Yes, I guess as you look at JM as compared to everyone else, he is right in line. So sign him up for four more years. I can only speak towards the Cronin and Crowder years, but I do feel there is a difference.
Crowder was done here. The team was stagnant, he was not even trying for local recruits, felt like he did as much as he could.
Cronin was different. While it took him awhile, you could feel that things were starting to turn around and he was getting recruits that could make a difference and play with the Comm Ave teams, as seen with that 3 game series win at bu his last year. We also seemed to be starting to attract top kids nationally, and it seemed like he had an eye for guys he could develop. Basically the attitude that we are NU and .500 is the best we can hope for every 4 years was out the door with him.
Now in my opinion, we are back to a Crowder like level under JM. He will capture a name recruit or two every other year, and the rest is filler and hope you strike lucky. In fairness it remains to be seen if he can coach guys up, most people would say no, but you need to credit him for Manson, Fennell becoming no longer a hot mess, throw in Witt if you want too. Not much else though. The guy is dressing a 7th dman most night as a winger even though he has his own recruits sitting in the stands. (Pond/Skirua/etc.)
So can we win here? I think Cronin was poised to do it before he and his boss had their falling out. I am not on the side that thinks JM can do it, get us to a high level year in and year out. I think it will be once every few years when he happens to land 2 1/2 classes of good recruits within the same 4 year period, has a goalie play hot, and the schedule works out where we play suck teams when they suck, and good teams when they suck. Basically stars have to align.
That's just me though.
.