KNIGHTS ALUMNI IN THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS

By: Gavin Corcelli

The London Knights have been well represented in the 2016-17 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with 20 former Knights players competing for the Cup. At least one Knights alumni is guaranteed to win a Stanley Cup this season, as Austin Watson has punched a ticket to the finals with the Predators, while Olli Maatta and the Pittsburgh Penguins do battle against Chris Kelly and Marc Methot of the Ottawa Senators to secure a spot in the finals.  Let’s take a look to see some of the history between the Knights and all of the team’s alumni that took part in this year’s NHL post-season.

Austin Watson (Nashville Predators) – After being acquired from the Peterborough Petes in January of 2012, Watson was named the OHL MVP after helping lead the Knights to the Robertson Cup. The 18^th overall selection in the 2010 NHL entry draft turned pro for the 2012-13 season, joining Milwaukee in the AHL. Watson made his NHL debut with the Nashville Predators during that season and would play 6 games while recording 1 point. Watson played his first full season in 2015-16, recording 10 points in 57 games. The 25-year old put up 17 points (5G, 12A) in 77 games this past season, and has had an integral part in helping lead the Predators to their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance with 6 points (4G, 2A) in 16 games so far these playoffs.

Olli Maatta (Pittsburgh Penguins) – Maatta played in 115 games for the London Knights over two seasons from 2011-2013, and was selected 22^nd overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. During his time with the Knights, the Finnish defenceman recorded 70 points, and added 37 points over 40 playoff games. Maatta won his first Stanley Cup last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins after recording 19 points in 67 games. He currently has 7 points in 17 games this Stanley Cup Finals, as he attempts to help the Penguins make their second straight finals appearance.

Marc Methot (Ottawa Senators) – Methot played 3 seasons for the London Knights from 2002-2005, and was a part of the record setting team in 2004-05 that won the Memorial Cup. The 31-year old defenceman was drafted in the 6^th round of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He spent 7 seasons in the Columbus system before being traded to his hometown team the Ottawa Senators following the 2011-12 season. He has recorded 120 points (21G, 99A) over 579 career NHL games, and has recorded 4 points over 16 playoff games this year as the Senators look to make the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chris Kelly (Ottawa Senators) – Chris Kelly played nearly four seasons for the London Knights before being dealt to the Sudbury Wolves in his final OHL season in 2000-01. Over 216 games with the Knights, Kelly recorded 233 points and added 35 playoffs points across 41 games. Kelly was taken in the 3^rd round of the 1999 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators. He spent his first 9 seasons with the Senators before being dealt to the Boston Bruins during the 2010-11 season and would go on to win a Stanley Cup with the team that same season. Kelly rejoined the Senators this past season and went on to play all 82 games and recorded 12 points.

John Carlson (Washington Capitals) – The 27^th overall pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft played one season for the London Knights during the 2008-09 season where he recorded 76 points in 59 games, and added another 22 points over 14 playoff games. The 27-year old just completed his 8^th NHL season with the Washington Capitals, and has recorded 265 points over 526 regular season games, with another 35 points over 76 playoff games.

Sam Gagner (Columbus Blue Jackets) – Gagner played one season with the London Knights before being taken 6^th overall by the Edmonton Oilers in 2007. His lone season with the Knights was a memorable one as he put up 118 points in 53 games. Gagner went on to play 7 seasons with the Oilers before spending time with the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers and most recently the Columbus Blue Jackets. He recorded a career high 50 points while helping Columbus reach the playoffs this season.

Mitch Marner (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Marner continues to succeed at all levels of professional hockey, as he reached the NHL this past season following an impressive three seasons with the Knights from 2013-2016. Marner recorded 301 points over 184 regular season games and was selected 4^th overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015. Marner played in 77 games for the Maple Leafs this season and recorded 61 points to help them reach the playoffs for the first time in four years.

Patrick Maroon (Edmonton Oilers) – Maroon spent one season with the Knights in 2007-08, recording 90 points over 64 games. He was drafted in the 6^th round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft by the Philadelphia Flyers. He spent most of 5 seasons from 2008-2012 in the AHL before playing his first full NHL season with the Anaheim Ducks in 2013-14. He was dealt to the Edmonton Oilers during the 2015-16 season and recorded a career high 42 points this past season to help the Oilers reach the playoffs for the first time in 11 seasons.

