London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[KnightWatch]

Really?
McCue (or Luchanko) would play ahead of Van Bommel, Julien (yes for real), Boulton (depending on the opponent), Hawery/Bidgood/Gerber (if any were in the lineup)….
Also, don’t know of any team that’s impervious to injuries. Wouldn’t it be nice if say O’Rielly went down with an injury, you can move a solid player up in his place?
One could argue that the injury to Leonard last year contributed to the failed Memorial Cup run and I’d listen to it. They top 4 D we’re exhausted by the end as they were playing h North of 30 min every game. It was silly. #3 iced the puck more times in the mem cup then I’ve ever seen a dman do that. Not because of lack of skill but he was burnt out. He wasn’t the only one.
If you have 1 left in the chamber, you pull the trigger. Because this time if you fail, you can say you were all in. If you stand pat, and don’t win it all, you can wonder what if. And what for, to be “a bit more competitive” against the likes of KIT and WSR? No thanks. THAT is being spoiled. Go all in like any normal team does, and deal with the swings later.

Other teams fans ask how the Knights can be so good every year!

They are so good every year because they DON'T "Go all in like any normal team does"!

While other teams are trading away their top prospects in order to go "all in", the Knights almost always manage to make whatever trades they can WITHOUT trading away their top prospects! This is why they rarely, if ever, ice a poor team!

Most posters on here are more than willing to be just like every other team, go all in for one big year, then struggle for the next three.....or more. Personally, I much prefer the Hunter system. Sure, they may not guarantee victory in any particular season, but they always seem to have a good chance at winning it all!

This is why I would be incredibly disappointed if they were to trade Hawery! Personally, I think the team is already strong enough to go the distance this year, and the only way I can see them trading Hawery, is if both Hunters are planning on retiring at the end of the season!

 

[Long Reach]

Only one year as a Knight, but one of the best defencemen to wear the green and gold.

 

[rve24]

Other teams fans ask how the Knights can be so good every year!

They are so good every year because they DON'T "Go all in like any normal team does"!

While other teams are trading away their top prospects in order to go "all in", the Knights almost always manage to make whatever trades they can WITHOUT trading away their top prospects! This is why they rarely, if ever, ice a poor team!

Most posters on here are more than willing to be just like every other team, go all in for one big year, then struggle for the next three.....or more. Personally, I much prefer the Hunter system. Sure, they may not guarantee victory in any particular season, but they always seem to have a good chance at winning it all!

This is why I would be incredibly disappointed if they were to trade Hawery! Personally, I think the team is already strong enough to go the distance this year, and the only way I can see them trading Hawery, is if both Hunters are planning on retiring at the end of the season!

I'll agree they don't break the bank at the trade deadline all to often, but they do make big trades pre/early season and have given up alot of 1st rd/2nd picks over the last 10 yrs in different deals. But the 1sts/2nds given up probly weren't their best prospects, agreed.
Paid 2nds plus plus for other teams 1st rd holdouts players, ( why not pay the price n get kids you targeted for 3/4 yrs at same cost they'd be a rental for lol)
Their consistency is in utilizing assets ( depth quality players for picks) and pivoting to take advantage of league systems/rules in place, having invested in a quality org, players want to go to, developing pro talent ect.....
For the stats number crunchers out there how many 1st rd picks in last 5/10/15/20 yrs LK move? and how does it compare across the league?
Asset management is the key wether it's consistency all in, sell sell selll........whatever n MH does it well.

 

[rve24]

Only one year as a Knight, but one of the best defencemen to wear the green and gold.

Very impressive, absolutely! Pleasure to watch.

 

[purple pharrt]

Just to introduce a comparison: Have any of you gone to a specialty bakery and have a delicious-looking cake catch your eye ? Something that just looks to be a masterpiece of culinary delight. Now imagine that cake and try adding just another slice, in the hope of somehow making it that much better. Odds are that your perfect cake will suffer the attempt, and that extra piece just will not fit in to make the whole thing better. In fact, it has just a good a chance of ruining the symmetry and artistic accomplishment that provided the initial appeal.

