London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[tjziel]

Yes I have to agree with Otto on this one. Everyone knew their role better on that team. Ya they all might have not turned into NHL stars from the 05 team, but they did their role to a tee.

Secondly, the goalitending is still the best we ever had with Dennis and Coleman. You probably won’t see one on the same calibre for a very very long time if ever.

 

[rve24]

I'll stick by (for now and can't see it changing) this version wouldn't survive the grit n toughness the 05 squad had thru a 7 game series.
Also could just flat out lock teams up.

But I do really enjoy the discussion and Marners squad was great, as was last years.....just nice to have seen 4/5 teams as food as they were over the 20+ year run with the down years being mid pack teams for only a season til competing again. We are spoiled and it'll come to an end one day.
99 was also one of my favs tgat made a great run thru the POs

 

[tjziel]

I’m also convinced that that Knights 2005 team could have taken a run at one of the bottom end NHL teams. At least give them stiff competition….

Am I wrong anyone?

 

[GangGreen]

Syvret, Girardi and Methot were also 3 of the best defensive dmen in the league in '05. None of the current crop would be in the top 10 this year. The d and goalies in 2005 are the clear difference. I would consider this team to be more like 2016, just without the stud in net that we had in Parsons. Better depth this year tho. No disrespect to our current goalies.

I’m also convinced that that Knights 2005 team could have taken a run at one of the bottom end NHL teams. At least give them stiff competition….

Am I wrong anyone?

Probably, yes. Lol
Maybe a NCAA team, but let's not get carried away. 16-20 y.o.'s is a huge difference from 22-38 year olds. Literally.

 

[Otto]

No stats to back this up but Id argue that the the teams from 03/04 through 05/06:had more blocked shots than any other 3 seasons. Those teams were built different

 

[tjziel]

Syvret, Girardi and Methot were also 3 of the best defensive dmen in the league in '05. None of the current crop would be in the top 10 this year. The d and goalies in 2005 are the clear difference. I would consider this team to be more like 2016, just without the stud in net that we had in Parsons. Better depth this year tho. No disrespect to our current goalies.


Probably, yes. Lol
Maybe a NCAA team, but let's not get carried away. 16-20 y.o.'s is a huge difference from 22-38 year olds. Literally.

Ya lol! You’re probably right. It’s just the chemistry was too hard to ignore. You’re right, and NCAA team would be more fitting lol!

 

[Holden Caufield]

Cowan, Barkey, Haltunnen, O’Reilly, Nichol, Julien, Sim, Van Gorp, Montgomery, Nurmi , Read, Hawery, Arrowsmith, Van Bommel, Boulton, Bidgood, Aboflan (17).

With the addition of Montgomery, the return of Haltunnen and Sim’s pending return from suspension…. It would seem something has to give with the forward group.

1 or 2 healthy scratches divided up amongst 5 players was negligible.

Not sure you can find a fair way to divide up 5 healthy scratches and also try to build some unity/chemistry on the 4th line.

Good problem to have. But might be something that gets addressed soon.

 

[LDN]

Cowan/Barkey/Haltunnen/O’Reilly/Nichol/Julien
Sim/VanGorp/Montgomery/Nurmi/Read/Hawery
Arrowsmith/Van Bommel/Boulton/Bidgood/ Aboflan (17).

With the addition of Montgomery, the return of Haltunnen and Sim’s pending return from suspension…. It would seem something has to give with the forward group.

1 or 2 healthy scratches divided up amongst 5 players was negligible.

Not sure you can find a fair way to divide up 5 healthy scratches and also try to build some unity/chemistry on the 4th line.

Good problem to have. But might be something that gets addressed soon.

When do WJC camps start? I think moves are made when we can fill the lineup

Who are the top 6 F? Cowan, Barkey, Halttunnen, O’Reilly are all for sure. 2 spots up for grabs in my opinion.

 

[Ken Yates]

Arrowsmith, Van Bommel, Boulton, Bidgood, Aboflan. These right now are the players sitting out. Van Bommel goes in when Hawery sits. Better to keep these players till World Junior camp.

 

[Geff]

Who are the top 6 F? Cowan, Barkey, Halttunnen, O’Reilly are all for sure. 2 spots up for grabs in my opinion.

Montgomery & Nichol with Nurmi slotting in on occasion. You can't discount the speed Monty and Nichol bring to the top 6. Sim is 3rd line with VanGorp & Nurmi rounding out that line.

4th line is anyone's guess at this point. Boulton, Van Bommel and Aboflan could be fun!

 

[Fergus31]

I think when it comes down to it, Julien and O'Reilly are your top two centers. Julien needs to pick it up though and be more consistent. Nicholl looks like he's establishing himself as a player that can be versatile and used in different roles - center, wing, scoring, checking.

Ultimately, I think Montgomery takes the reins on one of the top four wing spots.

Also, Dale will create a checking line of sorts. You could use a variety of players here but I do agree that the foundation of a checking line likely starts with Sim and Nurmi. Perhaps Nicholl or Van Gorp as @Geff said.

Hopefully Hunters are able to leverage some of these forwards into draft picks. Perusing the rosters today - hard to say where and what they could get but I would think teams would have room for some of these kids (thinking specifically the 07 forwards).

