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Maine Offseason 2020: We Stay Home But Swayman Leaves

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I just want a coach that can win some games.....like programs at AIC, Minnesota State & Bemidji State. I know.....I know......those guys have brand names and are flush with money.
 
NorthMike said:
Heck Id be happy with someone of caliber between Walsh and Red. At this point just make some post season play now and again.
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You had that guy for about a dozen years, and he was deemed "not good enough" at the time.

Walshy was a tough act to follow. Built something out of next to nothing (with all due respect to Jack Semler), even left the program in strong enough shape (with Standbrook and Whitehead) to continue his legacy for another decade after his death. Not even the late great Vince Lombardi could pull that last trick off when he stepped away from his '60's Green Bay dynasty.

He was a brilliant planner, and a super fierce competitor where he stood out in a job where he was constantly pitted against other fierce competitors. One of a kind ...
 
Thank you from a longtime Bruins fan for Swayman, he looks phenominal. I think he might be Rask's reliever.
 
Chuck Murray said:
You had that guy for about a dozen years, and he was deemed "not good enough" at the time.

Walshy was a tough act to follow. Built something out of next to nothing (with all due respect to Jack Semler), even left the program in strong enough shape (with Standbrook and Whitehead) to continue his legacy for another decade after his death. Not even the late great Vince Lombardi could pull that last trick off when he stepped away from his '60's Green Bay dynasty.

He was a brilliant planner, and a super fierce competitor where he stood out in a job where he was constantly pitted against other fierce competitors. One of a kind ...
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Timmy had two good recruiting classes before things went to hell so not really true that he was the answer at all.

The old saying it’s not about the wheat you reap but seeds you sew is really true when it comes to college coaches. Folks would do well to keep that in mind.
 
NorthMike said:
Heck Id be happy with someone of caliber between Walsh and Red. At this point just make some post season play now and again.
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The search for the next Bill Belicheck will become the next search for the next Shawn Walsh up in Maine. We need to understand that Walsh did will likely not be replicated in the sense of how he did it, and who he was. That's honestly why I want Ken Ralph to hire someone that has no ties to Maine whatsoever. For far too long the program, and fanbase, have been trying to replicate something that isn't going to be replicated.

Times have changed. Recruiting is entirely different. Maine can, and should, become a top tiered Hockey East program but the landscape of college hockey has changed completely since 41-1-2. Bring in new blood, new energy, new philosophies and usher in a new era of Maine hockey. I think we can all be incredibly appreciative of what came before, but also realizing that we need to stop living in the past. It's time for a change.
 
Blackbear96 said:
The search for the next Bill Belicheck will become the next search for the next Shawn Walsh up in Maine. We need to understand that Walsh did will likely not be replicated in the sense of how he did it, and who he was. That's honestly why I want Ken Ralph to hire someone that has no ties to Maine whatsoever. For far too long the program, and fanbase, have been trying to replicate something that isn't going to be replicated.

Times have changed. Recruiting is entirely different. Maine can, and should, become a top tiered Hockey East program but the landscape of college hockey has changed completely since 41-1-2. Bring in new blood, new energy, new philosophies and usher in a new era of Maine hockey. I think we can all be incredibly appreciative of what came before, but also realizing that we need to stop living in the past. It's time for a change.
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My sentiments exactly. Though it is easier for me to say as someone who didn't live thru the glory days first hand, the program to me looks like it's obviously living in the past. Moving forward with someone new is the best way to bring about renewed success.
 
amkirby10 said:
My sentiments exactly. Though it is easier for me to say as someone who didn't live thru the glory days first hand, the program to me looks like it's obviously living in the past. Moving forward with someone new is the best way to bring about renewed success.
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It should be noted that Maine has never had an alum as coach. I’d be fine either way. The most important thing is to get someone who is a great recruiter.
 
Drew S. said:
It should be noted that Maine has never had an alum as coach. I’d be fine either way. The most important thing is to get someone who is a great recruiter.
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Agreed. An innovator, recruiter, and great communicator. All qualities that I think Maine will seek out, but again, I'm fully expecting my heart to get ripped out and we give Ben Guite a 3 or 4 year deal.
 
Blackbear96 said:
Agreed. An innovator, recruiter, and great communicator. All qualities that I think Maine will seek out, but again, I'm fully expecting my heart to get ripped out and we give Ben Guite a 3 or 4 year deal.
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Why do you think Ben will be a bad hire? He’s been very clear in the interviews he’s done that the program needs to go in a different direction.
 