Moral of the story: Sometimes it's wise to know when to quit, and there are times when the best deal is the one that wasn't made.

 

[Matt93]

Other teams fans ask how the Knights can be so good every year!

They are so good every year because they DON'T "Go all in like any normal team does"!

While other teams are trading away their top prospects in order to go "all in", the Knights almost always manage to make whatever trades they can WITHOUT trading away their top prospects! This is why they rarely, if ever, ice a poor team!

Most posters on here are more than willing to be just like every other team, go all in for one big year, then struggle for the next three.....or more. Personally, I much prefer the Hunter system. Sure, they may not guarantee victory in any particular season, but they always seem to have a good chance at winning it all!

This is why I would be incredibly disappointed if they were to trade Hawery! Personally, I think the team is already strong enough to go the distance this year, and the only way I can see them trading Hawery, is if both Hunters are planning on retiring at the end of the season!

Those same fans begging for a huge trade and mortgaging the future would be the first to complain the Knights aren't good and demanding change.

Some sports fans are never happy. Either their team sucks or their team is good but they want better! Some Knights fans won't be happy until they go 68-0 and sweep their way to the Mem Cup.

 

[Long Reach]

Other teams fans ask how the Knights can be so good every year!

They are so good every year because they DON'T "Go all in like any normal team does"!

While other teams are trading away their top prospects in order to go "all in", the Knights almost always manage to make whatever trades they can WITHOUT trading away their top prospects! This is why they rarely, if ever, ice a poor team!

Most posters on here are more than willing to be just like every other team, go all in for one big year, then struggle for the next three.....or more. Personally, I much prefer the Hunter system. Sure, they may not guarantee victory in any particular season, but they always seem to have a good chance at winning it all!

This is why I would be incredibly disappointed if they were to trade Hawery! Personally, I think the team is already strong enough to go the distance this year, and the only way I can see them trading Hawery, is if both Hunters are planning on retiring at the end of the season!

No one is saying you have to struggle for three years to maximize this year. I’m sure there are ways to improve your chances this year while keeping contending windows open for 26/27 and beyond, especially with the NCAA rule change that London has already benefited from and should continue to benefit from. We’re not talking about the Sarnia Sting or Peterborough Petes here.

Those same fans begging for a huge trade and mortgaging the future would be the first to complain the Knights aren't good and demanding change.

Some sports fans are never happy. Either their team sucks or their team is good but they want better! Some Knights fans won't be happy until they go 68-0 and sweep their way to the Mem Cup.

Respectfully, this is a straw man argument and this is a discussion board about the Knights. I’ve said my peace and respect and understand the opposing viewpoint but I won’t repeat myself. Posts like this don’t seem to further the discussion and isn’t very inviting for one so I’ll step out. Cheers.

 

[ArielNederland]

Not sure if this is true or not, but that would be big if it is true

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

Barrie did a great job adding the 300 point line tii on their roster, they now have 9 NHL drafted players to their lineup. They skew a bit younger 1x04s, 4x05s, 4x06s.

The knights consist of 13 NHL picks at the moment: 2x04s, 8x05s, 3x06s, adding Jett Lushanko would give us another 06 and most certainly would be back next year. I am okay with staying pat or if we add another it can’t be at the cost of Hawery, it would have to be from the 07 group.

Next year we are getting a lot younger going from a core of 05s to 07s but still loads of talent. Likely still have 6/7 NHL drafted players to start the season.

 

[ArielNederland]

Not sure if luchenko is getting dealt. Maybe london should/ will pivot towards mccue at this point

 

[dmead]

More talent than Owen.

Wouldnt expect you to understand the joke.

 

[Buttsy]

Some sports fans are never happy. Either their team sucks or their team is good but they want better! Some Knights fans won't be happy until they go 68-0 and sweep their way to the Mem Cup.

