2012-13 Hockey East Thread

[Patronick]

Few thoughts:

UMass Amherst has a solid junior class and now has stability in net. They will finish higher than UNH who was a below average team wthout Moses. I think we all agree UVM will be last but with the loss of Cannata and no offense, Merrimack will be 9th. Northeastern will be exciting with the large recruit class but their defense and reliance on youth will hinder them all year..they will be 7th or 8th. I like UMass 6 and Maine 5th as both have enough returning talent to compete. At the top, I like BC, BU, Lowell and Providence 4th. lowell was overated last year and will take a small step back.

Overrated? Do me a quick favor: go look up the meaning of that word, write it down on an index card and repeat it to yourself each morning until you understand its meaning and proper usage.

Lowell was picked to finish dead last last season. No one overrated them. Did they far exceed expectations? Absolutely. But to use the word "overrated" is just silly.

You could argue that they're overrated coming into this season. You'd be wrong, of course, but you could argue it.

 

[J.D.]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

I'm pretty surprised to see BU picked so high by so many considering what they've lost. Yes, still a good amount of talent returning...

Guess we'll see.

 

[BeanpotForum]

By the end of last season Lowell was overrated in my opinion. Their talent, although solid, is not equal to that of BU and BC. It's easy to be the underdog and fly under the radar. I firmly expect Lowell to take a few steps back this year as they will have a target on their back. They are a good team, not a great team.

QUOTE=Patronick;5497182]Overrated? Do me a quick favor: go look up the meaning of that word, write it down on an index card and repeat it to yourself each morning until you understand its meaning and proper usage.

Lowell was picked to finish dead last last season. No one overrated them. Did they far exceed expectations? Absolutely. But to use the word "overrated" is just silly.

You could argue that they're overrated coming into this season. You'd be wrong, of course, but you could argue it.[/QUOTE]

 

[Martin St. Louis Fan]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

There is no chance UVM finishes higher than Maine, Merrimack or Northeastern this season. Zero. Better to accept it now.

Geez, the guys who drew up last years dreadful power play and penalty kill are now with UMass.. I think that says a lot. IMO

 

[unhpuckfan2001]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

They will finish higher than UNH who was a below average team wthout Moses

I'm confused as to why you're speaking of UNH w/out Moses in the past tense when he just graduated last year?

They're above-average in net with Casey DeSmith, who, assuming he doesn't fall victim to a Sophomore Slump, should make them better early on than they were last year. They also have many young players who UNH fans watched develop over the year; not that BU was a powerhouse, but UNH gave them a helluva run in the QF's last year. I think UNH will be between 3-6, hopefully on the higher end.

Completely arbitrary:
1BC
2UML
3UNH
4BU
5Maine
6PC
7NU
8UMA
9Mack
10UVM

 

[Split-N]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

I'm not smart enough to be able to pick 1 thru 10 but I'll nominate Providence as the surprise team of the year, especially if Gillies is as good as advertised.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

I'm confused as to why you're speaking of UNH w/out Moses in the past tense when he just graduated last year?

They're above-average in net with Casey DeSmith, who, assuming he doesn't fall victim to a Sophomore Slump, should make them better early on than they were last year. They also have many young players who UNH fans watched develop over the year; not that BU was a powerhouse, but UNH gave them a helluva run in the QF's last year. I think UNH will be between 3-6, hopefully on the higher end.

Completely arbitrary:
1BC
2UML
3UNH
4BU
5Maine
6PC
7NU
8UMA
9Mack
10UVM

Providence over Maine and they could get right up behind Lowell and BC.

 

[SkinsFan09]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

Ok, my guesses for awards:

Player of the Year: F Johnny Gaudreau - Boston College
Defenseman of the Year: D Chad Ruhwedel - UMass-Lowell
Rookie of the Year: F Kevin Roy - Northeastern
Coach of the Year: Nate Leaman - Providence

 

[BCeagle]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

I'm pretty surprised to see BU picked so high by so many considering what they've lost. Yes, still a good amount of talent returning...

Guess we'll see.

I think you can say the same for BC losing so much on offense and defense. But we know BC and BU usually get to recruit more top talent than the other HE schools.

 

[carltonbarrett]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

I think you can say the same for BC losing so much on offense and defense. But we know BC and BU usually get to recruit more top talent than the other HE schools.

BU returns one player who scored more than 31 points, while BC returns 4 players that scored more than 35 points, so they definitely have the edge up front. They both have big holes to fill on defense and will be forced to play multiple Freshmen and/or inexperienced players. BC returns an All-American caliber Goalie, while BU is going with Freshmen. Overall, BC is clearly bringing back quite a bit more proven talent.

 

[mookie1995]

My quick thoughts based mainly on departures and not knowing a ton about the recruits..

Stock rising: PC, UML, BU - all three returning solid talent and goaltending....

