Options running out for Michael Hutchinson ?

Are the options running out for Former Knights goaltender Michael Hutchinson in the professional ranks, and will we see him return to Juniors with the Knights or another OHL team?

As i stated last week, there were quiet reports that the Knights were trying to make a deal involving Hutchinsons rights and that it could happen quickly. The question remained, would the Bruins send him back to junior? With the Bruins opening up their schedule in Europe, we may not find out until next week.

The Bruins have 3 goaltenders in Europe. Regulars Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask. Nolan Schaefer is also with the team for insurance. As of now, there are 3 goaltenders with the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence, Adam Corchaine, Matt Dalton and Hutchinson. You can add Schaefer to the list once the Bruins return from Prague.

The Bruins ECHL affiliate, the Reading Royals who they share with the Toronto Maple Leafs have two goaltenders in camp, Shane Davis and Brent Troyan, who just signed a tryout agreement. Two goaltender from Providence will have to be moved, and assuming Troyan doesn't make the Royals, there is only one spot remaining.

Hutchinson is the only one of the Bruins goaltenders eligible to return to juniors, albeit, as an overaged player with an NHL contract, which will limit the possibilities of a trade by the Knights. With Houser and Babkov filling the nets for the Knights, it seems logical that if Hutch is returned, the Knights will trade him. They are in dire need of scoring help, but it remains to be seen what he could bring back in return on a deal.

Brief conversation with London Knights assistant GM Jim McKellar

I had a brief conversation with the Knights assistant GM today. So far Jared Knights playing time has been split with Seth Griffith and Vladislav Namestnikov. When i asked him who would get the majority of time playing with Knight he said it would change from game to game.

Griffith, my sleeper for almost a year now, possesses very good offensive ability who can set someone up or score himself. Namestnikov, who's style has been compared to Ilya Kovalchuk by some, has more offensive  upside than Griffith. Both would benefit greatly playing with 36 goal scorer Jared Knight in this their draft year. 

The Knights have struggled to score through the preseason and so far in the regular season, so if Knight can click more frequently with one or the other, look for it to become a regular pairing.

As for the Michael Hutchinson situation and whether the Knights are trying to trade his rights in the event the Bruins want to send Hutchinson back to junior, McKellar would only say "The last i heard was he was doing well and the Bruins are sending him to Providence".

The Providence Bruins played their first preseason game tonight and Hutchinson was a healthy scratch, which should keep the rumors circling. Sources said last Friday that something could happen early this week. With the Bruins departing for Europe tonight, something may not happen now until they return home.

The Knights could also choose to hold onto his rights and if the Bruins do choose to send him back to junior, it may mean the Knights have to find a new home for 2011 draft eligible goaltender Michael Houser. Houser was eligible for the 2010 draft but went unselected, probably due to his lack of starts playing behind Hutchinson.

Are the Knights shopping Michael Hutchinson?

Two sources have confirmed that the London Knights are trying to trade goaltender Michael Hutchinson's rights. The Guelph Storm seem to be the front runners with the Oshawa Generals and Sudbury Wolves also said to be interested.

Hutchinson attended the camp of the Boston Bruins and with Rask and Thomas on the NHL roster there is no room there. He was recently sent down to the Providence Bruins training camp. And with Dalton and Schaefer ahead of Hutchinson on the depth chart for Providence, it seems like the ECHL may be the next destination for Hutch.

The problem is the Bruins share their ECHL affiliation with the LA Kings and there is no guarantee of the quality or number of starts Hutchinson would get in the ECHL. While the Bruins would like Hutchinson to play in as many games as possible, no one would confirm whether the Bruins had asked the Knights, who are set in goal, to trade his rights.

The sticking point to a trade now is the overage rule and the fact that Hutchinson is signed to an NHL contract. It will make a trade a little harder to complete. But sources say it could happen very quickly this week.

Correction: The Royals affiliation is with the Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs, not the LA Kings.

Danny Elser

Danny Elser - London Knights
5'11" - 171 LBS

The good thing for Elser was that he was able to add 25 pounds to his lanky build of 145 pounds from when he was drafted in the 5th round by the Knights.

Elser is an excellent skater, and possesses very good puck skills. He brings some offensive ability to a team that has struggled offensively for the Knights this preseason, save for Seth Griffith. Many believe he will make a strong bid to play for the USA in the World juniors as well.