LOL, I see no flaw in this approach? Having said that I really don’t see any significant holes in the current lineup. Lots of folks forget Mark likes to shop early and he has added to the team in all the major areas in Goal, on the blue line & up front. Every game it seems Montgomery is making serious strides in his OHL career. Also I really like the youth we have on this team and the development of a Hawery, Read etc in the second half will be fun to watch!

 

[LDN]

Who is your halfway ish mark of the season award winners? MVP, Heart, Rookie, Fan Favourite

IMO….

MVP: Sam Dickinson
Heart: Will Nicholl
Rookie: Noah Read
Fan Favourite: Easton Cowan

Would love to see other’s opinions

 

[LucaC27]

MVP: Dickinson
Heart: Sim
Rookie: Medvedev
Fan Favorite: Cowan

 

[GoKnightsGo44]

I’ll play:


MVP: Denver Barkey
Heart: Landon Sim
Rookie: Aleksei Medvedev
Most Improved: Evan Van Gorp
Most Underrated: Austin Elliott
Hardest Worker: Will Nicholl
Breakout Player to Watch: Jesse Nurmi
Fan Favourite: Easton Cowan

 

[rve24]

Just to introduce a comparison: Have any of you gone to a specialty bakery and have a delicious-looking cake catch your eye ? Something that just looks to be a masterpiece of culinary delight. Now imagine that cake and try adding just another slice, in the hope of somehow making it that much better. Odds are that your perfect cake will suffer the attempt, and that extra piece just will not fit in to make the whole thing better. In fact, it has just a good a chance of ruining the symmetry and artistic accomplishment that provided the initial appeal.

Moral of the story: Sometimes it's wise to know when to quit, and there are times when the best deal is the one that wasn't made.

Ever go to a bakery n see the perfect chocolate cake that tastes amazing , but then grab a tub of vanilla ice cream that enhances what you already had by fitting perfectly together.

I get what your saying but always 2 sides ( Watson, Graves Winterton... )

Both ways I'm good with as a fan.

 

[Knights77]

Other teams fans ask how the Knights can be so good every year!

They are so good every year because they DON'T "Go all in like any normal team does"!

While other teams are trading away their top prospects in order to go "all in", the Knights almost always manage to make whatever trades they can WITHOUT trading away their top prospects! This is why they rarely, if ever, ice a poor team!

Most posters on here are more than willing to be just like every other team, go all in for one big year, then struggle for the next three.....or more. Personally, I much prefer the Hunter system. Sure, they may not guarantee victory in any particular season, but they always seem to have a good chance at winning it all!

This is why I would be incredibly disappointed if they were to trade Hawery! Personally, I think the team is already strong enough to go the distance this year, and the only way I can see them trading Hawery, is if both Hunters are planning on retiring at the end of the season!

With all due respect, Hawery will not be the difference between struggling for the next 3 years and not

 

[dmead]

Im getting hungry

 

[LDN]

Gens are loaded up. I think we know the Knights can beat them, but we also know they could beat us. The skill set is fairly similar. The rematch in Oshawa in March will be interesting and hopefully a preview of the finals. I truly believe Oshawa is better than Barrie.

 

[TheOrangePylon]

I like the trade for Allen even more now ...

 

[LDN]

I like the trade for Allen even more now ...

How come?

 

[Buttsy]

I’ll play:

Breakout Player to Watch: Jesse Nurmi

I’m with ya can’t argue any of your choices. But oh my goodness this could resemble watching paint dry?

 

[TheOrangePylon]

How come?

Because we didn't give up as much as Oshawa did for Gibson, for the cost difference, I don't know if there is that much if a difference between Allen and Gibson.

We gave up some higher picks, but they gave up their First round pick. So, we held onto Hawery and acquired an elite D man. That is why I like the deal more.

 

[ArielNederland]

I feel london is done trading unless someone has insider info that says otherwise. Bmo and Allen have been good pick ups. Windsor got mcnamara and barrie/oshawa just loaded up

 

[LDN]

Current go for it teams: Brampton, London, Oshawa, Barrie, Kingston