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Boston College hockey 2021-2022

Myself and every other Maine fan has a lot of love for Nate but BC seems like kind of an odd fit. He’s a great coach and I’m sure he wouldn’t be unsuccessful but just how successful I’m not really sure.

Is Timmy the last person to go directly from being head coach of one hockey east school to another? Obviously in his case directly is used a little loosely.
 
I'm so curious as to who the main guys on the alumni committee doing the interviews are. There are legit 20 different guys I could see who have been involved. I'm shocked at least one of the names hasn't been leaked yet. I would guess a combination of Orpik, Mottau, Gionta or Collins would be involved but there a ton more guys from other generations who could be too. Knowing who is involved would give me a better read on what direction I thought they'd go in but honestly no idea right now

The odds in my head are 20% Leaman, 50% Brown, 20% Dennehy, 10% someone else not reported as a finalist like JD Forrest, Ted Donato or Scott Gordon
 
I agree. Until it actually happens I just don't see BC closing things out with Leaman. But at the same time if he really is a finalist you have to know the salary demands by now, no? If BC/Leahy simply pick Brown because he's a BC grad that will be the most BC thing ever.
 
J.D. said:
I agree. Until it actually happens I just don't see BC closing things out with Leaman. But at the same time if he really is a finalist you have to know the salary demands by now, no? If BC/Leahy simply pick Brown because he's a BC grad that will be the most BC thing ever.
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Weirdly, I dont think it'll actually be about the money. I think it'll be more philosophically driven. In my mind it's more about, do they go with the sure thing on Leaman or Brown who probably has a lower floor but also may have a higher ceiling?

This is also part of the reason I'm really curious on who is on the committee. Depending on who it is, Brown may have coached them and that could have a big sway on the decision
 
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Not Dennehy, yes he is a BC grad and a former head coach, but he was let go by MickyMac, yes he has elevated the program, it is a tough place to work and compete with the likes of the top teams, but he just doesn"t fit the HC mold for me. I will say Leaman teams are tough and play a heavy game, he doesn't need BC as a stepping stone if he wants to move to the NHL. Brown seems to be the best fit and I hope he is the guy since it is not going to be Cav.
 
New Update... https://thebostoncollegehockeyblog.b...n-to-wire.html

"I tweeted earlier today that there are three finalist- Leaman, Greg Brown, and Mark Dennehy, but after doing some more digging and talking with more sources, I believe either Nate Leaman or Greg Brown will be the next head coach at Boston College."
- This is great news if it's really down to Leaman or Brown. If Leaman is a finalist, the alumni must already have the $ lined up

"I believe Greg Brown should be the next head coach at BC. I have put a lot of thought into this (probably more than I probably should have)- and I have come to the conclusion that he has the experience, the knowledge, and the character to be the next head coach"
- The more Ive thought about it, the more I agree with him. It basically comes down to I have more belief in the unknown and what he's done in the past with BC with Brown than the worries I have with Leaman and what he's done in the past at PC

- I have a lot of concerns about Leaman. He's interviewed with the Senators & Sabres the last couple years. Is the NHL an itch he really needs to scratch? Also, the past 3 years have been really mediocre for Providence, what's happened there? PC hasn't lost anywhere close to what BC has to the NHL with early departures. Also his recruiting has been pretty mediocre recently as well. Is that moreso due to PC being a tough place to recruit to or has he not done a good job with it? Can Leaman change his style of play with a more pure skilled style of BC?
 
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Wouldn't surprise me if Leaman leverages yet another raise out of PC, just like Luce did at UConn.

If this HC hire comes before the AD replacement, it could prove to be an awkward hire regardless ...
 
I think both Leaman and Brown are good fits at BC. JY played a heavy game at BGSU and had 2 very bad seasons before getting the BC job. My concern with Brown is his belief in smaller, puck moving, defenseman. He is first class is every manner and has a reputation as a very good skills coach.

Leaman has done all he can do at PC. BC is the best job in all of eastern hockey. Coming from a Catholic college and being a successful Hockey East head coach, it’s a perfect fit. The head coaching position at BC is funded through a large endowment, money is not an issue.

For AD, Mark Jackson the AD at Villanova is another terrific fit for BC. A local guy who graduated from Xaverian (I think his wife is a BC grad) with a terrific resume! He is far more impressive than Kraft who to me was more of BS artist.

Give me Jackson & Leaman to lead BC.

Go Eagles!
 
Chuck Murray said:
Wouldn't surprise me if Leaman leverages yet another raise out of PC, just like Luce did at UConn.

