RMPS Adopt a Prospect - Jared Knight

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Born: January 16, 1992 in Battle Creek, MI
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 180lbs

OHL Stats:




Interesting take from Kirk Luedeke on comparing Knight to Pats tackle Sebastian Vollmer:

I was glancing at Mike Reiss's always excellent mailbag over on ESPN.com Boston, and I came across an interesting discussion about Patriots offensive lineman Sebastian Vollmer, who was a second-round selection of the Pats in 2009, and was considered in some circles to be a reach at the time, and had very low expectations going into the 2009 NFL season. He ended up being the team's most impactful rookie (although you can also make a case for WR Julian Edelman) but, as I read the exchange between Reiss and a Pats fan, I couldn't help but be reminded of the similarity between Vollmer and Bruins '10 second-rounder Jared Knight, who like Vollmer, was not invited to the draft combine, but still managed to sell the team on his merits.

Granted, there's a world of difference between a pro football prospect and a hockey one, but the whole thing has me thinking: could Knight end up being the B's version of Vollmer? A player who was drafted pretty high but without the requisite pedigree, but who comes in an overachieves despite where he was viewed in the public/conventional/media-based scouting reports?
More from Kirk:

He has the look of a 1st or 2nd-line winger if what we saw at D-camp wasn't a fluke. At worst, he'll play on the third line, because he simply brings too much to the table to be an outright bust. Players with Knight's natural instincts and hands don't grow on trees, and he'll endear himself to coaches with his pitbull-like mentality and nonstop motor.
 

Salem's Lot

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Great article on Knight's return to the OHL last night. His flight got delayed, he got to London five minutes into the game, assisted on one goal and scored the shootout winner in a 3-2 victory for his London Knight's. I got a chance to meet to meet Jared (along with his dad Dwayne) at Saturday's open training camp practice. From talking to them you can tell this is a really hard working kid from a really solid family. If he can stay healthy I expect to see him playing in the NHL in a couple of years.



http://www.lfpress.com/sports/knights/2010/09/24/15473331.html
 

Spaulding Smails

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http://www.lfpress.com/sports/knights/2010/10/08/15638136.html

Jared Knight is the first player the Knights point to as being a top-flight scorer. The Boston Bruins second rounder is the one the team believes could bull his way into that starry stratosphere.

The expectation is Knight can be this year’s Jeff Skinner, the 50-goal Kitchener gunner who just picked up his first assist and shootout winner for the Carolina Hurricanes in Finland.

“He’s still a baby,” Hunter said. “He and Jarred Tinordi on defence, we expect big things from those two but it’s going to take some time . . . These are the guys. There’s no one else coming back (from the NHL now).”
Knight's line so far this season: 6GP 4G 2A 6PTS
 

AxelssonRose

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Big day for Jared Knight-- he scored in OT to complete a 6-5 come-from-behind victory. 2 goals and a helper in total vs. Oshawa and he now has 19 goals, 48 points in 44 games. 10 points away from beating his personal best for points in a season. He probably won't hit 36 goals again unless he goes on a major tear, but his overall game/defense is improved.

Spooner had a huge weekend: 5 goals, 9 points in three games (though his team only went 1-2) including a hatty in a loss to Guelph on Friday.
 

Manzivino

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Knight's OHL season ended today as London was eliminated by Owen Sound in the first round. Knight finished with regular season totals of 25g-45a-70pts, even in 68 games played and postseason stats of 4-2-6, +3 in 6 games.
 

Salem's Lot

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From Axelsson Rose on twitter:

I have confirmation from a good source that both Jared Knight and Ryan Spooner will report to Providence of the AHL today.

http://twitter.com/kluedeke29

They would be on ATO's and therefore this wouldn't affect thier ELC status.
 

j44thor

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Nice write up on Jared Knight, taking this from HF Boards.

IMO he was the only other prospect that really stood out at Rookie camp next to Seguin.
He would need to make the B's out of camp next season so more likely we will see him in two seasons when I think he ends up as a top 6 forward for a good long time.

Here is a terrific article about Bruins prospect Jared Knight, by Dominic Tiano.

The London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League held their annual Awards Banquet Saturday in London and the Boston Bruins' top prospect Jared Knight was recognized with three awards.

