London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part III

[Long Reach]

This team is so deep at forward that adding Luchanko has some major diminishing returns compared to adding Allen. Our 4th line when going down the list for points among forwards is Nurmi-Read-Van Bommell, which could easily be a weak second line or an elite 3rd line on most teams in the league.

Before Haltunnen was returned and Blake Montgomery arrived, a case could have been made. We have forwards that fit every role at this point and when you think about the probability of winning the OHL/Memorial Cup with the current roster versus adding Luchanko, it's not going to be a major change. Luchanko wouldn't be on the first powerplay unit (already have 5 elite players that he won't bump off). We already have 4 strong PK forwards (Cowan, Barkey, O'Reilly, Sim), so he isn't a big help there. Faceoffs, he's a 52% which is good, but it's not like he's at 60%, so again, not a stepwise addition.

I think with Allen, this team top-to-bottom is a much stronger than last year's roster which went to the Memorial Cup final. Retaining Hawrey would make competing in the coming 3 years a possibility. I get the allure of adding Luchanko, and I wouldn't be that upset is Mark does so (nor do I begrudge the people that believe it's the right move), but I think this team is near perfect already.

I don’t think this team is as deep at forward as some think. Julien and Nurmi have underwhelmed significantly offensively. Nicholl is out now - who knows how long. O’Reilly has come on a bit but I’d want more offence from a NHL first round pick. I dunno. I still see room for an upgrade to the team’s top two lines that would help their chances in the playoffs. If current players were meeting expectations offensively, I’d agree with you completely.

 

[rve24]

Elliott now #1 in the O with GAA of 2.11 and record of 14-0.

Ya but he gets the easy starts and will suck in the POs (or so I've read)

 

[Otto]

I don’t think this team is as deep at forward as some think. Julien and Nurmi have underwhelmed significantly offensively. Nicholl is out now - who knows how long. O’Reilly has come on a bit but I’d want more offence from a NHL first round pick. I dunno. I still see room for an upgrade to the team’s top two lines that would help their chances in the playoffs. If current players were meeting expectations offensively, I’d agree with you completely.

It's all relative though. Some players are underperformed, but others are overpowering. Amd adding Luchanko doesn't do a whole lot to improve the offense when you factor in the fact that a player will need to be dropped down a line and another one moved out. He only scored 20 last year and has 7 in 16 games this year ( equates to 30 in a 68 game season) . Does adding him improve the team? Yes,but does it improve the team enough to warrant the cost? Not nearly enough.

Last season Saginaw loaded up to make a run, im not seeing any other team making that big of a push this season.

 

[dmead]

Ya but he gets the easy starts and will suck in the POs (or so I've read)

I dont have a problem with the Knights platooning the goalies. Both are playing well. Its great for Medvedev to get so many games.

 

[Sane Knights Fan]

I dont have a problem with the Knights platooning the goalies. Both are playing well. Its great for Medvedev to get so many games.

I dont have a problem with the Knights platooning the goalies. Both are playing well. Its great for Medvedev to get so many games.

Ya but he gets the easy starts and will suck in the POs (or so I've read)

Ah Maybe your getting mixed up with a Rangers Goalie that had a little trouble last season in the playoffs (sweep)

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

I don’t think this team is as deep at forward as some think. Julien and Nurmi have underwhelmed significantly offensively. Nicholl is out now - who knows how long. O’Reilly has come on a bit but I’d want more offence from a NHL first round pick. I dunno. I still see room for an upgrade to the team’s top two lines that would help their chances in the playoffs. If current players were meeting expectations offensively, I’d agree with you completely.

Musty, would be a great fit. Just saying.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

What is the record for season starts Elliott is 17-0

 

[Otto]

Musty, would be a great fit. Just saying.

Hurt, with no guarantee when he will return and what shape he will be in, plus, zero chance he comes back next season. Again not worth the risk.

 

[rve24]

Ah Maybe your getting mixed up with a Rangers Goalie that had a little trouble last season in the playoffs (sweep)

Those that got the sarcastic know what I'm referring to. Nothing to do with Parsons or any goalie in the OHL or CHL.

 

[Wolf on a Wire]

Hurt, with no guarantee when he will return and what shape he will be in, plus, zero chance he comes back next season. Again not worth the risk.

I’m sure your GM will do his homework and assess the risk…

 

[Otto]

I’m sure your GM will do his homework and assess the risk…

I'm sure he already has, which is why Musty returned to Sudbury

 

[rve24]

I don’t think this team is as deep at forward as some think. Julien and Nurmi have underwhelmed significantly offensively. Nicholl is out now - who knows how long. O’Reilly has come on a bit but I’d want more offence from a NHL first round pick. I dunno. I still see room for an upgrade to the team’s top two lines that would help their chances in the playoffs. If current players were meeting expectations offensively, I’d agree with you completely.