If this HC hire comes before the AD replacement, it could prove to be an awkward hire regardless ...
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The AD hasn't mattered with regards to BC hockey in 20+ years. That's everything from funding to facilities. The AD has been a formality at every step of the way, why should it be any different now. It might as well be comedic timing the fact Kraft took another job during the coaching search, he wasn't going to have any say in it anyways
 
The style of play/recruiting doesn't concern me about Leaman. There is simply a built in recruiting advantage at BC. That is a fact. A culture change isn't necessarily a bad thing either. Older, heavier teams have done better. Hell, that's the type of team/style Carvel has at UMass. They aren't a high octane, offensive team.

For Greg Brown, the biggest thing I like is possible USHL connections. BC has fallen behind in the USHL. I could get behind keeping Ayers on board but if it's Brown and Ayers I would want a replacement for Buckley. Someone to focus on forwards.

If these are the finalists it will come down to a proven "mercenary" type in Leaman vs. a BC grad who gives off vibes of having same personality as York.

I personally think you just go best guy available and to me that's Leaman.
 
J.D. said:
The style of play/recruiting doesn't concern me about Leaman. There is simply a built in recruiting advantage at BC. That is a fact. A culture change isn't necessarily a bad thing either. Older, heavier teams have done better. Hell, that's the type of team/style Carvel has at UMass. They aren't a high octane, offensive team.

For Greg Brown, the biggest thing I like is possible USHL connections. BC has fallen behind in the USHL. I could get behind keeping Ayers on board but if it's Brown and Ayers I would want a replacement for Buckley. Someone to focus on forwards.

If these are the finalists it will come down to a proven "mercenary" type in Leaman vs. a BC grad who gives off vibes of having same personality as York.

I personally think you just go best guy available and to me that's Leaman.
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Question: If O'Connor doesn't throw the puck into his own goal in 2015, are we even talking about Leaman here? Isn't he then just a Jesuit Norm Bazin or Jim Madigan, except (unlike those two) he's also still looking for his first HEA Tourney title?

In all fairness to Leaman ... if BC is still considering Dennehy, Leaman is better than him (and Luce).

Switch out a '15 O'Connor for a '99 Michaud, and Umile has a D-1 title, while Leaman's still looking.

I know life doesn't work that way, but sometimes it helps when you get a little luck on your side ...
 
He did get back to another FF after that one. Bazin just has the one trip despite numerous HE titles. I just look at what Union and Providence were before Nate Leaman. Complete non factors and he helped turn both programs into national contenders without having the recruiting advantages he would have at BC. That is enticing to me. He's a proven commodity. Could Greg Brown turn out to be a great coach? Sure, but there's more risk in picking him.
 
Chuck Murray said:
Question: If O'Connor doesn't throw the puck into his own goal in 2015, are we even talking about Leaman here? Isn't he then just a Jesuit Norm Bazin or Jim Madigan, except (unlike those two) he's also still looking for his first HEA Tourney title?
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Too soon!!!! : (
 
Remember, the Dominicans were the enforcers during the inquisition. Very good at racks, thumbscrews, beds of nails, etc. BTW, I went to Dominican elementary and high schools.
 
J.D. said:
He did get back to another FF after that one. Bazin just has the one trip despite numerous HE titles. I just look at what Union and Providence were before Nate Leaman. Complete non factors and he helped turn both programs into national contenders without having the recruiting advantages he would have at BC. That is enticing to me. He's a proven commodity. Could Greg Brown turn out to be a great coach? Sure, but there's more risk in picking him.
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As you know, there's a certain young new HC named Ben Barr who can also lay claim to being involved in both of those title runs, PLUS the subsequent UMass Amherst title run.

If O'Connor doesn't get the worst possible case of the dropsies in recent hockey history, Leaman is arguably still in search of his first meaningful piece of hardware (except one RS title, right?). Well behind Umile, Bazin, and arguably Madigan as well.

Having said that, Leaman at Providence is probably not all that different than York was at BGSU, although (again) Leaman lags overall with less conference-level success that York had at BGSU.

Then again, Leaman learned the ropes initially under Walshy at UMaine FWIW ...
 
Well, if not Leaman...who should BC be taking a run at? Isn't it possible they kicked the tires on Carvel/Bazin as well? I know that hasn't been reported but if you reached out to Leaman it would make sense if you did the same for the other established coaches in Hockey East. Especially since there is no BC connection with Leaman. Totally different than Cav.
 
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