BU Hockey '24-'25: Reloaded for another Frozen Four run

[Bomber]

Meanwhile, BC is winning games in the third. Terrier Nation needs a win tonight or the doom and gloom will reach epic proportions. Calling for Jays head after a three game losing streak is so sports in 2024.

BU Hockey: Panic Button

[Sparkee]

We have a very good coach but we need to out recruit our competition first which we clearly have not done.

You don’t think BU is out recruiting other teams? They have 13 NHL draft picks. There is one freshman which will be a 2nd or 3rd rounder according to central scouting. And another that is a 6th or 7th round candidate. So effectively you have 14 to 15 NHL draft caliber players on your team. And you don’t think BU has out recruited the competition?!?!

I don’t think recruiting is an issue at BU. To put it into perspective, Maine has 1 NHL draft pick this year, a senior transfer Taylor Makar.

[Scarlet]

Never thought I’d see the day when parking at Agganis would cost less than at Lowell.

[mookie1995]

I don’t think recruiting is an issue at BU. To put it into perspective, Maine has 1 NHL draft pick this year, a senior transfer Taylor Makar.

UMO is not the bar.

[Sparkee]

UMO is not the bar.

So do you also feel BU hasn’t been good enough at recruiting?

[ericredaxe]

Starting to sour on Pando as coach. Bad giveaways, dumb penalties, lethargic skating... that's what the coach is being paid to correct. Team took the 2nd period off last night and half of the 3rd. Team has some talent but they need more speed. Also we can't expect Caron to steal games for them but it would have been nice to see some grade A saves last night.

Just don't have a good feeling especially when they won no hardware last year with more talent than this year.

2 years in a row to the frozen four and you are souring on the coach? lol

[meauxmo]

You don’t think BU is out recruiting other teams? They have 13 NHL draft picks. There is one freshman which will be a 2nd or 3rd rounder according to central scouting. And another that is a 6th or 7th round candidate. So effectively you have 14 to 15 NHL draft caliber players on your team. And you don’t think BU has out recruited the competition?!?!

I don’t think recruiting is an issue at BU. To put it into perspective, Maine has 1 NHL draft pick this year, a senior transfer Taylor Makar.

Can you honestly say that BU has out recruited BC over the last few years?

[Sparkee]

Can you honestly say that BU has out recruited BC over the last few years?

OK, you narrowed it down from the competition to BC. When you write competition just after losing to Lowell deductive reasoning wouldn’t think you are only talking about BC.

However, even if you compare recruiting rankings from Nuetral Zone(only place I can get a number for the quality of recruits) you will find the two programs are extremely close for their average class ranking over the classes currently on the ice. Here is the breakdown:

BU vs. BC Avg Recruit Rating by Nuetral Zone

Avg: BU 4.195 BC 4.21

2024: BU 4.14 BC 4.33
2023: BU 4.03 BC 4.14
2022: BU 4.21 BC 4.07
2021: BU 4 BC 3.9

Also, for NHL draft picks already drafted BU has two more. It is likely that both Boumedienne and Hagens get drafted high so each will get one more.

NHL Draft Picks: BU 13 BC 11

So I don’t see how there is a large difference in comparing BU to BC in terms of recruiting. Looking ahead Nuetral Zone avg recruit ranking has BU at a higher rating than BC for the next 3 recruiting classes.

Recruiting is only one component to on ice results. There are several other factors that are as or more important.

In comparing to most other teams BU has a much better avg recruit ranking. Most teams would love to have your recruiting classes.

[OldAlum]

Can you honestly say that BU has out recruited BC over the last few years?

I'd say that BC got the better of the last 2 years but, from what I've read, the next two years for BU will be the top of the pile.

There's also the danger of recruiting too much top end talent that doesn't stay - I think that's a very delicate balance. BC will lose a ton of horsepower next year. That should have happened this year but it didn't, and that is the reason they will be hard to beat.

[OldAlum]

On another note, the impact of the recent NCAA decision to allow CHL players will be interesting to watch. More parity across all of D1? Not much impact on the elite D1 NCAA programs? Who knows....

[mookie1995]

On another note, the impact of the recent NCAA decision to allow CHL players will be interesting to watch. More parity across all of D1? Not much impact on the elite D1 NCAA programs? Who knows....

Will that kid who was supposed to come but went chl potentially still come? Rogie hear anything?

[defkit]

- I have full faith in Jay. He is the perfect guy for the job, I hope he stays for a long time. He took us to the FF in his first two years. Last year he showed he can find solutions when things aren't going well - with the aforementioned slow start.
- Recruiting is absolutely not a concern. We have the best in the business with Joe P. Look at Simon Wang as a perfect example. Nobody knew who he was when he committed, and now everyone is gushing over his development and potential to become a first-rounder. We have or are getting many of the top NCAA guys in next years draft (Boumedienne, Tretheway, Fondrk, Murtagh, Amico, Wang).
- Last night was a nice rebound win against a much-improved UML team. Nice to see some offense.
- My first two bullets above won't change if ewe get swept next weekend by a very strong Maine team. Barr has the program back and Alfond is once again a very tough place to get a W.
- Like I have been telling my better half since Tuesday - the sky is not falling, we will get through this :-)

[BU93]

I too have faith in Jay Pandolfo. They will figure this out. I think much of this is about decision making on the ice - bad turnovers, not clearing the puck effectively , etc. Some of it is giving your all on every play. Talent is there and scoring will not be an issue. 3.6 goals against will need to change. All the elite teams right now are under 2.

Great bounce back last night. They did shake things up in a way I didn’t think of …Lacroix! Turned out great. He’s definitely a viable option to go to when we need it.

BC just swept Maine in Chestnut Hill. BC will be tough to beat every game this year. I think a split would be great for us next week up at Maine. The place will be crazy!

[cfan]

Never thought I’d see the day when parking at Agganis would cost less than at Lowell.

Parking rates are set by the city of Lowell. They really need the money

[BCeagle]

I too have faith in Jay Pandolfo. They will figure this out. I think much of this is about decision making on the ice - bad turnovers, not clearing the puck effectively , etc. Some of it is giving your all on every play. Talent is there and scoring will not be an issue. 3.6 goals against will need to change. All the elite teams right now are under 2.

Great bounce back last night. They did shake things up in a way I didn’t think of …Lacroix! Turned out great. He’s definitely a viable option to go to when we need it.

BC just swept Maine in Chestnut Hill. BC will be tough to beat every game this year. I think a split would be great for us next week up at Maine. The place will be crazy!

I think being @ home will be the difference and a bad goal or mistake can determine the game. If BC made one or two mistakes it's a completely different game. There wasn't much room for mistakes as both games were tight but in game #2 BC took the lead first and never let up on defense with solid net work from Fowler.