UNH Men's Hockey 2022 Off Season Thread- Goodbye Lake Whitt!

[After the Whistle]

I put the odds at 70% at his point. My narrative is probably different than the one you have created. In mine, he was approached with a very positive, “ we think we can make you a D1 star, we believe in you.” Will that hold for 2/3 years? Only time will tell. In terms of losing recruits to the delay, it sure looks like it, went along with the “I play my loyal seniors first.”Ah!
In terms of Commesso, not hard to believe but look who is here this year! Same path, different beginning. Better hope he stays for all 4. And Stutzle was a no brainer, went straight to NHL, hard to argue that one. We have all watched the miss steps, but they only become missteps when they happen.

[NCAA watcher]

2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	2025-26	2026-27
Pg.Ryan Black		Fr.Ryan Conmey	So.Ryan Conmey	Jr.Ryan Conmey
Sr.Harrison Blaisdell	Fr.J.P. Turner	So.J.P. Turner	Jr.J.P. Turner	Sr.J.P. Turner
Sr.Chase Stevenson	Fr.Nick Ring	So.Nick Ring	Jr.Nick Ring	Sr.Nick Ring
Sr.Joe Hankinson
Jr.Nick Cafarelli	Sr.Nick Cafarelli	Fr.Ryan MacPherson	So.Ryan MacPherson	Jr.Ryan MacPherson
Jr.Cam Gendron	Sr.Cam Gendron	Fr.Connor MacPherson	So.Connor MacPherson	Jr.Connor MacPherson
So.Will Margel	Jr.Will Margel	Sr.Will Margel	Fr.Niko Tournas	So.Niko Tournas
So.Liam Devlin	Jr.Liam Devlin	Sr.Liam Devlin	Fr.Jack Sadowski	So.Jack Sadowski
So.Robert Cronin	Jr.Robert Cronin	Sr.Robert Cronin
So.Conor Lovett	Jr.Conor Lovett	Sr.Conor Lovett	Fr.Connor DeTurris	So.Connor DeTurris
So.Connor Sweeney	Jr.Connor Sweeney	Sr.Connor Sweeney
Fr.Jake Dunlap	So.Jake Dunlap	Jr.Jake Dunlap	Sr.Jake Dunlap
Fr.Kristaps Skrastins	So.Kristaps Skrastins	Jr.Kristaps Skrastins	Sr.Kristaps Skrastins
Fr.Stiven Sardarian	So.Stiven Sardarian	Jr.Stiven Sardarian	Sr.Stiven Sardarian
Fr.Cy Leclerc	So.Cy Leclerc	Jr.Cy Leclerc	Sr.Cy Lecerc
Fr.Morgan Winters	So.Morgan Winters	Jr.Morgan Winters	Sr.Morgan Winters
Defense
Sr.Kalle Eriksson	Fr.Brenden Fitzgerald	So.Brenden Fitzgerald	Jr.Brenden Fitzgerald	Sr.Brenden Fitzgerald
Jr.Luke Reid	Sr.Luke Reid	Fr.Sam Court	So.Sam Court	Jr.Sam Court
Jr.Nikolai Jenson	Sr.Nikolai Jenson	Fr.Ryan Philbrick	So.Ryan Philbrick	Jr.Ryan Philbrick
So.Alex Gagne	Jr.Alex Gagne	Sr.Alex Gagne
So.Colton Huard	Jr.Colton Huard	Sr.Colton Huard
So.Nico DeVita	Jr.Nico DeVita	Sr.Niko Devita	Fr.Josh Player	So.Josh Player
So.Jack Babbage	Jr.Jack Babbage	Sr.Jack Babbage
Fr.Damien Carfagna	So.Damien Carfagna	Jr.Damien Carfagna	Sr.Damien Carfagna
Fr.Cade Penney	So.Cade Penney	Jr.Cade Penney	Sr.Cade Penney
Goalies
Fr.Tyler Muszelik	So.Tyler Muszelik	Jr.Tyler Muszelik	Sr.Tyler Muszelik
Sr.David Fessenden	Fr.Jed Baliotti	So.Jed Baliotti	Jr.Jed Baliotti	Sr.Jed Baliotti
Jr.Jeremy Forman	Sr.Jeremy Forman

