London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part II

[rve24]

Man, hard to play the “what if” game but I still think about certain teams like 03/04 and 23/24. Definitely teams that were good enough to win Memorial Cups. Oh well.

03/04 was the one for me. Damm Dennis, Klein n Girardi and the rest of the Storm lol
It was a great run in our division for 5/6 years with those rivalries thru the 5 teams. Tough, spirited, skilled hockey.

 

[LDN]

Question for the group here. Is there a big strong 05 D that would be able to come back next year as an OA. Our next year OA crop looks light and we should continue to be competitive with O’Reilly, Nicholl, Brzustewicz and potentially Dickinson leading the way

Who fits that 05 that could come back next year criteria ?

 

[Fergus31]

03/04 was the one for me. Damm Dennis, Klein n Girardi and the rest of the Storm lol
It was a great run in our division for 5/6 years with those rivalries thru the 5 teams. Tough, spirited, skilled hockey.

Bois and Rediker missing the entire Guelph series was another factor. Schremp benched for large parts of the series because he shied away from the physical hockey that Guelph threw at them. Still almost pulled it off. Guelph had better goaltending than London that year, for sure.

As for 2005, people also need to consider that the team lost a number of their games when players were missing (WJC) and at the end of the regular season (meaningless). Even when Kitchener beat them in the playoffs, if you look at the gamesheet, London were missing a few guys due to injury. It was a stupid good team.

Question for the group here. Is there a big strong 05 D that would be able to come back next year as an OA. Our next year OA crop looks light and we should continue to be competitive with O’Reilly, Nicholl, Brzustewicz and potentially Dickinson leading the way

Who fits that 05 that could come back next year criteria ?

None come to mind. Maybe Will Bishop if Saginaw sells?

Looking more like next year is a retool/reload year with the glut of 05’s on the roster.

 

[All the Answers]

05 Andonovski could be had for Hawrey, but won't be back as an OA. As a Rangers fan I'd love it but no way it happens from either side.

 

[Fergus31]

05 Andonovski could be had for Hawrey, but won't be back as an OA. As a Rangers fan I'd love it but no way it happens from either side.

He’s a great player. Definitely jealous he’s a Ranger. He’d be just what the doctor ordered on London’s blueline.

Hawery, as you alluded to, very unlikely to be dealt for anyone. Not that London won’t trade a first round pick, but I believe they are much higher on Hawery than they were Testa, for example.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

How bout we start counting the 2025 from yesterdays Guelph game when we officially had everyone back, would that be fair to compare to 2005?

 

[rve24]

How bout we start counting the 2025 from yesterdays Guelph game when we officially had everyone back, would that be fair to compare to 2005?

Now your going down the selective use of stats n timeliness path. Not for me.

I don't care about the first month. The greatest teams show their excellence come POs and National Tourney. I'll judge them head to head at that time.

For me thou the biggest factor is I can't see this LK squad beating 05 in a 7 game series. Maybe that changes thou.

 

[rve24]

Bois and Rediker missing the entire Guelph series was another factor. Schremp benched for large parts of the series because he shied away from the physical hockey that Guelph threw at them. Still almost pulled it off. Guelph had better goaltending than London that year, for sure.

Sat very near where Bois laid that hit in the corner thst got him ousted fir the next series. Unnecessary but ya play with what ya got.
Rediker was one I always felt for. Very impressive rookie D campaign. One of the best rookie D on an opponent I remember in that era. Was super impressed but injuries slowed development.

 

[EvenSteven]

He’s a great player. Definitely jealous he’s a Ranger. He’d be just what the doctor ordered on London’s blueline.

Hawery, as you alluded to, very unlikely to be dealt for anyone. Not that London won’t trade a first round pick, but I believe they are much higher on Hawery than they were Testa, for example.

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.

 

[Fergus31]

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 other than London as an OA.

Yeah, I don’t see Ando back as an OA. Not impossible, but unlikely is what I would say.

Eh, not like London is overflowing with picks. They’re in decent shape I suppose but there are other clubs that have more to offer if we’re specifically using the Donovan deal as a reference point.

Over the next four drafts London have the following picks:

2nds - 3
3rds - 5
4ths - 5
5ths - 6
6ths - 4

London never fully empties the cupboard. So I guess what I’m trying to say is that any deal London would make for a d would likely consist of a young forward or two plus a 2nd and/or 3rd, depending on the caliber of player they’d be acquiring. At least, that’s how I view their situation.

