Re: RPI 2017 Off-Season: We March 4th into the Future
Total yes to all of that but add that any recruit coming in would want to be seen and noticed on a national basis. RPI does not often get as much exposure that other teams do, even in the same conference, and that has to be overcome. Not being in the final four at Placid or AC in the past many years has no doubt hurt in that regard. When you are not playing in a hockey mecca like Boston, you really have to get the exposure that a yearly visit to the championships (win or lose) gives.
If the recruit is good they will get exposure, doesn't matter where you play it matters who the coaches know and how much they can develop a player.
Academics should not be touched, they fit in or they don't. There is a reason they have major juniors etc.
One can argue that HALF the programs don't win. So you recruit on getting playing time, building something and a great degree.
NHL aspirations? Few for many teams, question is can you develop your players, and I think there are a few nearby programs that have been successful with NO NHL players on them.
You can argue what you like about the HFH, great old barn, team wins it will be packed. Team doesn't it won't. Will some recruits look at it and say no way? Possible but if that's the kind of recruit the coach is looking at he is not the right guy.
Look around, the formula is out there, been done before and will again. It comes down to, getting the right coaches, is the hockey culture there, and does the team get the proper funding it needs.