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Hockey East 2010-2011

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Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

Federal League said:
I would say PC is comfortable in net, too. Beaudry was without question one of the best goalies in the league last year. I'm not sure why you're worried about him handling a full season -- he was a full-time starter last year.

I also think you're severely underestimating Merrimack if you're grouping them in with UML, UMass and PC.
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I do expect MC to be ahead of UML, UMass, and PC, but year in and year out (with last year being the exception), they find a way to play below expectations.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

jcarter7669 said:
I have to assume that ME's season will sink or swim based on goaltending. Nyquist is awesome, but he can do only so much.

If Darling is back and focused I think ME is easily in the second spot. If not, it could be a rough season and end up more in the 4-5 spot.
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I agree that Maine's season will hinge on goaltending. I don't think it's as simple as watching for Darling's return. The kid has a career .895 SvPct. Maine could easily finish below 2nd even if he does come back focused.

To finish 2nd, Maine will either need Darling to make a significant jump forward, or they'll need one of the other two to step up right away and give the team a solid rotation. I have no guess about either of those things.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

1) BC by 10 points or more
2) Maine solid second
3) BU close with MC for third
4) Merimack close with BU for third
5) Providence Beaudry will win a lot of very close games and PC lost next to nothing in scoring power
6) UNH solid up front but loss of Foster will hurt terribly with lots of high scoring games
7) Northeastern never should have missed playoffs last year, youth will improve
8) Vermont lost too much scoring power to move up
9) Lowell lost both scoring and excellent goaltending
10) UMass devastated by losses of seniors and defections even more than Lowell
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

BC/HE said:
1) BC by 10 points or more
2) Maine solid second
3) BU close with MC for third
4) Merimack close with BU for third
5) Providence Beaudry will win a lot of very close games and PC lost next to nothing in scoring power
6) UNH solid up front but loss of Foster will hurt terribly with lots of high scoring games
7) Northeastern never should have missed playoffs last year, youth will improve
8) Vermont lost too much scoring power to move up
9) Lowell lost both scoring and excellent goaltending
10) UMass devastated by losses of seniors and defections even more than Lowell
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Providence 5th? Now that's funny. Other than that, I agree with your rankings. Move everyone below up and put PC in dead last.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

I guarantee Jon an alternator that PC will NOT finish dead last next season.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

amherstblackbear said:
I agree that Maine's season will hinge on goaltending. I don't think it's as simple as watching for Darling's return. The kid has a career .895 SvPct. Maine could easily finish below 2nd even if he does come back focused.

To finish 2nd, Maine will either need Darling to make a significant jump forward, or they'll need one of the other two to step up right away and give the team a solid rotation. I have no guess about either of those things.
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Darlings careers on the line, this is his last chance to pull things together, he has had some very good games in the past, one can speculate that his inconsistency may have come from his alcohol problem, he has talent and I bet he comes into the season focused and prepared. The defense should improve over the summer and they played solid under Willy. If Oullettes better than Wilson I don't think there will be too many issues, I have no faith in Sirman though.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

BC/HE said:
4) Merimack close with BU for third
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Agree for the most part, but if Da Costa or other key MC players leave early, their stock will definitely drop.

edit: Just read Hockydad's post below...sorry for repeating.
 
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Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

amherstblackbear said:
I agree that Maine's season will hinge on goaltending. I don't think it's as simple as watching for Darling's return. The kid has a career .895 SvPct. Maine could easily finish below 2nd even if he does come back focused.

To finish 2nd, Maine will either need Darling to make a significant jump forward, or they'll need one of the other two to step up right away and give the team a solid rotation. I have no guess about either of those things.
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I don't think he needs to improve much. If he plays as well as he did last year, House and Nyquist will score enough points to get ME into second. Look at UMA last year with Wellman and Marcou.......those two had UMA pretty high up with less goaltending and less depth. Darling certainly doesn't need to try and come in and play over his head, he just needs to play his game. Assuming of course he comes back......
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

bsaeagle64 said:
Opinions vary! :)

So you have evaluated the NU recruiting class and have determined that they will add nothing at all to the team. :rolleyes:

OK! Only time will tell, won't it.
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Fair enough, but without baseless predictions, where would this thread be?
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

bottomdweller said:
I do expect MC to be ahead of UML, UMass, and PC, but year in and year out (with last year being the exception), they find a way to play below expectations.
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Tough to play "below expectations" when you are annually last in the pre-season polls ;) . Dennehey has them headed in the right direction. Cannata may be the Muse of a couple years ago (IIRC played every game?). Foreign territory to have some picking them for home ice. Could happen if Da Costa stays, but I'll still put them in 5th/6th (ahead of UML, PC, UMass) battling with BU, UVM and NU.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

jcarter7669 said:
I don't think he needs to improve much. If he plays as well as he did last year, House and Nyquist will score enough points to get ME into second. Look at UMA last year with Wellman and Marcou.......those two had UMA pretty high up with less goaltending and less depth. Darling certainly doesn't need to try and come in and play over his head, he just needs to play his game. Assuming of course he comes back......
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I don't see Maine repeating a 28% power play. If they do, look out. That team will score some goals. I guess I'm assuming that overall production will have to improve just to keep pace with last season.

I'm conservative like that. Only time will tell. :)
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

RENCEB said:
Tough to play "below expectations" when you are annually last in the pre-season polls ;) . Dennehey has them headed in the right direction. Cannata may be the Muse of a couple years ago (IIRC played every game?). Foreign territory to have some picking them for home ice. Could happen if Da Costa stays, but I'll still put them in 5th/6th (ahead of UML, PC, UMass) battling with BU, UVM and NU.
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Could you have been thinking of Thiessen? I see the same for Mack. Cannata plays almost every game. If he plays as he did his freshmen year and tail end of last year, they'll be top half if not 3rd or close to 2nd even. Although DaCosta is their main guy there's actually some fair talent on that team and a decent recruiting class coming in.

I see UMass last. They just lost too much although it seems there are some good recruits who will probably see tons of playing time. PC 9th, maybe 8th? UML still has some excellent players (Edwards, Vallorani) but goaltending could be a major achilles for them next year. BC is as loaded as any team I can recall. I think Federal pointed out their goaltending not only will be the deepest in the conference but I bet the country as well. BU has a nice(as in talented) team but they could slip from what was not the most comfortable third last year. UVM wouldn't be at shock in 5th but their finish last year wouldn't inspire anyone. NU could be a wreck on the blue line. UNH, great coaching and pretty darn good talent even if everyone seems to hate Umile.

BC
ME
Mack
UNH
BU
NU
UVM
UML
PC
UMass
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

RENCEB said:
Dennehey has them headed in the right direction.
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I have seen a few posters state this and I am wondering the justification for it?

I don't see where Dennehey's success is any better really then it was the years prior to his. Last year MC was a contender, but outside of that his seasons haven't been much better then any before. And if you take away De Costa, last season was pretty similar in GF, with GA actually being higher.

I know that you can't determine a program by a simple GA / GF but I do think its a decent indication of the direction a program is going, GF should be going up ( and that hasn't been the case outside of this past season) and GA should be going down, which has actually occurred slightly.

Please Note : I'm not trying to start a flamefest here but am legitimately asking why people think Dennehey has the program headed in the right direction.
 
Re: Hockey East 2010-2011

I think it's clear Merrimack has gotten better. They don't get blown out much like they used to. National rookie of the year. Some draft picks here and there. And in the hunt for home ice in the last weekend IIRC.

Clearly, they were better than the year before. But Merrimack has had a few draft picks and decent players before. The key is to not fall back down like they have in previous upswings.
 
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