London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[rve24]

McKenna has been Canada's best player all tournament, and he just turned 17. That's a problem when your youngest is the leader on the ice.

But then he has to produce, no? It's a results oriented business. It's not a problem if the youngest player is producing. It'd a problem when no one is producing consistently.
I actually thought the team played well outside the penalties lol but the lack of finish is a concern.

Put it on ice, step up next 3 games or don't. No biggie really in the long run.

 

[crowncarrier]

Agreed. Foot speed not good with these 2. Chip it by Dickinson and he has to hold... been caught twice but should have been 3x..

I love Dickinson but this is his Achilles heel....he gets beats he holds on. Best D in the league once he improves his foot speed.

 

[Sal Iaccuzzo]

So because they scored on his penalty it's his fault?? That's ridiculous. There were plenty of other dumb penalties where George bailed us out. It's ridiculous to say its Cowans fault as its simple math....if you take stupid penalties its going to bite you in the arse.

I meant it was unfortunate they scored on his because now he'll take a lot of heat. But the total amount of penalties in the game was bound to get them eventually.

 

[crowncarrier]

Canada needs to hit and forecheck....they need to go back to what made Canada such a powerhouse in years prior. Not only are we skilled but we will make you pay in the corners. Canada needs that toughness that has made us better then the rest when we may have not have been as skilled as our opponents. We have skill to boot but we are lacking that smash and bash that have made us a feared team to play against.

I meant it was unfortunate they scored on his because now he'll take a lot of heat. But the total amount of penalties in the game was bound to get them eventually.

Ok got you...sorry for the misinterpretation.

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

Is it me or has this become the WJC forum?

Firstly, the “game” this afternoon against the Sting was a complete clinic. This is exactly how to execute and roll with your 3/4 lines.

I really want to commend Boulton for doing his job, I think he and Aboflan stuck up for Hawery and played on the right side of the edge. Every game they both are better and will be hell in the playoffs.

Sim was on a mission, congrats on the hatty! Elliott is now 18-0 on the season!

Great work from Hawery, he is going to be the backbone of the future of this team.

As for WJC, Nurmi and Halttunen had another really good game, congratulations on the win!

Bonk and Dickinson had a good first half of the game but I think where wearing out later on. They both came close on the PP but need to make sure to hit the net do they don’t lose possession.

Cowan, pretty awful game. The stupid penalty was one that he should remember for a long time. He needs to elevate and control his emotions. There were worse culprits, but take accountability and do better.

Why is Cameron playing a passive box on the PK, it’s not working. Should actively attack the puck holders, Canada should be good enough for that and maintain a man on man coverage.

 

[Sane Knights Fan]

Maybe the team should have picked more Sarnia players. They really looked good today.

Lmao !!!! Yeah we should send Letang and the sting in place of team Canada Love that Sting team defense

 

[Sane Knights Fan]

Is it me or has this become the WJC forum?

Firstly, the “game” this afternoon against the Sting was a complete clinic. This is exactly how to execute and roll with your 3/4 lines.

I really want to commend Boulton for doing his job, I think he and Aboflan stuck up for Hawery and played on the right side of the edge. Every game they both are better and will be hell in the playoffs.

Sim was on a mission, congrats on the hatty! Elliott is now 18-0 on the season!

Great work from Hawery, he is going to be the backbone of the future of this team.

As for WJC, Nurmi and Halttunen had another really good game, congratulations on the win!

Bonk and Dickinson had a good first half of the game but I think where wearing out later on. They both came close on the PP but need to make sure to hit the net do they don’t lose possession.

Cowan, pretty awful game. The stupid penalty was one that he should remember for a long time. He needs to elevate and control his emotions. There were worse culprits, but take accountability and do better.

Why is Cameron playing a passive box on the PK, it’s not working. Should actively attack the puck holders, Canada should be good enough for that and maintain a man on man coverage.

I think Cameron’s got a leash around Dickinson. He’s not getting the green light to chip in offensively like Dale gives him I kept hoping to see one of his rushes up the ice but he gets to the blue line and runs out of leash

 

[M21]

Players were picked on the team for how they play and then they are making them all play a different way. They look confused and the result so far reflects that. Look at the Knights today. A clinic on what excellent coaching and confidence boosting can do.

 

[Sane Knights Fan]

look I hate it sometimes when the knights are standing in front of the net and instead of shooting they pass. It sometimes drives me nuts but I notice team Canada players including my favourite Easton want to be the team Canada goal scoring hero . Look at Ritchie and McKenna too. They will shoot from any terrible place before pass it . As a example early first period Ritchie has nothing to shoot at other then the goaltender , Cowan was on the other side wide open and Ritchie shoots , there not playing as a team and
Eastons trying to do too much , being an instigator is not his game , he wasn’t like this his first 2 seasons. This started after leafs screwed with his head he said it himself in a leaf interview thst he was looking for his first fight and started playing as a instigator type

 

[M21]

look I hate it sometimes when the knights are standing in front of the net and instead of shooting they pass. It sometimes drives me nuts but I notice team Canada players including my favourite Easton want to be the team Canada goal scoring hero . Look at Ritchie and McKenna too. They will shoot from any terrible place before pass it . As a example early first period Ritchie has nothing to shoot at other then the goaltender , Cowan was on the other side wide open and Ritchie shoots , there not playing as a team and
Eastons trying to do too much , being an instigator is not his game , he wasn’t like this his first 2 seasons. This started after leafs screwed with his head he said it himself in a leaf interview thst he was looking for his first fight and started playing as a instigator type

You have good forwards and defensemen put in a box and they don’t know how to play the way they are being asked (told) to. The tournament is about the players not the coaches. Again look at the Knights today. A perfect example of allowing players to play with confidence and use the skills they have.

