Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

[BoSox3066]

Guys and gals,

BU gave up two goals to Northeastern last night in the Hockey East semifinals. According to some people on this forum, a coach has flawed offensive strategy if/when that happens. With that said, I checked the BU thread thinking their fans would be calling for Albie O'Connell to be fired. They weren't. I guess that's just a Maine thing.

Youre right they started calling for his head back in February at the Beanpot. Be a bigger troll ... you cant

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Congrats to Pearson, Fossier, Keeper, and Swayman on making 2nd and 3rd all hockey east teams.

https://hockeyeastonline.com/men/articles/2019/03/hockey-east-names-2018-19-all-star-teams.php

Looks like Maine(4) had 2nd most number behind UMass(5).

So this is another indicator Maine has talent on par with the top of the league but there are deficiencies in depth and coaching. I don't think those are mutually exclusive since development is a key. So I wonder why Red teams consistently have a weak 4th line and weak bottom pairing. To crack the top 4 Maine has to have better depth in the line up. Maybe the roster management isn't good. I have been relatively disappointed in the transfers. I think the only one that had a meaningful impact is Doherty. But he never played, so I am not sure that really counts as being a transfer. I would like for Red to abandon the checking 4th line idea and roll another skilled line, or as skilled as it can get. Then roll 4 lines. Focus on developing the defense and maybe next year's team could surprise folks.

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Looks like Keeper is a scratch for tonight's game according to this Panthers morning skate report...

https://www.nhl.com/panthers/news/barkov-huberdeau-lead-panthers-into-battle-with-bruins/c-306057072

Not surprised. But would have been cool to see him play his first game on tv against the Bruins.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Not to toot my own horn, but in 2015 that's precisely what I said we'd become...that exact phrase. I lost a lot of friends over that statement. I don't imagine any of them care to admit I was right.

Good call. I'll give you credit. I didn't make a public statement (not as confident as you), but after Gendron's 2nd year I felt he was the wrong guy. His best year was the first with Tim's players. After that not so much. On another note, Finland seems to be producing goal tenders. Filip Lindberg for Umass and Kimball Union has one in Veeti Kohvaka.

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

It is interesting, if Keeper gets assigned to Springfield(Ahl) he would be coached by assistant Doug Janik. He would play with former black bears Matt Mangene and Blaine Byron. There also exists the possibility Brendan Robbins makes the team too.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

ESPN PLUS 145 on Dish TV

Yeah, sorry to give you all a bum steer. My local listings were inaccurate. I DVR'ed ESPN2 and got the wrong game.

Anyway, NC State was obviously a matchup nightmare for Maine, but the ladies hung in there just the same. Another excellent season. Thank God for women's hoops; it really makes the winter more bearable.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Good call. I'll give you credit. I didn't make a public statement (not as confident as you), but after Gendron's 2nd year I felt he was the wrong guy. His best year was the first with Tim's players. After that not so much. On another note, Finland seems to be producing goal tenders. Filip Lindberg for Umass and Kimball Union has one in Veeti Kohvaka.

I was at St. Lawrence for Red's debut. I agree with you that that was his most talented team, but they looked flat as a turd getting swept in Canton. We left there feeling very discouraged, and haven't felt any better since.

 

[walrus]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Guys and gals,

BU gave up two goals to Northeastern last night in the Hockey East semifinals. According to some people on this forum, a coach has flawed offensive strategy if/when that happens. With that said, I checked the BU thread thinking their fans would be calling for Albie O'Connell to be fired. They weren't. I guess that's just a Maine thing.

Nobody called for Reds head in his first year, if BU is playing like Maine next year Albie won't be the coach yet we are stuck with Red another year

 

[BlackI]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Nobody called for Reds head in his first year, if BU is playing like Maine next year Albie won't be the coach yet we are stuck with Red another year

Just wanted to mention first year USHL head coach Greg Moore has Chicago Steel headed into playoffs as 2nd place team in eastern bracket of USHL. Not bad since last season they were 6th out of 9 teams. So seems like a great first year for Greg. They are the 2nd to the lowest penalized team in the USHL.

https://youtu.be/ygRzjRws2Tk

 

[GoBlue51]

Youre right they started calling for his head back in February at the Beanpot. Be a bigger troll ... you cant

It’s not being a troll when I’m simply reiterating things stated in this thread.

If you’re going to call for a coach to be fired, at least have a clue why you feel that way. First it was a lack of discipline and the players not responding to him. Then it was the lack of “hands.” Then it was a poor offensive system. Then it was a lack of talent.

Yet, two players just signed two-way NHL contracts and three others just signed pro contracts. Yet, other good teams are scoring the same amount of goals against one of the best goalies (Primeau) in the league. Yet, opposing coaches are saying Maine’s first line was one of the most talented in the league.

