RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

The biggest loss, however, will be Jeff Foss, who is probably our most consistent player. He's commonly overlooked, even when we were going to have The A Team until D'Amigo bolted, resulting in The Eh Team.

Do you think that our recruits, or perhaps Pat Koudys, will be making any noise in the NHL draft come June?

Koudys almost certainly. Leonard, Bradley, and Kasdorf are ranked, but are less likely to be taken. Curadi, Haggerty, and Neal are also possible.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

My guess is that we can expect about the same from JL and Neal that we got from D'Amigo and Pirri last season.

That is quite a statement. I don't think that there is anyone else on this thread whose oppinion I respect more than yours, and yet, I still have questions about JL.
He hasn't elevated his level of competition in three years. Has he ever gone more that a couple of games without a goal? What happens if he comes in and doesn't light the lamp early and often? His numbers are great, but will they translate to college? And will he get down on himself if they don't?

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

Koudys almost certainly. Leonard, Bradley, and Kasdorf are ranked, but are less likely to be taken. Curadi, Haggerty, and Neal are also possible.

The scouts seems to love Bradley. It would not surprise me at all if he gets scooped up in a late round. I am quite excited for his arrival, hopefully in 2012. I wonder if SA would be willing to hold him until 2012 if we only have 2 d-men come in next year.

On a related note, I love that we already have a basically full class for 2012 (which should represent a very nice talent influx). I am assuming that Miller is not coming in on a full scholly. Of the current juniors who will be leaving (not counting Bergin, who hopefully will use his redshirt year), Cullen, AAG, Smith, and York are likely on full schollies (even though he hasn't played much at RPI, Smith was recruited pretty early and switched junior leagues, seemingly at SA's request). Rabbani is probably not on a full schollie. So if we pair up incoming recruits; Kasdorf-York, Smith-Zalewski, Bradley-AAG, Miller-Rabbani, that still leaves Cullen's scholarship (which is certainly full) open.

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

That is quite a statement. I don't think that there is anyone else on this thread whose oppinion I respect more than yours, and yet, I still have questions about JL.
He hasn't elevated his level of competition in three years. Has he ever gone more that a couple of games without a goal? What happens if he comes in and doesn't light the lamp early and often? His numbers are great, but will they translate to college? And will he get down on himself if they don't?

ehf: Obviously there is no way to know for sure what will happen, but the objective evidence about JL is that he is coming in here with a record along the lines of what Murley and Polacek had. Going back to the late 90's, there have NOT been any examples of players with a track record like JL's who simply flopped at RPI (there have of course been busts, but predictions of those players' success were not based on objective evidence like predictions about JL are). Then again, there are simply not that many players out there, period, who have had junior track records like JL.

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

That is quite a statement. I don't think that there is anyone else on this thread whose oppinion I respect more than yours, and yet, I still have questions about JL.
He hasn't elevated his level of competition in three years. Has he ever gone more that a couple of games without a goal? What happens if he comes in and doesn't light the lamp early and often? His numbers are great, but will they translate to college? And will he get down on himself if they don't?

One further thing worth noting is the performance of Andrew Calof at Princeton this season... JL had better numbers than him in juniors last season. JL is coming in with another year of experience and maturity under his belt, and this year he is clearly learning how to become a winner. Keep in mind that he has turned Cornwall from a middle-of-the-pack team at the time of his arrival into one of the most dominating teams in Ontario this year.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

The scouts seems to love Bradley. It would not surprise me at all if he gets scooped up in a late round. I am quite excited for his arrival, hopefully in 2012. I wonder if SA would be willing to hold him until 2012 if we only have 2 d-men come in next year.

On a related note, I love that we already have a basically full class for 2012 (which should represent a very nice talent influx). I am assuming that Miller is not coming in on a full scholly. Of the current juniors who will be leaving (not counting Bergin, who hopefully will use his redshirt year), Cullen, AAG, Smith, and York are likely on full schollies (even though he hasn't played much at RPI, Smith was recruited pretty early and switched junior leagues, seemingly at SA's request). Rabbani is probably not on a full schollie. So if we pair up incoming recruits; Kasdorf-York, Smith-Zalewski, Bradley-AAG, Miller-Rabbani, that still leaves Cullen's scholarship (which is certainly full) open.

My figuring was that only York and Cullen are on full scholarship, but as I always write, it is guesswork. However, Malchuk should be added to that list.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

ehf: Obviously there is no way to know for sure what will happen, but the objective evidence about JL is that he is coming in here with a record along the lines of what Murley and Polacek had. Going back to the late 90's, there have NOT been any examples of players with a track record like JL's who simply flopped at RPI (there have of course been busts, but predictions of those players' success were not based on objective evidence like predictions about JL are). Then again, there are simply not that many players out there, period, who have had junior track records like JL.

Let's also consider that JL is spending another year to develop maturity and his defensive game. Granted I am not too naïve to not realize "put up or shut up" and may just be saying the right things, but I think if he is working on this, that says a lot about his character. Chase Polacek has probably one of the best characters on the team (hence why he was named an A), and I was not following RPI hockey to know about Matt Murley, but I would assume the same is true with him. I think that's what Coach is looking for with his recruits.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

ehf: Obviously there is no way to know for sure what will happen, but the objective evidence about JL is that he is coming in here with a record along the lines of what Murley and Polacek had. Going back to the late 90's, there have NOT been any examples of players with a track record like JL's who simply flopped at RPI (there have of course been busts, but predictions of those players' success were not based on objective evidence like predictions about JL are). Then again, there are simply not that many players out there, period, who have had junior track records like JL.

