London Knights 2024-25 Season Thread, Part V

[M21]

Knights are in first place. #1 in both goals for and against. No team wins every game. Just off a successful 3 game road trip. Not sure where some of the panic is coming from. Does anyone feel a healthy Knights team are not a favourite to win the OHL this year? There are many good teams in the east and the west but a full healthy roster Knights team will be tough to beat as long as they play as a team and every player accepts the role they are asked to play.

 

[Knights77]

OHL power rankings are a snap shot of who is hot in the past week and you can see teams go up and down as many as 4-5 spots. The CHL rankings while factoring in the past week of play take on a bigger picture of how the team has done over the past weeks and how the project to fair (is evident by the weekly write ups).

Yes it’s good to see JJ13 play better than he has, and while some can’t understand why he’s “this years whipping boy”, maybe it’s just blatantly obvious he hasn’t played as well as he did last year, and hasn’t put up consistent heart and soul performances you’d expect of a player given a coveted OA spot. Always going to be some weak links and it’s ok to point it out for discussion instead of being a happy clapper.

How bout that Rags vs Soo game? 15 round shootout! And it wasn’t Parsons in net either.

 

[M21]

OHL power rankings are a snap shot of who is hot in the past week and you can see teams go up and down as many as 4-5 spots. The CHL rankings while factoring in the past week of play take on a bigger picture of how the team has done over the past weeks and how the project to fair (is evident by the weekly write ups).

Yes it’s good to see JJ13 play better than he has, and while some can’t understand why he’s “this years whipping boy”, maybe it’s just blatantly obvious he hasn’t played as well as he did last year, and hasn’t put up consistent heart and soul performances you’d expect of a player given a coveted OA spot. Always going to be some weak links and it’s ok to point it out for discussion instead of being a happy clapper.

How bout that Rags vs Soo game? 15 round shootout! And it wasn’t Parsons in net either.

I think not being signed by the Jets and wondering if an NHL career is in his future has affected JJ13’s play this year. That is totally understandable for a 20 year old kid and needs to be considered on this forum. Everyone of us here should relate to that feeling of a dream not being a reality. He is an important part of the team and will be an important contributor both offensively and defensively come playoff time. Not every player is Sidney Crosby.

 

[Fastpace]

OHL power rankings are a snap shot of who is hot in the past week and you can see teams go up and down as many as 4-5 spots. The CHL rankings while factoring in the past week of play take on a bigger picture of how the team has done over the past weeks and how the project to fair (is evident by the weekly write ups).

Yes it’s good to see JJ13 play better than he has, and while some can’t understand why he’s “this years whipping boy”, maybe it’s just blatantly obvious he hasn’t played as well as he did last year, and hasn’t put up consistent heart and soul performances you’d expect of a player given a coveted OA spot. Always going to be some weak links and it’s ok to point it out for discussion instead of being a happy clapper.

How bout that Rags vs Soo game? 15 round shootout! And it wasn’t Parsons in net either.

From what position on the team is Knights77 talking about this whipped boy, in the above post? Is he a coach, an assistant or maybe from the management position? Must be working with the whipped boy every day to know much about the young man in question? Perhaps he is speaking from a third balcony fan's view, how much is it known what his NHL team that drafted him wants the boy to work on, or what role is asked of him to play on the team by his coaches. Based on the reviewed post above, it seems blatantly obvious that this comment is only from the offensive side of the player and not from the full set of skills the player brings.

 

[nelli27]

I think not being signed by the Jets and wondering if an NHL career is in his future has affected JJ13’s play this year. That is totally understandable for a 20 year old kid and needs to be considered on this forum. Everyone of us here should relate to that feeling of a dream not being a reality. He is an important part of the team and will be an important contributor both offensively and defensively come playoff time. Not every player is Sidney Crosby.

Ah, Julien's fine...probably thinking of an upcoming engineering exam at Western. Smart kid...can pursue many career paths.
He has the ability, and he's capable of putting up the numbers.

 

[LDN]

Ah, Julien's fine...probably thinking of an upcoming engineering exam at Western. Smart kid...can pursue many career paths.
He has the ability, and he's capable of putting up the numbers.

Big playoffs coming up from him is my sense.

 

[Knights Watcher]

Yes it’s good to see JJ13 play better than he has, and while some can’t understand why he’s “this years whipping boy”, maybe it’s just blatantly obvious he hasn’t played as well as he did last year, and hasn’t put up consistent heart and soul performances you’d expect of a player given a coveted OA spot. Always going to be some weak links and it’s ok to point it out for discussion instead of being a happy clapper.

Could not agree more. JJ13, although playing well lately (the last few games) just doesn't seem to have his heart in it this season for whatever reason.

 

[Knights Watcher]

From what position on the team is Knights77 talking about this whipped boy, in the above post? Is he a coach, an assistant or maybe from the management position? Must be working with the whipped boy every day to know much about the young man in question? Perhaps he is speaking from a third balcony fan's view, how much is it known what his NHL team that drafted him wants the boy to work on, or what role is asked of him to play on the team by his coaches. Based on the reviewed post above, it seems blatantly obvious that this comment is only from the offensive side of the player and not from the full set of skills the player brings.

