-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The retooling of the London Knights roster [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/london-knights-bolster-lineup-with-latest-two-signings] has been in full throttle throughout August. GM Mark Hunter has been actively signing free agents with valuable junior-level experience. Additionally, through the import draft, the team has acquired a large right-shot defenseman who was selected by the Colorado Avalanche [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/colorado-avalanche] in this past June's draft. On Monday, the Knights organization announced the signing of Swedish blueliner Linus Funck [https://chl.ca/ohl-knights/article/knights-sign-import-defenceman-funck/] to an OHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. London used their first-round selection (58th overall) in the 2025 CHL Import Draft to take Funck. He is the 13th player from the first round of the draft to sign in the OHL for the upcoming season. Funck, 18, was taken 118th overall in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Avalanche. He played in Sweden’s top junior league (J20 Nationell) for the Lulea HF organization. Funck led his team in scoring amongst defensemen with 28 points (5 goals, 23 assists) in 48 games. Also, he wasn’t afraid to mix it up from time to time, a trait the Hunter brothers will adore, recording 59 penalty minutes. London Knights Bolster Lineup With Latest Two Signings [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/8c074c13-691f-4595-86bc-b212bba6508f.webp] London Knights Bolster Lineup With Latest Two Signings There’s one thing that the London Knights don’t do: rebuild. Fresh off <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/the-london-knights-hang-on-to-win-ohl-championship">back-to-back OHL Championships</a>, and several of their star players leaving the team due to graduating to the professional level or aging out of the league, don’t expect the Hunter brothers to stay quiet. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/london-knights-bolster-lineup-with-latest-two-signings] “Defensively, Funck shows good awareness and positioning within his own end. He’s quick on puck retrievals and shows great intensity when battling for the puck in the corners and down low. He anticipates and kills plays very well and does a great job of quickly transitioning to offense. While he has some bite, if he adds a little more strength to his game, he could become even more of a threat on the backend.” Peter Baracchini [https://x.com/PBaracchini], a writer for The Hockey Writers, wrote a draft profile for Funck [https://thehockeywriters.com/linus-funck-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/]. The above quote is just a snippet describing Funck’s value on the defensive side of the puck. In his article, he mentions that the Swede is a pass-first kind of player, but does a good job at walking the blueline to find open shooting lanes. The Hunter brothers love size on their blueline. Funck stands at 6-foot-3 and 183 pounds. Pair that with his fluid mobility and you have a right-shot defenseman who can shut down attacks swiftly with his feet and reach. London has had one of the best bluelines in the OHL for a few years now. Their depth was unmatched. However, Oliver Bonk [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/philadelphia-flyers/latest-news/flyers-prospects-win-second-ohl-championship-with-london-knights], Cam Allen, and most likely Sam Dickinson [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/players/continual-growth-resulting-in-sam-dickinsons-phenomenal-start], won’t be back. The opportunity for Colorado’s fourth-rounder to play top-four minutes is there, as the Knights arguably only have one right-shot defenseman — Henry Brzustewicz — capable of handling those minutes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Make sure you bookmark THN's OHL site [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl] for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. Latest OHL News: Top NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With Kitchener [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/d30dcc16-a641-4e7f-b69f-40a6670343ff.webp] Top NHL Draft Prospect Adam Valentini Not To Honor OHL Commitment With Kitchener Sour news hit the Kitchener Rangers organization, losing a high-end player just before training camp starts. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/top-nhl-draft-prospect-adam-valentini-not-to-honor-ohl-commitment-with-kitchener] Kingston Frontenacs Bolster Blueline With Top-Four Defenseman Jack Brauti [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/cbf3aef2-5d35-44d6-92e6-8dc7b92a2d26.webp] Kingston Frontenacs Bolster Blueline With Top-Four Defenseman Jack Brauti We are just under two weeks away from the start of the 2025 OHL preseason. Training camps are just around the corner, and the Kingston Frontenacs recognized the need to add a top-four defenseman to their lineup ahead of the 2025-26 season. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/kingston-frontenacs-bolster-blueline-with-top-four-defenseman-jack-brauti] Peterborough Petes Sign Leon Kolarik; Import Roster Complete [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/2ac920bc-856d-4e0f-9181-30266664838a.webp] Peterborough Petes Sign Leon Kolarik; Import Roster Complete The <a href="https://chl.ca/ohl-petes/">Peterborough Petes</a> have finalized their import roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season. The club will have three brand new imports who will get their first taste of CHL action in just a few weeks. And interestingly enough, all three are eligible for the 2026 NHL Draft. [https://thehockeynews.com/ohl/latest-news/peterborough-petes-sign-leon-kolarik-import-roster-complete]
