BU 2021-22: Albie's Great Adventure

[J.D.]

Why is his email "bmkane"? Want to make sure I have it right when I suggest a lifetime contract for Albie

 

[BU Fan 84]

In addition to Sean's advice above, I suggest any letters to President Brown go beyond just the hockey merits (or lack thereof) of the subject, and expand to more universal aspects, such as alumni investment and engagement, community building, visibility for the university, etc. My impression of Brown is that he doesn't much care about the hockey program. Back when Albie was initially hired, I posted here that he was hired mostly in reaction to surprise that Quinn left so quickly and didn't stick around forever, like Parker. They wanted a coach that wouldn't ever leave for the NHL and didn't consider that mentality would lead to hiring a subpar coach. With Brown, I think you have to make it about more than wins and losses because he'll think, "Hey, they were 14-3 to finish the season! Almost made the tournament! How exciting! Let's try to do it again next season!" Anyway, just my thoughts.

 

[Lemonade]

Alex Vlasic just signed with Chicago....BU better figure out this coaching thing and fast.

 

[J.D.]

Alex Vlasic just signed with Chicago....BU better figure out this coaching thing and fast.

There was some speculation on him signing last year so BU probably knew this one was happening.

 

[J.D.]

And looks like Albie did not win COTY

 

[brassbonanza]

Vlasic leaving was expected and I don't believe has any relation to the coaching situation. To my knowledge there was a serious chance of him after the 20-21 season but Chicago felt he needed another year so this was the plan all along.

 

[boots68]

Alex Vlasic just signed with Chicago....BU better figure out this coaching thing and fast.

So you think if Scottie Bowman were the coach Vlasic would have forfeited a year of salary to play college hockey another year? He was leaving no matter what. “True, true, completely unrelated but let me post it in an attempt to prove my point.”

 

[Lemonade]

So you think if Scottie Bowman were the coach Vlasic would have forfeited a year of salary to play college hockey another year? He was leaving no matter what. “True, true, completely unrelated but let me post it in an attempt to prove my point.”

I bet you don't know how a year of salary matches up with an ELC if he is in the minors. The cost of tuition/room and board just about equal the pay he would get if in the minors on an ELC. Several players come back for their senior season if they love the situation and think they can win a national championship. They also then have leverage as they can become a free agent.

 

[ColinWilsonFan]

On the coaching front, it is certainly a good possibility that they won't want to fire the coach. But if I understand correctly, he is at the end of his contract, correct? You would have to think that at a minimum, they have some concerns about signing him for more than a year or two tops.

I do think some people will want to avoid the negative tone of firing a coach (it's been a LOOOOOONG time since that happened). But I think there is one reason that he could be gone despite that. There was some chatter going back a couple years that Albie was in over his head, that he didn't know what he was doing. If there was a recognition within the first year or two by the powers that be that he wasn't cut out for this gig, perhaps they decided to let him finish out the contract work on a succession plan while he is still here, and make a change when his contract is up.

It wasn't chatter he was and still is they won in spite of him not because and Friedman and pando definitely took up a lot of slack I think the contract expiring gives them an easier out

 

[ColinWilsonFan]

They clearly all should stay another year to further develop but I imagine one or two could go but they'll have to consider being buried in the ECHL or maybe eek out a spot on an AHL team/taxi squad between the two leagues because none will get a real sniff at the NHL level.

Quinny always told them better to stay at bu than rode the bus in the coast or even ahl

 

[brassbonanza]

It wasn't chatter he was and still is they won in spite of him not because and Friedman and pando definitely took up a lot of slack I think the contract expiring gives them an easier out

This is the key point. BU does not have to fire Albie to make a change. They can agree to not renew his contract and frame it that way in a more respectful manner. They would also have to pay $0 in buyout.

 

[Harry Cleverly]

Despite their disagreement regarding Albie's coaching this season both Harry Cleverly and brassbonanza both wrote posts that I think would make good letters as they are both respectful and state why Coach O'Connell should be replaced.
Sean

Brassbonanza and I actually agree on a considerably more than we disagree on. We certainly agree on the big picture, and what is needed to move BU forward.

Albie was a candidate to be fired after Thanksgiving break, if BU had the stomach to do such a thing (they didn't!).

Turning the season around with a 13-1-1 streak and a Beanpot championship temporarily changed the team's fortunes. Having voted on numerous coaching awards, and having won some, I know that coaches that orchestrate big turnarounds during the season get consideration for Coach of the Year awards. That is my only disagreement with Brassbonanza. We can agree to disagree on that point, which became a moot point with BU's late season crash and burn. Which has happened to Albie before.

BU was woefully unprepared for last year's post-season. And this was a repeat. UConn took it right to BU from the opening faceoff. BU played on its heels until they had no choice but to step it up.

BU is spinning its wheels in the sand with Albie. He has had four mediocre at best years, and the program is now at a crossroads. What does the administration want BU hockey to be?

