Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I did not mention in ZAR in my previous post because I did not feel he struggled like the other 3 guys did. If anything, while the other three freshmen faded, I felt ZAR got stronger as the season went on. I am hoping he gets paired with Roy and Szmats again to the start the season. While I like having offense spread out, it seems that teams like ours which like talent up front due better when having the one big line and hoping someone on a lower one gets hot for a weekend. Worked for UNH and BC this year.

I am actually hoping they go with a Reid-Stevens-Stevens line next year, at least to start. Let them play a heavy game down low and wear guys out, get to the front of the net. Nobody on that line would be "dynamic", but it would be a change up from a Roy-Szmats-ZAR line. Like going from a control pitcher to a hard throwing one.

I do not mind sticking Hedges with McMurty, though I think McMurty's best spot is in the stands. Maybe stick them with that new kid coming from the same area as they are from. Maybe form some kind of Ontario connection.

Where Rosenthal fits to start I have no idea.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I did not mention in ZAR in my previous post because I did not feel he struggled like the other 3 guys did. If anything, while the other three freshmen faded, I felt ZAR got stronger as the season went on. I am hoping he gets paired with Roy and Szmats again to the start the season. While I like having offense spread out, it seems that teams like ours which like talent up front due better when having the one big line and hoping someone on a lower one gets hot for a weekend. Worked for UNH and BC this year.

I am actually hoping they go with a Reid-Stevens-Stevens line next year, at least to start. Let them play a heavy game down low and wear guys out, get to the front of the net. Nobody on that line would be "dynamic", but it would be a change up from a Roy-Szmats-ZAR line. Like going from a control pitcher to a hard throwing one.

Where Rosenthal fits to start I have no idea.

Agreed, I think going from that high-power first line to the third line will be an advantage for the team and JM. Nobdy on that line will put up 25 points but together they can absolutely win battles, tire opponents, and put their fair share of pucks in the net. I also think Roy-Szmatula-ZAR will be our top line next year, all three guys can score and will be able to play to their roles: shooter-passer-power forward. I agree, I prefer to have the scoring spread out but things clicked once Roy/Szmats got on the same line. I think with that continuing to next year, the guys on the lower three lines will have the opportunity to step up and produce.

As for Rosenthal, I grouped him with Murchy and Hedges because I think he could be the "go-to" scorer on that line. I know Juniors stats do not always translate and you've made your position on Juniors stats, but we won't know how Rosenthal will do until we try him out, so for now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He's coming in as an older guy, so that likely will help him as well. Older players seem to have less lf a learning curve when arriving on campus than their younger counterparts.

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

As for Rosenthal, I grouped him with Murchy and Hedges because I think he could be the "go-to" scorer on that line. I know Juniors stats do not always translate and you've made your position on Juniors stats, but we won't know how Rosenthal will do until we try him out, so for now I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. He's coming in as an older guy, so that likely will help him as well. Older players seem to have less lf a learning curve when arriving on campus than their younger counterparts.

I am not big on stats from certain leagues. BCHL typically sends guys who are more ready. Plus they have goalies in that league who also go the college route, and to good programs. It puts a bit more heft behind the stats some of the guys put up.

But yeah, we are Rosenthal's second program, and he lit up a league as an older guy. Maybe he did not get along with the UVM guys, maybe they felt he was not ready and wanted him to sit, which was probably the case. He could be a player. He could suck. Just hard to find much on him prior to going to UVM. He did well at the Kent School prior to going to UVM.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

But yeah, we are Rosenthal's second program, and he lit up a league as an older guy. Maybe he did not get along with the UVM guys, maybe they felt he was not ready and wanted him to sit, which was probably the case. He could be a player. He could suck. Just hard to find much on him prior to going to UVM. He did well at the Kent School prior to going to UVM.

