London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part IV

[LDN]

There skill sets and hockey IQ are similar. Cowan has a little bit more size and likes to crash and bang a bit more than Barkey, but Barkey is a tough SOB for his size. Barkey plays what i like to call "Datsyuk" style and is always a step ahead of the defender, great with his stick defensively and reads the play better than Cowan. Which says a lot because Cowan has quite a high hockey IQ. Barkey's one average skill is his skating I think, especially for a "smallish" player.

Cowan has the speed and size/feisty advantage, where as Barkey has the stick/defensive and smarts advantage. What Barkey lacks in speed/skill/size he makes up for in smarts and what Cowan lacks in smarts he makes up for in speed/skill/size.

That is why they are so damn dangerous when on the ice together even when shorthanded! Although I am really liking the Barkey/BMO combo. If Cowan can find a running mate as well than this is a very dangerous team! Would like to see O'Reilly with Cowan and Sim/Nurmi. Let Sim or Nurmi battle on the boards and get Cowan and O'Reilly the puck. I find Cowan has to do too much battling in the corners for a guy with his skillset and size.

Barkey-Nicholl-BMO
Nurmi-O'Reilly-Cowan
Sim-Julien-Halts
Abo/Read-Van Bommell-Van Gorp

PS - @LDN I would like your posts but it appears the like button has disappeard for me for some reason??

This is a good analysis of their play style. Do you projected both to be middle 6 NHLers?

I like the pairing idea. I’m wondering if they are trying to work a Halts and cowboy pairing?

Hmm that is odd!

IMO should’ve been either Goyette, Parekh or Cowan. Parekh had a season for the ages and capped it off with a Mem cup, Goyette lead the league in scoring so an argument to be made there.

However, Cowans big point streak is what won it 100%.

This year it has to be either Misa or Walton so far. Misa leading league in goals and points and Walton 3 pts behind but 20pt gap between him and his next teammate(excluding Mews since they just got him) all while having musty who may be the most talented in the league out for most of the year.

Not only can Walton win the MVP but also probably gets most improved (in east, and misa in west)

Misa is the MVP hands down. So far…

Wow. Big jump for Knights players on the mid-year NHL Central scouting list. Read and Van Gorp didn't even make the preliminary list but are now both on the mid-year. Brzustewicz was a "C" rated player (likely 4th or 5th rounder) and is now #19 amongst NA skaters (likely low 1st or high 2nd rounder). Medvedev was also a "C" rated goalie and is now #2 overall for NA goalies. Also of note that #2 skater is Hagens (oh, what could have been).

Overall, it really shows how much it helps your development to play for the knights!

I think this is a testament to how each player has helped London stay where they are through other year. Read is a guy I really hope gets drafted. Same with EVG, but definitely tough.

I wonder where Medsy and Brz land? They look to be locks now. I think Brz is looking like a late 1st rounder

 

[FrozenWookiee]

I wonder where Medsy and Brz land? They look to be locks now. I think Brz is looking like a late 1st rounder

Still lots of time between now and year end, but it's looking good for all of them. The hopeful deep run the knights go on should help the skaters, while it's tough to say how it impacts Medsy given the 1A/1B thing we seem to be doing in goal. Still, I can only see them going up from here.

Brz does look like a last 1st rounder to me, but I think it depends on team needs. He's 7th for NA D-men and a lot of teams just take the best available player for the early picks rather than focusing on needs. But if you get a team that needs D help later in the 1st, I could see it happening. Especially if he keeps up the great play and moves up the rankings.

 

[dino200022]

This is a good analysis of their play style. Do you projected both to be middle 6 NHLers?

I like the pairing idea. I’m wondering if they are trying to work a Halts and cowboy pairing?

Hmm that is odd!


Misa is the MVP hands down. So far…


I think this is a testament to how each player has helped London stay where they are through other year. Read is a guy I really hope gets drafted. Same with EVG, but definitely tough.

I wonder where Medsy and Brz land? They look to be locks now. I think Brz is looking like a late 1st rounder

I think Cowan is going to be a Gallagher/Konecny mashup type of player. A 2nd/3rd line guy who brings energy, nets 20-25 goals with 60-65 points. PP2, PK2 type of guy. With his skating ability and "size" he has a little bit more upside than Barkey at the next level.

Barkey reminds me of Martin St. Pierre, they are identical in every single way. Tough for a smaller bodied player, smart as smart can be, great stick, great skills...but average footspeed. In Junior you can get away with that, unfortunately at the next level unless you are a big body like Maroon or scoring goals like Laine footspeed is a huge part of the game. So I see him as more of a tweener, too good for the AHL but just can't quite stick in the show. If he can find a way to improve his skating I see him as a Yanni Gourde type of guy. 200 foot 3rd line winger 40ish points who kills penalties and is defensively responsible.