[HockeyRef]

I put the odds at 70% at his point. My narrative is probably different than the one you have created. In mine, he was approached with a very positive, “ we think we can make you a D1 star, we believe in you.” Will that hold for 2/3 years? Only time will tell. In terms of losing recruits to the delay, it sure looks like it, went along with the “I play my loyal seniors first.”Ah!
In terms of Commesso, not hard to believe but look who is here this year! Same path, different beginning. Better hope he stays for all 4. And Stutzle was a no brainer, went straight to NHL, hard to argue that one. We have all watched the miss steps, but they only become missteps when they happen.

Personally I don't blame the coaching staff (except for the Union thing...) myself. I believe skaters land where its best for them, and that's the long and short of it. YES very excited to have Tyler M with us this season. Will be interesting to see what's going to go down with the goal tending situation. He's gunning for the starting position, and, I hope that both of them get a shot at it opening weekend (I fully expect to see this). I bet Colton Huard doesn't make 4 seasons we'll see...but here's hoping.

Captain watch: Chase Stevenson is my bet. Yours?

[After the Whistle]

Ref, my guess is still Kalle with the C and Chase and Harrison with the As. Would love to see a junior get an A, someone like Luke. Makes them step up and be a more active leader going into next year. I went with Kalle for a couple of f reasons. One was the showing of their hand on the schedule release page with Kalle.
But I have no issue with your guess. Chase needs to have a big year as his past 2 have been slowed by injuries. Loved his freshman year.
would love to get access to their scrimmage with MC the first weekend. Perhaps they can’t because of some silly HE rule. Sousa had indicated he wanted an exhibition game to start this year. Oh well.

[Chuck Murray]

I put the odds at 70% at his point. My narrative is probably different than the one you have created. In mine, he was approached with a very positive, “ we think we can make you a D1 star, we believe in you.” Will that hold for 2/3 years? Only time will tell.

I hope you're right AtW, but when you figure that the guys who recruited him have less than a 70% chance of still being here by the time the kid matriculates, even the most wild-eyed optimists among us would be kind of crazy to peg UNH's chances of seeing this kid come to Durham in 3-4 years' time as anything more than a 50-50 proposition. Too many moving pieces, and we've seen this movie before, etc. But like I said, I hope you're right and I'm wrong.

Until there is an uptick in the program's success, we're basically Placeholder U ...

[Whalers]

I saw that Merrimack just signed a high scoring 17 year old from Toronto. Only 5'9" but had 108 points last year in the GTHL and will move up to the OJHL this year. Hmmm...... sounds familiar, like deja vu all over again. How come we cant get players like this? Oh wait, we used to, back when we had a solid pipeline into Toronto AND recruiters willing to battle there. One of those 5'9" players (not Johnny Rogers) ended up with 219 points at UNH. Were them the days.

[Chuck Murray]

I saw that Merrimack just signed a high scoring 17 year old from Toronto. Only 5'9" but had 108 points last year in the GTHL and will move up to the OJHL this year. Hmmm...... sounds familiar, like deja vu all over again. How come we cant get players like this? Oh wait, we used to, back when we had a solid pipeline into Toronto AND recruiters willing to battle there. One of those 5'9" players (not Johnny Rogers) ended up with 219 points at UNH. Were them the days.

Darren Haydar isn't going to be walking through that door anytime soon, sadly.

UNH's rich vein of recruiting in British Columbia also largely dried up when McCloskey left.

Nowadays UNH gets everyone's leftovers, a couple of Swedes, and flawed/borderline prospects.

Anyone even approaching a legit top-tier prospect commits to UNH at age 16 (Placeholder U - "come & get me"), seemingly to get the attention of the rest of the hockey world, and more often than not ends up somewhere else. It's like the whole "safety school" concept taken out onto the ice. It might even work for UNH too ... if only MS7 could generate on-ice success to compel the would-be recruits to actually follow up on their years-ago commitments, knowing there are meaningful games to be played at UNH. That hasn't happened. And I have a hard time blaming kids for changing their minds. So ...

