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+---- Thread: [2x Draft Media] Knights Draft Depth and Needs (/showthread.php?tid=131099)
[2x Draft Media] Knights Draft Depth and Needs - spidey - 05-20-2023
The Knights are looking pretty good heading into this year’s draft, and there seems to be a ton of talent available throughout the draft. Some seem to be taking off and running within the league right from the get-go. While others are struggling to find their path. Please stick with it, this league is a ton of fun once you get going. Now as I said the Knights are looking pretty good right now, but that does not mean there is no room for improvement. Heading into the draft the Knights currently look like this.
Forwards:
Season 69 – Wonada Jagrs – Right Wing – 386 TPE (inactive)
Wonada is a seasoned veteran that excels on the right wing, while they have been reluctant to train, Wonada is talented enough to compete on any teams top 6 in the juniors. Jagr is best suited to play offensive starts and power play time at with what we have seen in the SMJHL so far. Wonada is a little weaker in their own end.
Season 70 – Wilhelm Von Hindenburg III – Center – 268 TPE (inactive)
Another seasoned veteran at this point in Wilhelm’s career but he has seemed to have stalled out in how far he will ascend in the SMJHL. A capable two way center that plays well on either side of the puck. Wilhelm unfortunately stalled out in training and is more of a talented 3rd liner then a top 6 forward. But with a lack of competition behind him and enough experience to start, Wilhelm will likely be starting in the top 6 and worked down if a capable center is drafted.
Season 70 – Mu Wisconsin – Left Wing – 424 TPE (active)
Mu is the offensive leader for this version of the Kelowna Knights, a talented two way left winger. Mu has the most experience and training under their belt heading into season 70. Wisconsin will be leaned upon heavily for both power play and penalty killing minutes. This will mean that a lot of Kelowna’s offensive success will fall to Mu, who is more then ready to take on this test.
Season 71 – Logan Webb – Left Wing – 350 TPE (Capped) (slacker…but active)
Logan was picked up to be an offensive weapon the Kelowna Knights for years to come. So far he is living up to this expectation. There is a long way to go but all signs are pointing towards Webb becoming one of the impact forwards on offense. Much like Wonada earlier, Webb is a offensive machine but lacks in the defense department. Webb will likely be playing some power play time and in the top 6.
Season 71 – Crystal McLeod – Left Wing – 207 TPE (active)
Perhaps the most vocal member on in the team’s locker room. Crystal is the little engine that could as she looks to continue to develop into a defensive champion as a forward. She has a fantastic tape to tape pass and can move a puck out of the danger zone quickly. She is going to eat up a lot of penalty kill minutes and help keep the front of the net clear for their goalie.
Season 71 – Kevin Kim – Center – 296 TPE (active)
Kevin was a late pick up for the Kelowna Knights but he has rapidly become a star. Already out pacing fellow center Wilhelm Van Hindenburg, Kevin looks to be the Kelowna Knights starting center this year. Kim is a talented shooting center that can carry the puck on his own. There is room to grow in Kevin’s game and he does so in leaps and bounds despite being a late pick up for the Knights.
Forward projected depth chart, breakdown, and grade:
Wisconsin – Kim – Jagar
McCloud – Hindenburg – Webb
Open – Open – Open
It looks like the top 6 are spoken for with the Kelowna Knights, but there is room for an ambitious rookie or two to make their way into the top 6 as a center or potentially a winger. A lot can happen as the year moves along and there is space in this group to grow. If I were a returning forward that knows the site well and I was looking for some game time with a team that is looking to compete over the next few seasons I would be doing everything possible to get noticed by the Kelowna Knights as there is opportunity available.
Grade: C-
If I am being honest, this group is not solid right now, there is work to do, they are not the strongest group of forwards, but they can hold their own, there is some great building blocks here. Only having one player reaching Max TPE and it is on their second year maximum (350 not 425), the Knights need a strong draft to help build this roster not just for this season but also the future. This grade could easily change over the next few weeks, but right now they are just above a passing grade.