I am not questioning his ability at the level that he is playing. If he can be half the player that Polacek and Murley is/was, I will be happy. I just would have liked to see him upgrade his league this year and show similar numbers. Than I would be all over this kid.
I trust SA's judgement, and the fact that he could have had him a year ago and decided to wait tells me that JL had some growing up to do.
I hope that he comes in a mature young man who is willing to give the kind of effort that the likes of Polacek and Murley have given.
I am sure that if he does that, the offense will take care of itself.

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

I am not questioning his ability at the level that he is playing. If he can be half the player that Polacek and Murley is/was, I will be happy. I just would have liked to see him upgrade his league this year and show similar numbers. Than I would be all over this kid.
I trust SA's judgement, and the fact that he could have had him a year ago and decided to wait tells me that JL had some growing up to do.
I hope that he comes in a mature young man who is willing to give the kind of effort that the likes of Polacek and Murley have given.
I am sure that if he does that, the offense will take care of itself.

To be fair, the apparent changes in his attitude seem to be having a drastic effect on his team's (and not just individual) success this year.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

The one glaring thing that will be missing that really can't be fixed is probably going to be senior leadership outside of Allen York and maybe AAG. That's actually the biggest area, in my view, that Joel Malchuk's return helps the team. Possible captain?

Absolutely-Malchuk will add a lot as will Bergin still being here. We really have to consider him one of the elder statesmen afte his reshirt year. We will be a young team, but I feel we will be a very talented team-much like what I saw back in the early 80's.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

Koudys almost certainly. Leonard, Bradley, and Kasdorf are ranked, but are less likely to be taken. Curadi, Haggerty, and Neal are also possible.

I expect 3 of those on your list to be taken. Not necessarily in the first 4 rounds but taken none the less. Koudys by the 4th round, Neal in the 5th-6th round and Curadi as a late pick. I would not be surprised at all to see one more from Leonard, Bradley or Kasdorf make the list as a fourth draftee. This is one of the strongest groups we have had in some time overall. We don't have the obvious Pirri/D'Amigo picks but the depth is there this year.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

I am not questioning his ability at the level that he is playing. If he can be half the player that Polacek and Murley is/was, I will be happy. I just would have liked to see him upgrade his league this year and show similar numbers. Than I would be all over this kid.
I trust SA's judgement, and the fact that he could have had him a year ago and decided to wait tells me that JL had some growing up to do.
I hope that he comes in a mature young man who is willing to give the kind of effort that the likes of Polacek and Murley have given.
I am sure that if he does that, the offense will take care of itself.

EHF-I understand your concerns. My only concern is handling the academics and college atmosphere at RPI. His hockey skills will take care of themselves. I suspect that 12 months from now we may only be talking about how much more he can improve in his upperclass years. I have the same opinion of his hockey abilities now that I had as far back as 3 years ago-he may well be pure gold on the ice for us. I had feared he might be our only offensive threat and garner all the opponents attention-but with the rest of the boys coming-there is going to be a lot of things for other teams to have to worry about.

 

[engineerhockeyfan]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

EHF-I understand your concerns. My only concern is handling the academics and college atmosphere at RPI. His hockey skills will take care of themselves. I suspect that 12 months from now we may only be talking about how much more he can improve in his upperclass years. I have the same opinion of his hockey abilities now that I had as far back as 3 years ago-he may well be pure gold on the ice for us. I had feared he might be our only offensive threat and garner all the opponents attention-but with the rest of the boys coming-there is going to be a lot of things for other teams to have to worry about.

Thanks Doc, coming from you, I will stop worrying about his hockey and start worrying about his academics.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

Thanks Doc, coming from you, I will stop worrying about his hockey and start worrying about his academics.

Just so long as we don't have to go through that whole SAT soap opera again...

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

Thanks Doc, coming from you, I will stop worrying about his hockey and start worrying about his academics.

I worry about everyone's academics at RPI. From my distant memory even gym is hard there. There are no easy classes like there are at some schools that I won't mention.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

I worry about everyone's academics at RPI. From my distant memory even gym is hard there. There are no easy classes like there are at some schools that I won't mention.

Gym? I don't recall that class... nor do I recall any sort of swim test...

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

I worry about everyone's academics at RPI. From my distant memory even gym is hard there. There are no easy classes like there are at some schools that I won't mention.

But athletes didn't have to take gym, at least that is my recollection. (Also ROTC members and coeds didn't take gym.) I don't know the situation now.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

Gym? I don't recall that class... nor do I recall any sort of swim test...

I guess that answers my previous question.

I vividly recall the swim test. I also recall the sit-up, running, etc. test, especially the chinups. There was 5'3" or so RB who couldn't reach the bar and the teacher there was Garry Kearns, all 5'1" of him jumping up and showing how to do one-handed chinups. (Hockey coach musn't have been a full time job back then.)

 

[DrDemento]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

I guess that answers my previous question.

I vividly recall the swim test. I also recall the sit-up, running, etc. test, especially the chinups. There was 5'3" or so RB who couldn't reach the bar and the teacher there was Garry Kearns, all 5'1" of him jumping up and showing how to do one-handed chinups. (Hockey coach musn't have been a full time job back then.)

Oh boy do I remember these. I had no problem with the swim test-all you had to do was swim the length of the '86 pool forward and return on your back. The sit ups and running also were no problem but the chin ups were just not my forte. And yes I remember coach Kearns-I thought he was 5'3"-but he was one physically fit fellow who could skate and hit as hard as guys much bigger. Not to belabor the point-but back in the 60's i honestly cannot remember a course that was easy. I still don't understand how I passed Organic Chem Lab or Physics Lab-I never knew what the heck I was doing there.

 

[Wicked Slappaahs]

Re: RPI 2011 Recruit Thread Pt. III

I think Lee, Rabbani and O'Grady can and will easily pick up where Brutlag leaves off. I agree Brut leads by example every night.