Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Harvard has 5 recruits who are ranked at the midterm:

2nd Round - Henry Thrun - 32 (#1 in 2nd round), John Farinacci - 37
3rd Round - Ryan Siedem - 88
7th Round - Nik Abruzzese - 200
#28 ranked North American goaltender - Derek Mullahy

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

What you see in Harvard's coaching is that Teddy has absolute control of the program. Players can see there is no competition for roster spots when Jack Donato is playing regularly when he is really a walk on at best. He brought Pearl on board and being from Holy Cross where recruiting older players is a reality players have to compete for a roster spot he did well with the hand he was dealt. For one thing there is a very good senior defencemen sitting in the stands right now with no playing time who was recruited by Paul Pearl. I watched the Concordia game which is the only game Viktor Dombrovskiy played and he was a strong physical puck moving defensemen. Right now Harvard's defense is over offensive and at the lower end too big and slow so the top 4 D are being over played. Unfortunately, Teddy has got full backing from the alumni to coach in his old school approach of big D and playing his favorites (and son) ahead of other talented recruits. That is why Harvard has only gotten to the top once during his tenure. Recruiting right now is done with "Harvard's" name only. If they could win more often "winning" and "competing" will also help recruiting.

Coaches who have sons give them ice time even if they are not high caliber players. To wit: Joe Gaudet, Bob Gaudet's son at Dartmouth. Happens everywhere. And Jack plays fourth line so it's not like there's a ton of competition to play there.

If Teddy didn't have control of the program, then anarchy would reign. You don't want the players running the asylum. While I agree that I'd like to see Ben Solin, Mitch Perrault and others get more ice time, it's possible that they haven't done anything super special in practice to warrant the chance.

Dombrovsky is a very good puck moving D but has some shortcomings in the D zone. I'm not saying he wouldn't be better than Jake Olsen or Adam Baughman; it's just a logjam and he's caught in that jam. Same thing happened to Vic Newell.

Neither Adam Fox or Reilly Walsh are considered 'big' in today's game.

Coaches have their own style of running a program and don't like to be challenged; some work, some don't. Take a look at SLU if you don't believe me. Or Brown. The Ivies generally don't place a huge emphasis on winning. Different from BU, BC and other big school programs that are in it for the $$$ and as a pipeline to the pros. The pressure to win is intense and the alums generally vote with their wallets or voice their displeasure to the AD. Or both.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

The Crimson continue to confound me. We play a great game for the better part of two periods, give it back to Clarkson in the third and then win it with a great OT draw by Badini to Walsh. Second win against a Top Ten team and fourth overall against teams in the Top 20. And yet we manage to play down to the likes of Princeton and RPI. I just don't get it.

Oh well, on to SLU. Will it be more of the same tonight?

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Not much of a game tonight. Harvard came out flying with three goals on four shots in the first five minutes. Brey, the SLU goalie, looked a bit shellshocked and his teammates gave him zero help. The Saints are god awful. They can't skate, have minimal offensive threats and basically run around trying to hit people. Legally or illegally. Mark Morris has no system so all his players do is dump and chase or try and flip the puck from their end to center ice. Harvard's speed had a lot to do with it but SLU just doesn't have the skill to compete.

About the only downside to the game was a five minute boarding major to Wyllum Deveaux in the first minute of the third. SLU scored twice on the major and Harvard eventually got its act together the rest of the game. Deveaux made up for it with a PP goal later in the game but Teddy needs to remind him to play smart.

There were some strange D pairings. Marino paired with Reilly Walsh (two right hand shots) while Jake Olson and Vic Dombrovskiy, both lefties, were paired up. Olson had some trouble playing on his off side. I really wonder why coaches feel the need to tinker with their lineups in this way. Just doesn't make sense.

Henry Bowlby wasn't dressed so I'm assuming injury as he played against Clarkson. Hope he isn't out for long.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Not much of a game tonight. Harvard came out flying with three goals on four shots in the first five minutes. Brey, the SLU goalie, looked a bit shellshocked and his teammates gave him zero help. The Saints are god awful. They can't skate, have minimal offensive threats and basically run around trying to hit people. Legally or illegally. Mark Morris has no system so all his players do is dump and chase or try and flip the puck from their end to center ice. Harvard's speed had a lot to do with it but SLU just doesn't have the skill to compete.

About the only downside to the game was a five minute boarding major to Wyllum Deveaux in the first minute of the third. SLU scored twice on the major and Harvard eventually got its act together the rest of the game. Deveaux made up for it with a PP goal later in the game but Teddy needs to remind him to play smart.

