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RPI 2024 Off-Season: Was 2023 – 2024 Just a Bad Dream?

AspyDad said:
Good article on the portal so far. No quick fix from the portal.
Notes from the portal: First-round pick Matthew Wood enters, mass exodus at Northern Michigan - The Rink Live | Comprehensive coverage of youth, junior, high school and college hockey
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I was wondering where Wolf is heading when I saw his name. He must have known before entering the portal, and I doubt it is a certain school in Troy, NY. It would certainly improve my outlook if it were. :-) I did note that he and Sutter Muzzatti were both drafted by Nashville last year and probably met in their camp.
 
Ralph Baer said:
I was wondering where Wolf is heading when I saw his name. He must have known before entering the portal, and I doubt it is a certain school in Troy, NY. It would certainly improve my outlook if it were. :-) I did note that he and Sutter Muzzatti were both drafted by Nashville last year and probably met in their camp.
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Wolf?
 
DrDemento said:
Wolf?
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I'm sure Ralph meant Wood. UConn fans are not happy that he's in the portal. They are convinced that Nashville pushed for this move because he wasn't developing fast enough and they want Cavanaugh's head (for Wood, several other departures and the fact that the program took a clear step back despite a new facility). I'm not sure what to infer from that about Sutter.
 
AspyDad said:
Good article on the portal so far. No quick fix from the portal.
Notes from the portal: First-round pick Matthew Wood enters, mass exodus at Northern Michigan - The Rink Live | Comprehensive coverage of youth, junior, high school and college hockey
Click to expand...

I must agree with you on this one. I looked at the list from the portal and there is a top tier (perhaps 10% of the entrants) that will go to top 10 or 15 teams and then a massive crowd that aren't readily apparent candidates to make us better. Hopefully we either get lucky or the staff spots a few diamonds in the rough.
 
rpi82 said:
I'm sure Ralph meant Wood. UConn fans are not happy that he's in the portal. They are convinced that Nashville pushed for this move because he wasn't developing fast enough and they want Cavanaugh's head (for Wood, several other departures and the fact that the program took a clear step back despite a new facility). I'm not sure what to infer from that about Sutter.
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I am sure that he meant Wood also. ;-D
 
rpi82 said:
I'm sure Ralph meant Wood. UConn fans are not happy that he's in the portal. They are convinced that Nashville pushed for this move because he wasn't developing fast enough and they want Cavanaugh's head (for Wood, several other departures and the fact that the program took a clear step back despite a new facility). I'm not sure what to infer from that about Sutter.
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Sutter is a 5th round draft choice while Wood is a 1st, so I assume that they are more concerned about him, but it is something that we should watch.
 
John Driscoll in the portal from army. Big defenseman who plays a shutdown game who also can contribute from the blue line. Army has 3 guys that I think would be solid additions. Driscoll, itagaki, Jake Hewitt who is very underrated plays a possession game can really shoot and skate. Artem Schlaine in the portal. Devils 5th rounder who can contribute on the second line. A shit ton of very good players in the portal. Smith and co hopefully has some of these lads lined up.
 
Engineers said:
John Driscoll in the portal from army. Big defenseman who plays a shutdown game who also can contribute from the blue line. Army has 3 guys that I think would be solid additions. Driscoll, itagaki, Jake Hewitt who is very underrated plays a possession game can really shoot and skate. Artem Schlaine in the portal. Devils 5th rounder who can contribute on the second line. A **** ton of very good players in the portal. Smith and co hopefully has some of these lads lined up.
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Well, If nothing else he can offer plenty o'ice time
 
rpi82 said:
I'm sure Ralph meant Wood. UConn fans are not happy that he's in the portal. They are convinced that Nashville pushed for this move because he wasn't developing fast enough and they want Cavanaugh's head (for Wood, several other departures and the fact that the program took a clear step back despite a new facility).
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Really? They can't blame Nashville not being happy with his development. If that were the case, Muzzatti would be gone as well.
 
In the 2023-24 season, RPI had 9 seniors. If I'm not mistaken, only 2 have entered the portal, and 2 have gone pro. That begs the question, what happens to the other 5? Do they return, enter the portal, or retire from the NCAA?
 
Today is 4 April 2024. There are 184 days until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.
 
sk8tronthepond said:
Really? They can't blame Nashville not being happy with his development. If that were the case, Muzzatti would be gone as well.
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As unhappy as we are with the state of the program and that includes complaints about player development, Muzzatti is not really an example of that. He didn't have the season we dreamed about, but he absolutely has developed at RPI. He is nearly 2 years older than Wood, but they went in the same draft. The reason for that is the NHL watched him through two draft cycles and, while I'm sure they were intrigued by his size and potential, they didn't see a draft-worthy player. It was only after a year in Troy that opinion changed and he wasn't a 7th round pick, but a 5th rounder. I don't know the reason we didn't see another big leap this season - it could have been injuries, tentativeness because his size seemed to draw extra attention from the stripes, the demands of being a first liner, the only draftee and a presumed team leader, extra focus in opposition game plans or other issues - but he was our leading scorer (edit: I just checked, he was our second leading scorer behind a 24-year old senior) and he exceeded his freshman year production despite the team's struggles. Hopefully he stays and he takes that next step in Troy.

Other edit: NHL teams absolutely are influencing player decisions via family "advisors", particularly for top prospects. Whether that happened in Wood's case I can't say, but if I had to bet on it that's the way I'd go.
 
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rpi82 said:
As unhappy as we are with the state of the program and that includes complaints about player development, Muzzatti is not really an example of that. I don't know the reason we didn't see another big leap this season - it could have been injuries, tentativeness because his size seemed to draw extra attention from the stripes, the demands of being a first liner, the only draftee and a presumed team leader, extra focus in opposition game plans or other issues
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Who's complaining? I agree Muzzatt is not an example of player development this year for all the reasons you mentioned. I also agree that NHL teams influence players and agents when it comes to leaving, whether into the portal or signing early. That's a no-brainer.
 
Today is 5 April 2024. There are 183 days (6 months) until RPI's next game.


This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.
 
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