?? BU returns NO goaltending

 

[Drew S.]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

My predictions which will probably be horribly wrong:

BU
BC
Maine
Providence
UNH
UML
NEU
MC
UVM
UMA

I think all the stuff with BU will actually help them focus more on hockey and I would assume they'll probably keep a pretty low profile as far as drinking/partying go. A lot of people have BC number one but I'm not so sure. They're going to have a couple great lines without a doubt but who knows with the rest of the team. I feel really good about Maine, I think they're the most balanced team in hockey east. A lot of people look at what they lost and see them going backwards but I think its more important to look at what they are going to have this year. They'll have three guys up front who scored 11 goals or more last year along with some guys whose output will increase along with a good freshman class. I think their D and goaltending will be good as well. I don't feel great about the Providence pick but usually some team unexpectedly sneaks into the top four and I think they will be it this year. UNH will be better this year but not get home ice. I see them as being a year away from being back amongst the top teams. UML finished third last year but I wasn't really sold on them. The fact they couldn't beat Maine at home in February or win the HEA QF series against Providence said a lot to me. They won't sneak up on teams either this year which makes it a lot harder.

 

[Ryecheers]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

My predictions which will probably be horribly wrong:
BU
BC
Maine
Providence
UNH
UML
NEUMC
UVM
UMA

QUOTE]

I agree with your prediction about your predictions ( or at least most of them - I think you got PC and UNH about right)

FYI The name Northeastern University contains two words, not three. Therefore it should be abbreviated NU not NEU. Please make a note.

 

[HungryHungryHuskies]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

My predictions which will probably be horribly wrong:
BU
BC
Maine
Providence
UNH
UML
NEUMC
UVM
UMA

QUOTE]

I agree with your prediction about your predictions ( or at least most of them - I think you got PC and UNH about right)

FYI The name Northeastern University contains two words, not three. Therefore it should be abbreviated NU not NEU. Please make a note.

Until we can get our OWN university to stop using http://myneu.neu.edu/cp/home/displaylogin as the student log-in page (and redirecting to northeastern.edu from neu.edu), I don't think it's worth the effort to try correcting people outside the university.

 

[Split-N]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

Until we can get our OWN university to stop using http://myneu.neu.edu/cp/home/displaylogin as the student log-in page (and redirecting to northeastern.edu from neu.edu), I don't think it's worth the effort to try correcting people outside the university.

Respectfully disagree. Just because some IT cementhead decided to label the university's domain with an improper acronym (and nobody in the administration stopped him/her) doesn't mean it should be perpetuated. Acronyms are constructed from the first letters of each word and, as Rycheers sagaciously points out, Northeatern University is two words, not three. And as you insightfully point out, anyone keying in the "neu.edu" domain is being redirected to "northeastern.edu."

I'll consider changing my mind if and when Northwestern University decides to become known as NWU.

 

[Redd10]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

Let's see how badly I can mess this up

1.) BC - too good not to be #1 again
2.) UML - could very well challenge for #1, especially if Carr is as good as last year.
3.) PC - I think they are going to surprise some people this year - I like this team a lot if Gillies can adjust to the college game.
4.) BU - While I'm confident in PC's freshman goalie, I'm worried about our two freshmen tendys. Offensive output should be on par with last year, though
5.) UNH - Arbitrary spot
6.) Maine - Also an arbitrary spot
7.) NU - could very well be closer to 3/4 if Rawlings can remember how to stop the puck
8.) Mack - gonna be a tough year for MC, especially in net
9.) Amherst - While they will probably have an early season jolt due to their new coaching staff, they'll be back to Earth by Turkey Day.
10.) UVM - Sorry guys. Nowhere to go but up though, right?

 

[Happy Husky]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

With so many new faces all over the place,it's near impossible to pin it down other than BC/BU 1-2,it's gonna be a very exciting year!,even my Huskies are much improved,and we will see that Madigan isn't so bad after all.

 

[HungryHungryHuskies]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

Respectfully disagree. Just because some IT cementhead decided to label the university's domain with an improper acronym (and nobody in the administration stopped him/her) doesn't mean it should be perpetuated. Acronyms are constructed from the first letters of each word and, as Rycheers sagaciously points out, Northeatern University is two words, not three. And as you insightfully point out, anyone keying in the "neu.edu" domain is being redirected to "northeastern.edu."

I'll consider changing my mind if and when Northwestern University decides to become known as NWU.

I'm not the one who needs convincing. My point is, why bother trying to correct someone when some ####head is just going to point to the university's website, anyway? Sometimes it's best to just not acknowledge something that really doesn't matter anyway.

 

[UMLFan]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

UML finished third last year but I wasn't really sold on them.

Well since you got this simple fact wrong ...

 

[carltonbarrett]

Re: 2012-13 Hockey East Thread

With so many new faces all over the place,it's near impossible to pin it down other than BC/BU 1-2,it's gonna be a very exciting year!,even my Huskies are much improved,and we will see that Madigan isn't so bad after all.

I wouldn't be so quick to anoint BU a top 2 team. They obviously lost a bunch of players last year, some of whom should still be on the team and then lost a couple more of their best players in the off-season, plus they will playing a Freshman goalie. They COULD certainly be a top 2 team, but I wouldn't say it's anything even close to a sure thing.