London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[Fastpace]

John Tortorella’s thoughts on Oliver Bonk….

View attachment 911969

Sounds like we will be getting him back for sure and hopefully soon!

Tortorella is dead on in his annalist of Bunk, Bouchard was very similar at his age (except he had a deadly shot from the point), and look at him now with the Oilers

 

[Otto]

Barlow can be scratched off the list

 

[LDN]

Barlow can be scratched off the list

Oshawa won that trade for sure

 

[tjziel]

Barlow can be scratched off the list

Oh gosh here comes the Quentin Musty trade talk again lol! I’m just kidding!

 

[Fastpace]

Oh my! Barlow to the Generals (?) London may have a team direction to look at yet, to gauge their team improvement on. Let's hope the Generals player chemistry isn't there for him.

 

[Otto]

Oshawa won that trade for sure

Unless they don't win the league

 

[Knights77]

Oshawa won that trade for sure

Not sure that’s definitive. Attack weren’t going to win the west with or without Barlow. They get back a player taken in the 2nd rd of the OHL draft and a player in the 3rd rd of the OHL draft - so two good young players plus a haul of picks. For what will be 1 year of Barlow. I’d say it’s a win win but trades like this usually need a few years to define a true winner.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

I’m not a Barlow fan as previously stated but that is a light package going the other way. Well done Oshawa.

 

[tjziel]

I’m not a Barlow fan as previously stated but that is a light package going the other way. Well done Oshawa.

Ya it doesn’t seem huge but the trade market has indeed changed since Phil Tomosino trading days. Since we are only allowed to trade picks 4 years out trades have been watered down.

With that in mind, to me it’s not a bad haul.

 

[JRHOCKEYBUZZ]

Oshawa won that trade for sure

Not sure about that; If Oshawa wins the championship and Barlow plays a big part in that then yes. If however Oshawa comes up short- What make this a trade loss for Owen Sound? They move on from someone who was not coming back. They send him to a contender; In return they get two younger players who can develop into a top 4 Dman & top 6 forward during their "window". Plus Owen Sound refills their draft cupboard. The risk all runs on Oshawa to convert this season into a championship. Owen Sound just needs to develop the two players and capitalize on the early draft picks and I think the Attack are happy with the return.

 

[frontsfan67]

Speaking of Branch, Whats the Branch Banner at the Bud?? So random. I would assume other teams have them hanging as well?
Was it part of his retirement agreement ... "I must have my name hanging in every rink, it is my only leaving wish"

Kingston has it too. Ridiculous.

 

[All the Answers]

Kingston has it too. Ridiculous.

Kitchener as well. SMH

 

[LDN]

regardless of outcome. Oshawa wins that trade. They got a premium player for almost the entire season for a low cost. It’s a huge win for them.

 

[sbpointer]

regardless of outcome. Oshawa wins that trade. They got a premium player for almost the entire season for a low cost. It’s a huge win for them.

Disagree, OS got a plethora of assets that will help them down the road for a guy who isn't going to move the needle for them this year and if he lives up to hype will be graduating next year.
There is a reason London doesn't often go one year big game hunting it rarely provides value for the shopper...

 

[LDN]

Disagree, OS got a plethora of assets that will help them down the road for a guy who isn't going to move the needle for them this year and if he lives up to hype will be graduating next year.
There is a reason London doesn't often go one year big game hunting it rarely provides value for the shopper...

Agreed, but the value is there for OSH. They are East favourites now

 

[frontsfan67]

regardless of outcome. Oshawa wins that trade. They got a premium player for almost the entire season for a low cost. It’s a huge win for them.

They win the trade if they win the championship. Definition of boom or bust. Can say that about a lot of big trades but especially this one- trading 2 young talented bodies along with 4 high picks and 2 mid ones

Unless oshawa wins the championship- Owen sound barring any injuries or lack of development to those 2 boys win this easily. Have to over pay though to play. Like this in any big trade.