Not that I wouldn’t love an Ando or Gibson caliber of talent, just not sure it’s something London would overpay for if the selling team is hellbent on getting a Donovan/Mintyukov type package of only picks.

 

[LDN]

Is the new D supposed to be the #3D? Bump who down?

 

[OnlyUpFromHere49]

Is the new D supposed to be the #3D? Bump who down?

You tell us… you asked the original question

 

[LDN]

You tell us… you asked the original question

Probably Woolley. Brz can’t leave the top 4

 

[tjziel]

Probably Woolley. Brz can’t leave the top 4

I could move Brz down to the 3rd pair if we were to get a shutdown RD like Andrew Gibson.

I love Brz’s offense but he defensive game needs some work still. Nothing he can’t improve but a big 6’4 RHD shutdown guy like Gibson is exactly what we need….

 

[All the Answers]

Probably Woolley. Brz can’t leave the top 4

Depends on the fish. A Gibson or Ando certainly moves Brz out of the top 3, but Brz would still get 2nd unit PP mins over Ando. I don't think it's a stretch to say Ando is better defensively than Dickinson, and possibly Bonk as well.

 

[crowncarrier]

Defense, is not close. Dickinson/Bonk (1st) are better than Syvret (3rd)/Methot (6th). Brzustewicz is as good as Girardi, Woolley is not yet as good as Rodney (we could use another stud 4D).

Goalie tandem of Dennis and Coleman vs. Elliot and Medvedev is too early to call but from what I have seen Elliot/ Coleman are comparable and Medvedev is projecting to be a top goalie in the league.

I could speak more on the other comments but these two paragraphs stick out the most.

First when comparing teams you have to compare what they did in junior. How they were drafted means nothing. There are guys that were top players in the OHL and still not get drafted high or not get drafted at all. 05's D was crazy well balanced. Dickinson is a Unicorn but besides him I'd take 05's. And Henry is not better then Girardi....Girardi was a huge part of the Knights playoff success....he was a WARRIOR.

As for the goalies Adam Dennis was an absolute stud in the OHL especially in the playoffs. He singlehandedly beat the Knight the year previous and that's why the Hunters went after him.


Elliott and Medvedev are question marks right now. Could they turn into a shutdown guy like Dennis....we do not know yet.

But saying Henry is better then Girardi at this present time is Bananas....IMO.

 

[rve24]

I could speak more on the other comments but these two paragraphs stick out the most.

First when comparing teams you have to compare what they did in junior. How they were drafted means nothing. There are guys that were top players in the OHL and still not get drafted high or not get drafted at all. 05's D was crazy well balanced. Dickinson is a Unicorn but besides him I'd take 05's. And Henry is not better then Girardi....Girardi was a huge part of the Knights playoff success....he was a WARRIOR.

As for the goalies Adam Dennis was an absolute stud in the OHL especially in the playoffs. He singlehandedly beat the Knight the year previous and that's why the Hunters went after him.


Elliott and Medvedev are question marks right now. Could they turn into a shutdown guy like Dennis....we do not know yet.

But saying Henry is better then Girardi at this present time is Bananas....IMO.

AINEC

Echoed a few of my points as well. Esp the part of where drafted means little.

 

[Fergus31]

I could speak more on the other comments but these two paragraphs stick out the most.

First when comparing teams you have to compare what they did in junior. How they were drafted means nothing. There are guys that were top players in the OHL and still not get drafted high or not get drafted at all. 05's D was crazy well balanced. Dickinson is a Unicorn but besides him I'd take 05's. And Henry is not better then Girardi....Girardi was a huge part of the Knights playoff success....he was a WARRIOR.

As for the goalies Adam Dennis was an absolute stud in the OHL especially in the playoffs. He singlehandedly beat the Knight the year previous and that's why the Hunters went after him.


Elliott and Medvedev are question marks right now. Could they turn into a shutdown guy like Dennis....we do not know yet.

But saying Henry is better then Girardi at this present time is Bananas....IMO.

Yeah, for him to say Henry B at 17 is better than Girardi of nearly 1,000 NHL games is ballsy to say the least. Is that the correct word?

Another thing to consider, London scored 310 goals in a defensive era in 2005. That was very difficult to do.

Younger players during that season would go on to be offensive players in the OHL. Players like Drummond, Kell, Foreman, Adam Perry. They were too young or had different roles that wouldn’t unseat Perry, Dylan, Bolland, Schremp, Fritsche, Prust.

On defence, people forget that Girardi was only acquired because of a season ending injury to Frank Rediker. Jeff Whitfiled also had a season ender shortly after Girardi was acquired. Their D in reality was Syvret, Rodney, Methot, Girardi, Rediker, Whitfield.