 

[Matt93]

Knights continue to roll even without 5 of their top players. This should prove they don’t need to make anymore major moves ahead of the deadline and possibly upset the apple cart.

Enjoy the team we have and they will only be better after WJC. I don’t want to see anybody traded as they’ve all shown they have bought into Hunters systems and work their ass off every game.

 

[ohloutsider]

We've established Cowan had a terrible game.
Move on.
Thinking of trolling? Think again

It's why I don't pay to watch this tournament anymore. The entire tournament is being taken out of context and become another " political " vessel. Be safe.

 

[Holden Caufield]

Another great effort. The Depth keeps proving to be incredible, there is ‘finding a way to win’ shorthanded, but that was an offensive explosion (Maybe helped a bit by shaky Sting goaltending).


Boulton should be suspended for todays game for fighting last night, correct ? (Already over 3)
Would help if maybe it got delayed by a game due to league Inefficiency during a holiday.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

Another great effort. The Depth keeps proving to be incredible, there is ‘finding a way to win’ shorthanded, but that was an offensive explosion (Maybe helped a bit by shaky Sting goaltending).


Boulton should be suspended for todays game for fighting last night, correct ? (Already over 3)
Would help if maybe it got delayed by a game due to league Inefficiency during a holiday.

Boulton is in today and Nichol is back. Bidgood as a reserve in the sheet, otherwise looks like same roster as yesterday.

Medsy between the pipes.

 

[Long Reach]

Terry Doyle is awful lmao.

 

[Knights Watcher]

Why is Julien still on this team? Waste of an OA spot.

 

[Long Reach]

Sarnia cheapshot artists finally fingered on day 2.

 

[Knightsfan90]

Is it out of the question to try upgrade an OA Julien has not been good enough maybe you could flip him and picks to Erie for Pano Fimis.

I think you need more out of your OA
Austin has been amazing
Sim knows his role and seems to have found his groove
Julien seems disinterested at times
Just my thoughts

 

[OnlyUpFromHere]

Is it out of the question to try upgrade an OA Julien has not been good enough maybe you could flip him and picks to Erie for Pano Fimis.

I think you need more out of your OA
Austin has been amazing
Sim knows his role and seems to have found his groove
Julien seems disinterested at times
Just my thoughts

Erie’s selling?

 

[Knights Watcher]

Is it out of the question to try upgrade an OA Julien has not been good enough maybe you could flip him and picks to Erie for Pano Fimis.

I think you need more out of your OA
Austin has been amazing
Sim knows his role and seems to have found his groove
Julien seems disinterested at times
Just my thoughts

I could not agree more. I would even consider trading him to recoup some picks. Next week JJ13 may find himself on the 4th line and imagine how much more unmotivated he would be then.
Cut bait now at the trade deadline and give him a fresh start cuz he sure as heck is not worth a roster spot on this team going forward.

 

[Sane Knights Fan]

Terry Doyle is awful lmao.

What are you talking about Terry Doyle is definitely a Sting guy but he calls the game fair and like there are 2 teams on the ice

 

[Knightsfan90]

Erie’s selling?

Id imagine if they could get assests in a flip of OA's for picks and/or young prospects. They are just try to make the first round maybe second. After Matthew Schaefer broken collar bone might increase they make an OA move if purposed to improve the future.

 

[tjziel]

Guelph goaltender Brayden Gillispie has been traded to Brampton. That’s two former Storm that are now in Brampton…..

The more I think about it…. Looks like it Jett Luchanko will likely end up in Brampton or London. His chemistry with Vilmer Alriksson is legit.

Just have to think London is his first choice to be traded considering he was a huge Knights fan as a kid.

 

[All the Answers]

I think Cameron’s got a leash around Dickinson. He’s not getting the green light to chip in offensively like Dale gives him I kept hoping to see one of his rushes up the ice but he gets to the blue line and runs out of leash

He's too slow at this level to rush the puck.

 

[Knights77]

I’ve been calling for 13 to be dealt all year due to his play, however I can’t imagine Hunter moving him….London kid in his final year, his allegiance to older players likely gets in the way. However, if he were to do it that opens the door to some nice possibilities. Big Rig from Owen Sound? That would add size, toughness to our D that should be there with 49, but he has cement in his skates.
For me adding one more D puts 49 a scratch and Fimis/Fagan rotate as the 7th D. Then you have the best D in the CHL
Bonk Allen
Dickinson (trade) Gibson, Smith etc
Bruz Wooley
Fimis
you could role 3 lines of D and scale down to top 4 later in the game so you don’t exhaust your top pairings like last year.