 

[Holden Caufield]

Arrowsmith, Van Bommel, Boulton, Bidgood, Aboflan. These right now are the players sitting out. Van Bommel goes in when Hawery sits. Better to keep these players till World Junior camp.

Van Bommel has played in every game to this point. Going forward he may fall into the rotation of scratches. But we have yet to see that.

I dont think you can consistently sit Arrowsmith. He has played well enough to deserve a jersey on game days.

 

[zman77]

Van Bommel has played in every game to this point. Going forward he may fall into the rotation of scratches. But we have yet to see that.

I dont think you can consistently sit Arrowsmith. He has played well enough to deserve a jersey on game days.

I like Arrowsmith's game.
Reid has been a nice surprise.
They both deserve to be in the line-up.

 

[LDN]

I can’t see Van Bommel being scratched. He’s a fixture at 4th line C

 

[crowncarrier]

No stats to back this up but Id argue that the the teams from 03/04 through 05/06:had more blocked shots than any other 3 seasons. Those teams were built different

03/04 team was FANTASTIC.....should have been there. Dennis was FANTASTIC 2.0.

 

[Buttsy]

I can’t see Van Bommel being scratched. He’s a fixture at 4th line C

London does not stay competitive year in and year out by focusing on the immediate. These youngsters are big pieces for next year’s retool and Dale and Mark will want them to develop. Some roster decisions may not make immediate sense to the average fan but in the “Hunters” we do trust!

Alright …. The Coles Notes version please where the heck is Fastpace? I’m assuming he is on sabbatical for not playing well with others? Self imposed or moderator imposed?

 

[crowncarrier]

AINEC

I'm old...no idea what this means.

 

[crowncarrier]

Syvret, Girardi and Methot were also 3 of the best defensive dmen in the league in '05. None of the current crop would be in the top 10 this year.

I'd put Dickinson there. He's just been given the Super Bright Green Light this year for offense so you don't see it as much. Best D in the League and I don't even think it's close. But that's just my opinion.

 

[GangGreen]

03/04 team was FANTASTIC.....should have been there. Dennis was FANTASTIC 2.0.

That teddy bear toss game in Dec. 2003 where the Knights set the unbeaten record to start a season was probably the best goaltending display I have ever seen IN PERSON. Dennis was unreal.

I'm old...no idea what this means.

Lol
And it's not even close

 

[GangGreen]

I'd put Dickinson there. He's just been given the Super Bright Green Light this year for offense so you don't see it as much. Best D in the League and I don't even think it's close. But that's just my opinion.

That's fair. But for the other poster that compared this defence corps to '04-'05. No chance. This group is younger though.

 

[Knights Watcher]

Alright …. The Coles Notes version please where the heck is Fastpace? I’m assuming he is on sabbatical for not playing well with others? Self imposed or moderator imposed?

Who cares? Definitely not missed here.

 

[Fergus31]

Van Bommel has played in every game to this point. Going forward he may fall into the rotation of scratches. But we have yet to see that.

I dont think you can consistently sit Arrowsmith. He has played well enough to deserve a jersey on game days.

Boulton, Aboflan, Van Bommel look like your prototypical fourth liners - and that’s okay.

Arrowsmith, Read, Bidgood - I feel their potential is TBD with a possible or probable higher ceiling than fourth line. Definitely would try to mix them in as much as possible in addition to Hawery but I understand the challenges at the moment the staff faces finding ice time for everyone. It’s a good problem to have for the time being.

 

[tjziel]

Alright …. The Coles Notes version please where the heck is Fastpace? I’m assuming he is on sabbatical for not playing well with others? Self imposed or moderator imposed?

Alright dude, whether I agree or disagree with Fastpace on things, it’s a public forum for a a reason. Keep the convos about Knights.

You guys can be better than acting like it’s high school in this forum. You @Buttsy annd the rest of you are better than that. I expect better from you

Moving on to Knights convos..

 

[LDN]

Boulton, Aboflan, Van Bommel look like your prototypical fourth liners - and that’s okay.

Arrowsmith, Read, Bidgood - I feel their potential is TBD with a possible or probable higher ceiling than fourth line. Definitely would try to mix them in as much as possible in addition to Hawery but I understand the challenges at the moment the staff faces finding ice time for everyone. It’s a good problem to have for the time being.

7 guys 3 spots?

 

[Knights77]

Like London, the Rangers have an overloaded roster of OHL players. So I’m thinking that an Andonovski deal would be a picks only deal.

London has the picks (Jorian Donovan comparable) but I doubt Mark near empties his draft cupboard.

But if he thinks that there’s a chance Ando plays an OA season, he may do the deal at that cost.

Do I think he plays an OA season? Not really. I think the only way is if Ottawa / Brantford ownership orchestrate it as they did Hamara.

If Ando as a pro next year shows that he can’t play regular minutes as an AHL rookie, they may send him back. There are worse places to develop than London as an OA.

This would be the deal that puts London over the top. And if you’re Hunter, you should make this trade. Spend the picks. How often do you have a team like this? Adding Andonovski would be a massive add. Give some conditional picks based on his potential return for OA (which isn’t likely to happen but cover those bases). The defence needs improving. But at this point it’s gravy.