London Knights 2019-20 Season Thread (Part 7)

[nelli27]

Really like the “adds” Mark made at the deadline! Two high skill players and didn’t really mortgage our future in any negative manner. If Wilms can get a little more luck around the net he will be a deadly addition!

This team should be able to make a serious run at the Western Conference, Kitchener and Saginaw will be tough but I like our chances. Flint is still a little bit of an unknown in my books? Home Ice will be important after round 1 hopefully we can secure it. I still think Ottawa is a better team at this point though and unless the injury bug hits them or they get “tight collars” they will be awfully tough to beat for the OHL title.

I forgot to mention how comforting it is to have the reliable Phillips back there on D, not only to cover when need be for #28, but to provide sound coverage, skate the puck out of the zone, or pass the puck quickly up ice.
And yes Willms is quite the asset. Kitchener, Saginaw and Windsor are all in the mix. Here's to a very competitive final 25 games or so.

 

[nelli27]

Brett Brochu stats:
19-5 record. 2 shutouts.
.248 GAA and nipping on the heels of Andree for 2nd best GAA in the league.
.916 save %

 

[KnightWatch]

Which brings me Max McCure.
This guy is our Tymkin replacement without the brainfarts.

Except I don't think any teams are intimidated by McCue at this point. Would be nice to have that intimidation factor sitting on the bench come playoff time.....but Tymkin was obviously not the answer either.

 

[PhlyerPhanatic31]

Except I don't think any teams are intimidated by McCue at this point. Would be nice to have that intimidation factor sitting on the bench come playoff time.....but Tymkin was obviously not the answer either.

I really don't think Tymkin intimidated anyone. He believed himself to be that type of player, but I think the majority of the opposition found him laughable and more comic relief than anything else

 

[Maxxim1]

Except I don't think any teams are intimidated by McCue at this point. Would be nice to have that intimidation factor sitting on the bench come playoff time.....but Tymkin was obviously not the answer either.

In order for McCue to intimidate other teams he has to be on the bench and not in the press box.
Brett Brochu has been run either accidentally or on purpose for the last few games with little or no serious retaliation from our players. When we only have 1 1/2 goalies this team cannot afford to have an injured goalie.

 

[GobigorGohome]

Except I don't think any teams are intimidated by McCue at this point. Would be nice to have that intimidation factor sitting on the bench come playoff time.....but Tymkin was obviously not the answer either.

Not saying McCue is an Intimitdator.
However he does not back down ,plays with jam.
Plus his one fight this year(he did quite well) against an older player put him on other teams radar.
If you watched the WIndsor game there was scuffles and pushing near the end.Max had his guy firmly at arm's length and was laughing at the guy saying What are u going to do about it.
He does not have to be dirty or stupid.
Smart and tough is a good thing in this league.

 

[Buttsy]

I really don't think Tymkin intimidated anyone. He believed himself to be that type of player, but I think the majority of the opposition found him laughable and more comic relief than anything else

He perhaps had one “intimidating” trait in his on ice persona: Regardless of the situation (say London ahead 3-2 late in the game) you never quite knew what he would do? He had no regard or fear for taking an ill timed penalty or a suspension! LOL appreciation for a situation was not a factor he gave much thought to?

 

[Snippit]

The elite SSM "we outplayed them" Hounds losing again.

It's baffling to me how they are sitting 6 points outside of a playoff spot considering they've outplayed their opposition in basically every game. Guess it's just generationally bad goaltending.

 

[aresknights]

The elite SSM "we outplayed them" Hounds losing again.

It's baffling to me how they are sitting 6 points outside of a playoff spot considering they've outplayed their opposition in basically every game. Guess it's just generationally bad goaltending.

Its mostly 1 poster for SSM. Lots of solid posters there.
But I see an interesting commonality in former or current "media" who post on their team forums and who get free tics or passes to attend games.
To each their own.

 

[Knights Watcher]

The elite SSM "we outplayed them" Hounds losing again.

It's baffling to me how they are sitting 6 points outside of a playoff spot considering they've outplayed their opposition in basically every game. Guess it's just generationally bad goaltending.

That's because the refs always favour London even when the Soo is playing someone else.

 

[tjziel]

NHL Mock Draft: Lafreniere and the rest - ProHockeyTalk | NBC Sports

Antonio Stranges is gonna need to tear it up in the second half if he wants to get drafted in the first round.

 

[PhlyerPhanatic31]

NHL Mock Draft: Lafreniere and the rest - ProHockeyTalk | NBC Sports

Antonio Stranges is gonna need to tear it up in the second half if he wants to get drafted in the first round.

If Stranges goes in the 1st round that would be the epitome of poor scouting. He'll be lucky as a 2nd round pick

 

[nelli27]

That's because the refs always favour London even when the Soo is playing someone else.