Misa is a solid choice, but I see his production slowing down here after the deadline but I have been wrong before! I Will throw another name out there who is carrying a team on his back but can it continue? Jackson Parsons???

 

[dirty12]

IMO should’ve been either Goyette, Parekh or Cowan. Parekh had a season for the ages and capped it off with a Mem cup, Goyette lead the league in scoring so an argument to be made there.

However, Cowans big point streak is what won it 100%.

This year it has to be either Misa or Walton so far. Misa leading league in goals and points and Walton 3 pts behind but 20pt gap between him and his next teammate(excluding Mews since they just got him) all while having musty who may be the most talented in the league out for most of the year.

Not only can Walton win the MVP but also probably gets most improved (in east, and misa in west)

Goyette was about as deserving of MVP as Rehkopf this season; not at all deserving of any consideration imo. An MVP has to be the difference of a few wins above replacement, right?

 

[Fastpace]

Easton Cowan was every bit of deserving for League MVP, not only did he have a long point streak, he was a clutch player for London. Leading in shorties, strong power play producer, and 5 on 5, he led a very young London team by example. His back checking was one of the best, if not the best, that was the reason Dale played him, he made errors at times, yes, it wasn't free for him, he earned his recognition as MVP

 

[BobHockey]

IMO should’ve been either Goyette, Parekh or Cowan. Parekh had a season for the ages and capped it off with a Mem cup, Goyette lead the league in scoring so an argument to be made there.

However, Cowans big point streak is what won it 100%.

This year it has to be either Misa or Walton so far. Misa leading league in goals and points and Walton 3 pts behind but 20pt gap between him and his next teammate(excluding Mews since they just got him) all while having musty who may be the most talented in the league out for most of the year.

Not only can Walton win the MVP but also probably gets most improved (in east, and misa in west)

"Parekh had a season for the ages and capped it off with a Mem cup,"

He also lead the league in quick recovery from apparent devastating injuries and escaping punishment for some serious stick infractions.

 

[Fastpace]

"Parekh had a season for the ages and capped it off with a Mem cup,"

He also lead the league in quick recovery from apparent devastating injuries and escaping punishment for some serious stick infractions.

The young man has big offensive talent, that can't be denied, however we can't say the same for his defensive play a year ago. The MVP should never go to a player who leads the league as the most hated player, His vicious head attacks on players and his diving were recognized by fans. He is a great player, that is not in question here, and can become League MVP one day, but there are still a lot for him to learn first. IMHO

 

[rve24]

The young man has big offensive talent, that can't be denied, however we can't say the same for his defensive play a year ago. The MVP should never go to a player who leads the league as the most hated player, His vicious head attacks on players and his diving were recognized by fans. He is a great player, that is not in question here, and can become League MVP one day, but there are still a lot for him to learn first. IMHO

It's ok to say a player is most hated in the league after all your posts about not being negative about kids? Is this by fans, players, ohl staffs? Any way to quantify your take on the player? Or just your opinion based on this board? What if he reads this and feels bad cause you say he is the most hated player by whoever you base this on? Seems harsh based on your preaching, no?

I think Cowan is going to be a Gallagher/Konecny mashup type of player. A 2nd/3rd line guy who brings energy, nets 20-25 goals with 60-65 points. PP2, PK2 type of guy. With his skating ability and "size" he has a little bit more upside than Barkey at the next level.

Barkey reminds me of Martin St. Pierre, they are identical in every single way. Tough for a smaller bodied player, smart as smart can be, great stick, great skills...but average footspeed. In Junior you can get away with that, unfortunately at the next level unless you are a big body like Maroon or scoring goals like Laine footspeed is a huge part of the game. So I see him as more of a tweener, too good for the AHL but just can't quite stick in the show. If he can find a way to improve his skating I see him as a Yanni Gourde type of guy. 200 foot 3rd line winger 40ish points who kills penalties and is defensively responsible.


Misa is a solid choice, but I see his production slowing down here after the deadline but I have been wrong before! I Will throw another name out there who is carrying a team on his back but can it continue? Jackson Parsons???

I posted first year...Barkey is just easy to cheer for as a Jr player and a great Jr player but Cowan has the higher upside professionally. Good post. TY.

