London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part I

[LDN]

Nice to see Gerber is off to a good start after getting traded to Strathroy. Still think we’ll need him back up with the Knights for stretches this year.

PBO seems to need forwards. Would he get a decent opportunity there ?

 

[LDN]

Would London be considered for an AHL or PWHL team? What kind of support would said team likely get?

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

Would London be considered for an AHL or PWHL team? What kind of support would said team likely get?

No

 

[Fastpace]

No

London-Town or should I say village, are still a junior-town, I see, this town probably wouldn't be able to handle the Pros, not big enough

 

[Matt93]

Would London be considered for an AHL or PWHL team? What kind of support would said team likely get?

If the Knights were no longer here than probably but I don't think there would be an appetite to support 2 hockey teams.

 

[LDN]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851438389049884915

An option from a PWHL insider ^

 

[M21]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851438389049884915

An option from a PWHL insider ^

Could cultivate a different fan base and be successful

 

[Matt93]

Could cultivate a different fan base and be successful

London Devilettes are a premier girls league so it's an option. London definitely couldn't support an AHL team

 

[LDN]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851617696305062225

Better see a few Knights there!

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Would London be considered for an AHL or PWHL team? What kind of support would said team likely get?

I think London could support a PWHL team, it is a hot ticket for marketing right now and a bit of a different demographic from the Knights. Obviously some cross over in the demographic, but the PWHL does a really good job of marketing towards young women, which in the London area, you have a ton of great programs like the Devilettes, Bluewater Hawks, St. Thomas Panthers, etc. The PWHL in London would draw from all southwestern Ontario towns, that don't want to travel to Toronto for a game.

The 9,000 seat CLP is also a good size venue for the league, half the teams currently play in similar or smaller size venues and the other half play in NHL rinks, so the venue size, fits within the league.

My worry from a Knights perspective, would be that there are only so many Marketing dollars to go around, the Knights do a good job of attracting companies, but could hurt them if a pro team is in town fighting for the same dollars. But I think the PWHL is more of an attraction for National companies, where the Knights have a ton of local companies who see value in supporting.

I wonder who perspective owners would be for a London team though, because there is a lot more that goes into owning a pro team. The players are all paid, which means you have a much larger operating expense than junior hockey. Which means, you need to be selling tickets and getting marketing dollars.

Either way, would certainly be interesting and I for one would support it!

Maybe call them the London Dames? haha

 

[M21]

I think London could support a PWHL team, it is a hot ticket for marketing right now and a bit of a different demographic from the Knights. Obviously some cross over in the demographic, but the PWHL does a really good job of marketing towards young women, which in the London area, you have a ton of great programs like the Devilettes, Bluewater Hawks, St. Thomas Panthers, etc. The PWHL in London would draw from all southwestern Ontario towns, that don't want to travel to Toronto for a game.

The 9,000 seat CLP is also a good size venue for the league, half the teams currently play in similar or smaller size venues and the other half play in NHL rinks, so the venue size, fits within the league.

My worry from a Knights perspective, would be that there are only so many Marketing dollars to go around, the Knights do a good job of attracting companies, but could hurt them if a pro team is in town fighting for the same dollars. But I think the PWHL is more of an attraction for National companies, where the Knights have a ton of local companies who see value in supporting.

I wonder who perspective owners would be for a London team though, because there is a lot more that goes into owning a pro team. The players are all paid, which means you have a much larger operating expense than junior hockey. Which means, you need to be selling tickets and getting marketing dollars.

Either way, would certainly be interesting and I for one would support it!

Maybe call them the London Dames? haha

I believe that currently all PWHL teams are owned by the league

 

[Fastpace]

I think London could support a PWHL team, it is a hot ticket for marketing right now and a bit of a different demographic from the Knights. Obviously some cross over in the demographic, but the PWHL does a really good job of marketing towards young women, which in the London area, you have a ton of great programs like the Devilettes, Bluewater Hawks, St. Thomas Panthers, etc. The PWHL in London would draw from all southwestern Ontario towns, that don't want to travel to Toronto for a game.

The 9,000 seat CLP is also a good size venue for the league, half the teams currently play in similar or smaller size venues and the other half play in NHL rinks, so the venue size, fits within the league.

My worry from a Knights perspective, would be that there are only so many Marketing dollars to go around, the Knights do a good job of attracting companies, but could hurt them if a pro team is in town fighting for the same dollars. But I think the PWHL is more of an attraction for National companies, where the Knights have a ton of local companies who see value in supporting.

I wonder who perspective owners would be for a London team though, because there is a lot more that goes into owning a pro team. The players are all paid, which means you have a much larger operating expense than junior hockey. Which means, you need to be selling tickets and getting marketing dollars.

Either way, would certainly be interesting and I for one would support it!

Maybe call them the London Dames? haha

I agree in general, but business is business, has anyone ever seen a business without market competition, it is call monopoly. Competition is good for the fans, it keeps prices down.

 

[Otto]

I don't see the PWHL coming to London. They like big centres where they can partner with an NHL franchise, even the list of potential expansion sites are mostly NHL cities. They say it's not a determining factor, but it obviously is. Quebec City is the only non-NHL city they've listed.

 

[ArielNederland]

What does everyone think of this?

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

What does everyone think of this?
View attachment 923910

@LDN , you’re up.

 

[Ferguson Jenkins]

The question is... is Windsor legit or smoke and mirrors? Goal differential would suggest they are legit. If they try to win this year, I'd imagine they'd have a leg up on London with respect to deal making. More picks in the bank.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

There is no way London parts with Hawery, no doubt Jett is worth it with a likely 19 year in the OHL.

 

[LDN]

@LDN , you’re up.

London will create a package without Hawery and if Guelph doesn’t take it that is what it is.

The question is... is Windsor legit or smoke and mirrors? Goal differential would suggest they are legit. If they try to win this year, I'd imagine they'd have a leg up on London with respect to deal making. More picks in the bank.

They are legit, but no point to really loading up for them. They likely want to build more around next season being the true opening of the window.

 

[LDN]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1851640301267378273

 

[Fastpace]

The question is... is Windsor legit or smoke and mirrors? Goal differential would suggest they are legit. If they try to win this year, I'd imagine they'd have a leg up on London with respect to deal making. More picks in the bank.

Windsor hadn't had their slump yet, depending on how bad and how long will it be. Each of the teams goes through some kind of slump every year, theirs will determine if they are legit or not.

You can say the same thing about Kitchener, but I think the Rangers are better than the young Windsor because they seem more trustworthy. My personal opinion, of course