Well last year at this time we had several players decide to come back because of unfinished business. They had lost to Bemidji in the league playoffs despite outplaying them. Now we have the team again losing to Bemidji in the league playoffs, but this time we were outplayed by them. No progress there.
I'm not seeing next year as a plus for us either and I don't see us making any noise what-so-ever in the NCAA's. We are just cannon fodder honestly.
Take our record for the year vs teams that are above 500. Mankato- 0-4, Bemidji is not above 500, neither is LSSU, NMU is, we were 3-1, Notre Dame, 0-1, Clarkson, 1-1, Michigan a tie,... so that's it. everyone else below or at 500. 4-7-1. Great work, right.? Deserve a bid, right?
We've had turnovers all year. I think personally it's not a players thing but a systems thing. We've had lack of scoring most of the year. Again, imho a systems thing. We've had good goaltending for the most part. Do I see us suddenly turning things around in a 1 and done NCAA? No I do not. Do I see this getting better next year? No I do not. I mean we played a sub 500 Ferris team 4 times at the end of the year and couldn't win a single game in regulation. Against Ferris state. You expect us to be better vs UND?, or Minnesota?
After the way we are ending the season, I don't think we deserve a bid, but who deserves it more? HE, ECAC, and AH are dreck this year. OSU who was bounced in the first round by PSU? It isn't like we are the only team in this kind of blah morass.
Not that this is an excuse, but losing a top 6 forward and a top 4 D really hurt us. I know "next man up", but this late in the season those losses are hard to overcome. Still shouldn't have been a 5-2 loss.
I can't speak to hockey, but in basketball, turnovers are mostly a player problem. They are trying to force a play, not able to read the D/see what is going on, just don't "get it", don't understand their/the people they play with limitations, or players aren't on the same page/not communicating. For Tech, I think it is a lot of the above. At this point in the year, we are who we are. Players should know each other, where they want the puck, learned from their mistakes, talking with each other about what the other team is trying to do,... If the coaches have a plan that isn't working, it isn't like the players can't call an audible/talk with the coaches right away about what they are seeing. Most good coaches are open to feedback and tweaks to improve play.
Where the coaches can deserve the blame, recruiting and player development. Recruiting has been sub-par in my opinion. It took until Caderoth until we get a true center. After him, what other true center do we have? How do the coaches expect anything to flow without someone who is a plus in vision, passing, setting up scorers, wining faceoffs,...? With the wild west of transfer rules we STILL can't get/didn't feel the need for another good center? I question the super-sized senior class. The staff might be bailed out by the Covid year to smooth out the glut, but we can't be an once every 3-4 year and rebuild team.
For me, Joe and staff have done a respectable job in systems. We have improved or are top 15 in almost every measurable team category. My only grip is outside of a few non-seniors everyone feels like an interchangeable body. Sure some of them have different skill sets, but in general not many of them stand out. Is that because the 3rd-4th lines are a revolving door? IDK. I think players do better when they get consistent playing time with the same people. Joe, and understandably so, has a huge roster and has to manage that. He also wants to push the guys and not have them feel comfortable so they grow. I get it, but is it working, IDK.
Next year is going to be a step back. Tech can't replace out top line with what we have in the pipeline. I think we are in the CCHA 2-7 mix. FSU gets better, but the rest of the CCHA is going to be about where they are. There will be a lot of player movement that will mess up some teams in one area and help other areas. MnSU will still be favored and the Tommies will be improved, but still building their roster.
Thus thinks the armchair sports fan.