Is Red the best option for the University of Maine? Probably not. If Maine had a bigger budget/more money to spend on a hockey coach you could more than likely lure someone up to Orono, but they don’t.

Red is here for another year (at least) so constantly complaining about it is a waste of everyone’s time.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

It’s not being a troll when I’m simply reiterating things stated in this thread.

If you’re going to call for a coach to be fired, at least have a clue why you feel that way. First it was a lack of discipline and the players not responding to him. Then it was the lack of “hands.” Then it was a poor offensive system. Then it was a lack of talent.

Yet, two players just signed two-way NHL contracts and three others just signed pro contracts. Yet, other good teams are scoring the same amount of goals against one of the best goalies (Primeau) in the league. Yet, opposing coaches are saying Maine’s first line was one of the most talented in the league.

Is Red the best option for the University of Maine? Probably not. If Maine had a bigger budget/more money to spend on a hockey coach you could more than likely lure someone up to Orono, but they don’t.

Red is here for another year (at least) so constantly complaining about it is a waste of everyone’s time.

We all know why we feel that way: BECAUSE HE IS BAD AT WINNING HOCKEY GAMES.

We may argue about why, but that's pretty much irrelevant.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

Congratulations to Liam Pecararo! His leaving Maine turned out very well for him.

 

[Runsub5]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

It’s not being a troll when I’m simply reiterating things stated in this thread.

If you’re going to call for a coach to be fired, at least have a clue why you feel that way. First it was a lack of discipline and the players not responding to him. Then it was the lack of “hands.” Then it was a poor offensive system. Then it was a lack of talent..........

All of these.

 

[Fishman'81]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

It’s not being a troll when I’m simply reiterating things stated in this thread.

If you’re going to call for a coach to be fired, at least have a clue why you feel that way. First it was a lack of discipline and the players not responding to him. Then it was the lack of “hands.” Then it was a poor offensive system. Then it was a lack of talent.

Yet, two players just signed two-way NHL contracts and three others just signed pro contracts. Yet, other good teams are scoring the same amount of goals against one of the best goalies (Primeau) in the league. Yet, opposing coaches are saying Maine’s first line was one of the most talented in the league.

Is Red the best option for the University of Maine? Probably not. If Maine had a bigger budget/more money to spend on a hockey coach you could more than likely lure someone up to Orono, but they don’t.

Red is here for another year (at least) so constantly complaining about it is a waste of everyone’s time.

The guys who left early don't appear to be NHL players.

I'd be amazed if any coach who played Maine, and said that their 1st line was anywhere near the best they'd faced, was in his right mind. It's easy to be generous when you win. Maine hasn't had a real 1st line in years.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

The guys who left early don't appear to be NHL players.

I'd be amazed if any coach who played Maine, and said that their 1st line was anywhere near the best they'd faced, was in his right mind. It's easy to be generous when you win. Maine hasn't had a real 1st line in years.

Spot on...you hear that garbage all the time from the opposing Coaches, its standard...never put down the other team in a interview...if you did, it would be bulletin info to rally the team next time they played.

 

[AMC]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

The guys who left early don't appear to be NHL players.

I'd be amazed if any coach who played Maine, and said that their 1st line was anywhere near the best they'd faced, was in his right mind. It's easy to be generous when you win. Maine hasn't had a real 1st line in years.

It's also an absolute binary.

Either Maine is super talented and underachieved, or Maine isn't talented enough to contend. Both are indictments of the coach.

 

[rufus]

Gary Conn.

Edit: Never mind, Maine was in the old ECAC then. Maybe Shore?

That is a really hard question. There's a ton of possibilities.

Corkum. Blair Allison. Shermerhorn. Larose. Mike Lundin. Dave Capuano. Robitaille. The Ferraros. Bunch more.

 

[rufus]

Good call. I'll give you credit. I didn't make a public statement (not as confident as you), but after Gendron's 2nd year I felt he was the wrong guy. His best year was the first with Tim's players. After that not so much. On another note, Finland seems to be producing goal tenders. Filip Lindberg for Umass and Kimball Union has one in Veeti Kohvaka.

I think I was on record he was the wrong guy the day they announced his hiring, but I was willing to see if he would prove me wrong.

He hasn't.

 

[Ma#1ne Hky]

Re: Maine Black Bears 2019: Offseason Approaching

I think I was on record he was the wrong guy the day they announced his hiring, but I was willing to see if he would prove me wrong.

He hasn't.

And he won't if they hang onto him for 2 years....at least it looks like for next season....but then the last time Maine axed a hockey Coach [Whitehead] was a few days before the Frozen 4....don't see that happening this time around.

 

[BoSox3066]

It’s not being a troll when I’m simply reiterating things stated in this thread.

You brought up BU fans being calm after a loss at the Garden and said we should act like that. When 1) We havent even sniffed the Garden in 7 years and 2) BU fans are in fact ****ed at Albie and have been for months.

That, my friend, is being a troll.