Didn't know that bit about the Kent School. I just took a look at his EliteProspects page, and other than his 6 game stint at UVM, he put up points at every level. 6 games is way too small a sample size to judge how he fares vs NCAA opponents, but he gets his points. Echoing JM's comments about Szmatula last summer, Rosenthal has scored at every level he played at extensively. An extra year of Juniors will likely pay dividends, we saw it pay off for Szmats. I'm not saying this kid will come in and score 40 his first year, but I think he'll contribute well on the 2nd line.

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Didn't know that bit about the Kent School. I just took a look at his EliteProspects page, and other than his 6 game stint at UVM, he put up points at every level. 6 games is way too small a sample size to judge how he fares vs NCAA opponents, but he gets his points. Echoing JM's comments about Szmatula last summer, Rosenthal has scored at every level he played at extensively. An extra year of Juniors will likely pay dividends, we saw it pay off for Szmats. I'm not saying this kid will come in and score 40 his first year, but I think he'll contribute well on the 2nd line.

I hope he can too. If he can anchor a 2nd line, that gives JM a chance to keep Smzats with Roy, which I feel is really important. Roy needs a center or a wing who can carry the puck a portion of the time, the way Vinnie did for help the year before. Without it, Roy is not as effective.

That being said, at least in my book, I always give guys a bit of a mark off for still being available late in the game. If he was such a great scorer, after he left UVM why was he still available in November or December? Same with Owens. Maybe coaches think the kids are a bit to flawed for their programs or dont have the talent to keep playing at this level. Typically the kids have major holes. Like Dax and skating. Or DD and his entire game.

Again, not saying this is the case, and even NU is allowed to land a good one once in awhile, it just bears warning is all.

 

[Bad knees]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Husky 01 is right on about keeping the Roy/szmatz/Reese line together. These 3 guys should do very well together. More importantly hedges/rosenthal/Murchy line should be effective as well. The other 2 lines with Stevens/Stevens/reid will be a question mark but it looks like a line with skill skating and grit that's if this even occurs but the line of pond/snydeman/belonger this will a energy line and don't forget Jamison and maybe messa will emerge. The defense will need to play with allot of grit and really get confidence of head manning the puck quickly it will interesting

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Decided to go crunch some numbers in my free time between semesters and look at the kind of production each team in Hockey East will be losing heading into next season. I'll list the teams in alphabetical order:

Boston College: Losing 56.1% of goals scored in 2013-14. Losing 51.8% of points they accumulated.

boston university: Losing 8.6% of goals scored, 14.6% of points accumulated.

UConn: Losing 34.1% of goals scored, 29.7% of points accumulated, and their number 1 goalie.

Maine: Losing 13.7% of goals scored, 13.3% of points accumulated, and their number 1 goalie.

UMass: Losing 55.3% of goals scored, and 56.1% of points accumulated.

UMass-Lowell: Losing 43.1% of goals scored, 40.5% of points accumulated, and their top two goalies.

Merrimack: Losing 20.9% of goals scored, 29.4% of points accumulated, and one goalie.

New Hampshire: Losing 56.3% of goals scored, and 58.1% of points accumulated.

Northeastern: Losing 22.2% of goals, and 19.5% of points accumulated.

Notre Dame: Losing 45% of goals scored and 48.6% of points accumulated, and their top goalie.

Providence: Losing 15.6% of goals scored and 14.6% of points accumulated.

Vermont: Losing 37.1% of goals scored and 37.5% of points accumulated.

TL;DR: The teams losing the most production are UNH, BC, UMass, and Notre Dame, making these teams much more reliant on major impacts from their freshman classes to have similar production in '14 as they did '13. Teams losing the least production are bu, PC, NU, and Maine, putting these teams in good statistical position heading into next season. Obviously things can change year to year, but these teams project favorably. Is it time to drop the puck yet?

 

[Split-N]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

...The teams losing the most production are UNH, BC, UMass, and Notre Dame, making these teams much more reliant on major impacts from their freshman classes to have similar production in '14 as they did '13. Teams losing the least production are bu, PC, NU, and Maine, putting these teams in good statistical position heading into next season. Obviously things can change year to year, but these teams project favorably. Is it time to drop the puck yet?