[NCAA watcher]

On the media poll, they have several tiers, with us in the 9-11 grouping (as I also see it)

Mike Machnik @MikeMachnikCHN 2022-23 @hockey_east

Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
=======================
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
=======================
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
======================
8. Merrimack 51
======================
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21

With kids hitting campus now, let's see where we are in HE
1.BU
2.NU
3.U.Mass
4.U.Conn
5.BC
6.Providence
7.U.Mass-Lowell
8.Merrimack
9.U.N.H.
10.Maine
11.Vermont

[Dan]

Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
=======================
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
=======================
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
======================
8. Merrimack 51
======================
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21

If ALL goes well UNH can perhaps jump Vermont, maybe Merrimack? Hard to see this team being better than BC/Lowell or any one else in Hockey East this season. If they cannot score, and struggle to possess the puck in the offensive zone, it's not so hard to see them jumped by rival Maine...

It's an absolute shame what has been allowed to happen to UNH Hockey.

[Chuck Murray]

On the media poll, they have several tiers, with us in the 9-11 grouping (as I also see it)

Mike Machnik @MikeMachnikCHN 2022-23 @hockey_east

Writers & Broadcasters Association Media Poll:
1. Northeastern (7) 117
2. Massachusetts (3) 96
=======================
3. Providence 87
4. Connecticut 86
5. BU (1) 85
=======================
6. Massachusetts-Lowell 73
7. BC 63
======================
8. Merrimack 51
======================
9. Vermont 24
10. New Hampshire 23
11. Maine 21

BC will move up several notches, and both Providence and UConn are slightly overrated here. Lowell almost always seems to exceed expectations. I think Merrimack falling back a bit from last season is a good call. Anyone who thinks Ben Barr is going to be taking UMaine to a second last place finish in a row isn't paying attention. This year's UMaine team will be the surprise of HEA, as was Merrimack last season. And yes, either UNH (sadly my pick) or UVM will be ending up in the HEA cellar this time around. Bring on the rebuild, please ...

[Scott]

If ALL goes well UNH can perhaps jump Vermont, maybe Merrimack? Hard to see this team being better than BC/Lowell or any one else in Hockey East this season. If they cannot score, and struggle to possess the puck in the offensive zone, it's not so hard to see them jumped by rival Maine...

It's an absolute shame what has been allowed to happen to UNH Hockey.

AD Rich, I hope that you are reading this. Come March 2023, if this team isn't singing a different tune, please make this your JOB #1 and make the necessary changes. Thank you.

Signed,

A 30+ year season ticket holder

[d.gerry]

AD Rich, I hope that you are reading this. Come March 2023, if this team isn't singing a different tune, please make this your JOB #1 and make the necessary changes. Thank you.

Signed,

A 30+ year season ticket holder

I'm with Scott here, but not as patient! I feel AD Rich needs to address this sooner, rather than later. Please begin a top down rebuild immediately. It is a complete shame what has been allowed to happen to a once proud program.

Signed,

A 27 year season ticket holder.

[Dan]

Hockey East Media Day today - Stevenson (at least) is representing UNH, so that's a good sign he'll be in a leadership position this season (Assuming this hasn't been announced already? I can't claim to be too caught up in anticipation for this season...). The Wildcats were picked 9th in the Coaches' Poll (UNH Women equally as neglected in the 8th spot)...

--

Devlin - Blaisdell - Cronin
Dunlap - Sardarian - Cafarelli
Margel - Stevenson - Skrastins
LeClerc - Lovett - Gendron/Winters
Hankinson - Sweeney - Black

Gagne - Reid
Carfagna - Huard
Babbage - Eriksson
Jensen - DaVita
Penney

Muszelik / Fessenden
Foreman
Gaughan


If the team gets good goaltending from Muszelik than they could be pretty good from the blueline back - this honestly might be the most talented/exciting defensive group since the days of Pesce, VanRiemsdyk, Knodel, Agosta, Hardowa, Kostolansky. Outside of the two future NHLers on that corp the rest of the group might have been a bit of a surprise over the course of their UNH careers relative to their on paper expectations. The current group is probably a deeper group based on expectation...

