BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

[chickod]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Something's not adding up here

I think everyone's point is that in a "neutral" arena the game would be a toss-up. But we're not playing in a neutral arena. It will be 99% Sioux (excuse me, Hawks) fans. Think Walter Brown back in the day against BC, PACKED to the gunnels and standing-room. Low roof, amplified, resonating sound...constant noise. Very intimidating. And who knows? Maybe they'll play better in that environment. Remains to be seen. But I'm thinking if BU doesn't score first it might be a long day...

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Something's not adding up here

They're 6-4 with two losses at WMU, home to Omaha, and Duluth in the NCHC final. The shutout win over DU in the NCHC semi is their first win over a good team (or one who made the tournament) since Dec. 31 at Union. On the season, UND is 3-11-2 against teams that made the NCAA Tournament. BU is 5-5-1.

8 of UND's losses came at the hands of Duluth (5) and W. Michigan (3). They also had some bad losses to Colorado College & Michigan St. that could've potentially torpedoed their season from a PWR standpoint if it wasn't for their overall SOS (3rd).

This UND team doesn't seem to be as deep nor as high-end talented as its recent predecessors. Frankly, if this game was anywhere but Fargo I'd feel more confident in BU's chances. Despite UND not having a great home record this season, I still think they'll be very tough to beat when playing in front of its extended "home" crowd.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

But I'm thinking if BU doesn't score first it might be a long day...

BU has scored 1st in only 16 of 37 games. It has scored the 1st goal in only 3 of the last 14 games, and as already mentioned, have allowed the 1st goal in its last 9 games.

BU is only 7-6-1 in its last 14 games, which is also when Nik Olsson got injured. BU is 12-3-1 with Olsson in the lineup; 11-8-2 without. I firmly believe the team has missed Olsson's impact as the team's most physical forward and as a leader.

 

[chickod]

BU has scored 1st in only 16 of 37 games. It has scored the 1st goal in only 3 of the last 14 games, and as already mentioned, have allowed the 1st goal in its last 9 games.

BU is only 7-6-1 in its last 14 games, which is also when Nik Olsson got injured. BU is 12-3-1 with Olsson in the lineup; 11-8-2 without. I firmly believe the team has missed Olsson's impact as the team's most physical forward and as a leader.

But the "good" news is that he was back on the ice (at least in practice) so maybe he'll be able to play???

 

[wysi]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Clayton Keller named CHN's ROY.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/21_Keller-Named-CHN-Rookie-of.php

 

[chickod]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Clayton Keller named CHN's ROY.

http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/21_Keller-Named-CHN-Rookie-of.php

In the<a href="http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/18_Terriers-Head-to-NCAAs-Licking.php" target=_blank style="color:blue">"Terriers Head to NCAAs Licking Wounds"</a>story...

<b><i>"This was supposed to rank among the best BU teams ever."</i></b>

Whoa...that's a lofty statement, isn't it??

 

[wysi]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

In the<a href="http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/18_Terriers-Head-to-NCAAs-Licking.php" target=_blank style="color:blue">"Terriers Head to NCAAs Licking Wounds"</a>story...

<b><i>"This was supposed to rank among the best BU teams ever."</i></b>

Whoa...that's a lofty statement, isn't it??

I'm not sure any of us were that optimistic.

 

[chickod]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

I'm not sure any of us were that optimistic.

Not to mention that a statement like that can't be made BEFORE the season, can it? It requires the benefit and perspective of hindsight...

 

[wysi]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Not to mention that a statement like that can't be made BEFORE the season, can it? It requires the benefit and perspective of hindsight...

Indeed. Do you remember that picture of John Cullen in The Hockey News in the fall of 1986, next to a story about how the "powerhouse Terriers" were going to sweep all opposition aside? Didn't quite play out that way.

 

[Tater]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

In the<a href="http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2017/03/18_Terriers-Head-to-NCAAs-Licking.php" target=_blank style="color:blue">"Terriers Head to NCAAs Licking Wounds"</a>story...

<b><i>"This was supposed to rank among the best BU teams ever."</i></b>

Whoa...that's a lofty statement, isn't it??

I'm not sure any of us were that optimistic.

This.

Maybe ranked by some media that didn't know about BU. True BU fans knew how much the team lost from last year's team. It didn't get as much press but BU lost a ton of offense too just like BC. Just because it mainly came due to graduation vs early departures doesn't matter. Whoever would say that a team very dependant on freshmen will rank as one of BU's best teams ever would be a fool.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Not to mention that a statement like that can't be made BEFORE the season, can it? It requires the benefit and perspective of hindsight...

Yeah, Boulay (who normally is pretty good) was one of the ones on the hype train for our team going into the year because of the draft picks. This was the group asking whether we'd lose a game all year. It'd be great if some of those in the media would stop looking at draft pick numbers and determining the outcome of the season based solely on that.

 

[defkit]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Indeed. Do you remember that picture of John Cullen in The Hockey News in the fall of 1986, next to a story about how the "powerhouse Terriers" were going to sweep all opposition aside? Didn't quite play out that way.