Dude, relax. We are expressing our opinions of what we see from a fan's point of view. Some of us see this player's performance a little lacking from what he was last season. Some others see his value to the team. Neither side of the fence is entirely wrong here. Obviously the Knights brass see value in keeping him as an OA, but at the same time, they may be disappointed with the results compared to their expectations early on. It's too late now to make a change as the team is set. But don't be surprised if and when he slides down the depth chart (which has already started to occur IMO).

 

[Ken Yates]

Time for a trivia question: Seth Griffith sits #45 in all time scoring in the AHL(608 points)...there another London Knight ahead of him sitting at #31 with 667 points. Can you name him without looking it up?

 

[Ken Yates]

Funny now that i look closer i am the only one on here using their real name.

 

[Fastpace]

Time for a trivia question: Seth Griffith sits #45 in all time scoring in the AHL(608 points)...there another London Knight ahead of him sitting at #31 with 667 points. Can you name him without looking it up?

I am thinking either Chris Taylor or Brad Smith, it all depend on how many games each played, I know at one time both were doing really well. Tom Kostopoulos (hope it's the right spelling) was bouncing back and forth between AHL and NHL, he was also doing well in the AHL. Has to be between the three, I'm going to look them up, and get back with some numbers

It appears to be Brad Smith according to these AHL numbers

Brad Smith 667pts
Seth Griffith 608pts
Chris Taylor 560pts
Tom Kostopoulos 540pts

 

[Ken Yates]

I am thinking either Chris Taylor or Brad Smith, it all depend on how many games each played, I know at one time both were doing really well. Tom Kostopoulos (hope it's the right spelling) was bouncing back and forth between AHL and NHL, he was also doing well in the AHL. Has to be between the three, I'm going to look them up, and get back with some numbers

Great job Brad Smyth..Kostopoulos was#80 And Taylor #74

 

[Otto]

So.. about those robot goalies.. will they run on fossil fuels or will they be electric?

 

[M21]

Anyone know the status of Denver Barkey and Easton Cowan for this weekend. It’s better not to rush them if more time will make them 100%.

 

[Ken Yates]

We are a very lucky group to be fans of a team that is in every game has winning % above any other team in Hockey. Entertaining games every night and a coaching staff that cares about its players and their future. I look forward to every Friday night!!

 

[All the Answers]

So.. about those robot goalies.. will they run on fossil fuels or will they be electric?

Had a robot at the Swiss Chalet last night, but alas we were served by a human.

4 shelf Betty had some good agility- defense. 2039 draft eligible

 

[ReLyT]

 

[purple pharrt]

Speaking of players returning from injury, I'm curious as to how many games are lost to player injuries ? How do the Knights stack up, when compared to other teams ? Are there teams who tend to be more " injury prone " than others ? How does strength and fitness conditioning play a role in players staying healthy over the course of a season ? Is there a co-relation between injury avoidance and a team's focus on fitness & conditioning ?
It's a different topic/subject, but at this level, and beyond, it's probably worth a discussion

 

[dino200022]

I am going to assume that unless guys are going for some personal milestones we are going to start seeing the Knights rest some guys that are nursing injuries. If it was playoff time Cowan and Barkey would have been in the lineup. I would rather go into the playoffs as healthy as possible with some of the big dogs playing less minutes per game as well. Need to keep them healthy as there should be a long upcoming run coming once the regular season is over!

 

[LDN]

I am going to assume that unless guys are going for some personal milestones we are going to start seeing the Knights rest some guys that are nursing injuries. If it was playoff time Cowan and Barkey would have been in the lineup. I would rather go into the playoffs as healthy as possible with some of the big dogs playing less minutes per game as well. Need to keep them healthy as there should be a long upcoming run coming once the regular season is over!

I do like that idea that if a guy is needing a breather to give them a weekend or part of a weekend off. Load management as we know the playoffs this year will be important to this club.

 

[LDN]

Btw who thought Simmer would be tied for the team lead in Goals two thirds through?

 

[dino200022]

Btw who thought Simmer would be tied for the team lead in Goals two thirds through?

Never saw it coming, but it has been a pleasure to see his offensive progression throughout the year. Could also help that he now has two healthy hips and legs and is far enough removed from his injuries. His skating has improved immensely as well and I wonder if it is because of his health also?

 

[LDN]

Hawery had the only Goal for GOJHL U18 in their 4-1 loss to Brunswick school

Never saw it coming, but it has been a pleasure to see his offensive progression throughout the year. Could also help that he now has two healthy hips and legs and is far enough removed from his injuries. His skating has improved immensely as well and I wonder if it is because of his health also?

Very true. By the sounds of it the 5 game suspension at the start of the season was a good reset for him. I think we see him do some good stuff in the playoffs!

 

[Fastpace]

We're heading into February, I have noticed in the past, that it is usually about this time Dale begins to roll out his 4 lines on the more regular bases, not just when they have big leads. Readying his younger players for the playoffs is very important, as well as resting his big stars players

London has been fortunate to have big teams over the years near the top. They can afford to rest or extend injury downtime for their players, while other teams fighting positions and playoffs have not been as fortunate

 

[dino200022]

Hawery had the only Goal for GOJHL U18 in their 4-1 loss to Brunswick school


Very true. By the sounds of it the 5 game suspension at the start of the season was a good reset for him. I think we see him do some good stuff in the playoffs!

Absolutely, he is built for the playoffs....he will not be a well liked guy by other teams! Although I assume he already is on that list!