They have the team for it. Could absolutely see them hoisting the cup however a lot of hockey is to be played.

 

[purple pharrt]

Ok On another topic, not too much has been posted on the prospect of Knights grad Isiah George making the Islanders roster this season. Upon checking today, he is listed on their roster, but what are the odds of him sticking, as opposed to being demoted to their Long Island AHL affiliate ?

I was of the opinion that he was the most underrated player on the Knights, last season. I realize that rookie d-men are few and far between who can make the jump from Junior directly to an NH roster. Maybe his selection by the Islanders was fortunate in that their defensive depth wasn't so great, and the result was an opening was there, when perhaps not so in other organizations. Defense is a position that normally requires more seasoning than forwards, so if Isiah does cement his position as a bona-fide NHL defenseman, my assessment as being an underrated player will be affirmed.

 

[Fastpace]

They win the trade if they win the championship. Definition of boom or bust. Can say that about a lot of big trades but especially this one- trading 2 young talented bodies along with 4 high picks and 2 mid ones

Unless oshawa wins the championship- Owen sound barring any injuries or lack of development to those 2 boys win this easily. Have to over pay though to play. Like this in any big trade.

They have the team for it. Could absolutely see them hoisting the cup however a lot of hockey is to be played.

Should the question be, does a player of the high-end talent, as Barlow is, like a domino effect disrupt and push down disgruntled players in an already very talented team ?

 

[Knightsfan90]

I think we will see Cowan very soon maybe even Friday

 

[frontsfan67]

Should the question be, does a player of the high-end talent, as Barlow is, like a domino effect disrupt and push down disgruntled players in an already very talented team ?

Buckley and Torrence would be the ones to watch imo.

Torrence is already a middle 6 winger and will prob get some minutes bumped- I would guess if they upgrade any OA’s he would be the one gone

 

[Random2152]

Ya it doesn’t seem huge but the trade market has indeed changed since Phil Tomosino trading days. Since we are only allowed to trade picks 4 years out trades have been watered down.

With that in mind, to me it’s not a bad haul.

The league should go back to the old rules, if for no other reason than the idea of trading a 6 year old('s draft pick) is very funny

 

[Fergus31]

Ok On another topic, not too much has been posted on the prospect of Knights grad Isiah George making the Islanders roster this season. Upon checking today, he is listed on their roster, but what are the odds of him sticking, as opposed to being demoted to their Long Island AHL affiliate ?

I was of the opinion that he was the most underrated player on the Knights, last season. I realize that rookie d-men are few and far between who can make the jump from Junior directly to an NH roster. Maybe his selection by the Islanders was fortunate in that their defensive depth wasn't so great, and the result was an opening was there, when perhaps not so in other organizations. Defense is a position that normally requires more seasoning than forwards, so if Isiah does cement his position as a bona-fide NHL defenseman, my assessment as being an underrated player will be affirmed.

I believe he was “officially” sent to Bridgeport last week.

I agree with you. Great player, great instincts. Great kid.

 

[jamemcca]

Agreed, but the value is there for OSH. They are East favourites now

Brampton says “slow down”

The league should go back to the old rules, if for no other reason than the idea of trading a 6 year old('s draft pick) is very funny

It’s not trading a six year old…it’s trading a tangible asset

 

[Ringing Iron]

Speaking of Branch, Whats the Branch Banner at the Bud?? So random. I would assume other teams have them hanging as well?
Was it part of his retirement agreement ... "I must have my name hanging in every rink, it is my only leaving wish"

Basically true. From what I've been told, teams were instructed to hang these.

 

[Fergus31]

On the banner topic, it’s nice to see Dave’s is so pristine and in order, but the team banners look like they’ve been produced and hung by a nervous, drunk wreck.
And where is the 2005 OHL championship banner? Fanbase waits 40 years for a championship, and it’s been gone from the rafters for years. Last I heard it was damaged when being moved (not surprising) but you’d think they’d have replaced it by now.