BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

[J.D.]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Wise was at one point basically touted as the "next" one following Eichel. Not saying he won't develop into a good player, just another in long line of cautionary recruiting tales.

 

[sterlippo1]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Congrats for the BU Women sweeping a very good BC team.

can we trade coaches? A loaded BC team again that spits up against any good team OR their big rivals.

 

[mookie1995]

can we trade coaches? A loaded BC team again that spits up against any good team OR their big rivals.

You rather they swallow

 

[Drew S.]

Wise was at one point basically touted as the "next" one following Eichel. Not saying he won't develop into a good player, just another in long line of cautionary recruiting tales.

I think he is BU’s Pineault more so than another Kurker.

 

[defkit]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

I am not that worried about Wise. He looks significantly better than Bellows did, IMHO. He is making plays, controlling the puck, it just hasn't clicked for his yet. Bellows looked like he didn't belong at this level (similar for Kurker) - no ability to generate offense.

 

[defkit]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Wise was at one point basically touted as the "next" one following Eichel. Not saying he won't develop into a good player, just another in long line of cautionary recruiting tales.

He was an early commit after being named MVP of that Pee-Wee tourney in Quebec. At that time, and for the couple years that followed, he was thought to be a possible Top-5 pick. A second year at Central Catholic might no have been the best choice for his sophomore campaign, and it took him a little while to get things going on the U17s. Then on the U18s, he missed most of the first half of the season with his injury (collarbone, I think). But when he came back, he played well, among the tops on the team in Points Per Game. Maybe missing the games against D-1 last year made him less prepared for the competition level. But his stock continued to drop throughout, but his strong second half led to getting picked in the second round despite his smaller stature.

 

[Thiessen'sBetter]

What a time to be alive when UMass is Hockey East's best chance.

Is NU really gonna win back-to-back Beanpots?

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Someone mentioned BU and 5x5 goals this season. Here's what I see:

Minn St (1) - 2
Minn St (2) - 2
NU (1) - 3
NU (2) - 2
Maine (2) - 1
UConn - 2
Union - 1

Certainly, a downward trend.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Someone mentioned BU and 5x5 goals this season. Here's what I see:

Minn St (1) - 2
Minn St (2) - 2
NU (1) - 3
NU (2) - 2
Maine (2) - 1
UConn - 2
Union - 1

Certainly, a downward trend.

6 goals in last 5 games. And last 3 losses are games where they've had ~40 SOG each and only have 3 goals to show for it.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

While this BU team may be quicker, they're a small team lacking depth, physicality & ability to finish up front. I feel there may only be 4 forwards whom I'd consider legit top-6 guys (Bobo, Bowers, Farabee, Harper -- and his 0 goals). Cockerill, Amonte, Curry, Willman would all make nice 3rd liners, but have been pressed into 1st/2nd line roles at various points. Wise has top-6 skill/potential, but has mightily struggled adapting to D-1.

Farther down the depth chart, Quercia is a nice role player on 4th line. Chabot works/skates hard and is a high-character player, but lacks skill. Cheremeta is skilled, but is very much a work in progress without the puck. Cloonan shouldn't be on the team. DeBoer needed at least another 1-2 years; looks raw, awkward and out of place at this level right now.

Basically I feel BU has 10 legit D-1 forwards and the rest are perhaps better fit for AHA teams. This is where the attrition (early departure - Tkachuk, transfer - Crone, not getting admitted - Weiss, retirement - Tironese) have definitely impacted the depth up front.

 

[buoldtimer]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

While this BU team may be quicker, they're a small team lacking depth, physicality & ability to finish up front. I feel there may only be 4 forwards whom I'd consider legit top-6 guys (Bobo, Bowers, Farabee, Harper -- and his 0 goals). Cockerill, Amonte, Curry, Willman would all make nice 3rd liners, but have been pressed into 1st/2nd line roles at various points. Wise has top-6 skill/potential, but has mightily struggled adapting to D-1.

Farther down the depth chart, Quercia is a nice role player on 4th line. Chabot works/skates hard and is a high-character player, but lacks skill. Cheremeta is skilled, but is very much a work in progress without the puck. Cloonan shouldn't be on the team. DeBoer needed at least another 1-2 years; looks raw, awkward and out of place at this level right now.

Basically I feel BU has 10 legit D-1 forwards and the rest are perhaps better fit for AHA teams. This is where the attrition (early departure - Tkachuk, transfer - Crone, not getting admitted - Weiss, retirement - Tironese) have definitely impacted the depth up front.

Essentially, I agree with your assessment, if that means anything.

1. The 4 "legit" forwards you refer to have 12 goals among them. 2 of Bowers' 3 goals were scored in 1 game.

2. To state the obvious, the team misses Tkachuk and Greenway. They were tough in the one on one battles for the puck, and they got the puck to the front of the net. Bowers has been adversely affected by their absence, no?

