BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

[mookie1995]

What's this garbage I am hearing about the student section being an absolute joke? A Hockey East poll saying Agganis is the easiest place to play? Singing like it's Glee? What has happened?

If there are 40 students it is a full house.

Cheers are lame. Someone scores a goal and they chant his name "ROb-BIeeeeeeee"

Joke

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

HAvne't read the BP thread, so maybe this was brought up, but two plays last night told the story:

1. MacGregor tips the puck top shelf over Maguire shoulder on a pass through the crease.

2. While shorthanded, two BU forwards have a chance at a breakaway, if not a 2 on 0. Was it Roberto and O'Regan? One gets te puck inside out blue line sees his streaking teamate with no Crimson in site. he sends the puck ahead for wat should be a breakaway, but it goes about a foot too far ahead of the other forward, who can't corral it in until he has put himself too far wide of the net. This was not a difficult pass to make - maybe a 15 foot pass with nobody in between them.

The number of mistakes they made last night on what should be rudimentary plays for players at this level was astounding. Lost count of the # of times a defenseman didn't know whom to cover in zone coverage in his own end, thus resulting in a Harvard guy getting a clear grade A scoring chance. Also couldn't keep up with the # of times both d-men manning the attacking blue line weren't communicating (often looking at each other) while the puck exited the zone --> lost possession.

The MacGregor goal shouldn't have happened if he simply takes a half stride more where he doesn't have to use his stick, full extension, to deflect the puck AT his goalie. Or, being slightly behind the play, drop to one knee, lay stick flat on ice to seal off the passing lane.

It was Hohmann who made the errant pass to Roberto that resulted in the non-breakaway.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

If there are 40 students it is a full house.

Cheers are lame. Someone scores a goal and they chant his name "ROb-BIeeeeeeee"

Joke

...From the guy who shows up to ~1/3 of the games.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Mookie put up a list 300 posts in here ago with returning dudes who should be skating 24/7 these next five months if they want to hang.

Buddy's fans claimed he would be able to recruit Ontario for us with his contacts. (Crickets)

The DQ observation from Friday wasn't him tossing the fwd under the bus. It was DQ just moving. He appears disinterested back there--no wonder his team does at times as well.

Greeley has been missing games out recruiting (like recently). Buddy, not so much.

DQ did tell how he sat the team down and tried to get them together, saying the new recruits (and volume of) does not mean they are not his guys. Only hope that was said with the same straight face he used when he told us in the Burke room that this team was gonna win now. No rebuilding necessary.

Mookie is willing to forget this year if DQ holds a bu outing at wannamoisett this summer

 

[Rover]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

The atmosphere is a direct result of charging too much for a crappy product. Even the freakin' Bruins, run by Montgomery Burns, figured out that if the team sucks you need to cut prices. BTW - Did anybody notice beer is 8 bucks instead of 8.03?

Students will come when they have something to cheer about, not watching their team give up 50 shots a game and lose to everybody on home ice. Older alums will come when they cut ticket and concession prices and stop charging people to park on campus for a BU night time event.

Good points about the D.

 

[mookie1995]

...From the guy who shows up to ~1/3 of the games.

Let's see- Mookie came to
Lowell
Both UVM
Dartmouth
Mack
Both Sioux
Bucky

Will be getting in both games this weekend.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Parking prices are insane!

And Mookie has been to 1/2 HAA games
So there

 

[Tater]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Honestly, after Baillergeon, O'Regan, Rodrigues, Hohmann, and Lane, nobody should consider themselves safe. and even Hohmann should really be on a third line, second line at best. I like what I see out of Duane, from a long-term perspective, I think he can turn into a very solid third liner. But he isn't there now.

Roberto is a definite addition to the list. Late bloomer player who I believe has great upside.

 

[Aerman]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Will be getting in both games this weekend.

Mookie bring girl to Whitt for V-Day?

 

[mookie1995]

Mookie bring girl to Whitt for V-Day?

Ah no
Girl stay home and do dishes

 

[defkit]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Roberto is a definite addition to the list. Late bloomer player who I believe has great upside.