 

[rve24]

As far as line combos, Dale will experiment, but history suggests a solid match up line. I think he will shuffle Cowan, Barkey, Halts, Monty, Orielly, Nicholl and one or 2 others on 2 lines but that 3rd line, checking line, match up line whatever you choose looks like Julien, Sim, Nirmi n whoever but I know Shi......
I could even see Dale waiting til rd 3/4 to solidify roles but who knows. Love it.
So much flexibility but I'd like to see them find a connection, compatibility that get Halts going. Maybe it's with Barkey, i dunno. I know Barkey, Monty n whoever have been hot but it's time to challenge players with roles.
Some Fs create for themselves n others n Dale has a few of them he can shuffle n still keep the train rolling downhill.

 

[frontsfan67]

"Parekh had a season for the ages and capped it off with a Mem cup,"

He also lead the league in quick recovery from apparent devastating injuries and escaping punishment for some serious stick infractions.

Also true. I am not a huge fan- he spit in 2 fronts faces last year, McNamara and burns but the reality is facts > feelings and the fact is he was saginaws mvp last year, perhaps the best d man in not only the league but out of all 3 and he capped it off with a memorial cup win. Kid is very talented regardless of how you feel about him.

 

[EvanderKanesBookie]

I’d like to think another NHL comparison for Cowan is Garland

 

[Fastpace]

It's ok to say a player is most hated in the league after all your posts about not being negative about kids? Is this by fans, players, ohl staffs? Any way to quantify your take on the player? Or just your opinion based on this board? What if he reads this and feels bad cause you say he is the most hated player by whoever you base this on? Seems harsh based on your preaching, no?



I posted first year...Barkey is just easy to cheer for as a Jr player and a great Jr player but Cowan has the higher upside professionally. Good post. TY.

Yup, you all got me! I am not perfect, spank me

I hope you have all noticed, the praise as well as the hope where the need of his improvement, as well as no name-calling used, and yes it is an embarrassment to him. I must say that I was debating with myself if I was going to use the hating part.

Thank you all for noticind ( recieved a lot of PM)., this is what I want from you, you are all getting the thumbs up

 

[crowncarrier]

Not 100% sure but I believe Elliott is one win away from tying the CHL record for games started in a career without a regulation loss. I believe he had 2 wins with the Blades before coming over to London giving him 19 consecutive wins in a row.

I may have misread the previous record as I was surprised it was only 20 games.

 

[KnightWatcher]

Not 100% sure but I believe Elliott is one win away from tying the CHL record for games started in a career without a regulation loss. I believe he had 2 wins with the Blades before coming over to London giving him 19 consecutive wins in a row.

I may have misread the previous record as I was surprised it was only 20 games.

I think Gerald Coleman went 30 games without a loss for Knights, but had a few ties?

 

[Random2152]

Are you sure about that. Going into the tournament he was touted as potentially being the best player on the team. Which us London folks hoped would be correct, but most could very well argue that he is not even the best player on his Junior team so I am not too sure how that is being "under hyped"

All summer TSN was Leafs or Bust for Cowan....I guess that is not overhype for a 19 year old prospect who again was not even the best player on his junior team last year? Ya he won OHL MVP, but to me that came out of nowhere based solely on hype and it should have gone to Denver, Musty or Parekh IMO.

Can't imagine why the kid who nearly made the Leafs at 18 was being hyped to make the Leafs at 19 after an MVP season.
I'm sorry you think Cowan shouldn't have won MVP. You're wrong.

And for the record, Cowan was the best Canadian forward at the worlds. He was damn near the only one trying to do anything all tournament and had no one to make plays with and play to his strength. People are generally terrible at evaling coaching failures, particularly when you introduce an anti-Leafs bias for the player in that system. Cowan was driving play hard. If you can't see that you don't have a good eye test (and thats fine, nothing wrong with just being a fan).

Cowan was getting dumped on way more than anyone else and the difference is that he is a Leafs prospect. Thats it. A good eye test proves it, and if you're so inclined the underlying numbers prove it too.

Especially considering on FanDuel they had odds specifically for him for points (over/under 11.5 - tourney leader ended with 11 I believe), he was heavy minus money to score a goal - -280 I believe against Latvia (implied probability of a 73.% chance to score). Cowan's obviously a good player he's not at the level of elite goal scorer the media was making him out to be.

I simply do not care about betting markets in rating players. Degen gamblers are not scouts lmao

I think Cowan is going to be a Gallagher/Konecny mashup type of player. A 2nd/3rd line guy who brings energy, nets 20-25 goals with 60-65 points. PP2, PK2 type of guy. With his skating ability and "size" he has a little bit more upside than Barkey at the next level.