I'm looking for bu to inherit the "resurrection" mantra as it appears to have struck gold on the recruiting trail and now has Albie back with them to keep the momentum going. In the York era, BC never rebuilds, just reloads. ND is losing a lot but has a lot coming in. On paper, UML and UNH should be in for off-years. But hey, my crystal ball is notoriously unreliable.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I'm looking for bu to inherit the "resurrection" mantra as it appears to have struck gold on the recruiting trail and now has Albie back with them to keep the momentum going. In the York era, BC never rebuilds, just reloads. ND is losing a lot but has a lot coming in. On paper, UML and UNH should be in for off-years. But hey, my crystal ball is notoriously unreliable.

I think this year more than most recently will be a "rebuild" for BC rather than reload. The Hobey Baker winner and a Hobey finalist, in addition to the best defensive forward in Hockey East, are all not pieces you just roll over the next year and assume the same production. They have a talented incoming class with 3 likely NHL first round picks, but we can't assume they'll pile up JG/KH/BA numbers. ND I do not know much about in terms of recruiting, bu hit the lottery this past year. They will be dangerous next year, as much as I hate to say it...UML will have a first year goalie from the BCHL, UNH I think will fall the most. I think BC, bu, Maine, NU, PC, and UML will make up the top 6 by year's end, in some order.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I have 16 co-op students in my office this semester in Natick. Of this group, all of whom interviewed with me, even if it was only for 5 minutes a straw pole during my short time with the young eager faces does not paint a good picture of this lot, a match book tally indicates only 8 have been to a hockey game and only 4 indicate they attended more the once since they were freshman and only 2 said they went regularly. Granted <25% of these kids are from the Northeast so selling the game is a problem too.
...
8 said they had no intention of going even if the team was great and here lies the problem, NU is quickly becoming the NYU of Boston.
...
Lots of issues here and you would need a few marketing majors to try and fix it. So I am cautiously optimistic for the program in general, but until Roby is gone and I don’t see the potential for any major leaps and I don’t see him gone anytime soon, so I expect more of the same.

Rossi, did the students who indicated they did not wish to attend in the future/only went infrequently give any reason as to why, or what did not appeal to them regarding the experience of attending hockey games? I am really interested to hear this perspective from students. I am currently working with a couple other students, as well as members of the marketing department, to come up with a plan/strategy try and drum up the appeal/gameday experience of Husky athletics on campus, and increase gameday attendance. I have read all the ideas suggested in this thread and the last one, and passed them along to my colleagues for review/approval, so we'll see what we can do.

 

[Five Hole Cole]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Rossi doesn't like Madigan because he was a "Brick" when they were freshmen together and because he's not emotional in his pressers.

Certainly we all should be judged how we were as freshmen at NU and for 3 minute snips posted on line.

I do agree with Rico's Love Child that based on my polling of our co-ops (I have 25 of them in Boston) that with the exception of one outlier who has very close ties to the team that they don't really go to hockey games, and likely wouldn't even if we were real good. That in and of itself is a huge problem.

 

[claver2010]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I think this year more than most recently will be a "rebuild" for BC rather than reload. The Hobey Baker winner and a Hobey finalist, in addition to the best defensive forward in Hockey East, are all not pieces you just roll over the next year and assume the same production. They have a talented incoming class with 3 likely NHL first round picks, but we can't assume they'll pile up JG/KH/BA numbers.

I think you're going to see a different type of BC team next year. This team put up 6 or more goals 9x so don't think you'll see the absurd offensive numbers but it'll be one of the most talented teams blue line and back I can remember with 3 1st rounders & 2 2nd rounders.

