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Post by Terry on Jan 5, 2009 22:01:56 GMT -5
Tavares to be Knighted? MATT SEKERES Globe and Mail Update January 5, 2009 at 7:13 PM EST There's information out there that Canadian forward John Tavares will be traded by the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals on Tuesday. The word is Tavares will be shipped to the London Knights for a package that includes right wing Christian Thomas, the son of former NHL player Steve Thomas. The Knights are in first place in the Midwest Division with 59 points, having lost just eight games in regulation and one in a shootout. The Generals are in third place of the East Division. The Canadian Hockey League placed a moratorium on trading players participating in the world junior championships while the tournament is taking place after Canadian goaltender Steve Mason, now of the Columbus Blue Jackets, learned that he had been dealt hours before the Canadians played a semifinal game last year. www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090105.wspttavares5/BNStory/FrontI'm sure that Brae's a little giddy over this. I'm sure this will put the Knights as favourites for the Memorial Cup. |
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Post by Brae on Jan 6, 2009 15:41:19 GMT -5
Actually Brae ISN'T Giddy. Brae doesn't like some of the stuff rumoured going in the other direction. Actually very few people in London-Towne are excited at the Tavares prospect
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Post by Terry on Jan 6, 2009 20:47:11 GMT -5
Now I'm seeing that any deal for Taveras hasn't taken place yet. And I just saw a rumour about who'd be going the other way if the deal did go through. I guess the quantity of the quality may be too much. 3 players plus 2 draft picks. That might screw up the chemistry of a team going for 1st overall.
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Post by Brae on Jan 7, 2009 11:59:20 GMT -5
Mark Hunter will either go for the gusto now, or turn seller.
Windsor (who London is chasing and needs to get by) just pulled off a (bit of a) Blockbuster with London't OTHER rival - Kitchener...
Kitchener sends Ben Shutron, Scott Timmins & Josh Unice
to Windsor for Brandon Maxwell, Jacob Lalonde, Kit's 3rd Rnd '09, SSM's 2nd Rnd '10, 2nd Rnd '11
Windsor just got stronger in net, Bigger Up front (with some more scoring), and add grit & more size to their D.
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Post by Brae on Jan 8, 2009 16:01:49 GMT -5
Looks like it may be the Gusto!
TSN.ca
TAVARES TRADED TO OHL'S LONDON KNIGHTS
TSN.CA STAFF 1/8/2009 3:14:19 PM
John Tavares is headed to the London Knights.
Sources tell TSN that the Oshawa General scoring star has waived his no-trade clause and is going with defenceman Michael Del Zotto and goaltender Daryl Borden to London for four second-round draft selections, two third-round choices, forward Christian Thomas, defenceman Scott Valentine and goaltender Michael Zador.
Tavares approved a trade to the Knights after Generals' general manager-coach Chris DePiero and Knights' general manager Mark Hunter successfully concluded trade talks Thursday morning.
Coincidentally, the Knights and Generals will face off Friday night in London.
Considered by many to be the first overall pick in this summer's NHL Entry Draft, Tavares was named the tournament MVP at the 2009 World Junior Hockey Championship, scoring eight goals and adding seven assists in just six games. The Knights were among several teams interested in his services - a list that includes the Windsor Spitfires, Brampton Battalion, Guelph Storm and Sudbury Wolves.
With 26 goals and 54 points this season, the Oakville, Ontario native remains among the leading scorers in the Ontario Hockey League despite missing a month of action with the national junior team.
With London, Tavares joins the OHL's second-best offence that already features fellow 2009 draft prospect Nazem Kadri. Should Tavares go first overall in the June draft, he will be the third Knight to be taken at the top spot over the last eight years. Rick Nash went first overall to the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2002, while the Chicago Blackhawks took Patrick Kane with the No. 1 pick in 2007.
In 2005, Tavares was granted special permission to be selected in the OHL Priority Draft when he was just 14-years-old. He went on to score 45 goals in 65 games with the Generals, who won just 18 games that season.
The following campaign, he scored 72 goals and amassed 134 points with a +25 rating as the Generals qualified for the playoffs for the first time in three years.
Last season, Tavares racked up 118 points in 59 games as the Generals made a serious push to reach the Memorial Cup in Kitchener. He added three goals and 16 points in the 15 playoff games before bowing out to PK Subban and the Belleville Bulls in the Conference Final.
Thomas, the son of former NHLer Steve Thomas, has four goals and 11 points in 32 games this season. Valentine, 17, has a plus-6 rating and 20 penalty minutes in 17 games, while Zador, 17, is 6-1 this season with a 3.64 goals-against average and .888 save percentage in 10 games.
I like that Del Zotto is in the Deal. I have always liked him, wanted him or Pietrangelo (Niagara). Borden I am indifferent on, he hasn't played since November, where he gave up at least 7 goals in his last 2 games. Apparently he has been playing Jr. B since. Which is actually a pit of an upgrade on what the Knights have. Borden is a Goalie playing often in Jr. B with OHL experience. We have 2 guys who sit on the bench all season watching the Number 1 play all the time, that get in the odd Jr. B game here & there.
Not happy to see Thomas go. I think he's going to develop into a solid player. Valentine I'm not sure is going to be a superstar Dman. He'll probably be a good 2nd or 3rd pairing guy. Zador rough start, came on very very recently when Cann was injured.
I wouldn't be surprised to see a few of those picks coming back to London in the off season.
After Windsor's deal yesterday I didn't think even with JT the Knights could compete because we didn't have the D. Del Zotto helps!
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Post by Brae on Jan 8, 2009 22:43:05 GMT -5
Done deal. It's on the OHL Site.
Someone asked me how excited I was. I am actually more excited about our D getting some help, then JT joining the Forward core.
Tavares will wear #61, last worn by Rick Nash. As his #91 is already taken, and his WJHC #19 is retired (Shanny).
Del Zotto takes #4.
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Post by jayman74 on Apr 22, 2009 10:48:15 GMT -5
So what's the word on the Knights Brae? I hear they are down 3-1 and some Red Line scouting agency has Tavares ranked as the #3 pick behind Hedman and Duchene. There was a comment on the article from someone who follows the Knights saying Kadri is even outplaying Tavares. Any truth to this or what's the feeling out there? www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=276005 |
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Post by Brae on Apr 30, 2009 11:06:35 GMT -5
So what's the word on the Knights Brae? I hear they are down 3-1 and some Red Line scouting agency has Tavares ranked as the #3 pick behind Hedman and Duchene. There was a comment on the article from someone who follows the Knights saying Kadri is even outplaying Tavares. Any truth to this or what's the feeling out there? www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=276005Kadri was out playing JT. At times Tavares looked disinterested & was gripping the stick too tight. |
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