UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

[HockeyRef]

So, looks like Herrmann is a replacement for BVR

Hearing UNH's Brendan van Riemsdyk has narrowed his choices to two Hockey East schools. He'll be a grad transfer

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) April 11, 2019

Divver says two Beanpot schools -- presumably BU and Northeastern

Interesting...if true wishing him well.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Interesting...if true wishing him well.

Does the van Riemsdyk family have commitment issues, terminally restless, or what???

JvR going directly to the NHL after 2 years? Bummed, but understandable.

TvR going to the pros after 3 years AND a bad injury? Very understandable.

BvR going to a rival school after 3 years, with no realistic hopes for a pro career??

Methinks the "B" in BvR is going to stand for "Bandwagon" if this continues to play out ...

[Dan]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

The new Lucas worries me. If we were going to pick up decommit / castoff I would rather somebody who puts the puck in the net a bit more... One of the younger guys or Budy...

It certainly seems like a bit of a lateral recruiting upgrade. I thought UNH needed/should look to add two, top-six type forwards this off-season and now with BVR's departure that is even more of a need (both to capitalize on next season and for the future). I think Herrmann is a real upgrade on guys like Miller and Cefalu - and while Vela was a far bluer-chip, I think he could match the type of career #17 ended up having. He looks like a nice piece on a third/fourth-line who can skate, defend, forecheck and mix it up, while chipping in offensively here and there. An Esposito or MacAdams type. He isn't a goal scorer, however - he never has been - and UNH needs guys (and, quite frankly, a depth of guys) who can fill it up.

They could have accelerated a guy like Sweeney or Wazny and filled this role. The strategy heading into this off-season should have been to aim-high with available scholarship money, and if you can't land a high-end talent be willing to bank that money for a top talent in the future. Watcher may be on to something in Herrman being a quick strike to replace BVR who appears (all but) officially on his way out the door. If so, that makes sense. But I more potential prospects for this coming season adhere to the strategy I outline above. High-end now, first or high-end later, second...

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With BVR apparently on his way out - UNH's top-six (and overall goal-scoring), which already needed improvement, is looking even more thin...

Crookshank - Pierson - Kelleher
Stevenson - Blackburn - Grasso
Herrmann - Engaras - Fregona
Esposito - Sacco - MacAdams
Sato/Cippolone

This line-up is a stretch to generate much more, if any, offense than the team did last season and raises a lot of questions. Without getting into those questions here - adding a couple more talented bodies could slot a lot of players into more comfortable roles, build depth of scoring, spread the defensive attention around and much more. UNH needs to seriously look into accelerating Margel and targeting one of the high-end goal scorers left on the market. This would look a lot better...

Crookshank - Pierson - Kelleher
[Scorer] - Blackburn - Grasso
[Margel] - Engaras - Fregona
Hermann - Esposito - MacAdams
Stevenson

[Dan]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

As for BVR's departure - I wish him the best of luck and hope he finds the combination of graduate education/winning program he's looking for. He watched both of his brother's play on the big stage and I'd imagine he wants that opportunity desperately. On the ice, they'll miss him but he's hardly irreplaceable - even with the current F line-up - and may even open things (roster/$$$) up for UNH to get what they desperately need. Pure goal-scoring...

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Total speculation - I'd rank likely BVR destinations as follows:

Providence
Boston University
Northeastern / Massachusetts
-
-
Boston College

[boblav1]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

As for BVR's departure - I wish him the best of luck and hope he finds the combination of graduate education/winning program he's looking for. He watched both of his brother's play on the big stage and I'd imagine he wants that opportunity desperately. On the ice, they'll miss him but he's hardly irreplaceable - even with the current F line-up - and may even open things (roster/$$$) up for UNH to get what they desperately need. Pure goal-scoring...

---

Total speculation - I'd rank likely BVR destinations as follows:

Providence
Boston University
Northeastern / Massachusetts
-
-
Boston College

Source: It's BU or NU for Brendan van Riemsdyk

— Mark Divver (@MarkDivver) April 11, 2019

[Darius]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Does the van Riemsdyk family have commitment issues, terminally restless, or what???

JvR going directly to the NHL after 2 years? Bummed, but understandable.

TvR going to the pros after 3 years AND a bad injury? Very understandable.

BvR going to a rival school after 3 years, with no realistic hopes for a pro career??

Methinks the "B" in BvR is going to stand for "Bandwagon" if this continues to play out ...

Sets himself up for a better life with an advanced degree. Perhaps some scholarship $. Plays where he might better show case his skills. This is all conjecture.

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Or, maybe he figured that he might not crack the top six forwards in his senior year either, so see ya later.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Or, maybe he figured that he might not crack the top six forwards in his senior year either, so see ya later.

Or maybe the vR family's veneration of all things Umile did not extend to DU's hand-picked successor?

So many questions, so many possibilities … so few answers. Does anyone do journalism any more??

[Dan]

‘01 Nick Cafarelli

https://***********/mbilotta/status/1117150161145352194?s=21

- younger brother Anthony (‘03) also plays for Cushing.

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

"UNH Commit Lucas Herrmann: A Hard-Working, Gritty Forward"
Includes interview, video highlights, scouting reports, and statistics.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

‘01 Nick Cafarelli

https://***********/mbilotta/status/...145352194?s=21

- younger brother Anthony (‘03) also plays for Cushing.

Pretty cool to see Dan...when do you think he comes on board? Couple of seasons?

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

According to a post on BU thread, BvR going to to NU.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

According to a post on BU thread, BvR going to to NU.

Welp there it is....

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

Changes to recruiting rules beginning May 1:
1) No verbal commitments before August 1 of player's upcoming junior year of high school.
2) Until January 1 of player's sophomore year in high school, coaches can't talk to him and unofficial visits are not allowed.
3) Current players who have already verbally committed and are not yet sophomores in high school will not be allowed to have further contact with the college until January 1 of his sophomore year.

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/ne...ng-Changes.php

[C-H-C]

Re: UNH Commits & Recruiting: 2019 and Beyond

"UNH Commits Update 4-19-2019: Final 2018-19 Statistics"
Features video highlights of Will Margel, Robert Cronin, and Tim Stützle