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

[HHound]

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

Northeastern fans aren't naive enough to think that the kid might just have wanted an Ivy League education, are they? Northeastern is a great school, but when kids hear about great schools growing up, it's Ivy League and everything else is secondary.

Frequently it is the kid's parents who want their son to have an Ivy League education. They have their aspirations, and that's just fine. BTW, a student would have needed ~1400 on his SATs with the right courses to get into Northeastern this spring and meaningfully higher scores to get in to the School of Computer Science. It's getting kind of scary!

At present, we have three goalies (including Theut) for next year. Ruck will come in 2015 after Witt is finished and Cayden Primeau is recruited for 2017 or thereabouts. Just how many goalies do we need. The answer is: One really good one. Still, we can only play one at a time.

 

[Happy Husky Victory!]

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

Northeastern fans aren't naive enough to think that the kid might just have wanted an Ivy League education, are they? Northeastern is a great school, but when kids hear about great schools growing up, it's Ivy League and everything else is secondary.

Ivy League huh? Ask people at Columbia, Cornell, or Princeton if they consider Brown an Ivy League School......

 

[Split-N]

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

Northeastern fans aren't naive enough to think that the kid might just have wanted an Ivy League education, are they? Northeastern is a great school, but when kids hear about great schools growing up, it's Ivy League and everything else is secondary.

I think those of us who post on here know the facts-of-life. Maybe a few on the upper floors of the Administration Building remain overly enamored of the USNWR Top-50 ranking. What's important in the end is that everything works out for the young man both on and off the ice.

 

[TheRevengeance]

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

St. Lawrence will be playing their return games at NU to kick off 2015, January 2nd and 3rd.

 

[NU_Husky]

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

And confirmed Minnesota will be here November 29. So far, this is what I have gathered for our schedule:

@ UNH Nov 14
vs UNH Nov 15
vs Minnesota Nov 29
vs St. Lawrence Jan 2/3
vs BC Feb 2 (Beanpot)
vs BU/Harvard Feb 9 (Beanpot)
@ Maine Feb 20/21
vs BU Feb 27
@ BU Feb 28

and 2 games vs QU whose dates have yet to be officially scheduled.

 

[Aerman]

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

Northeastern fans aren't naive enough to think that the kid might just have wanted an Ivy League education, are they? Northeastern is a great school, but when kids hear about great schools growing up, it's Ivy League and everything else is secondary.

IMO that is a pretty parochial sentiment. Get outside of the northeast and that notion fades pretty fast. Additionally, outside of some die-hard Cornell clans, what kids grow up wanting to play hockey for an ivy? Your comment, as mentioned earlier, is more in line with parental desires than players.

 

[Thiessen'sBetter]

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

This is probably the most unsure I've ever felt going into an NU season. I know the goalie will be good and we will have two of the best players in the conference. I have questions Matt Benning will become our one legit two-way defenseman, sophomores (Stevens, Hedges, Aston-Reese) will become legit top 6 players and guys like Lauwers and Saucerman will be able to anchor a defense against the type of skill BC and Lowell will possess. More than anything, I have my doubts Madigan is the guy who gets the most out of his players. The number of players who have gotten better from year 1 to year 2 is an alarmingly short list.

 

[Split-N]

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

After digging deep into the gonu.com web page, I came across the following announcement that might be of interest to those of you in the Boston area:

June 10, 2014: Annual Friends of Hockey Meeting!
The FOH will host its annual meeting at the Makris Varsity Club. There is no charge for the event but please be sure to register so we can get an accurate head count. Topics include: the year in review, events, financial reports, coach's perspective, elections, plans for the upcoming season, golf outing, and much more! If you wish to attend, please register here:

https://commerce.cashnet.com/cashnete/selfserve/BrowseCatalog.aspx

And from that link: Listen to the year in review for friends, elect the 2014-2015 officers as well as participate in planning the 2014-2015 Events. Coach Madigan will review the last season and the team's plans for next year. Varsity Club, Matthews Arena - Tuesday, June 10, 2014 5:30 P.M. Light Supper served. REGISTRATION REQUIRED. No charge.