 

[HHound]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Husky 01 is right on about keeping the Roy/szmatz/Reese line together. These 3 guys should do very well together. More importantly hedges/rosenthal/Murchy line should be effective as well. The other 2 lines with Stevens/Stevens/reid will be a question mark but it looks like a line with skill skating and grit that's if this even occurs but the line of pond/snydeman/belonger this will a energy line and don't forget Jamison and maybe messa will emerge. The defense will need to play with allot of grit and really get confidence of head manning the puck quickly it will interesting

The one skater that you are forgetting is Dylan Sikura. This kid can really skate, plays at both ends of the ice, carries the puck with his head up and finds teammates in position to score. I have seen him play, but have not seen NStevens. I understand that, on the USNTP team,Stevens was used as a third and fourth liner and on the PK (but not the PP) and didn't have the chance to amass much in the way of scoring stats. I think that, at this point, Sikura has had more experience, albeit against lesser competition - until the playoffs where he shined. IMHO, he is likely to be more D1 ready than NStevens at this point.

 

[Nick Papagiorgio]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I think you're going to see a different type of BC team next year. This team put up 6 or more goals 9x so don't think you'll see the absurd offensive numbers but it'll be one of the most talented teams blue line and back I can remember with 3 1st rounders & 2 2nd rounders.

Agreed. BC will go to a more defensive game and they'll be fine. York has never been afraid to adjust to the talent he has on the club and play to their strengths.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Agreed. BC will go to a more defensive game and they'll be fine. York has never been afraid to adjust to the talent he has on the club and play to their strengths.

The defensive attributes of next year's BC team will be scary. IMO, the best D corps in the nation. Matheson coming back is a HUGE boost, but each player plays to their role perfectly. Not to mention Demko stabilizing the net..

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

The one skater that you are forgetting is Dylan Sikura. This kid can really skate, plays at both ends of the ice, carries the puck with his head up and finds teammates in position to score. I have seen him play, but have not seen NStevens. I understand that, on the USNTP team,Stevens was used as a third and fourth liner and on the PK (but not the PP) and didn't have the chance to amass much in the way of scoring stats. I think that, at this point, Sikura has had more experience, albeit against lesser competition - until the playoffs where he shined. IMHO, he is likely to be more D1 ready than NStevens at this point.

I forgot about Sikura as well..Looking over the potential lines for next year, I put him on the 2nd line with Hedges and Rosenthal. Kept the Reid/Stevens/Stevens line together, and put Murchy on the 4th line with Pond and Snydeman.

 

[Huskies01]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I forgot about Sikura as well..Looking over the potential lines for next year, I put him on the 2nd line with Hedges and Rosenthal. Kept the Reid/Stevens/Stevens line together, and put Murchy on the 4th line with Pond and Snydeman.

I had an all Ontario line as a 3rd line behind the All-American line of Reid/Stevens/Stevens. See if they can capture some Ontario magic and make it work here.

The 4th line on this team doesnt matter as they get limited minutes and none of the combo of Murchy/Belonger/Pond/Snydeman/Jaimeson are really viable Divison 1 role players to begin with. They have occasional moments, but are just filler.

I am still suprised Snydeman was given a letter as I think he will have issues making it into the lineup if Rosenthal, Stevens, and Sikura can play. Not normal to give a guy who letter who cannot suit up.

The one thing right now we are missing up front with the returning players is that "jerk" player teams have. The Brad Marchand if you will. Nobody up front to stir the pot. I was hoping this would be Pond's role, but not his game. He finishes checks when he can catch up to guys, but he is missing that other piece.

edit: Now that i think about it some more Roy kinda added that piece to his game 2nd half of the season with the bit of diving and theatrics when ever he felt he was held or grabbed. the throwing up of the hands diva like act. Not sure that gets under guys skins to much, but its something

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

I am still suprised Snydeman was given a letter as I think he will have issues making it into the lineup if Rosenthal, Stevens, and Sikura can play. Not normal to give a guy who letter who cannot suit up.
...
The one thing right now we are missing up front with the returning players is that "jerk" player teams have. The Brad Marchand if you will. Nobody up front to stir the pot. I was hoping this would be Pond's role, but not his game. He finishes checks when he can catch up to guys, but he is missing that other piece.

