BU 2021-22: Albie's Great Adventure

[brassbonanza]

While it is great to have had so many NHL First Round Draft choices -- and you'd never turn down that level of talent -- the downside is they don't stick around for very long.

Getting players drafted in rounds 2-5 is often better, because they are still prime college talents AND they may be around for more years.

Grzelcyk was a better 'college' player than McAvoy, IMO. And he stayed four years to McAvoy's two. And things worked out for the best for both of them.

Well that decides it, we should definitely rescind Boucher's scholarship offer since he was unexpectedly taken in the 1st round last night.

 

[defkit]

While nine BU commits have been ranked by NHL Central Scouting, it's extremely unlikely all will be picked over the next two days. Tyler Boucher is the only one who could hear his named called in the first round; other projections have him selected in the second round.
NHL draft preview: Will a Terrier go in the first round?

Only three taken, correct? (Boucher, Lachance, and Gallagher)

Seems like the least in a while, certainly the least guys taken in the 1-4 round range.

I'm not complaining, given all the early departures in the past of the high picks. But I hope it isn't a sign of a drop in recruiting...

 

[Mike799]

While it is great to have had so many NHL First Round Draft choices -- and you'd never turn down that level of talent -- the downside is they don't stick around for very long.

Getting players drafted in rounds 2-5 is often better, because they are still prime college talents AND they may be around for more years.

Grzelcyk was a better 'college' player than McAvoy, IMO. And he stayed four years to McAvoy's two. And things worked out for the best for both of them.

Remeber, For every Grzelcyk, there are 3 macleods, katlasolos and webers (round 2,3,4)

My larger point is that I have never understood the recent comments on this board who want to get away from BU recruiting one and dones. Below are the stats of the one and done 1st round forwards in the last seven seasons.

eichel (71 pts)
keller (45 pts)
farabee (36 pts)
zegras (36 pts)
tkchuck (31 pts)
bellows (14 pts)

The issue isn't that the staff recruits these one and done players. In my opinion, the issue is the talent evaluation and player development for pretty much every other forward in these classes is terrible.

 

[hydrant]

Going to be interesting to see how the lines are this upcoming season. Losing no (productive) forwards and gaining Brown, Boucher, Phillips, and Ty Amonte back BU should have no excuse to have a deep group. Our wingers look deep and should all be able to put up points this year. I don't think we have good centers imo, wouldn't be surprised if they try different people at center (believe they put mastro at center and obrien at wing against SCS for some reason...tournament game give it a try). Listed out our possible wingers and centers (not in order where i think they'll be but just positioned base). Oldest team we've had in a while and I think this is our best looking group we've had in years. Fourth RW spot will be interesting. I like Carrabes because he's coming off almost ppg season in USHL and seems to be the best scoring option of the three. Wasn't a huge Kaufman guy but wouldn't be surprised if he's in there for "leadership purposes" or whatever. I liked Boguslavsky this year and he showed great promise of being a fourth liner who can produce somewhat and play PK. Either way you all can tell I'm bored because I made this and am looking forward to the season. Will probably dress 17 forwards this season unless defenseman are injured. Unrelated: Heard Ty Amonte is switching his jersey # to 33, his brother is probably going to be the new #3. Probably wants a fresh start, don't blame him. I believe in that kinda crap so hopefully he's ready to go! Feel free to debate with any of this, I'm bored.

LW
Tuch
Mastrosimone
Brown
Cockerill

C
O'brien
Skoog
Zabaneh
Ty Amonte

RW
Boucher
Peterson
Phillips
Carrabes/Kaufman/Boguslavsky

Bench
Carrabes/Kaufman/Boguslavsky
Stevens
Armstrong
Tristan Amonte


What I'm Hoping For
- Our rising sophmores take a big step (tuch, peterson, Zabaneh...just score)
- Phillips and Mastro step up (granted Phillips was hurt all year)
- Brown makes immediate impact
- We win games while outshooting our opponents
- Our centers are good (faceoffs, points)
- Cockerill puts up as many points as he did as a freshman (20)
- Ty Amonte doesn't get hurt
- Boucher produces like a 10th overall pick (basically just don't be a bellows) (produce/hit guys) (don't have zegras 1 and done attitude)
- Pandolfo takes over and leads the terriers to the promise land

 

[Harry Cleverly]

My larger point is that I have never understood the recent comments on this board who want to get away from BU recruiting one and dones. Below are the stats of the one and done 1st round forwards in the last seven seasons.

I don't believe anyone has suggested getting away from recruiting potentially "One & Dones." Of course you take that high end talented, if you can attract it. You'd be crazy not to.

It is great to have had 11 NHL First Round Draft Picks in the last decade. And they have resulted in no NCAA titles, two Hockey East titles and one Beanpot.

The strongest teams are the ones supplemented by strong role players and excellent depth.

Last year's BU team was the first in several years to have decent to good third and fourth line depth. Terriers should feel confident heading into 2021-22. The pressure is squarely on Albie.

 

[Rogie21]

I don't believe anyone has suggested getting away from recruiting potentially "One & Dones." Of course you take that high end talented, if you can attract it. You'd be crazy not to.

It is great to have had 11 NHL First Round Draft Picks in the last decade. And they have resulted in no NCAA titles, two Hockey East titles and one Beanpot.

The strongest teams are the ones supplemented by strong role players and excellent depth.

Last year's BU team was the first in several years to have decent to good third and fourth line depth. Terriers should feel confident heading into 2021-22. The pressure is squarely on Albie.

Glad to see you added "potentially" to the one-and-done descriptor. Virtually all the one-and-done and other very high end guys were recruited when they were 15 or 16 (for the NTDP guys, prior to their entering that program). Among them, only Eichel could logically be anticipated to be a likely one-and-done at the time they committed. Keller was ID'd as an exceptional talent early on, but couldn't be assumed to be a one-and-done when BU outdueled UND for him.