I don't disagree with this in how you've framed it.
But I'd add Nurmi does alot of things very well outside of racking up pts and could play on any line 2-4 and contribute to its effectiveness. I'd also take the chance he keeps improving over the next 3 months.
Julien. I got time for the player, again smart n does some things well enough to contribute if in the right role.
I think this squad has its 3 big point producers upfront (Halts,Barkey,Cowan)

Add 2 (and now 3) high point producers on the back end. And a real solid evenly spread out out group of 6+ Fs who can share the secondary scoring load. It'll be by committee ( Montgomery.....getting more effective weekly, OReilly helps in many ways and is starting to feel it, they are that 2nd tier Offense than...., Sim, Read, Hawery, VanGorp, Nurmi, Julien) and that group can support the the top in terms of collective points althou outside Montgomery or Orielly probly not ppg players 2nd half potentially.
Then ya got the kids playing specific roles in Aboflan, Boulton, VanBommel.....
I think after the top 3 it's a by committee scoring deal up front l and they look to be in good shape to do it. And most in that group should continue to improve thru the 2nd half with PT and/ or fitting into the the systems as newbies.


But high end talent that buys in and fits in never hurts.
Team is deep, have 3 maybe 4 (if Monty keeps his upward progression) scoring Fs,

Don't disagree thou, high end playmaker never hurt. I just like the collective make up as a whole

 

[Long Reach]

I don't disagree with this in how you've framed it.
But I'd add Nurmi does alot of things very well outside of racking up pts and could play on any line 2-4 and contribute to its effectiveness. I'd also take the chance he keeps improving over the next 3 months.
Julien. I got time for the player, again smart n does some things well enough to contribute if in the right role.
I think this squad has its 3 big point producers upfront (Halts,Barkey,Cowan)

Add 2 (and now 3) high point producers on the back end. And a real solid evenly spread out out group of 6+ Fs who can share the secondary scoring load. It'll be by committee ( Montgomery.....getting more effective weekly, OReilly helps in many ways and is starting to feel it, they are that 2nd tier Offense than...., Sim, Read, Hawery, VanGorp, Nurmi, Julien) and that group can support the the top in terms of collective points althou outside Montgomery or Orielly probly not ppg players 2nd half potentially.
Then ya got the kids playing specific roles in Aboflan, Boulton, VanBommel.....
I think after the top 3 it's a by committee scoring deal up front l and they look to be in good shape to do it. And most in that group should continue to improve thru the 2nd half with PT and/ or fitting into the the systems as newbies.


But high end talent that buys in and fits in never hurts.
Team is deep, have 3 maybe 4 (if Monty keeps his upward progression) scoring Fs,

Don't disagree thou, high end playmaker never hurt. I just like the collective make up as a whole

It’s an interesting discussion. I agree that Nurmi does a lot of things well. Plays a pro style game. I think you are correct in the fact that Cowan, Barkey, Halttunen are the go to guys up front. What I want to see is Halttunen dropped down a line because Cowan and Barkey play at much higher pace than him. This is where Jett or Owen Allard would be perfect for London. Just an opinion. I very well could be wrong.

 

[Otto]

Knights are now up to 52.6% for faceoffs. They are third in the league.

For a complete list please see the dedicated thread.

 

[GangGreen]

Julien good on face offs, good in shootouts. Is he a top 6 forward? Probably not, but with the talent of the other 5, no big deal. If you throw a 3rd line of Sim, Nicholl and Nurmi, you're doing fine. Luchanko is a great player, but not worth giving Hawery up.
Now if they could get Musty without giving up Hawery? Intriguing...

 

[PoisonMushroom]

Congrats to Isaiah George for scoring his first NHL goal vs the Leafs tonight!

 

[nelli27]

After two exhibition games, London Knights have accounted for almost half of Canada's goals (Cowan 4, Bonk 1).

 

[Knights77]

Picks can easily be recouped. Talented players cannot. There was a post earlier equating Hawreys development to that of Evangelista. Hawrey is actually further along at this stage. Adding more at this point will not push the needle any further this season and will hurt for next season. The Knights have rarely been a "this season only" team.. and when they have been it's come with zero success.

Another member posted the lines of what our team could look like next year and based on how many players won’t be back (some are question marks like Dickinson etc), this team will experience a large drop off from this year, be ready for it. And a 17 year old Hawery will not be the difference next year between the team being good or not. Like I said in my post before, I’d rather have a down year (something a spoiled Knights fan would not say) after an all in year where you leave no bullets in the chamber. So what if Jett “could” be overkill. You do not want another result like last year.
And I couldn’t agree more with what somebody else said that some players haven’t been as good as they should. If Jett slots in on the 2nd line then maybe that pushes somebody's like Julien down to the 3nd line, which would be great because as a 2nd line player he isn’t that good, but playing against other teams 3rd line would be the extra help he needs.
And regardless if other teams in the east haven’t loaded up, you have to figure somebody in the OHL will, and besides, it’s about bigger picture. You want to be able to win it all against the best in the country. And Jett helps you do that. Not to mention helps add depth should there be an injury up front.
Bottom line, if there is a card left I hope the Hunters use it. And if it’s a banger of a deal Jett = Hawery, even better.