 

[HHound]

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

This is probably the most unsure I've ever felt going into an NU season. I know the goalie will be good and we will have two of the best players in the conference. I have questions Matt Benning will become our one legit two-way defenseman, sophomores (Stevens, Hedges, Aston-Reese) will become legit top 6 players and guys like Lauwers and Saucerman will be able to anchor a defense against the type of skill BC and Lowell will possess. More than anything, I have my doubts Madigan is the guy who gets the most out of his players. The number of players who have gotten better from year 1 to year 2 is an alarmingly short list.

I have to disagree with you here. Coming into next season, we have the answer to last year's most pressing question: Do we have a goalie and, if so, what is his name? We have several proven scorers and at least two incoming forwards who should be contributing fairly quickly. The defense is mature and, hopefully, will be allow the forwards to do what they do best.

We had 19 wins last season, as well as some strongly contested losses (BP and UNH to name two). Only in the bu series, did the team lay an egg. It appears that the boys bought in to whatever it was that the coaches were selling.

As for JM not developing his freshman into super sophomores: How do you make such a sweeping statement after just two classes? Almost every class at every school has some players who turn out to be recruiting mistakes, as well as walkons who eventually develop. We have Darou, who played less as a soph than he did as a freshman. OTOH we have Fennell, who barely saw the ice as a freshman walkon, who made himself much more useful as a soph. Saucerman certainly contributed more as a soph after losing a few pounds and staying healthier. The oft injured Mike Gunn's development has been hampered by his knee problems. His pal, Belonger, scores the odd goal, is a pest at times, but can be cited as someone who has not improved his game as hoped.

Wait three more years, until JM's contract is due to be renewed, before passing judgement on his body of player development work here.

 

[PPGuru]

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

HHound, I know you are patient and willing to give Madigan a long leash. The one statement in your above post that I will dispute is "the defense is mature". What does that mean? I think the defense is a huge problem. I don't see where they have matured at all. Which one of them doesn't have a major flaw in their game? They certainly are willing, but they just aren't D1 caliber. Benning might develop, but then again, surrounded by the rest of this group, his growth may be stunted. Until there are some new bodies on the blue line, defense is the biggest worry Madigan has.

 

[Huskies01]

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

Wait three more years, until JM's contract is due to be renewed, before passing judgement on his body of player development work here.

As we enter JM's fourth year at the helm, we are actually at the point where we CAN start passing real judgement on his body of work. No?

Over the last 3 years of his deal, I am interested in seeing if he can actually coax another 19 wins out of them over the next 3 seasons.

The defense last year was horrible, and that was WITH the supposed best dman in the league according to the other coaches. So how are they supposed to get better?

I wrote earlier on how last year really came down to luck on both ends of the ice for NU. Shooting % being really high for our forwards and really low for the opposing teams. If that luck runs out, or shooting % comes back in line with the rest of the league, we are going to give UMASS and Merrimack a run for their money for last place.

 

[retsap71]

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

HHound, I know you are patient and willing to give Madigan a long leash. The one statement in your above post that I will dispute is "the defense is mature". What does that mean? I think the defense is a huge problem. I don't see where they have matured at all. Which one of them doesn't have a major flaw in their game? They certainly are willing, but they just aren't D1 caliber. Benning might develop, but then again, surrounded by the rest of this group, his growth may be stunted. Until there are some new bodies on the blue line, defense is the biggest worry Madigan has.

It means they are experienced, which they are. The 1 thing that I hang my hat on is that they guys have all played a lot in there first 2 years. Hopefully that experience will ,make them smarter players.

 

[retsap71]

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

As we enter JM's fourth year at the helm, we are actually at the point where we CAN start passing real judgement on his body of work. No?

Over the last 3 years of his deal, I am interested in seeing if he can actually coax another 19 wins out of them over the next 3 seasons.

The defense last year was horrible, and that was WITH the supposed best dman in the league according to the other coaches. So how are they supposed to get better?

