night I’d expect Woolley back as well.

My prediction for opening night:

Van Gorp-Julien(OA)-Hawery
Van Bommel - Nicholl - Read
Gerber-Bidgood-Arrowsmith
Aboflan-Mews

Leonard(OA)-Woolley
Mitchell-Brzustewicz
Fagen-Jenken
Spencer

Willmore
Medvedev(OA)

Definitely missing the guys still at camp, but hopefully these guys are prepared to put on a good show for the 9000

ArielNederland said:
Is sztuska an overager? If he is then that doesn't help our log jam
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He is. It would be a Willmore for him situation

as much as we have a bit of a logjam I wouldn’t mind us acquiring a forward that could play in our top 6 especially with the uncertainty with the players at camps
 
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Section5Petes said:
Not saying its going to happen or not, but there have been some rumblings of Liam Sztuska to London this afternoon...
Click to expand...
Predicted this when the season ended. Have brought it up on here multiple times and almost always shot down.

As I’ve said multiple times. If London wants to compete. Willmore is not their goalie. Sztuska is FAR better on a worse team.
 
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frontsfan67 said:
Predicted this when the season ended. Have brought it up on here multiple times and almost always shot down.

As I’ve said multiple times. If London wants to compete. Willmore is not their goalie. Sztuska is FAR better on a worse team.
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Is he the best available?
 
dmead said:
only trades I would entertain at present would be Colby Barlow and Carter George. highly unlikely but...
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That’s one of the only trades I’d be cool with trading Hawery in. I feel like the Knights will want to hang on to LH. He’s already looking like he will be a good player in this league!
 
Dressing for Toronto Maple Leafs tonight, 4 current and former London Knights (against OTT 1 almost former Knights Brady Tkachuk) ; is Easton Cowen - Dakota Mermis - Nicocas Mattinen and Anthony Stolarrz, always nice to see. (Marner not dressing)
 
LDN said:
Personally I really like Sim and Julien as two do the OAs. I think the toss up is between Leonard and Willmore… Willmore would have to play himself out of the position.

Leonard is a good D, but the young guys like Mitchell, Fagen, Jenken are all ready to get some PT!
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I personally can’t believe Fagan is being mentioned in the same sentence as Mitchell and Jenken. He just isn’t that good.

TheOrangePylon said:
For me, Julien and Sim are OA locks. The last spot is between Leonard and Willmore, but I would give the edge to Leonard. I think Medvedev, can provide at worst, equal goaltending to what Willmore can without burning that precious OA spot. I like the veteran presence of Leoanrd, he really stepped up last year and played a great defensive game, with physicality. A guy I think every other team in the league would take.

For the locks, Julien for obvious reasons. Number 1 centre who plays a 2 way game and kills penalties. Sim, I see a lot of people writing him off. But he is the glue on this team, the team last year was terrible without him to start the season, while he recovered from surgery. As soon as he entered the lineup, the whole attitude of the team changed and they went on a roll. This year, I think we will see a bit more offense from him as well.
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I said it already….Willmore will be gone. The value the others provide as OA is clear as day. Willmore has shown that he isn’t the caliber that a goalie who carries an OA card should be. And in retrospect it appears that Willmore was very much a beneficiary of excellent defence last year.
Give the net to Medvedev….plan B is go shopping in November.
 
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