There were some strange D pairings. Marino paired with Reilly Walsh (two right hand shots) while Jake Olson and Vic Dombrovskiy, both lefties, were paired up. Olson had some trouble playing on his off side. I really wonder why coaches feel the need to tinker with their lineups in this way. Just doesn't make sense.

Henry Bowlby wasn't dressed so I'm assuming injury as he played against Clarkson. Hope he isn't out for long.

They definitely need Bowlby out there so hopefully something minor and wasn't worth risking a bigger injury against a depleted SLU squad. I believe that this past weekend marked Harvard's first 4 point weekend all season and Harvard is now on a 3 game win streak.

Next 3 games:
- Dartmouth @Bright
- BC @ Beanpot
- Union @Bright

Harvard is likely favored in all of 3 of these, so not inconceivable for Harvard to be 13-6-2 and headed into the Beanpot final looking for 7 straight before making the dreaded North Country trek. Harvard's margin for error this year is razor thin, so it is not inconceivable to lose all 3 of those games as well.

By the way, I love Deveaux on that first line. He is learning to play within himself, but he brings much needed energy and physical play to that 1st line.

If I was doing the forward lines right now, they would be:
Deveaux - Drury - Dornbach
Bowlby - Badini - Gossage
Kerfoot - Shore - Floodstrand
Solin - Gregoire - Krusko

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

They definitely need Bowlby out there so hopefully something minor and wasn't worth risking a bigger injury against a depleted SLU squad. I believe that this past weekend marked Harvard's first 4 point weekend all season and Harvard is now on a 3 game win streak.

Next 3 games:
- Dartmouth @Bright
- BC @ Beanpot
- Union @Bright

Harvard is likely favored in all of 3 of these, so not inconceivable for Harvard to be 13-6-2 and headed into the Beanpot final looking for 7 straight before making the dreaded North Country trek. Harvard's margin for error this year is razor thin, so it is not inconceivable to lose all 3 of those games as well.

By the way, I love Deveaux on that first line. He is learning to play within himself, but he brings much needed energy and physical play to that 1st line.

If I was doing the forward lines right now, they would be:
Deveaux - Drury - Dornbach
Bowlby - Badini - Gossage
Kerfoot - Shore - Floodstrand
Solin - Gregoire - Krusko

I like your line combos. Makes a lot of sense.

Our February schedule is generally favorable and should yield some points that either will get us the #4 seed or at worst the #6. Beanpot is Northeastern's to lose this year.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

I thought the Green outplayed us last night. They are better defensively (I think they lead the nation in fewest shots allowed per game. Or close to it). They have more speed. Strangely, when they outshoot the opposition, they lose more than they win.

What's up with the boarding penalties? First Deveaux last week against SLU, then last night Bowlby takes a foolish major and a game misconduct where he'll have to miss the next game (not sure if it's an ECAC game or the Beanpot opener). Teddy needs to get some discipline and structure because Harvard is playing too loose and casual and taking these costly penalties. Fortunately they killed it off last night but they are courting disaster if they do this against a really good team.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

I thought the Green outplayed us last night. They are better defensively (I think they lead the nation in fewest shots allowed per game. Or close to it). They have more speed. Strangely, when they outshoot the opposition, they lose more than they win.

What's up with the boarding penalties? First Deveaux last week against SLU, then last night Bowlby takes a foolish major and a game misconduct where he'll have to miss the next game (not sure if it's an ECAC game or the Beanpot opener). Teddy needs to get some discipline and structure because Harvard is playing too loose and casual and taking these costly penalties. Fortunately they killed it off last night but they are courting disaster if they do this against a really good team.

A couple of thoughts:
- I thought the Bowlby major was a joke. Should have been 2 minutes. Got him with a forearm going about 2mph. Probably not even a penalty at the next level
- Another poor pass in the defensive zone by Walsh and the puck ends up in the Harvard net (Dartmouth's only goal). His shot is great, but I still think Donato should sit him a game (SLU would have been perfect) to send a message that he needs to clean it up in his own end
- The 1st period was the worst Harvard has played all season. No jump, all 1:1 play, zero cohesion. Maybe looking ahead to Monday night? Team is not good enough to play a period of indifferent hockey and persevere against upper echelon teams
- Harvard's PP was atrocious last night. Even during the 2 minute 5v3, I thought the puck movement was slow and lacked purpose/intention.