Goalies have been explained well. Adam Dennis is still my favouite Knights alumni netminder. So fun to watch.

A fun fact to that season: Ryan Callahan was almost acquired but he chose to stay in Guelph. London pivoted to Fritsche afterward.

So, although some didn’t have long NHL careers, at the major junior level, the team was crazy deep.

 

[Fergus31]

Don’t look now, but the Knights have won 11 in a row and have the highest winning/point percentage in the OHL.

Big matchup in Kitchener Tuesday. I’m still of the opinion that it doesn’t matter where you finish in the standings, so long as systems and individual performances are firing on all cylinders come March.

 

[LDN]

Don’t look now, but the Knights have won 11 in a row and have the highest winning/point percentage in the OHL.

Big matchup in Kitchener Tuesday. I’m still of the opinion that it doesn’t matter where you finish in the standings, so long as systems and individual performances are firing on all cylinders come March.

Rangers are not a joke! Boys better be ready

 

[Fergus31]

Rangers are not a joke! Boys better be ready

Absolutely. This is what makes junior hockey great. Two good teams battling mid week.

 

[RangerNation]

I'm expecting the same effort and results from game 1 last year. Great game by both teams, Knights win.

 

[LDN]

I'm expecting the same effort and results from game 1 last year. Great game by both teams, Knights win.

Both evenly matched if you look at the stat sheet (goals for and goals against are extremely close). This will be a test for both teams.

 

[Otto]

This came up in discussion yesterday in my family of die hards. We pulled all the stats and there is no touching the records for the 05 team as they got every player back from the start of the season. If that happened to this years team we wouldn’t have lost those 4 games and our goal differential would have been better.

Looking at the players, there is actually no comparison. The 2024-25 team is substantially better than the 05 team. If you look at the playoff roster the 05 team had 13 NHL drafted players 4 of those were drafted after the season (Dennis, Syvret, Beaulieu and Reed). So really 9 drafted players.

The all stars were Perry and Schremp(1st NHL) and Bolland (2nd NHL), this team is comparable with the top line of Cowan (1st), Halttunen (2nd), Barkey (3rd). Where the 2025 team starts to pull away from the 05 team is in depth, having O’Reilly (1st), Nurmi and Montgomery (4ths) vs. Fritchie (2nd), Hunter (9th), Kell (5th).

The later forward depth this year is unmatched, Julien (5th), Nichol (7th), Sim (6th) and Van Gorp (undrafted) and as good or better than Prust (3rd), Drummond + Larman (undrafted). Then this year we still have great rookies that will be top future talent, especially Hawery and Arrowsmith, who project higher than the Foreman/Reed/A Perrys.

Defense, is not close. Dickinson/Bonk (1st) are better than Syvret (3rd)/Methot (6th). Brzustewicz is as good as Girardi, Woolley is not yet as good as Rodney (we could use another stud 4D).

Goalie tandem of Dennis and Coleman vs. Elliot and Medvedev is too early to call but from what I have seen Elliot/ Coleman are comparable and Medvedev is projecting to be a top goalie in the league.

So all this said, they are comparable but different. The 2005 team was structured to be defensive first and grind teams into taking penalties then light them up with a top offensive line. The 2025 team should collectively out score the 05 team by a safe margin by the end of the year.

The main difference is the talent left in young prospects this year is enough to roster another team. To be this good and still have a future is something magical.

I'd absolutely LOVE to read your breakdown on your comparables player by player on all of these. Why do you feel each player from 24/25 is the same or better than the ones you've compared them to on 04/05? What makes them the same or better?

 

[All the Answers]

I'd absolutely LOVE to read your breakdown on your comparables player by player on all of these. Why do you feel each player from 24/25 is the same or better than the ones you've compared them to on 04/05? What makes them the same or better?

Agreed. Perry arguably will make the HOF. Dickinson would be the ONLY one that I can see of the current Knights that may have a sniff at that down the road. Plenty of guys on the 05 team with hundreds of games in the show... lots of drafted players don't get more than a cup of coffee if even a sniff at that level. Draft position means very little outside of top 10 or 15 picks... only one in that realm is Dickinson.

Let's see what's accomplished in junior before we go crowning them best ever. They're already FAR behind the 05 group, and the goaltending is still not in the same stratosphere. I can easily name probably 10 guys in the O I'd rather have than either of your keepers in a high pressure game. I couldn't do that with Coleman as the backup in 05.