Corey Perry (Anaheim Ducks) – Perry played four seasons for the London Knights from 2001-2005, and was an integral part of the 2005 Memorial Cup team after recording 130 points in 60 games. The Anaheim Ducks selected Perry 28^th overall in 2003, and he has played his entire career in Anaheim across 12 seasons. He has had a stellar career thus far, as he has recorded 717 points in 886 regular season games, and has put up 89 points across 114 playoff games in his career. He helped the Ducks win their first Stanley Cup in 2007.

Matthew Tkachuk (Calgary Flames) – Tkachuk helped the Knights win a Memorial Cup in his lone season with the team during the 2015-16 season, where he recorded 107 points over 57 games and added 40 points over 18 games in the playoffs. The 6^th overall selection in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft made his debut this past season with the Calgary Flames, recording 48 points over 76 games.

Dennis Wideman (Calgary Flames) – Wideman played three and a half seasons with the Knights from 2000-2004 after being acquired from the Sudbury Wolves during the 2000-01 season. He played in 204 games for the Knights, and recorded 197 points over that span. He has spent time with the St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, Washington Capitals and currently the Calgary Flames over his 12 NHL seasons while appearing in 815 games and recording 387 points.

Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) – Patrick Kane spent his lone OHL season with the Knights where he recorded 145 points in 58 games en route to being selected 1^st overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007. The 28-year old has spent all 10 of his NHL seasons with the Blackhawks. He has a long list of accomplishments, including a Calder in 2008, three Stanley Cups, a Conn Smythe award in 2013, and an Art Ross, Ted Lindsay and Hart trophy earned during the 2015-16 season. He has recorded 752 points over 740 appearances, and has put up 123 points over 127 playoff games.

Josh Anderson (Columbus Blue Jackets) – Anderson spent three seasons with the Knights from 2011-2014, recording 122 points across 191 games. The Columbus Blue Jackets selected him in the 4^th round of the 2012 NHL Entry Draft. He spent the majority of the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons in the AHL before playing his first full season this past year for Columbus, recording 29 points in 78 games.

Kyle Quincey (Columbus Blue Jackets) – Quincey played just over a season for the Knights from 2002-2004 before being dealt to the then Mississauga IceDogs just 3 games into the 2003-04 season. He recorded 20 points over 69 games with the Knights. He has spent most of his NHL career with the Detroit Red Wings while spending time with the Los Angeles Kings, Colorado Avalanche, New Jersey Devils and Columbus Blue Jackets.

Scott Harrington (Columbus Blue Jackets) – Scott Harrington spent all four of his OHL seasons with the Knights, playing in 216 games and recording 81 points. He was selected 54^th overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2011. He has played in 47 games split between the Penguins, Maple Leafs and Blue Jackets and had recorded 4 points.

Michael McCarron (Montreal Canadiens) – McCarron spent a season and a half with the Knights from 2013-2015, putting up 75 points over 91 games before being dealt to the Oshawa Generals. The Montreal Canadiens selected him 25^th overall in 2013, and he has gone on to play 51 games for the Canadiens over the past two seasons, recording 7 points.

Rick Nash (New York Rangers) – Nash was the 1^st overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2002 after recording 138 points over 112 games from 2000-2002 with the Knights. Nash played nine seasons with the Blue Jackets before being traded to the New York Rangers prior to the 2012-13 season. He has recorded 771 points in 989 career NHL games, and has put up 41 points in 77 playoff games.

Dan Girardi (New York Rangers) – Girardi played in 31 games for the Knights after being acquired from the Guelph Storm during the 2004-05 season. He went on to play 31 regular season games and recorded 14 points, and helped the Knights win the Memorial Cup. Girardi went undrafted but signed with the New York Rangers in 2005-06 and has gone on to play in 788 games for the Rangers and has recorded 230 points.

Nazem Kadri (Toronto Maple Leafs) – Kadri joined the Knights for the 2008-09 season after spending two seasons with the Kitchener Rangers. He went on to play 112 games over two seasons with the Knights and put up 171 points. The Toronto Maple Leafs selected Kadri 7^th overall in the 2009 Draft, where he has spent his entire career. He has recorded 258 points over 408 games.

Chris Tierney (San Jose Sharks) – Tierney spent all four of his OHL seasons with the Knights from 2010-2014, playing in 247 games and recording 191 points. The San Jose Sharks selected him 55^th overall in 2012, and he has gone on to play 202 games and has recorded 64 points.