This is exactly what he is hyped to be. This is all he has ever been hyped to be. Everything else saying he was "Gilmour" or whatever was a fabrication by Leafs haters who overreact to any positive coverage of a Leaf

 

[leafs4life94]

I simply do not care about betting markets in rating players. Degen gamblers are not scouts lmao

No shit, If that was what the conversation was about then I'd agree but it has nothing to do with rating players, the conversation was about how hyped he was going in, and the fact he had his own markets tells you he was being pushed very hard.

If you honestly think Cowan was the best forward than idk what to say because it's clear there's an eyesight problem here.

 

[nelli27]

Here's my 2 cents on Cowan...
There was discussion pre-season that Cowan had a chance to stick with the Leafs this season. Why this speculation? Because he dominated at the OHL level last season. Point totals, point streak, great playoff run, led Knights to OHL title. So the thought was maybe there's nothing left for him to prove in junior hockey.
We know what happened next... didn't earn a spot with the Leafs, sent back to the Knights and continued his stellar play (check points, point streak, and London's record with him in the lineup, only 2 losses).
He was clearly affected by reactions to his world junior performance...I think he'll find his groove, and continue to dominate.
As for where he projects as an NHL player, I don't give much thought to. Bring a championship to London... that's what I care about. Schremp or Perry...all the same to me.

 

[dino200022]

Can't imagine why the kid who nearly made the Leafs at 18 was being hyped to make the Leafs at 19 after an MVP season.
I'm sorry you think Cowan shouldn't have won MVP. You're wrong.

And for the record, Cowan was the best Canadian forward at the worlds. He was damn near the only one trying to do anything all tournament and had no one to make plays with and play to his strength. People are generally terrible at evaling coaching failures, particularly when you introduce an anti-Leafs bias for the player in that system. Cowan was driving play hard. If you can't see that you don't have a good eye test (and thats fine, nothing wrong with just being a fan).

Cowan was getting dumped on way more than anyone else and the difference is that he is a Leafs prospect. Thats it. A good eye test proves it, and if you're so inclined the underlying numbers prove it too.




I simply do not care about betting markets in rating players. Degen gamblers are not scouts lmao


This is exactly what he is hyped to be. This is all he has ever been hyped to be. Everything else saying he was "Gilmour" or whatever was a fabrication by Leafs haters who overreact to any positive coverage of a Leaf

Canada's Best forward at the Juniors??? I am sorry I can't have a discussion with you after that comment as it is clear hockey is not really your forte to say it nicely. Cowan simply fit it at best.

Lets make a list of forwards who played better:
McKenna, Catton, Nadeau, Pinelli, Howe, Ritchie....

With that being said, he is playing well here in London so I really do not care haha.

 

[LDN]

Canada's Best forward at the Juniors??? I am sorry I can't have a discussion with you after that comment as it is clear hockey is not really your forte to say it nicely. Cowan simply fit it at best.

Lets make a list of forwards who played better:
McKenna, Catton, Nadeau, Pinelli, Howe, Ritchie....

With that being said, he is playing well here in London so I really do not care haha.

He is playing consistently solid, but he’s not dominating as one would expect a player to after last season

 

[rve24]

Knights are having a pretty good year so far, huh.
Getting contributions thru out the line up, at all positions.

 

[LDN]

Knights are having a pretty good year so far, huh.
Getting contributions thru out the line up, at all positions.

Yes. It’s depth. Not any one player taking over

 

[dino200022]

agreed, very much a 3 line team, poor Van Gorp now relegated to the 4th line but they are playing far more than what Dale normally gives his fourth line that is for sure!

 

[donjohnson]

Barch’s kid is draft eligible? Yeah, I’m officially old.

His older brother was just signed by the Spirit

Spirit sign 2023 selection Hayden Barch - Ontario Hockey League

Saginaw, Mich. – Spirit GM Dave Drinkill announced Monday afternoon that the team has signed defenseman Hayden Barch to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. A right-shot from Grand Bend, Ont., Barch clocks in at 6’1”, 190 lbs. “We’re excited to bring Hayden on board,” said Drinkill...

chl.ca

 

[LDN]

agreed, very much a 3 line team, poor Van Gorp now relegated to the 4th line but they are playing far more than what Dale normally gives his fourth line that is for sure!

the 4th line can be ran out more for sure.

 

[dino200022]

the 4th line can be ran out more for sure.

I think they are...they were even sent out a few times against Windsor's 2nd line in the second period.

Dales 4th lines in big/tight games usually get 2 -1st period shifts, 1 maybe 2 2nd period shifts, 0 3rd period shifts. Maybe have them out for 5 shifts the whole game.

This year they seem to be getting closer to 8-10 shifts a game.