The Barr Has Been Raised at UMaine

[BoSox3066]

Umass got close to .500 in Carvel’s second year….. second half next season I’ll want to see signs of momentum, playing the right way and things of that nature.

Right now? Its pointless

[AMC]

Umass got close to .500 in Carvel’s second year….. second half next season I’ll want to see signs of momentum, playing the right way and things of that nature.

Right now? Its pointless

Exactly. Maine is still in the "demolish the old house and strip everything down to the studs" part of the process. The rebuild starts next season with Barr's recruits on campus.

[Blackbear96]

I think there's a fine line between drinking the kool aid and being encouraged by what we've seen. You see W/L, Drew S, I think others see a young coach that has been willing to make adjustments every night by mixing up lines, as well as even fixing the PP (as said on the broadcast). Is it because the overall talent isn't there? Perhaps, but he wasn't encouraged by that win on Friday night. This year is going to be brutal and he knows that. There are so few even passable-level players that were left to him.

I find it to be no coincidence that the majority of the solid play we've seen are from guys he brought in essentially at the last minute. Sirota & Breen have been solid, but there have been very few individual players that stand out. In short, this looks like a Red Gendron-recruited team minus the best goaltender in the country. They're bad. Barr will continue to bring in his guys. Anyone calling for his head, or going with the "same old, same old" BS is full of it.

[ticapnews]

Recent coaching changes at state schools in Hockey East.

Carvel
Year -1: 8-24-4 .278
Year 1: 5-29-2 .167
Year 2: 17-20-2 .462

Bazin
Year -1: 5-25-4 .206
Year 1: 24-13-1 .645
Year 2: 28-11-2 .707

Souza
Year -1: 10-20-6 .361
Year 1: 12-15-9 .458
Year 2: 15-15-4 .500

I'm not counting Vermont because Woodcroft is only beginning his second year at the helm and the team only played 13 games in his debut season. UConn was still a member of the AHA when Cavanaugh was hired.

[Jackcurtis23]

I think there's a fine line between drinking the kool aid and being encouraged by what we've seen. You see W/L, Drew S, I think others see a young coach that has been willing to make adjustments every night by mixing up lines, as well as even fixing the PP (as said on the broadcast). Is it because the overall talent isn't there? Perhaps, but he wasn't encouraged by that win on Friday night. This year is going to be brutal and he knows that. There are so few even passable-level players that were left to him.

I find it to be no coincidence that the majority of the solid play we've seen are from guys he brought in essentially at the last minute. Sirota & Breen have been solid, but there have been very few individual players that stand out. In short, this looks like a Red Gendron-recruited team minus the best goaltender in the country. They're bad. Barr will continue to bring in his guys. Anyone calling for his head, or going with the "same old, same old" BS is full of it.

Yes all.

[Jackcurtis23]

Breazeale named rookie of the week.

[walrus]

I do hope all of you folks can admit, Drew S. makes this thread a more interesting read. Sure, some of his takes appear to be bat crap crazy, but when you push back on him, there is always some reason and thought process behind it. We may all disagree on its validity sometimes, but he does want UMaine to win, and maybe he is just less patient or less trusting on how things will turn out with Barr?

I do agree 100% BTW that sometimes even the greatest assistants can't cut it as an HC, and that's probably the biggest concern you have to have with Barr. But his biggest plus is that he's proven multiple times with multiple programs that he can recruit elite level D-1 talent, or at least close enough to elite talent with character that has allowed those various programs to reach heights they've never reached before.

There should be ample evidence of a turnaround by Year Three, and by Year Five you'll know everything you need to know about whether Coach Barr is the real deal or not as an HC. Note, however, the Hockey East landscape is currently littered with current HC's who were former AC's in the recent and not-so-recent past - Barr. Keefe, Woodcroft, Souza, Borek, Albie & Luce. Some are new, while others have been around nearly as long as (or longer than) Red was. Their various outcomes will be fascinating to watch as things play out over the next several years. Stay tuned ...

Drew is trolling, he likes getting a rise out of others.

[walrus]

Everyones favorite AD Blake James got fired from Miami.

[umhockey91]

Everyones favorite AD Blake James got fired from Miami.

What a shame.

[ticapnews]

Everyones favorite AD Blake James got fired from Miami.

[mccreary]

Breazeale named rookie of the week.

You mean the Barr recruit?

[Jackcurtis23]

You mean the Barr recruit?

the Barr recruit who is clearly the best D-man on the team?

[UncleRay]

Drew is trolling, he likes getting a rise out of others.

So - Drew trolled a troll?!

[Chuck Murray]

So - Drew trolled a troll?!

Anyone who disagrees = "troll". What a sad, paranoid existence you must live.

[Fishman'81]

Breazeale named rookie of the week.

A hopeful sign of things to come, for sure.