After leading the Knights with 70 points (25 goals and 45 assists) Knight picked up the award as leading scorer for the 2010-2011 season.

Knight’s second award of the evening was the Intensity Award. You’ll often hear and read “no one drives to the net or works harder in the OHL than Jared Knight.” And there are just as many observers outside the Knights organization and fan base as there are in it that couldn’t agree with that statement more.

The third and final award Knight earned is the hardest working player award. "The award that meant the most to me was the hardest working award," Knight said after the banquet. "The two other awards were great but being hard working is something that I’ve always prided myself on and something that I will always do."

Knight can play in any situation, be it a checking role, the go to guy, power play, penalty kill and always with no questions about what the coaching staff is asking him to do. He does it to the best of his ability and leads by example in doing so.
Link to full article
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Are you thinking of Spooner? IIRC, Spooner came pretty close to making the team and Knight was injured at some point. Regardless, I love everything I've heard about Knight throughout the year and he'll be right in the mix of forwards battling over a spot or two next season. Ultimately, I think Chia will sign a veteran FA to fill one of the Recchi/Ryder spots and the other will go to Caron with Sauve/Arniel as the first call-ups and Knight/Spooner back to Junior for one more year.
 

SoxScout

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Players like London Knights forward Jared Knight come into camp these days with cords of thick muscle that would put the “round is a shape” players of yesteryear to shame.

“First and foremost, there’s 68 games, so the (regular) season is definitely long and you need to have a body that can hold up – withstand the wear and tear that goes on,” Knight said. “It all starts in the summer and you have to really work hard.

“The fitter you are the longer you’re going to live. You feel a lot better about yourself when you’re eating well and you’re exercising.”

A second-round draft pick of the Boston Bruins in 2010, Knight puts himself through an imposing summer training regimen. At the Bruins’ rookie camp this year, Knight bench-pressed 225 pounds 12 times, and he can power clean 280 pounds for one rep.

“I wake up and I’m usually in the gym by six o’clock. I have a workout and then I usually go home and sleep,” Knight said. “I’ll have an on-ice session or another workout in the gym in the afternoon – one or two workouts a day with an ice session four times a week.”
http://www.metronews.ca/london/sports/article/989759--knight-sets-the-fitness-standard-for-london-knights

3 GP, 3 G, 3 A .. http://www.ontariohockeyleague.com/roster/show/id/1293
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Looks like Knight might be on the move. I don't fully get the OHL and why a first place team would trade someone like him but according to OHL followers on HF his minutes have been limited for some reason.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Word on twitter yesterday was that he'd go to the Plymouth Whalers and that Spooner would end up on the Ottawa 67's.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Strictly independent, as soon as the player is returned to the junior club they have free reign to bench, trade, or do whatever with the player.

Dammit JZ
 

Jed Zeppelin

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If he's aware of the of rumors, he's not letting it affect his play. Another two goals tonight (one was an EN but I will assume he steamrolled through multiple defenders to get it) brings him to 11-5-16 in 15 games. His 11 goals have him tied for 4th in the OHL and he's on pace to comfortably score 40. His +13 is also good for 4th. I'd love to find out how many ES goals have been scored against London with him on the ice but I don't know if there's any other way to find that out besides going through game logs. I will report back.

Alright, I went through every game he's played. Knight has been on the ice for four goals against - 1 empty netter, 1 4-on-4, one on the PK (5-on-4), and one 5-on-5. Not too shabby.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Knight has 2 goals and 5 assists in 3 games since returning from injury, bringing him to 19-21-40 on the season in 33 games. Won't reach his personal bests because of the missed games, but the scoring pace looks good.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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The Knights finished off a sweep of Windsor tonight. They're primed to go deep in the playoffs so chances are Knight won't get a call-up this year. Niagara and Sarnia are both at 2-2 so there's still a chance Hamilton and Spooner could make it to Providence before their season is done. Unfortunately they're on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs are considered so there may only be a small handful of games left for them.
 

PedroSpecialK

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Dominic Tiano with a nice piece on Knight.

Two seasons ago, while at the Bruins camp, his foot was accidently run over by a car driven by a teammate. Knight said nothing. He continued to battle through camp. Still injured when sent back to junior, he hopped on a plane to play opening night for the Knights, showing up minutes after the game had started that same evening.


