London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV
- Thread starter SoupNazi
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dino200022
Registered User
Unfortunately that is the giant downfall of being Leafs property. Media hypes you up as the next Gretzky and when you only end up being a 99 point Mitch Marner all Leaf fans tear you down. He would be just another prospect if he was property of any other team, which is unfair to the kid for sure!
With that being said, hope he can keep his head held high and keep on trucking forward. I think he has a few good ones on this team that are going to keep his spirits lifted!
I am not scared of anyone in the West, but how good is Oshawa looking! If all goes well it is going to be a very tough finals, Oshawa is big, strong and fast. Can Oster hold up, that is their question mark IMO.
All the Answers
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- Jan 19, 2020
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Cowan to me looks like a better version of Brendan Gallagher. Somewhat undersized 2-way agitator who's a better scorer, skater and PKer that can fill in top 6 minutes but career middle of the lineup guy. If he can improve his shot he can work up an NHL roster with the way he works and gets opportunities. Nothing wrong with that for a career. We all will know more in the next 10 years.
Fastpace
The Devil's Advocate in Person
I'd like to be as optimistic about the Generals, and I am not seeing it, unfortunately. I am seeing a downside from them, they may not even get out of the semi in the East. If their system doesn't change, they will have a hard time winning the East championship against Barrie and Sudbury. They will also have to deal with Niagara and Kingston. Different coach from last season, and it shows, their system seems to have changed quite a bit.
dino200022
Registered User
Probably pretty close to what he will be, with a little bit of added offensive flair in his prime.
The issue is that the hardcore Leaf fans think he is the next coming of Gilmour because that is how the Canadian media ( TSN/SPORTSNET ) has built him up. They have built him up so much that even a successful NHL career is not enough at this point, he has to be a perennial all star. It is just silly to me to expect the world out of kids.
Holden Caufield
Registered User
I get that he has added attention related to the media and overzealous Leaf fans. But let’s not forget he earned the reputation himself. Cowan earned OHL MVP as an 18 year old. That is as high a standard as one can get.
He is capable of being the best player in the league, but is probably playing like the 4th best player on his team lately. There is no doubt he can elevate his game. And I’m sure he will down the stretch here… which is a scary thought for the rest of the league.
This is just not true.
The idea that Cowan has been over hyped by the media is a total fabrication by fans who hate the Leafs. Given the level of hate he has been getting (particularly since the worlds) I think he is actually pretty underrated right now.
Fastpace
The Devil's Advocate in Person
Check this out, the very top video; The refs is fist fighting the player
LDN
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- Sep 29, 2017
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I remember Barch well as a Knight. Great first year with London I felt as a rookie b showed good potential. Had to change his game up when he went pro but made a good career out of it.
Huron Perth has an excellent MM team this year if any1 wants to check out some solid hockey when they visit London or Elgin
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zman77
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- Oct 1, 2015
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London Knights longshot's path from house-league hockey to the OHL
Noah Aboflan, a free agent with no tangible Ontario Hockey League experience, was determined to make the roster of the defending champion London Knights this season.`Few have been better prepared for the task. The 19-year-old spent the summer training with ex-Knight Zac Rinaldo, his coach and mentor for the final half of the 2023-24 season with the Pelham Panthers of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League.
“We knew he wasn’t going to go in there and take a top six role and outskill the others,” Rinaldo said. “He needed to eat everybody’s food. There are no friends at camp. You’re there to take someone’s spot. You’re there for business.
“That’s how he conducted himself all summer and that’s why I’m coaching – for kids like Noah to have their dreams come true and put them on the path to success.”
Aboflan grew up in Elliot Lake, in northern Ontario between Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. He started as a house league goaltender until pee wee, then made the North Shore Thundercats A team at U14.
A broken wrist helped him realize how much he missed the game and propelled him to get serious about the sport.
“I tried out in the Soo for the AAA Junior Greyhounds in my U16 year (during the pandemic) and ended up cracking the roster,” the 6-foot, 192-pounder said. “That really kicked it off.”
He had a tryout with the OHL’s Hounds, but it led to nothing. He spent a half-season with the Northern league’s Blind River Beavers, then went home and played in Elliot Lake for the Red Wings (who were rebranded to the Vikings) before Rinaldo came knocking.
London Knights longshot's path from house-league hockey to the OHL
Noah Aboflan was determined to make the roster of the defending champion London Knights this season.
lfpress.com
You just have to look down the 402 to the kid named Nail Yakupov if ever you doubt how scoring is only one part of the game. How soon we forget .... The NHL is a MASSIVE last step!
Knights77
Registered User
I still think Barrie will be the team to beat in the finals. They played great game when they were in London, their import dman who is 6’7 224 is the nastiest player in the league and I mean that in a good way. He is very physical, plays a lot of minutes and uses his size. Add the fact they will have a new top scoring line we didn’t see (health depending), I think Barrie scares me much more than Oshawa.
That said in a 7 game series, still feel good about Knights chances.
Regarding which goalie starts playoffs unless something drastic happens between now and then, no way is it not Elliott starting. You spend an OA card for that guy to lead you with his experience. Yes there has been games he has fought the puck but all he’s done is go undeafeated. Tough crowd I guess.
Meds will have the rest of this year to gain experience and he will be the guy moving forward - and should Elliott falter, Dale won’t hesitate to give Meds a go. Dale always favours the older players and this will likely be no different.
