Friday Night Hockey returns to the OHL this week for a Western Conference matchup featuring the conference’s top team in the Erie Otters and the steady-rising London Knights.
After losing their first two games without McDavid, the Otters have reeled off four straight wins and goaltender Devin Williams is starting to regain the touch that saw him bypass Oscar Dansk for the No. 1 job last season. In the absence of Connor McDavid, Otters general manager Sherry Bassin went out and dealt for Buffalo prospect Nick Baptiste.
Along with the ability to produce, Baptiste, 19, brings experience and grit to the table for a team that features a 16-year-old and two 17-year-olds as its top point scorers. The Otters may still have a move or two left in the tank in order to make a run deep into the spring.
Just when you thought the London Knights were in a rebuild, they start to win again, thanks in large part to the “M & Ms.” Max Domi has multi-point efforts in each of his past seven games, while Mitch Marner is the hottest player in the CHL, currently riding a 13-game point streak in which he’s put up 39 points. That streak should help ease the pain of knowing Bo Horvat has officially graduated to the NHL, and it doesn’t seem likely Nikita Zadorov will be heading back to London either.
The Knights have won 10 straight at Budweiser Gardens and 11 of the past 13. During that stretch, London is averaging more than 6.5 goals per game.
The Knights also made a splash late last week when it was reported Matthew Tkachuk de-committed from Notre Dame and is likely to wear a Knights uniform in the near future.
For the draft-happy crowd, Marner and Dylan Strome are in direct competition for top 10 and maybe even top-five billing next June.
Erie Otters: 20-3-0-1 (8-2-0-1Road), W4 (3rd CHL BMO Top 10 Rankings, 1st OHL, 1st Western Conference, 1st Midwest Division)
Individual Stats
*Injured
In Goal
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Nick Baptiste (Buffalo, 69th in 2013)
Kyle Petit (Vancouver, 156th in 2014)
Kurtis MacDermid (Los Angeles, signed as FA)
Troy Donnay (New York Rangers, signed as FA)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW A
*Connor McDavid
Ryan Strome
PTW B
Travis Dermott
PTW C
Nick Betz
TJ Fergus
Patrick Murphy
Mason Marchment
Under The Radar
Nick Betz, RW
Los Angeles Kings-type player; big, strong, good stick, decent hands and ability to finish. Playing with a ton of confidence.
London Knights: 15-8-0-0 (10-3-0-0 Home) W2 (2nd Midwest Division, 3rd Western Conference)
Individual Stats
In Goal
NHL Drafted/Signed Players
Max Domi (Arizona, 12th in 2013)
Michael McCarron (Montreal, 25th in 2013)
Christian Dvorak (Arizona, 58th in 2014)
Julius Bergman (San Jose, 46th in 2014)
Chandler Yakimowicz (St. Louis, 172nd in 2014)
NHL Central Scouting
PTW A
Mitch Marner
PTW C
Brandon Crawley
Chris Martenet
Under the Radar
Aaron Berisha, RW
A key acquisition from Belleville has given Dale Hunter depth up front. Is enjoying a career-year in his 19-year old season.