But what about those statistics? Knight played in 250 regular season OHL games amassing 102 goals and 107 assists for 209 points and a plus/minus for his career of plus 52. Take away his first season in the OHL where very few players are point per game players and Knight’s career is over a point per game. He’s been among the best shootout performers in the OHL over the last two seasons and has been on the Knights shootout list every game since his rookie season ended. He was an incredible 8 for 12 in those shootouts over the last two seasons, with 5 of them game winners.
In 47 career playoffs games Knight has 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points and is a plus 11. The playoffs are a different breed of hockey where sometimes it’s not the quantity that matters, but the timing of goals. Four powerplay goals, three game winning goals, five game opening goals and three insurance goals is widely considered clutch goal scoring when needed the most.
He’s been compared to a young Mark Recchi, in today’s game, a Ryan Callahan. He’s not the next big superstar in the game. Frankly, he won’t be the next Tyler Seguin for the Bruins. But when it comes to big game scenarios, it’s the players in the mold of Jared Knight that give you 110% every shift that give you the edge, the will to compete, the drive to win at all costs, the determination to keep going when the body says no.
 

The Napkin

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Knight's Knights captured the autoslot (or whatever it's called) to the championship game of the Memorial Cup.
Shawinigan takes on Edmonton tonight in a tie-breaker, winner gets Saint John on Sat in the semis tomorrow at 7, and the final is Sun at 7pm. the final will be on the NHL network Mon at 10am. I can't seem to find any info on live airing but I haven't had my coffee yet so...
 

The Napkin

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For the record it will indeed be on NHL network live tonight at 7. Host Shawinigan has moved on from the tie-breaker to face the Knights so it should be a pretty loud involved crowd.
 

FelixMantilla

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http://www.csnne.com...513&feedID=3352

It’s been a difficult season for Bruins prospect Jared Knight in his first full pro campaign, and that adversity continued on Wednesday. The Bruins 2010 second round pick was reassigned to the ECHL South Carolina StingRays from the AHL’s Providence Bruins along with fellow forward Tyler Randell. Knight has missed the last 27 AHL games with Providence due to hamstring problems, and the 20-year-old has truly never got on track this season.
 

Titoschew

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More tough news on Knight. I was at the PB's tonight sitting next to the bench, think he took a slash on the arm/wrist. He then came to bench slammed the door behind him, threw his gloves down the tunnel, let out a few swears and disappeared to the room with trainers and did not return.
 

Manzivino

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Mark Divver of the Providence Journal has reported Knight was skating at practice this past week with a non-contact jersey on, but isn't expected to be in a game until April. I also read on HF (so . . . somewhat less reliable) that he's due back at full practice Tuesday (with Koko!) but the timetable for game readiness is still 2-3 weeks. Either way, likely target date is the game on April 5th.
 
Sucks that he's missed almost the whole season with this injury. At least Providence is poised for a potentially deep playoff run so he should still get 9 regular season games and at least two rounds of playoff games before skating with the Black Aces.
 

Manzivino

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Knight returned to action Friday night, was a healthy scratch Saturday, and played Sunday as he was eased back into game action. No points on the weekend but he made it through without injury which is a good step and reports of his play were positive. I'm excited to see what he can do in the playoffs now that he's finally healthy.
 

jk333

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Knight has been a disappointment and over at HFBoards some people blame Cassidy for where he's been played. Last year he scored only 19 points in 58 games with Providence. The complaints center around the fact that as a second round draft pick, he's playing his offwing on the 4th line. 
 
Kirk addressed some posters comments at HFboards. The thread isn't that interesting but basically states that Knight doesn't like Cassidy and Cassidy doesn't think Knight deserves the spots in the lineup that he's expecting. Here is Kirk's post:
 
 
Originally Posted by Kirk- NEHJ 
The dynamic is strained and I'll leave it at that. Coach is demanding, and Knight has not been able to earn the minutes/role warranted for a player of his draft status. Depending on who you talk to, one or the other is to blame, but both have their parts to play. Sometimes, interpersonal challenges crop up, but when I say Knight should not give up- that's what I mean. If you want something badly enough- you work for it and figure out what the organization and coach wants from you. That's all. I'm not about to confirm or deny any of those versions- sorry. [/quote]