Elser works hard both on and off the ice, not shying away from working on the things he needs to. One need look no further than knowing he needed to add a lot of bulk to play in the OHL and did so.

Elser played in all situations for Shattuck St. Marys, but the Knights are strong down the middle so it remains to be seen whether Elser gets any PP time for the Knights.

In an interview with the London Free Press Elser said:

“Not many people (in London) probably know who I am so I have some work to do there,” he said. “One thing (Knights GM) Mark Hunter said to me that stuck was, ‘We win hockey games in London’. I liked that. That’s how Shattuck St. Mary’s is set up — to win hockey games — and that’s something I want to be a part of.”

Elser hates to lose. One thing you can count on, he'll work hard to do his part to ensure the Knights are on the winning side.

From The Hockey News

The Hockey News lists the Kitchener Rangers and the London Knights as 2 of the 4 teams to watch in the CHL this season.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34869-The-Straight-Edge-Four-CHL-teams-to-watch-in-201011.html

Igor Bobkov to join Knights

Igor Bobkov, Ducks draft pick and goaltender, will be joining the London Knights for the upcoming 2010-11 season. How will this affect Michael Houser's (draft eligible)  position with the team?

Seth Griffith

Seth Griffith, London Knights

Acquired in the 4th round draft by the London Knights.

Griffith only played 17 regular season games for the Knights scoring 2 goals and adding 1 assist along with 2 penalty minutes. Griffith added 4 goals and 3 assists with 2 PIM in the Knights 10 playoff games.

He’s not big at 5’11” and 185 pounds. He has top notch high end speed, but takes him too long to get there. He needs to work on his take off speed. He is slow footed in his first 3 strides, but when he hits full stride, there aren’t many faster. He has a shoot first mentality, and could probably use his team mates better. That’s something Coach Hunter will work with him on.

I got to see him plenty playing Junior B for the St. Mary’s Lincolns before being called up to the Knights. Griffith was voted onto the All Rookie all star team and the regular all star team. His 44 goals as a rookie in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League earned him top rookie scorer and rookie of the year awards.

His brief stint with the Knights this season and the playoffs will help Griffith for the 2010-2011 season. He’ll do some more growing, and if he can work on his skating (start) I fully expect him to have a huge season under Hunter with the Knights.

He captained Team Ontario in the National Lacrosse Championships. A lot of players seem to play lacrosse these days, and that prepared him for “tough” hockey and I think once he matures physically, he will use that to his advantage.

Griffith will come in under the radar and become more noticed as the season progresses. He is my top sleeper pick for the 2010-11 season

Michael Houser

Michael Houser, London Knights

As a backup to Bruins prospect Michael Hutchinson, Houser appeared in 25 games with a 17-4-1 record and a 3.10 GAA and .900 SV%.

He stands at 6’2” and weighs in at 180 LBS.

I’m curious about Houser because I don’t think he will get drafted in 2010 and will still be there in 2011. He has excellent technique and well above average reflexes. He sees the puck through traffic. He is an above average puck handler. He challengers shooters with confidence, has good rebound control and is almost always in position.

I just don’t think that he’s played enough in the OHL for teams in the NHL to gauge him. He will get plenty of playing time for Coach Hunter next season on the Knights

Scott Harrington

Scott Harrington, London Knights

Scott is a big strong defenseman who scored 1 goal and 14 points in 55 games. Harrington was an amazing plus 25 as a rookie. Harrington was noticed a year prior to his OHL draft eligibility by Orr Hockey Group and is now represented by them.

He’s loaded with skill, an excellent skater who can rush the puck or make that stretch pass. His only fault in that is that he needs to know when to “go with it” and when to pinch. He can get caught up ice when making a poor judgement offensively and lacks the overall speed to recover.

He is excellent defensively and overall, ahead of kids his age in development at every stage so far.

Scouts were high on Harrington prior to the OHL priority draft, with many predicting he would be a top 5 pick. But Harrington made it clear he was going to take the US College route, but the Knights gambled and won, selecting him 19th overall.

He can play in all situations and I suspect that he will be coach Hunter’s go to guy in 10/11. I think he will handle it well and with the year under his belt, will show that he is one of the top d-men next season.