Are you sure Bowlby has to sit? I thought he got a game misconduct (kicked out of game, but does not have to sit a game) vs a disqualification (sit at least one additional game depending on the severity).
http://njcaa.org/eligibility/releases/ice-hockey-misconduct-penalty-vs-disqualification-penalty


The Beanpot is always a crapshoot. Would be great to play in the late game on the 11th.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

#11 in the PWR? Who would have thunk that a few weeks back.

 

[Veritas]

A couple of thoughts:
- I thought the Bowlby major was a joke. Should have been 2 minutes. Got him with a forearm going about 2mph. Probably not even a penalty at the next level
- Another poor pass in the defensive zone by Walsh and the puck ends up in the Harvard net (Dartmouth's only goal). His shot is great, but I still think Donato should sit him a game (SLU would have been perfect) to send a message that he needs to clean it up in his own end
- The 1st period was the worst Harvard has played all season. No jump, all 1:1 play, zero cohesion. Maybe looking ahead to Monday night? Team is not good enough to play a period of indifferent hockey and persevere against upper echelon teams
- Harvard's PP was atrocious last night. Even during the 2 minute 5v3, I thought the puck movement was slow and lacked purpose/intention.

Are you sure Bowlby has to sit? I thought he got a game misconduct (kicked out of game, but does not have to sit a game) vs a disqualification (sit at least one additional game depending on the severity).
http://njcaa.org/eligibility/releas...ualifacation carries an automatic suspension.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bothman. You are correct. I was sitting next to Paul Stewart of the ECAC and asked him. Only disqualifacation carries an automatic suspension.

There is another caveat to that though: You are suspended if it's your 3rd game misconduct in a year. However, I don't believe that's the case here.

 

[Crimson Faced]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bowlby gets called for hooking, gets back on the ice and immediately gets another call for hooking. The mindless penalties this team takes is an indication they are not going very far this year.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Bowlby gets called for hooking, gets back on the ice and immediately gets another call for hooking. The mindless penalties this team takes is an indication they are not going very far this year.

I'm not sure what happened on Monday with the penalties because this team is one of the least penalized teams in the nation (I believe around 8 mins of penalties per game) which I think puts them in the Top 5 for least penalized teams in the NCAA. Nonetheless, I think most of us similarly feel that there are too many holes this year to make a real run at a ECAC tourney and NCAA berth (not enough experience in key positions, not enough quality forwards so you end up with 2 forward lines who can score consistently, not enough difference makers to tilt the ice in 5v5 hockey, etc).

I also think Donato should have sent messages earlier in the season to guys (sitting for a game, etc), but the lack of depth makes this hard. For example:
- How many give-aways does Walsh have in his own end where the puck ends up in the back of the next. Dartmouth's first goal last week is Exhibit A where he made a foolish outlet pass where Harvard went down 1-0. He also struggled to get back into position on BC's game winning goal in the Beanpot
- Bowlby should sit on Friday vs Union for taking those dumb and selfish penalties against BC

I think there needs to be more consequences related to poor decisions because it breeds the mindset that a winning team needs to do the right things that translate to winning consistently.

That all said, I like Harvard's trajectory and I think they will continue on the upswing through the rest of this year (not enough to make a difference) and going forward next year. This year, they are definitely better than last year and though there will be questions next year (Lackey gone, Fox likely gone, etc) - I think Harvard will be much better and deeper offensively.

 

[PPGuru]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

I thought the first hooking call on Bowlby was shady. The second call, it looked like he might have wanted to show the Official what a REAL hook looked like.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

I'm not sure what happened on Monday with the penalties because this team is one of the least penalized teams in the nation (I believe around 8 mins of penalties per game) which I think puts them in the Top 5 for least penalized teams in the NCAA. Nonetheless, I think most of us similarly feel that there are too many holes this year to make a real run at a ECAC tourney and NCAA berth (not enough experience in key positions, not enough quality forwards so you end up with 2 forward lines who can score consistently, not enough difference makers to tilt the ice in 5v5 hockey, etc

Regarding the penalties, I thought that at one time a 5 minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct got you a seat in the stands for the next game. In fact I'm sure of it because back in the 80's, Kevan Melrose was assessed a boarding major and game misconduct and had to sit the next game. Rules must have changed. What troubles me is the lack of discipline and accountability. Two boarding penalties in consecutive games - where are the coaches on this? You simply can't have this as a team if you expect to do any damage in March.