Opps, I meant to have him on there. I had him originally. I acutally didn't inlcude Hohmann and Rodrigues originally. But then decided to add them and somehow forgot to put him back on. I agree he has a lot of upside.

And while I don't intend to insinuate that I see him turning into a definite "returner", I liked what I've seen out of Collier lately. Still a bottom six forward but I think he has taken advantage of the extra playing time. Lot's of hustle and seems to be in better position more frequently. baby steps.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

I realize this is your opinion and I hope you're right, but I haven't seen anything (except for the PC game in November) to support this statement. The talent is sub-par. The coaching has been worse. (poor effort, poor execution, no offensive flow or plan, porous defense.)

“A lack of urgency. Too often we’d get a puck and have no idea what to do with it.” - David Quinn, head hockey coach, Boston University. It's mid-February and his team doesn't know what to do with the puck.

I'm not calling for him to be fired. (We aren't the Cleveland Browns.) But, he needs to step his game up about 4 notches if he wants to be a successful D1 coach.

BU Hockey: On the BU Basketball Bandwagon.

I agree with what you are saying... plenty of question marks on what we have seen this season. My opinion is more on my impression of Quinn as a person, what I see them doing for recruting and what I have heard about him from the hockey people who know a lot more about it than i do.

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

For returning players whom Quinn may have difficult conversations with this offseason...If they commit themselves to working their hardest to earn a roster spot next season and end up getting rewarded for their efforts where we see much improved play from them, those players will certainly earn my respect.

I agree with that. I'm not even sure how difficult that conversation is. "Next year we are going to have more guys than roster spots like every team is supposed to, and every player is going to have an equal opportunity to earn playing time".

 

[Rogie21]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

I think a major roster change is definitely in order and I think that is why we have seen our recruiting class grow so large. I know injuries and defections ave forced DQ's roster this season, but the number of players on this team that would not make a Top Ten team roster not small. Honestly, after Baillergeon, O'Regan, Rodrigues, Hohmann, and Lane, nobody should consider themselves safe. and even Hohmann should really be on a third line, second line at best. I like what I see out of Duane, from a long-term perspective, I think he can turn into a very solid third liner. But he isn't there now.

On D, I think Somerby will mature into a good player, maybe even a dominating force. Ahti looks like he'll be an enigma for his whole career, but his offense will keep him in the line-up. Grizzy is clearly a top shelf player. But McAfee will have to work hard to stay in the lineup next season. And the two seniors, well, they won't be missed. Noonan had some good years with this team, but this isn't one of them.

With your later addition of Roberto, your assessment of returnees to be counted on are spot on, but besides another large freshman class, I don't anticipate a "major roster change"--at least not one involving multiple deletions. At forward, six returnees--Hohmann, Rodrigues, O’Regan, Lane, Baillargeon, Roberto--plus three freshman--Eichel, Phelps and Greer (who is accelerating)--should comprise the top nine. Another freshman forward is likely as well. Of the other six, Duane, Collier, Moran, Kelley, Lawrence and Ryan (better suited at forward and there's a logjam on D), the first three could form an effective fourth line. Even with a fourth freshman, that's 16 forwards and especially after this season Quinn isn't going with fewer than that. So, we should expect a talent upgrade with the three (or four) highly-regarded freshman arriving, while both departing seniors never played above the fourth line.

Four Ds are coming in with MacLeod and Hickey likely the most ready for prime time, while Diffley and Abramson are late bloomers who have excelled this season. Grzelcyk and Okasanen will be regulars and probably Somerby, too, as you suggest. MacAfee is an enigma, who played effectively early on--showing good judgement on pinching and a knack for getting the puck on the net; now inconsistent and not playing as confidently. But will Quinn start 3 freshman on defense? That's risky even with talented kids. Regardless of who gets ice time, that's eight defensemen--a full complement for a change.

24 skaters and 3 or 4 goalies (if Moccia returns). If one or two players are not invited to return, it's getting pretty late in the year to add multiple players who could be contributors. Unlike this season, competition for ice time should be extreme. The roster change will be nine freshmen arriving, providing more talent and depth.