Blackbear96 said:
The search for the next Bill Belicheck will become the next search for the next Shawn Walsh up in Maine. We need to understand that Walsh did will likely not be replicated in the sense of how he did it, and who he was. That's honestly why I want Ken Ralph to hire someone that has no ties to Maine whatsoever. For far too long the program, and fanbase, have been trying to replicate something that isn't going to be replicated.

Times have changed. Recruiting is entirely different. Maine can, and should, become a top tiered Hockey East program but the landscape of college hockey has changed completely since 41-1-2. Bring in new blood, new energy, new philosophies and usher in a new era of Maine hockey. I think we can all be incredibly appreciative of what came before, but also realizing that we need to stop living in the past. It's time for a change.
Click to expand...

Couldnt agree more with the fresh start for hockey.
Never been a belicheck fan, so......
 
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Drew S. said:
Why do you think Ben will be a bad hire? He’s been very clear in the interviews he’s done that the program needs to go in a different direction.
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My only thing is that wasnt Guite the lead recruiter?
Would some other recruiting results now be expected if he became head coach? He was probably in fairness an average assoc coach, would he be able to bring in a strong assist/assoc coach? Probably not.
He does have an improved vision but does he have the skills to get it done.
 
Drew S. said:
Why do you think Ben will be a bad hire? He's been very clear in the interviews he's done that the program needs to go in a different direction.
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Talk is cheap, and actions speak louder than words. Fair or not, from outside the program, Guite is likely seen by many as a holdover from the Gendron era (status quo), so regardless of what he says in interviews or even publicly, it will take time for Guite to establish himself as a separate entity apart from Gendron. A lot of us UNH fans were opposed to a 3 year transition plan where Souza was initially brought in as an assistant for those 3 years, and then elevated to HC, only because it would stamp him more in the mold of the Umile era program, as opposed to some breath of fresh air coming into the program, cleanly with a new perspective, etc.

In the end, I do realize, it's the same guy, taking the same job, but it's easier to sell yourself as an agent of change when you haven't spent the last few previous seasons already in situ as part of the previous regime's staff. It's kind of like The Who at the end of Won't Get Fooled Again ...

Meet the new boss
Same as the old boss
 
NorthMike said:
My only thing is that wasnt Guite the lead recruiter?
Would some other recruiting results now be expected if he became head coach? He was probably in fairness an average assoc coach, would he be able to bring in a strong assist/assoc coach? Probably not.
He does have an improved vision but does he have the skills to get it done.
Click to expand...

I might be wrong about this but I suspect Red liked the big, two way forwards and that is what Maine ended up with. I think Ben will go after guys who are stronger offensively even if they aren’t as big or as responsible defensively(defense can be taught.)

I think we should all be thrilled with the goaltending from Red’s tenure. Maine has done a good job in the last five years bringing in some good dmen as well. The missing piece is some forwards who can help break the puck out, keep it down the other end, and generate some offense 5x5.

I could be wrong but am confident Maine will look a lot different if Ben gets the job. He won a national championship as a player and knows what a winning team looks like.
 
Drew S. said:
I might be wrong about this but I suspect Red liked the big, two way forwards and that is what Maine ended up with. I think Ben will go after guys who are stronger offensively even if they aren’t as big or as responsible defensively(defense can be taught.)

I think we should all be thrilled with the goaltending from Red’s tenure. Maine has done a good job in the last five years bringing in some good dmen as well. The missing piece is some forwards who can help break the puck out, keep it down the other end, and generate some offense 5x5.

I could be wrong but am confident Maine will look a lot different if Ben gets the job. He won a national championship as a player and knows what a winning team looks like.
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I think you are putting an inordinate amount of faith in Guite playing on a team that won a title and being in the NHL. Maine isn't hiring him to play hockey. Those are very different skills than being a coach. Lots of guys have been NCAA champions- 25 or so per year! Heck, ticapnews has a championship ring, get him in there! Even more guys play in the NHL each year! Are all of them qualified head coaches?

I think it is more telling that Ben Guite has never been a head coach at any level, and has never coached a team that won even a single conference tournament game. Other than the fact that he is already standing in the office, I'm not sure his resume gets him an interview. He may work out, but the resume is really, really thin.
 
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