Defense:
Season 69 – Cole Dasice – Left Defense – 299 TPE (inactive)
Cole will find himself playing on the top 4 for defenders with the Kelowna Knights this season mostly because there are no better options at this time. Cole’s game is built towards the defense side of the puck with, but he does not excel at it like a true shutdown defender. Despite giving up on training Cole is more reliable than a lot of the rookie defensemen to start but could be leap frogged as the season goes along.
Season 69 – Rikaad Metzller – Right Defense – 425 TPE (Capped) (active)
Metzller will be the focal point for the Knight’s defense, thankfully he played this role last season and is well acquainted in it. A two way threat that excels on the defensive side of the puck with fantastic stick work and understanding how the play is developing on both sides of the puck. Rikaad is not an offensive weapon but can move puck well so he can be used in offensive situations.
Season 70 – Isak Sogard – Left Defense – 393 TPE
Isak is another solid two way defender on the Kelowna Knights and will be leaned on heavily to play in all situations. A little better at offense then Rikaad but a little worse on defense, Isak will be used in tandem with Rikaad for all situations. Unfortunately, Isak has gone silent recently and has not continued his training.
Defense Projected Depth Chart, Breakdown, and Grade:
Sogard – Metzller
Dascie – Open
Open - Open
There is room in Kelowna for a few defenders, they had several defenders age out and spots are plentiful this season. They have an immediate need for a power play quarter back to lead from the back end forward and could use two more solid options to help keep the crease clear. This is a team that next season could be offering a top 2 role to those who excel in the defensive position.
Grade: C+
The Kelowna Knights only have one defender that is maxed out TPE wise and one that is above the 350 max a player can accumulate in their first two season. This is not the strong point the Kelowna Knights leaned on last season meaning it could be a long season for starting goalie Tibs, overall, the defense is a passable grade but lots of improvements need to be made if they are going to compete next season in the SMJHL. They will also need to address defense for future seasons as their best defender is about to age out.
Goalie:
Season 70 – Tibuk Soonika – Goalie – TPE 425 (Capped)
Tibuk could be in for a very long season. His defense has significantly changed this year, and a few offensive weapons have moved on either due to aging out or trades. In addition, there will be less room for error as fellow netminder Seas Jebus has also moved on so there will be less relief on tough stretches. Still Tibuk seems up for the challenge, built positionally sound and built for a great overall game. Tibs does not get rattled like a lot of young goalies (it’s hard to believe he is going into his third season) when he makes a mistake, he shakes it off quickly and he is ready to play the rest of the game.
Goalie Breakdown, projected depth chart, and grade:
Soonika
Open
The strength of the Knight’s organization will be on Tibuk’s phenomenal play. It will be interesting to see how well he takes over the starter’s role for the Kelowna Knights. That said there is a role for a young hungry goalie to get in some starts and learn behind one of the best the league has to offer.
Grade: A
The only way this grade could be better is if they had someone already on their roster to serve as a capable backup. Otherwise, this is as good of a situation as the Kelowna Knights could ask for, and they potentially have Soonika for one more season to help guild and lead the next wave.
OVERALL:
The Knights could be in for a pivotal draft, the team is good enough to compete for a playoff spot with enough talent in each position to carry the team as young draft picks develop into more predominate roles in the second half of the season. If they draft well, keep players active this roster could be in a great spot not only at the end of this season but moving forward into future seasons as well. I can’t wait to see who are future Knights as we have an amazing group with high hopes in the locker room.
So to sum it up and why you should hope for the Knights at the draft:
- We are a playoff team.
- Phenomenal goaltending
- Room to grow into top time.
- We have a great group in the locker room.
- We are not Vancouver (always a bonus)
- You could be my best friend. (might not be a bonus)
- Artermis is legitimately a great GM and person in this league.
- Building towards a great future with a strong foundation.