 

[Terrier86]

With the realities of the "play immediately" transfer and the gotta have it now new age players, the coach is on trial each and every day by each and every player (and his family and agent). The coach needs to instill an incredible culture - one that not only attracts the best freshman but then also holds onto them through (realistically) their Jr year....

So, it's more important than ever to be incredible developers of talent.

I still say, we need to create a base of solid two-way, older players that can be augmented by the younger two and done/three and done players. And, then back-filled via the portal when needed.

Deep down inside, can we honestly say that our current coach is a great culture-building, talent developer that is needed in the current NCAA hockey environment?

 

[brassbonanza]

I still say, we need to create a base of solid two-way, older players that can be augmented by the younger two and done/three and done players. And, then back-filled via the portal when needed.

This myth about the program needs to stop - Albie did exactly this on this year's roster.

• 18 of 29 roster players are upperclassmen
• 13 of 17 skaters on Saturday were upperclassmen, two were freshmen
• Solid transfer portal addition in Brown
• No legitimate one-and-done candidates*
• Almost no legitimate two-and-done candidates

*Intentionally excluded Boucher who I do not consider in the one-and-done. No one in their right mind will put him on a pro roster next year. 6 points in 12 games in the OHL. Ottawa badly screwed up that pick.

There's plenty to criticize Albie on, roster construction and recruiting is not one of them. He built a solid roster for this season and should be commended for that.

The problem is, he can't coach them to success on the ice. Unfortunately, that's the #1 job responsibility and for that reason BU needs to move on.

 

[Lemonade]

With the realities of the "play immediately" transfer and the gotta have it now new age players, the coach is on trial each and every day by each and every player (and his family and agent). The coach needs to instill an incredible culture - one that not only attracts the best freshman but then also holds onto them through (realistically) their Jr year....

So, it's more important than ever to be incredible developers of talent.

I still say, we need to create a base of solid two-way, older players that can be augmented by the younger two and done/three and done players. And, then back-filled via the portal when needed.

Deep down inside, can we honestly say that our current coach is a great culture-building, talent developer that is needed in the current NCAA hockey environment?

The #1 issue I have with Albie is what I deem the lack of a style or culture with the program. At the biggest moments (outside of Beanpot) this program hasn't showed up. There is no identity. They are all over the place and lack heart and hustle you see with consistently winning programs. They allow selfish penalties. BU got in the mode of just being a stop for a year or two before going pro and with that came selfish players who are there for their own development not to better the program. Seems like BU is stuck in the middle now.

 

[Terrier86]

This myth about the program needs to stop - Albie did exactly this on this year's roster.

• 18 of 29 roster players are upperclassmen
• 13 of 17 skaters on Saturday were upperclassmen, two were freshmen
• Solid transfer portal addition in Brown
• No legitimate one-and-done candidates*
• Almost no legitimate two-and-done candidates

*Intentionally excluded Boucher who I do not consider in the one-and-done. No one in their right mind will put him on a pro roster next year. 6 points in 12 games in the OHL. Ottawa badly screwed up that pick.

There's plenty to criticize Albie on, roster construction and recruiting is not one of them. He built a solid roster for this season and should be commended for that.

The problem is, he can't coach them to success on the ice. Unfortunately, that's the #1 job responsibility and for that reason BU needs to move on.

Don't disagree - it's the cultural and development aspects that are lacking IMO.

 

[Terrier86]

The #1 issue I have with Albie is what I deem the lack of a style or culture with the program. At the biggest moments (outside of Beanpot) this program hasn't showed up. There is no identity. They are all over the place and lack heart and hustle you see with consistently winning programs. They allow selfish penalties. BU got in the mode of just being a stop for a year or two before going pro and with that came selfish players who are there for their own development not to better the program. Seems like BU is stuck in the middle now.

Unfortunately I totally agree. We need some more junk yard dogs/guys willing to battle hard all year long.

 

[chickod]

The #1 issue I have with Albie is what I deem the lack of a style or culture with the program. At the biggest moments (outside of Beanpot) this program hasn't showed up. There is no identity. They are all over the place and lack heart and hustle you see with consistently winning programs. They allow selfish penalties. BU got in the mode of just being a stop for a year or two before going pro and with that came selfish players who are there for their own development not to better the program. Seems like BU is stuck in the middle now.

100% agree. The snowball has grown larger and gained more momentum as it moves down the hill. And Albie has been unable to stop it...soon the exception will become the norm. Time to turn things around before it's too late...

 

[Sean Pickett]

Without running a pairwise calculator, I'd bet if we had simply not lost to Maine and Sacred Heart we would be in the top 16. Not playing the "what if" game here, just illustrating how tight the pairwise can be. Perhaps someone has a calculator / predictor and can play with that.