Getting swept at home by Maine to open the season brought expectations back in check pretty quickly! Those were the first two hockey games I had ever seen, in person OR on TV. I believe the highlight was someone for BU (Scott Young?) scoring on the Maine goalie (Scott King?) from our own defensive zone.

 

[BUtogether]

This.

Maybe ranked by some media that didn't know about BU. True BU fans knew how much the team lost from last year's team. It didn't get as much press but BU lost a ton of offense too just like BC. Just because it mainly came due to graduation vs early departures doesn't matter. Whoever would say that a team very dependant on freshmen will rank as one of BU's best teams ever would be a fool.

Apparently nobody here reads twitter or watches the NHL Network where are own fearless leader claimed he was the only one who could screw this up. He seems to have forgotten that and now pulls out the young card...and the Twitter preseason national championship looks like a long shot ..get ready for the we lost Keller and MvAvoy card next year...but hopefully Oettinger is back

 

[PPGuru]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Looking at your numbers leaving vs coming in there seems to be a bit of overlap. The slots almost force three players to leave BU that could probably benefit from another year there.

 

[Tater]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Looking at your numbers leaving vs coming in there seems to be a bit of overlap. The slots almost force three players to leave BU that could probably benefit from another year there.

By my count 6 forwards coming in.

2 seniors graduating (Roberto, Kelley); 2 almost definite to leave (Keller, Greenway); 1 possible to leave (JFK) = leaves 1-2 forwards more than this year. 17 forwards - quite a bit, may result in another departure.

2 defensemen coming in.

1 senior graduating (Somerby); 2 likely to leave (McAvoy, Hickey) = one less than this year, BUtogether's son gets more playing time.

Overall change to roster: Even to +1.

 

[BU Fan 84]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

By my count 6 forwards coming in.

2 seniors graduating (Roberto, Kelley); 2 almost definite to leave (Keller, Greenway); 1 possible to leave (JFK) = leaves 1-2 forwards more than this year. 17 forwards - quite a bit, may result in another departure.

2 defensemen coming in.

1 senior graduating (Somerby); 2 likely to leave (McAvoy, Hickey) = one less than this year, BUtogether's son gets more playing time.

Overall change to roster: Even to +1.

I really don't see any of these players being ready for professional hockey other than Somerby. I think Roberto could probably get a shot in the ECHL for a couple years. Players leaving early? You have to be kidding me. Even Keller sucks almost 50% of the time (and the rest of the time he is pretty awesome, but I imagine he needs to develop some consistency first.)

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

I really don't see any of these players being ready for professional hockey other than Somerby. I think Roberto could probably get a shot in the ECHL for a couple years. Players leaving early? You have to be kidding me. Even Keller sucks almost 50% of the time (and the rest of the time he is pretty awesome, but I imagine he needs to develop some consistency first.)

That doesn't stop them from signing and making some money. Then some surprise in the pros and play better there, where maybe they have a game more suited for the pros than the college game.

 

[chickod]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

That doesn't stop them from signing and making some money. Then some surprise in the pros and play better there, where maybe they have a game more suited for the pros than the college game.

Kids at that age are "immediate gratification" oriented. We have all made decisions when we were young that weren't necessarily in our long-term best interest, but whether through enticement, misinformation or whatever, we did impulsive things. And, of course, we all have the benefit of hindsight now. If one is honest with oneself, there probably are decisions that he/she wishes they could do over again. But that's not the way life works.

When I was that age I thought that I had to do everything I wanted to do THEN. I didn't listen to anyone who told me, "But you have plenty of time for that." It doesn't matter when you're young. Obviously, if I could go back, I would have made some different decisions. When I think about how "long" I have lived compared to what it seemed like when I was 20, I would have "paced" my life differently.

But that's not the way it works...

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

Kids at that age are "immediate gratification" oriented. We have all made decisions when we were young that weren't necessarily in our long-term best interest, but whether through enticement, misinformation or whatever, we did impulsive things. And, of course, we all have the benefit of hindsight now. If one is honest with oneself, there probably are decisions that he/she wishes they could do over again. But that's not the way life works.

When I was that age I thought that I had to do everything I wanted to do THEN. I didn't listen to anyone who told me, "But you have plenty of time for that." It doesn't matter when you're young. Obviously, if I could go back, I would have made some different decisions. When I think about how "long" I have lived compared to what it seemed like when I was 20, I would have "paced" my life differently.

But that's not the way it works...

I would say that they have parents and agents/advisors who should view matters using maturity and experience.

But I bet you'll say that the grownups are just as shortsighted and starry-eyed as the kids, in many instances, right?

 

[Sean Pickett]

Re: BU 2017 Season Thread III: Terriers falling (into the off season)

But I bet you'll say that the grownups are just as shortsighted and starry-eyed as the kids, in many instances, right?

If BUtogether is who some say he is, then I think that answers your question.

Sean