I think that will eventually be Pond's role. He likes to scrap after the whistle, he might not have a "mean" side but he might be our closest thing to a pest. As for Snydeman, I cannot imagine they bench a guy with a letter. Sadly I don't see him being more than a 4th liner next year. When he was announced at the banquet, I was surprised. More surprised than when Witt got the A.

The bu thread is abuzz with talk about cuts when not discussing Eichel, and that got me wondering- will NU be facing cuts of some of the players who did not get much time? Anyone hear/see any indication regarding players being cut?

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

Third, I don't think the in game atmosphere is what it could be. I don't really know what to do about that though since I wasn't here when it was better. Over the course of my two years I've slowly but surely migrated into hanging with the DogHouse leadership group during games, not because I had much desire to lead myself, but because it seemed like anywhere else I went half the people around me would be sitting on their hands and killing the atmosphere and desire to be loud. Maybe you could argue (as some did in the season thread) that some of the chants need to be changed to be easier to pick up on, I'll admit it took me pretty much a year of listenting from afar to figure out what the hell they were spelling for "bukk...," but even things as obvious and "Let's Go Huskies" don't always get picked up for some annoying reason.

I have some thoughts on this based on my experience at ND.

First and foremost, the atmosphere is going to have to come from students. Non-student fans will cheer/boo/etc. lustily, but they won't do the claps and chants that students will do.

One thing that helped a lot at ND was that the hockey band was very into all the cheers. Stuff that had started out being done by a few ringleaders got taken over by the band, the only downside being that the band wasn't allowed to use "sucks". Fortunately, "You're bad!" has the same cadence as "You suck!".

Programmed cheers are essential. Being consistent about what you do after an NU goal, after an opposing team penalty, and after penalties expire* makes it easy for people to pick up on how to join in. Consider printing up cheat sheets for big games to hand out to students to help them out.

I'm not sure this is a factor at NU, but it helps to share cheers and cadences with other sports. At ND, everything that they do for football, they also do for basketball and hockey. As a result, all of the students already know how to follow along with those when they're done. Maybe you can double-up on stuff with basketball.


* I don't think there were any cheers for these when I was at NU. "We always were!" is a great response to a "Northeastern full strength", if they call that out at Matthews (the PA guy may not). Some variation of "they're still bad" is good for an announcement of the opposing team reverting to full strength. ND's is a little complicated: "Who cares? They still suck! Especially THAT GUY!" I know of other teams that do a more abbreviated "They still suck!" or "That's debatable!". Another fun thing to do is at about 1:05 have somebody call out asking how much time is left in the period. Then thank the PA announcer after he answers the question.

 

[NU_Husky]

Re: Northeastern Huskies 2014 Offseason: Resurrection's Over....Now What?

...One thing that helped a lot at ND was that the hockey band was very into all the cheers. Stuff that had started out being done by a few ringleaders got taken over by the band, the only downside being that the band wasn't allowed to use "sucks". Fortunately, "You're bad!" has the same cadence as "You suck!".
...
Programmed cheers are essential. Being consistent about what you do after an NU goal, after an opposing team penalty, and after penalties expire* makes it easy for people to pick up on how to join in. Consider printing up cheat sheets for big games to hand out to students to help them out.

Before next season I am going to get in touch with the band director and various members of our pep band and try to coordinate things with them and the Doghouse. This past year there seemed like there were 2 separate sections up in the balcony- the "students" and the "Band". My goal is to unify these two again into one cohesive unit, for the benefit of both the people that sit in the Doghouse and for the team itself. There has been some bad blood between Doghouses past and the band, I want to dispel that next year. Maybe TheRevengeance can help me out- there is strength in numbers.

The printing out of chants is a great idea that might pay huge dividends, especially with the younger, first time attenders. I remember my first couple games, and chants like the Macho Man and the spelling ones took more than a while to catch on to. Having a flyer would have definitely helped- thank you for that suggestion! Definitely something I'll try and bring into effect next year.