I wrote earlier on how last year really came down to luck on both ends of the ice for NU. Shooting % being really high for our forwards and really low for the opposing teams. If that luck runs out, or shooting % comes back in line with the rest of the league, we are going to give UMASS and Merrimack a run for their money for last place.

I know that a lot of you guys are still not sold on JM and still wish Cronin was here, Huskies01 just said lets see if we can get another 19 win season in the next 3 years. Cronin peaked in year 4 and then decreased every year. Those 2 great classes that we all heard were coming in 11, and 12. Other than Gaudreau, the rest were all the same as what we are used to hear., most of then doing nothing where they ended up.

 

[HHound]

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

Thanks. That's pretty much what I was going to say.

Retsap. I believe what Huskies01 was saying is that he was interested in seeing if JM can coax another 19 wins OVER ther next 3 seasons COLLECTIVELY.

That would be more in line with his generally dour outlook for the team.

 

[HHound]

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

I know that a lot of you guys are still not sold on JM and still wish Cronin was here, Huskies01 just said lets see if we can get another 19 win season in the next 3 years. Cronin peaked in year 4 and then decreased every year. Those 2 great classes that we all heard were coming in 11, and 12. Other than Gaudreau, the rest were all the same as what we are used to hear., most of then doing nothing where they ended up.

Do you ever stop and think before you criticize someone or some thing?

Other than Gaudreau, we lost Jon Gillies, who seems to be a pretty good goalie. Garret Harr was on the All-Rookie team on Defense for Western Michigan. Justin Kovacs was one of WMU's top offensive players this past season.

Perhaps these four players Might have helped us. What do you think???

 

[Huskies01]

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

Retsap. I believe what Huskies01 was saying is that he was interested in seeing if JM can coax another 19 wins OVER ther next 3 seasons COLLECTIVELY.

Yes, that is what I was saying.

It comes down to the defense. We do not have one that is Division I caliber. Every guy on the blue line has a major issue. Some cannot skate, some do not understand the position, some consistently cough up the puck under pressure, some do not even look like they are in the game when out there. And its a night in and night out thing. All the "experience" in the world is not going to change the players and their faults.

For instance, losing weight did not make Sauce more effective out there. Is Gunn's knee going to get better, ever? I find if a guy struggles with a knee or something along those lines for this long, going on what now 3-4 years, its probably not going to get better. Dax is not going to become fleet of foot. Maybe Benning wont treat the puck like a hot potato when under pressure.

Forget 1-6, the 1-4 on this team back there has a chance to be bad for Atlantic Hockey, let alone Hockey East.

 

[Agganis]

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

Yes, that is what I was saying.

It comes down to the defense. We do not have one that is Division I caliber. Every guy on the blue line has a major issue. Some cannot skate, some do not understand the position, some consistently cough up the puck under pressure, some do not even look like they are in the game when out there. And its a night in and night out thing. All the "experience" in the world is not going to change the players and their faults.

For instance, losing weight did not make Sauce more effective out there. Is Gunn's knee going to get better, ever? I find if a guy struggles with a knee or something along those lines for this long, going on what now 3-4 years, its probably not going to get better. Dax is not going to become fleet of foot. Maybe Benning wont treat the puck like a hot potato when under pressure.

Forget 1-6, the 1-4 on this team back there has a chance to be bad for Atlantic Hockey, let alone Hockey East.

If this isn't just an internet persona you must be miserable watching virtually every game.

 

[bsaeagle64]

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

If this isn't just an internet persona you must be miserable watching virtually every game.

He is! His comments between periods and after literally every game are basically the same. No credit whatsoever.

 

[Huskies01]

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

If this isn't just an internet persona you must be miserable watching virtually every game.

Did you watch NU play more then a game or 2 last year? Record aside, it was pretty miserable watching them get stuck in their zone for entire games with the occasional counter attack.

 

[Agganis]

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

Did you watch NU play more then a game or 2 last year? Record aside, it was pretty miserable watching them get stuck in their zone for entire games with the occasional counter attack.

How many seasons have you gone to numerous games?
How many of them were enjoyable?
Why keep investing time and money if they're not?