 

[Bomber]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Reacting to defkit's assessment of BC: I don't think they lose again until November. And there's a good chance BU doesn't win again until November.

 

[J.D.]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

demko is the biggest x factor in my opinion. if he keeps it up they might be able to get by with the one super line.

 

[Harry Cleverly]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

With your later addition of Roberto, your assessment of returnees to be counted on are spot on, but besides another large freshman class, I don't anticipate a "major roster change"--at least not one involving multiple deletions. At forward, six returnees--Hohmann, Rodrigues, O’Regan, Lane, Baillargeon, Roberto--plus three freshman--Eichel, Phelps and Greer (who is accelerating)--should comprise the top nine. Another freshman forward is likely as well. Of the other six, Duane, Collier, Moran, Kelley, Lawrence and Ryan (better suited at forward and there's a logjam on D), the first three could form an effective fourth line. Even with a fourth freshman, that's 16 forwards and especially after this season Quinn isn't going with fewer than that. So, we should expect a talent upgrade with the three (or four) highly-regarded freshman arriving, while both departing seniors never played above the fourth line.

Four Ds are coming in with MacLeod and Hickey likely the most ready for prime time, while Diffley and Abramson are late bloomers who have excelled this season. Grzelcyk and Okasanen will be regulars and probably Somerby, too, as you suggest. MacAfee is an enigma, who played effectively early on--showing good judgement on pinching and a knack for getting the puck on the net; now inconsistent and not playing as confidently. But will Quinn start 3 freshman on defense? That's risky even with talented kids. Regardless of who gets ice time, that's eight defensemen--a full complement for a change.

24 skaters and 3 or 4 goalies (if Moccia returns). If one or two players are not invited to return, it's getting pretty late in the year to add multiple players who could be contributors. Unlike this season, competition for ice time should be extreme. The roster change will be nine freshmen arriving, providing more talent and depth.

Duane really needs to improve his skating. I don't know if I've seen a slower skater at BU in the past 40 years. But he is a big kid with soft hands, and could make a big jump if he improves his skating.
I wouldn't give up on Collier or Kelley. Kelley is straight out of high school, so he probably could have used a year in the 'U', but he'll be okay. Same with Collier. Lawrence is a walk-on, a big body with reasonable skills. He isn't taking up a scholarship, and you need that kind of depth.

Two of the biggest areas that BU needs to dramatically improve are team speed and the defense getting the puck out of the zone.
When Ryan is on the ice, on D, they just can't get the puck out of the zone. The same when it is Somerby AND MacAfee. A year's experience should help them mature. So would playing with better players.
I know Ryan is a legacy, but there can't be too much room for sentiment.

Competition for spots can only help.
Right now there are too many players who either aren't good enough or aren't ready not having to fight for ice time.

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Duane really needs to improve his skating. I don't know if I've seen a slower skater at BU in the past 40 years. But he is a big kid with soft hands, and could make a big jump if he improves his skating.
I wouldn't give up on Collier or Kelley. Kelley is straight out of high school, so he probably could have used a year in the 'U', but he'll be okay. Same with Collier. Lawrence is a walk-on, a big body with reasonable skills. He isn't taking up a scholarship, and you need that kind of depth.

How about John "Steamboat" Corriveau?

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Duane really needs to improve his skating. I don't know if I've seen a slower skater at BU in the past 40 years.

The only player whom I've seen first-hand anywhere near as slow as Duane was Mike Pandolfo as a Freshman. Thankfully he improved his skating significantly where it was no longer a liability when he was an upperclassmen.

If Duane can improve his skating the way the younger Pandolfo did, there's definitely potential for him to succeed given his size, reach, and hands.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Pando^2 was nowhere near as bad as this kid is now. Not only slow but looks down at the puck when he tries to stickhandle.

Makes me recall that patsies rb who held a football on the sidelines while benched. Wish Duane was made to skate to class!

He does have really good hands. I hope they are able to get him on ice 18hrs a day this summer so we can see what happens. I think there is a lot of upside considering what he's been able to do skating like this now!