College Hockey News has a calculator you can use to change any results you want. If BU had won both the Sacred Heart and Maine games they would be 12th in the PWR:

[TABLE="width: 635"]
[TR]
[TD]Rk[/TD]
[TD]Team[/TD]
[TD]PCWs[/TD]
[TD]RPI[/TD]
[TD]Rk[/TD]
[TD]QWB-†[/TD]
[TD]W-L-T[/TD]
[TD]PwWin %[/TD]
[TD]Wgtd Win % - ‡[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]58[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6049[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0049[/TD]
[TD]34-5-0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8372[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8401[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD]Michigan[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]56[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6034[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0094[/TD]
[TD]28-9-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7737[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7594[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD]Denver[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]55[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5895[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0063[/TD]
[TD]27-8-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7514[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7664[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]55[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5812[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.008[/TD]
[TD]24-11-0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6857[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6763[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD]Western Michigan[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]54[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.579[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0079[/TD]
[TD]24-10-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6871[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7011[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD]North Dakota[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]52[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5758[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0102[/TD]
[TD]24-12-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6743[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6631[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD]Quinnipiac[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]52[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.568[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0016[/TD]
[TD]30-5-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8171[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.814[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota-Duluth[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]51[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5611[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0123[/TD]
[TD]19-15-4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5526[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5527[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
[TD]Notre Dame[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]51[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5609[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0051[/TD]
[TD]27-11-0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6632[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6512[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
[TD]St. Cloud State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]49[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5592[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0084[/TD]
[TD]18-14-4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5806[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5793[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
[TD]Massachusetts[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]48[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5538[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0043[/TD]
[TD]20-12-2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6309[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6184[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[TD]Boston University[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]46[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5496[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.004[/TD]
[TD]21-11-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.63[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6358[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
[TD]Northeastern[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]46[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5494[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0023[/TD]
[TD]25-11-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.677[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6608[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD]Mass.-Lowell[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]45[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5493[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.003[/TD]
[TD]21-9-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6682[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6642[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
[TD]Michigan Tech[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]44[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5484[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0028[/TD]
[TD]21-12-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.675[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6758[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[TD]Ohio State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]43[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5399[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0047[/TD]
[TD]22-13-2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5973[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5789[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]



They would also be 12th if they won the Sacred Heart game and the BC or the UConn game. If they had only won the Sacred Heart or Maine game they would be 15th. If they had won the BC and Maine games or the Maine and UConn games they would still only be 15th, while winning the BC and UConn games would have put them 14th. If the OOC win had been over Northern Michigan or Cornell along with one of the 3 season ending losses they would have been 13th or 14th. If BU had won all 3 season ending losses they would be 11th:


[TABLE="width: 635"]
[TR]
[TD]Rk[/TD]
[TD]Team[/TD]
[TD]PCWs[/TD]
[TD]RPI[/TD]
[TD]Rk[/TD]
[TD]QWB-†[/TD]
[TD]W-L-T[/TD]
[TD]PwWin %[/TD]
[TD]Wgtd Win % - ‡[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]58[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6051[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0049[/TD]
[TD]34-5-0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8372[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8401[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD]Michigan[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]56[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6032[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0093[/TD]
[TD]28-9-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7737[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7594[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD]Denver[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]55[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5894[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0062[/TD]
[TD]27-8-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7514[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7664[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]55[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5811[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0079[/TD]
[TD]24-11-0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6857[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6763[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD]Western Michigan[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]54[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5787[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]5[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0077[/TD]
[TD]24-10-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6871[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.7011[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD]North Dakota[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]52[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5757[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]6[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0101[/TD]
[TD]24-12-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6743[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6631[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD]Quinnipiac[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]52[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5675[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]7[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0014[/TD]
[TD]30-5-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.8171[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.814[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD]Notre Dame[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]52[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.561[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]8[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0052[/TD]
[TD]27-11-0[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6632[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6512[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
[TD]Minnesota-Duluth[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]50[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5607[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]9[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.012[/TD]
[TD]19-15-4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5526[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5527[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
[TD]St. Cloud State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]49[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5591[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]10[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0084[/TD]
[TD]18-14-4[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5806[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5793[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
[TD]Boston University[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]47[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5538[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]11[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.003[/TD]
[TD]22-10-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6586[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6599[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[TD]Massachusetts[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]47[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5528[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]12[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0042[/TD]
[TD]20-12-2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6309[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6184[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
[TD]Mass.-Lowell[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]46[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5487[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]13[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0034[/TD]
[TD]21-9-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6682[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6642[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD]Michigan Tech[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]45[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5485[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]14[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0028[/TD]
[TD]21-12-3[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.675[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6758[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
[TD]Northeastern[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]44[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5478[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]15[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0023[/TD]
[TD]25-11-1[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.677[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.6608[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[TD]Ohio State[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]43[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5394[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]16[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.0045[/TD]
[TD]22-13-2[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5973[/TD]
[TD="align: right"]0.5789[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]


Sean

 

[Scarlet]

That is so frustrating. In charge of their own destiny and they just blew it.