Re: 2009-2010 Official Vermont Season Thread : The Sequel
Glad to see the Vermont Sequel is up and running...thank you to jcarter for doing the honors...
Is this the 1st time in recent history that a Vermont thread generated 1000 posts and have to go to a sequel? I am going to guess yes. Too bad the original thread was filled with so much useless banter between our friends in Lowell when they were up but not so much now that they are down.
Anyway, as I wrote below, I think it is important that the last couple of posts from the previous thread find their way onto this thread. The future is the future but the future might also be now. Big losses in personnel after this season could set the program back...much like happens at Lowell, Amherst and Northeastern in recent years.
Observer85 wrote:
Senior (5) forwards : Anctil, Higgins, Irwin, Roloff and Vock. Incoming forwards with a 2010 arrival date (4) : Herrington, Brickley, Decenzo, Montagna
Senior (1) defenseman : Cullity. Defenseman with 2010 arrival date (1) : Doerring
Senior (1) goalie : Spillane. Incoming goalie : ??? Could be Vazzano but appears maybe not as he has 2011 incoming date also.
So this opens the door for discussion...
Other forwards that might not return (3) : Milo - leave for baseball? Academically he is a senior so unless he is interested in graduate work, probably is gone. Atkinson - where is he? Franklin - he has already left the team.
So the coaches have 5 for sure players to replace, potentially 8.
Other defensemen that might not return (4) : Miller - he went to Blackhawks development camp and their scout was on the radio between periods of the early season Merrimack game talking about how much they like him. His stature continues to grow...he was on the all tournament team in the Catamount Cup. Medvec - was drafted in 2006 so if pro team wants him, they will have to make a run at him after this season or he would be eligible to become a free agent. Lawson - he was probably in demand after last season but has struggled this season. A return to how he played last season in the 2nd half, a potential flight risk. MacKenzie - was drafted in 2007 by Buffalo and attended their development camp the last 2 years. Less likely flight risk as he is protected as long as he stays in school for another year.
So the coaches have 1 for sure to replace, potentially 5.
Looks like the UVM coaching staff still have some holes to fill and some big holes if they have some early departures materialize. Since this tread is nearing being closed (1000 posts), perhaps this would be a good discussion item in a 2nd thread? Plus with no games this weekend, what else is there to talk about?
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jcarter7669 wrote:
I think major losses,
Roloff, Irwin, Vock, these are the big losses, Cullity takes to many penalties and there is significant depth at D if the others stay. Will have to check out how the incoming recruits are doing to really judge.
I don't see many guys leaving early. Milo maybe, tough that the baseball team left, but I think he really loves the game and he can take a few other classes and see how things go. This I think will largely depend on his baseball contract. Toiling in A leagues maybe an incentive to play hockey another year, if they are going to send him into AAA then I think he bolts.
The other guys who went to development camps, I am not too worried about that, Marshall has gone the past few years and he isn't going anywheres. Medvec maybe the biggest risk, he is starting to come on.
All in all, I think you have to replace the departing seniors, Franklin and probably Milo. But hypothetically lets say a defensemen leaves too. That means you have 7 forwards, 2 defensmen, and a goalie that needs replacing. That seems like a lot, but it leaves a good core especially with the 4 freshman forwards that are playing well this season.
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grantfan wrote:
Observer, you are at your best when you present facts and reasonable thoughts as opposed to your outlandish theories and 'observations.' This is an interesting subject to ponder.
Unfortunately, discussion of UVM players always seems to lead some to make negative or diminishing remarks about some players, e.g., jcarter. Staying away from such comments, I will offer my thoughts.
Yes, losing Brian Roloff, Brayden Irwin, and Colin Vock will be "big losses," but how do you diminish the coming loss of the team's top two penalty killers, Jonathan Higgins and Jay Anctil? On a team coached to live and die by its penalty killing, to say nothing of their presence on the 'fourth' line that gets the most ice time in hockey, these are two players about whom I am certain snwbrdr will write this coming August through December, 'their loss is greater than anticipated,' and 'we didn't realize what kind of players they are until they are gone.' To appreciate Kevin Sneddon hockey is to appreciate players like Higgins and Anctil. Their loss on the defensive side of the puck, and, for the record, I still see Higgins banging in 7-10 goals this season, will be every bit as large as any of the other three.
Of the 'flight risks' mentioned, I think Kyle Medvec, Kevan Miller, Matt Marshall, and Justin Milo are the ones to be most concerned about. There has not been one game at the Gutt where I didn't see Medvec talking to, let's say men who look like either representatives of the Minnesota Wild or player representatives. With his dominant play on the ice, I think he will, and should move on to the professional ranks. He appears to have outgrown - no pun intended - the college game. Likewise, Miller plays like a man out there and looks ready to move on.
With Marshall and Milo, I'm just going by what I have seen on team chat lines, which I happen to consider reliable and trustworthy. The most authoritative Tampa Bay Lightning board harkens back to Marshall's play alongside Steve Stamkos in prospect camps as catapulting Stamkos onto the Lightning roster and catapulting Marshall up the prospect list. Recently, an anonymous source blogged that Marshall's "speed has really blossomed in college (Vermont University) and is National League ready." In case Lightning management blames the UVM coaches for any perceived lack of development in Marshall, and this is just me speaking now, I can see them having him leave school and play major junior hockey.
Likewise with Milo, a NY blog recently listed him as the 6th rated left field prospect and the 3rd rated designated hitter prospect, after Matsui left, in the Yankees organization. The organization apparently has plans for him and is considering placing him on the 40-man roster, which would be a big commitment. If it is announced that Milo is placed on the Yankees' 40-man roster, then he's gone for sure. Sometimes it's hard to even think of him as a hockey player, to remember that he came to UVM as a hockey player.
I guess it would be a longshot that Dan Lawson would leave early. He has that cannonating drive from the point, but so far the only point he has is the one he stands at. Few players with 0 points strike professional scouts as ready to move on to higher levels. Unless, like with the Marshall, an NHL club thinks any perceived lack of development is purely the fault of the coaches. Again, me speaking, I think Lawson has been handled very well by the coaches and has been nurtured to live up to the pre-season raves he received.
After reading both jcarter and grantfan responses, next year very much could be a "eye opening" year.
The forwards that are coming in seem to have very good numbers in the various leagues that they are presently playing in. That is a good thing.
However, the defense is a different story - and perhaps not a good thing. Cullity, Miller and Medvec are what I perceive to be defensive minded defensemen. Burrows, Lawson, MacKenzie and Franzon are not. Herrington, I would consider him to be a defensive minded D. I can't fathom what kind of hair change Coach Sneddon will have on his head with no defensive minded D (greying, thinning, loss altogether...) next year patrolling his blue line.
But...that is college hockey - always changing.
As far as the Vazzano thing...Madore is going to be the "guy" as long as he is attending UVM. Same could be said for Fallon before him. Seems to be one thing this coaching staff is consistent with - the playing of one goalie.