I also think Donato should have sent messages earlier in the season to guys (sitting for a game, etc), but the lack of depth makes this hard. For example:
- How many give-aways does Walsh have in his own end where the puck ends up in the back of the next. Dartmouth's first goal last week is Exhibit A where he made a foolish outlet pass where Harvard went down 1-0. He also struggled to get back into position on BC's game winning goal in the Beanpot
- Bowlby should sit on Friday vs Union for taking those dumb and selfish penalties against BC

I think there needs to be more consequences related to poor decisions because it breeds the mindset that a winning team needs to do the right things that translate to winning consistently.

That all said, I like Harvard's trajectory and I think they will continue on the upswing through the rest of this year (not enough to make a difference) and going forward next year. This year, they are definitely better than last year and though there will be questions next year (Lackey gone, Fox likely gone, etc) - I think Harvard will be much better and deeper offensively.

Reilly has struggled in his own zone and you have to wonder if they are working with him on this aspect of his game. This is something that troubled the Devils at their summer camp two years ago (from a friend who knows a Devils scout). I don't like pairing him with Marino - two right hand shots on a D pairing? Again, if the coaches think this will solve the problem, I think they are sadly mistaken.

Agree there needs to be a whole lot more accountability. There isn't much leadership on this team. And why is Krushko playing when he has clearly regressed since his freshman season?? Isn't Perrault supposed to be a better option? Do we really lack for depth? Have to believe something else is going on here.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Walsh’s pass to Dornbach for Harvard’s 4th goal was filthy.

So Monday vs BU st the Beanpot. Does this game mean anything for BU who likely has to win Hockey East to get in? Harvard still has shot at at large bid so let’s see if Harvard shows up like it has something to play for.

 

[Skate79]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Walsh’s pass to Dornbach for Harvard’s 4th goal was filthy.

So Monday vs BU st the Beanpot. Does this game mean anything for BU who likely has to win Hockey East to get in? Harvard still has shot at at large bid so let’s see if Harvard shows up like it has something to play for.

BU is 26th in the Pairwise and is not ranked in the Top 20. So yeah, they have to win the HE tournament to have a chance. Not likely.

We have one more ranked opponent on the schedule (Clarkson). Other than that, it's win as much as you can, get to the ECAC tournament final and hope for the best. I don't think the Crimson have to win the tournament but getting to the finals would certainly help their cause.

 

[bothman]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Looks like Harvard got the memo that the BU game mattered. On to the North Country!

 

[Crimson Faced]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Yes, they played hard the whole game, glad to see it.

 

[slapperjack]

Re: Harvard Crimson 2018-2019 All Things Bright and Beautiful

Regarding the penalties, I thought that at one time a 5 minute boarding penalty and a game misconduct got you a seat in the stands for the next game. In fact I'm sure of it because back in the 80's, Kevan Melrose was assessed a boarding major and game misconduct and had to sit the next game. Rules must have changed. What troubles me is the lack of discipline and accountability. Two boarding penalties in consecutive games - where are the coaches on this? You simply can't have this as a team if you expect to do any damage in March.



Reilly has struggled in his own zone and you have to wonder if they are working with him on this aspect of his game. This is something that troubled the Devils at their summer camp two years ago (from a friend who knows a Devils scout). I don't like pairing him with Marino - two right hand shots on a D pairing? Again, if the coaches think this will solve the problem, I think they are sadly mistaken.

Agree there needs to be a whole lot more accountability. There isn't much leadership on this team. And why is Krushko playing when he has clearly regressed since his freshman season?? Isn't Perrault supposed to be a better option? Do we really lack for depth? Have to believe something else is going on here.

I agree...

Perrault must be deep in Donato's doghouse, maybe Solin too?
Were they Paul Pearl recruits?

How do the following players stay in the lineup each game?
While those 2 sit out...

Krusko (1 goal in 23 games/top lines/pp),
Deveaux (1 goal in 17 games/top lines/pp),
Shore (2 goals 23 games/top lines/pp),
Kerfoot (2 goals 23 games/top lines/pp),
Szeto (0 points in 11 games, but is only allowed 4th line time),
Murphy (1 goal in 13 games, played some 2nd/3rd line and pp) (Family friends/Donor)
Donato (Goes without saying why he has been given every possible opportunity)

Rotate these guys out a few games and see if it lights a fire under their ***.

Replace any of those guys with Solin or Perrault (on the same line/ice time) and they would manage to score as many goals. Hell just getting to the front of the net could get 1 goal on a deflection.
Same with Szeto, only gets 4th line time getting maybe 3 minutes total ice time a game. Your not going to get any points doing that.

meh..