The issue isn't that the staff recruits these one and done players. In my opinion, the issue is the talent evaluation and player development for pretty much every other forward in these classes is terrible.

With the exception of the 2018 class led by Farabee, I wouldn't agree with the "talent evaluation" part of that statement; player development, on the other hand, has been disappointing in more than a few cases, pretty good in others, with several recent ones still to be determined.

20-21 Tuch, Commesso, Peterson, Webber, Zabaneh, Jarman*
19-20 Zegras, Vlasic, McCarthy, Mastrosimone, Philips, Fensore, Boguslavsky, Stevens, Abel*, Skoog*
18-19 Farabee Wise Quercia DeBoer, Blixt, Chermeta, Purpura
17-18 Tkachuk Bowers, Cockerill, Amonte, Crotty, Farrance, Kotkansalo
16-17 Keller/Bellows Fabbro, Oettinger, Harper, Krys, Curry
15-16 McAvoy (2 yrs) Greenway, JFK, Carpenter
14-15 Eichel, Hickey, MacLeod, DIffley, Phelps, Olsson, Greer
* Mid-year add

 

[mookie1995]

The nhl draft is a crapshoot (have time to kill? Go click on draft years at hockeydb.com and scroll through and count all the first rounders who never reach the nhl, let alone 2-3-4 rounders). Why wouldn’t anyone be surprised recruiting kids when they are 5 yrs at times away from showing up on campus as a similar crapshoot?

 

[Rogie21]

Luke Tuch scored his 2nd goal (0:32 of the video) of the World Junior Summer Showcase. Has four points, plays on first PP unit. Some Commesso saves, too. Stopped 27 of 29 vs. Sweden.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1420552779249115137?s=20

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Luke Tuch scored his 2nd goal (0:32 of the video) of the World Junior Summer Showcase. Has four points, plays on first PP unit. Some Commesso saves, too. Stopped 27 of 29 vs. Sweden.
https://twitter.com/usahockey/status/1420552779249115137?s=20

I wouldn't be surprised to see Tuch have a breakout season. I also wouldn't be surprised to see Pandolfo have a very positive impact on player development, esp. amongst the forwards.

 

[ericredaxe]

Per an email from the BU Ticket office, face coverings will be required to attend games at Agganis this year. Not surprising and I bet BU won't be the only one to announce such a thing, but who knows. If anything, I'm actually partially surprised they didn't simply just say proof of vaccination is required for entry. (See NYC for shows etc starting in September)

 

[J.D.]

They've already made that determination for the entire season? The madness continues.

 

[Scarlet]

I have no problem with that request. Nor would I if they require proof of vaccination. If it allows me to see hockey in person, I'm all for it. Would love it if they produced masks with the logo on it and handed them to people as they entered the arena.

 

[brassbonanza]

They've already made that determination for the entire season? The madness continues.

The email did not say it was for the full season. It said "This fall..." Like a lot of things, such as proof of vaccination for entry, I imagine this is something that will be under ongoing review.

Also, from BU's perspective it's a lot easier to set this expectation now and remove it later than vice versa.

 

[J.D.]

OK that makes more sense. Does it say if they are starting with attendance restrictions? I am just curious how this will all work because if you require masks but also sell concessions and don't have attendance restrictions...you could then be sitting next to someone and eating/drinking at the same time etc.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

OK that makes more sense. Does it say if they are starting with attendance restrictions? I am just curious how this will all work because if you require masks but also sell concessions and don't have attendance restrictions...you could then be sitting next to someone and eating/drinking at the same time etc.

My understanding is that Agganis will operate at full capacity for the 2021-22 season. Given BU's average home attendance in the 2019-20 season, chances are Agganis will likely see ~50% capacity in reality for many games.

Agree 110% with Scarlet and brassbonanza. I think it'd be a no-brainer for a BU Hockey face mask promotion @ the 1st home game. I also wouldn't be surprised if the mask policy is adjusted at some point during the season if things trend in the right direction.

 

[wysi]

I have no problem with that request. Nor would I if they require proof of vaccination. If it allows me to see hockey in person, I'm all for it. Would love it if they produced masks with the logo on it and handed them to people as they entered the arena.

If they produce BU Hockey masks I am getting one sent to me here in New Zealand.

 

[ericredaxe]

OK that makes more sense. Does it say if they are starting with attendance restrictions? I am just curious how this will all work because if you require masks but also sell concessions and don't have attendance restrictions...you could then be sitting next to someone and eating/drinking at the same time etc.

Correct if you are actively eating or drinking you will not need a mask per the email.

 

[ericredaxe]

I don’t really have an issue with the mask guidance. Personally, I’d prefer they simply require proof of vaccination for entry.

 

[J.D.]

Correct if you are actively eating or drinking you will not need a mask per the email.

But if you allow full attendance and people are eating/drinking in close proximity...what's the difference? I'm just over the mask game. And who is on mask enforcement patrol during the game? I think proof of vaccination is a better approach although I admit I don't know exactly how that would work.

 

[ericredaxe]

But if you allow full attendance and people are eating/drinking in close proximity...what's the difference? I'm just over the mask game. And who is on mask enforcement patrol during the game? I think proof of vaccination is a better approach although I admit I don't know exactly how that would work.

Maybe instead of the dance cam, they do a mask cam on the Jumbotron?

I personally think proof of vaccine would be easier too… if New York City can do it, BU should be able to as well.

depending on how the delta variant evolves over the next couple of months, I wouldn’t be surprised if other arenas follow with similar.