But what does UNH get from its forwards this season? How much did promising freshmen seasons from Devlin and Cronin depend on their more talented upperclass counterparts (Pierson, Ward, Engaras)? Can they take a step forward needing to be the drivers of the offense themselves? Blaisdell has struggled to play up to expectations at both NoDak and UNH. The rest of the group is entirely comprised of inexperience and yet-to-produce options...

I would be surprised if there aren't struggles to score this season - at least from the forward group (how much can the D be expected to drive overall offense?)...

My biggest concern is puck possession in the offensive zone - allowing the D to mobilize, catch a breather and not spend all 60 minutes under siege in their own end.

[NCAA watcher]

Hockey East Media Day today - Stevenson (at least) is representing UNH, so that's a good sign he'll be in a leadership position this season (Assuming this hasn't been announced already? I can't claim to be too caught up in anticipation for this season...). The Wildcats were picked 9th in the Coaches' Poll (UNH Women equally as neglected in the 8th spot)...

Hockey East 2022-23 Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll
Rank	Team (1st Place Votes)	Pts.
1.	Northeastern (7)	105
2.	Boston University (1)	94
3.	Massachusetts (3)	93
4.	Providence	76
T-5.	Boston College	71
T-5.	UMass Lowell	71
7.	UConn	70
8.	Merrimack	44
9.	New Hampshire	37
10.	Vermont	29
11.	Maine	26

Can't say I blame them, but also, this group, as you go on to say, is unknown up front. 16 points for Cronin and Devlin, and then 10 for Stevenson, 8 for Blaisdell and 7 for Cafarelli are the career highs. Given the past "knowns" and the limitations that encompassed, I prefer a re-deal of the deck. Basically the whiffs on the 2020 and 2019 classes is why there's 7 newcomers on the forward lines.

--

Devlin - Blaisdell - Cronin
Dunlap - Sardarian - Cafarelli
Margel - Stevenson - Skrastins
LeClerc - Lovett - Gendron/Winters
Hankinson - Sweeney - Black

Gagne - Reid
Carfagna - Huard
Babbage - Eriksson
Jensen - DaVita
Penney

Muszelik / Fessenden
Foreman
Gaughan

Not bad guesses. They're all sort of in the same boat, and you can as easily make a case for Leclerc on #2. Heck, since you have him at the #6 D spot, maybe try Eriksson up front, because I have to think they have a role for DaVita.

If the team gets good goaltending from Muszelik than they could be pretty good from the blueline back - this honestly might be the most talented/exciting defensive group since the days of Pesce, VanRiemsdyk, Knodel, Agosta, Hardowa, Kostolansky. Outside of the two future NHLers on that corp the rest of the group might have been a bit of a surprise over the course of their UNH careers relative to their on paper expectations. The current group is probably a deeper group based on expectation...

Agree. Muszelik is the wildcard, as freshmen goalies are hard to predict. Remember Trent Cavicchi, a similarly highly touted NHL pick who took three years to approach starting?

But what does UNH get from its forwards this season? How much did promising freshmen seasons from Devlin and Cronin depend on their more talented upperclass counterparts (Pierson, Ward, Engaras)?

I'd say Cronin's track record is stronger on that front, but your point is entirely proper -- riding shotgun is different than being the lead.

I would be surprised if there aren't struggles to score this season - at least from the forward group (how much can the D be expected to drive overall offense?)...

My biggest concern is puck possession in the offensive zone - allowing the D to mobilize, catch a breather and not spend all 60 minutes under siege in their own end.

Basically, in 34 games, they'll need at least 85 goals to be competitive.
The last years have been 76, 60 (23 games), 91, 90, 88, 124

They may not get there in 2022-23, so another 9-11 spot season is in the offing. But it will be more fun to "play the kids" and maybe the cupboard will have some groceries for the Chef come 2023-24. Where we are in March 2023 will be interesting.

[HockeyRef]

Usually the Captain goes to the Hockey East Media Day...at least, that's been the norm from what I gather. Haven't seen any verification of that. As per the team we know we need to find scoring and I think that there is potential there. Lots of 'unknowns'...guess we'll find out! Not surprised at the ranking/poll.