The week before London beat the Soo, Windsor played up in the Soo and won 10-4. The penalties in that game? 9 PP for Windsor and 1 for the Soo, yet no mention of biased officiating in that one.

 

[Buttsy]

Wow poor ole Guelph is free falling without a shute. Lost 9 in a row a reasonable effort should get us 2 points looks like they held Daws for today’s game. Is it on Rogers?

 

[lord stanly]

Wow poor ole Guelph is free falling without a shute. Lost 9 in a row a reasonable effort should get us 2 points looks like they held Daws for today’s game. Is it on Rogers?

just checked on rogers 13 today enjoy

 

[nelli27]

This will be Guelph's 3rd game in 2 1/2 days so expect a weary group. Looking forward to seeing Daws between the pipes. Rolofs scores today, dmead!

 

[DontEverTouchMyPuck]

NHL Mock Draft: Lafreniere and the rest - ProHockeyTalk | NBC Sports

Antonio Stranges is gonna need to tear it up in the second half if he wants to get drafted in the first round.

I've been critical of Stranges in the past. No apologies for that. But I like some of what I've seen form him the past two weekends from him.

I believe Stranges has proven his offensive upside to scouts. He could score 0 goals and pop 20-30 assists the rest of the season, and it doesn't change what many scouts think about his offensive potential.

So, I'll venture to say that if he played the rest of the season like a team-first, solid 2-way player, then I believe he he gets a fresh new look. In fact, I'd bet that if he becomes more of a forechecking/puck battling forward who is quick, heavy and involved on the back check … and only gets 20-30 more assists … yeah, he could easily go 1st round.

He can do it - just needs to focus and put in the work. And in doing that, he absolutely would be a major player helping this team go deep.

 

[Knights2729]

I've been critical of Stranges in the past. No apologies for that. But I like some of what I've seen form him the past two weekends from him.

I believe Stranges has proven his offensive upside to scouts. He could score 0 goals and pop 20-30 assists the rest of the season, and it doesn't change what many scouts think about his offensive potential.

So, I'll venture to say that if he played the rest of the season like a team-first, solid 2-way player, then I believe he he gets a fresh new look. In fact, I'd bet that if he becomes more of a forechecking/puck battling forward who is quick, heavy and involved on the back check … and only gets 20-30 more assists … yeah, he could easily go 1st round.

He can do it - just needs to focus and put in the work. And in doing that, he absolutely would be a major player helping this team go deep.

Evangelista's game is up and above Stranges game by alot now so if you think that Stranges is going first round then you think that Evangelista is going higher first round then right?? Just curious.

 

[DontEverTouchMyPuck]

Evangelista's game is up and above Stranges game by alot now so if you think that Stranges is going first round then you think that Evangelista is going higher first round then right?? Just curious.

Yes.
I'll take all bets.

And recognize I said there are a lot of "ifs" for Stranges.

 

[Knights2729]

Yes.
I'll take all bets.

And recognize I said there are a lot of "ifs" for Stranges.

He will not go first round, second MAYBE.

 

[Snippit]

If Stranges can show he can utilize his teammates better and play a more rounded game he could go in the first round.

His even strength and primary point production is good, which a lot of teams value because it projects well to producing at the NHL.

I'm also thinking Evangelista goes higher, but Stranges has the higher upside and doesn't get to play with McMichael.

 

[DontEverTouchMyPuck]

He will not go first round, second MAYBE.

Everyone has opinions, so I respect yours.

I see Evangelista now, and recall that 3 1/2 months ago, he had 0 OHL goals and no signifcant OHL playing time.

And what is he now?? Arguably 3rd best forward on the team? 45th or so in OHL league scoring?

So, my opinion is based a lot on the assumption that he continues to develop in the next 3 months. And that were just starting to see what he's capable of.

 

[Knights Watcher]

A moment of silence for 24KB

 

[nelli27]

Post game thoughts:
London 4 Guelph 2 (EN):
The two points very important but that was one of the most boring games I attended this season owing largely to a lackluster performance by the home team. Very sloppy. Credit the Storm with a 60 minute effort--a long weekend for them.
McMichael didn't do much today--he's rarely that invisible in a game.
Foudy looked good. He came close to killing off the full two minutes of a PK on his own. Later, Evangelista did much of the same.
I don't know if it's my imagination but Regula has looked very tired of late which is understandable--the season is dragging on, and he's used on all special teams in addition to his regular shift on the top pairing. Phillips with his first as a Knight.
As a whole, today's game takes a back seat to the sad news in the sports world.

 

[Rubbers29]

One positive from today, the Rangers finally slipped up and lost one in OT, opening the door for London to catch them. Now 1 point back with a game in hand