3. As you say, Willman is a nice complementary player, but his presence on the PP stands out as a problem. Willman-Amonte-Cockerill makes for a nice third line, nothing more.

4. Did Crone transfer, or was he pushed out?

5. Do you have an assessment of the defensemen?

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Essentially, I agree with your assessment, if that means anything.

1. The 4 "legit" forwards you refer to have 12 goals among them. 2 of Bowers' 3 goals were scored in 1 game.

2. To state the obvious, the team misses Tkachuk and Greenway. They were tough in the one on one battles for the puck, and they got the puck to the front of the net. Bowers has been adversely affected by their absence, no?

3. As you say, Willman is a nice complementary player, but his presence on the PP stands out as a problem. Willman-Amonte-Cockerill makes for a nice third line, nothing more.

4. Did Crone transfer, or was he pushed out?

5. Do you have an assessment of the defensemen?

Greenway and Tkachuk made BU harder to defend & to play against. They're anything but right now.

I've heard Crone may have been asked to return to the USHL. But that the door was open for him to return (and he choseto transfer to Denver following this season). Similar to JJ Piccinich a few years ago, except JJP went to the OHL instead.

As for the D, I was a bit worried about depth given Hickey, MacLeod and Diffley graduated, and only 2 D were coming in. Neither Blixt nor Vidoli has stood out either way, although I had expected Blixt to perhaps make more of an impact as an older, bigger D-man with some skill.

I think Fabbro, Krys and Farrance are trying to do too much on their own at times. Not sure if its a byproduct of the system or if it stems from the lack of offense being generated in front of them. I've noticed Fabbro jumping deep into the attacking zone much more than he ever did the last 2 years.

 

[brassbonanza]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Greenway and Tkachuk made BU harder to defend & to play against. They're anything but right now.

I've heard Crone may have been asked to return to the USHL. But that the door was open for him to return (and he choseto transfer to Denver following this season). Similar to JJ Piccinich a few years ago, except JJP went to the OHL instead.

As for the D, I was a bit worried about depth given Hickey, MacLeod and Diffley graduated, and only 2 D were coming in. Neither Blixt nor Vidoli has stood out either way, although I had expected Blixt to perhaps make more of an impact as an older, bigger D-man with some skill.

I think Fabbro, Krys and Farrance are trying to do too much on their own at times. Not sure if its a byproduct of the system or if it stems from the lack of offense being generated in front of them. I've noticed Fabbro jumping deep into the attacking zone much more than he ever did the last 2 years.

Blixt so far has been a disappointment. He's turning into the new Tom Morrow, big and slow with little physicality. He's a liability on the ice in many situations.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Greenway and Tkachuk made BU harder to defend & to play against.

This is a good point. That type of play and player (Greenway especially when he was ON) can totally change a game even after they get off the ice.

Nice Tom Morrow reference above. Forgot about him. Poor kid took a lot of crap. Those were the days... the fanboy movement was in absolute full swing right about then.

 

[BCeagle]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

The rivalry is still there after this weekend but strange that both BC and BU are no longer ranked or even in the bottom ranked teams

I suppose it’s nice to see someone else like UMass be on top from hockey east

How often do you see BC and BU this bad at the same time ?

 

[wysi]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

The rivalry is still there after this weekend but strange that both BC and BU are no longer ranked or even in the bottom ranked teams

I suppose it’s nice to see someone else like UMass be on top from hockey east

How often do you see BC and BU this bad at the same time ?

Last time I remember was '87-'88 when we both lost a large number of good players to the Olympics and graduation.

 

[OldAlum]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Jake Wise won’t be at BU second semester. I am not saying that is he a complete bust but his performance has never matched what he looked like he might be at 15. Think Sam Kurker to some extent.

Is this comment (or prediction) about Jake Wise based upon some actual knowledge or is it merely conjecture? I'd think it a bit early to toss him on the scrap heap.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

Is this comment (or prediction) about Jake Wise based upon some actual knowledge or is it merely conjecture? I'd think it a bit early to toss him on the scrap heap.

oldalum, meet jofa.
jofa, oldalum.

 

[Jofa]

oldalum, meet jofa.
jofa, oldalum.

Touché

 

[ericredaxe]

Re: BU Terriers 2018-19: Albie in Charge

He was an early commit after being named MVP of that Pee-Wee tourney in Quebec. At that time, and for the couple years that followed, he was thought to be a possible Top-5 pick. A second year at Central Catholic might no have been the best choice for his sophomore campaign, and it took him a little while to get things going on the U17s. Then on the U18s, he missed most of the first half of the season with his injury (collarbone, I think). But when he came back, he played well, among the tops on the team in Points Per Game. Maybe missing the games against D-1 last year made him less prepared for the competition level. But his stock continued to drop throughout, but his strong second half led to getting picked in the second round despite his smaller stature.

Maybe a case of a kid "looking better than he really is" at the age of 13-14 simply because he matured earlier than other kids? An "early bloomer" so to speak?