Anatomy of Two Championship Teams

[Blacksox]

Anatomy of Two Championship Team

How different would the London Knights’ team look today, if the following rule was in place?


1. Any Canadians, Americans or Europeans interested in playing in the CHL must declare themselves eligible for the draft 14 days prior to the CHL draft (WHL, OHL, Q) for that particular year.

2. The signed eligibility form confirms that the players declaring themselves eligible must play for the CHL team that draft them.

3. If the player opts to not declare themselve eligible, they cannot play Canadian Junior hockey for that year. If they change their mind, the following year, they can declare themselves eligible and enter the draft.


2016 London Knights

Matthew Tkachuk: Drafted 2013, round 4 #64 overall by London Knights.
Max Jones: Drafted 2014, round 1 #18 overall by London Knights.
Christian Dvorak: Drafted 2012, round 8 #163 overall by London Knights.
Mitchell Marner: Drafted 2013, round 1 #19 overall by London Knights.
Victor Mete: Drafted 2014, round 1 #8 overall by Owen Sound Attack.
Oli Juolevi: Drafted 2015, round 1 #45 overall by London Knights in the CHL Import Draft.
JJ Piccinich: Drafted 2012, round 6 #118 overall by London Knights.
Kole Sherwood: Undrafted. Signed a 3 year entry-level contract with the Blue Jackets (July 2015) and then signed with the London Knights in 2015-16.

TRADE DEADLINE DEALS
Jacob Graves
– 3rd Rd pick 2018
Chad Heffernan
– 4th Rd pick.

What did the Ice Dogs have to trade this year to assemble a team that was NOT good enough to beat London.

Trade No. 1 Josh Ho-Sang
Hayden McCool
2nd round pick 2016
2nd round pick 2017
2nd round pick 2019

Trade No. 2 Pavel Jenys
Mikkel Aagaar
Zach Wilkie.

Trade 3 Alex Nedeljkovic and Josh Wesley
Brent Moran
2nd round pick 2017
2nd round pick 2018
2nd round pick 2019
3rd round pick 2018
3rd round pick 2019

Trade 4 Tyler Boston
3rd round pick 2018
Conditional 4th round pick 2019
Conditional 4th round pick 2020

Trade 5 Stephen Harper
Evan Krassey
2nd round picks 2017
2nd round picks 2020
3rd round pick 2016
5th round pick in 2018 .

Will David Branch ever do what is best for the OHL?

London Knights (Ian Blacker) being the latest example… The Memorial Cup-bound Knights signed Oakville defenceman Ian Blacker Sunday. Blacker was projected as a first-round pick in the 2015 OHL draft after helping Ontario win the gold medal at the Canada Games. However, he fell to the 4th round – 70th overall in the draft after announcing his intentions to play at the University of Western Michigan, where his brother Ben will begin his freshman season in net for the Broncos next season.

All I want to see, is a level (and fair) playing field for all OHL teams!

[AuldBone]

The signing of eligibility forms would be a logical step in making the draft fair, but when has the league ever cared about fairness. Some crybaby parent would see their special little snowflake go to a team they don't like, and would complain / litigate their child onto the team they want.

Another step in making things fair in the league would be cleaning up the officiating crews. They appear to be unevenly trained. Some call everything, some call nothing, some favour one team over another. Seriously, something needs to be done. But I doubt it ever will be.

[Stinkyp3t3]

Man-o-Man, the Knight's are going to have a scary good D to match their scary good Offense next year!!

They could even trade a top D as well.

[NiceDawg]

Branch isn't going to do anything to level the playing field if it means talent goes elsewhere. There is a school of thought that says making a player sign an intention form (with the play where drafted clause) might dissuade a finicky prospect. Personally I have the opposite view; I believe the OHL/CHL is a quality product and you either play by the rules or go elsewhere. My guess is the league doesn't have enough confidence in themselves.

[Stinkyp3t3]

How about trying to create a team culture whereby young players WANT to report to Niagara?
We have discussed this in great length earlier in the season?

I read somewhere that the Knights org called either Blacker himself, or his dad every day this summer. Then had like Corey Perry call him as well. Yes, every day.

[strohs]

in the absence of the logical rule proposal you suggest ...

OHL teams shouldn't shy away from these guys who play the NCAA card.

Draft them.

If they don't report oh well.

There's always a chance they do report.

AND

it keeps them away from London et al who seem to have the magic elixir ($$$?) to lure them back to play in the OHL.

In the absence of a logical rule amendment as you have proposed, the other OHL teams need to pluck the low hanging fruit before hunter swoops in.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pup96]

When a different team comes to claim him they pay high in picks.

[Stinkyp3t3]

What about the Knights picks that didn't report this year. Did you list them?

[61jr]

Sorry, even if the OHL instituted signing the eligibility form, how does that do anything? The player can sign it and still choose to go the US college route.

[Newdawgsfan]

I know I sound like a broken record but all the time Marty won't play rookies then we will struggle to recruit high end talent that we draft in lower rounds. Marty will NOT play rookies. Our 2 guys this year had less ice time than virtually every other 1st round pick. And didn't play at all in play-offs. Last years top pick that reported (Paquette) is still playing on the 4th line. Was Boston really better than Paquette or Jones? No, but he was older.

And don't tell me it is because we were so strong. London had their 99s (particularly Thomas) out in the finals on PK and on the 3rd line. He played many games in play-offs on the 2nd line. Erie played their 99s.

If I was Akil Thomas I would be expecting to play 4th line with Niagara - but 2nd line with many other teams. That impacts kid's decisions to come to Niagara.