It’s definitely not coaching or the recruiting that’s the problem. I blame Putin and covid
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RPI 2024 Off-Season: Was 2023 – 2024 Just a Bad Dream?
- Thread starter Ralph Baer
- Start date
It’s definitely not coaching or the recruiting that’s the problem. I blame Putin and covid
Although I think it's unlikely at this point, I would support a change.
We've discussed losing the Covid season, then another season of no fans, and the impact of all these on the program. In addition, IIRC his assistant coaches were laid off for months at the start of the pandemic. These are all significant and no question, Smith and the coaching staff were dealt a tough hand. That said, we now have three full seasons in the books since the pandemic-cancelled year, including two "normal" seasons with fans, etc. and the biggest concern to me is that the key metrics have worsened over that period: fewer wins and worse finishes in the league. There are numerous reasons the program is where it is right now, and in fairness, not all are Smith's fault. That said, the lack of improvement in several areas throughout the season, and in wins-losses/standings across multiple seasons, are big problems. I was hoping for some signs of improvement this season, a "step forward" in some way, and I didn't see it. Yes, there's some talent and some players I'm excited about but. But I'm skeptical Smith is the guy to right the ship.
Assuming he's back next season, and I think he is, then I hope to see signs of a real turnaround in the program. I hope he proves my skepticism wrong. Otherwise I think there would be no choice but to cut ties.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Today is 25 March 2024. There are 194 days until RPI's next game.
This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.
This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.
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Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
FWIW, Kraig has another son, Ryder Nienhuis, who is a teammate of RPI recruit Luke Janus on the Maryland Black Bears (NAHL). I doubt that he will play D-I hockey.
Well done. I agree with TroyBoy's thinking. If this is allowed to continue Dr Bowers and Dr Schmidt own this. Let's not lose Kirk
engineerhockeyfan
PUCKMAN RULES!!!
None of the above.
This is on the team. They are the ones on the ice. Evidently they thought that the last two weeks were worth fighting for.
And then you have the coaches who couldn't get them up for the regular season.
Now you know who to blame. (of course Putin's influence cannot be overlooked).
DavidNardolillo
Member
Interesting. He adds more thoughts in two tweets after this one. No new information to us here, but one of two journalists so far to wonder what's going on at RPI. This reads like Yerdon has fresh sources and isn't just reading this message board ;-)
DavidNardolillo
Member
Very well said!
I was skeptical when they made the hire because it made no freaking sense. I’m way past skepticism. The past season proves he’s not the guy. The truth of the matter is RPI is currently one of the worst teams in the country. That’s unacceptable!
The recruiting class next year is uninspiring outside of Caron. Kyrokostas is as good as gone.
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Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
Today is 26 March 2024. There are 193 days until RPI's next game.
This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.
This is based upon 5 October 2024 for the start of next season.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
Interesting, hard to know if it isn't just Joe wondering aloud, as he does follow the program. As the days tick by, I'm thinking there won't be a change, but I suppose this period of time leading up to the FF its still possible.
If there were a change, one long shot candidate I'd love to see them pursue is Dan Muse. His name was kicked around during the previous RPI search, though I don't know if he was an applicant. He's known as an expert in player development and has won at every stop (USA Hockey, USHL, ECAC (Yale AC)) and is now in his second stint with Laviolette and the Rangers. If RPI could afford him, he'd be a hire that would get people's attention.
Just some thoughts - whatever changes are made, and I suspect they will be minor if at all), I strongly suspect that results would be slight if any in the immediate future. I do not think the program can be turned around in a short period of time. This was for me the second worst season I have ever endured in my over 60 years of following the program. Not so much because of the poor overall record (nothing could match the 1965-66 season in that regard), but because I was just expecting more after the past few years. Before the season I felt the defense and special teams would tell most of the story and that we would simply live or die will how well we managed those two aspects of the game. The stats do not have to be mentioned here as we all know we were simply horrible all season.
But at the same time I have to wonder how far away from putting a competitive team on the ice we really are? Perhaps even some rather small change making a formidable difference? I have spent the last couple weeks watching a top notch Denver team play with the two defensive player brothers (the Buium boys). I fully understand that it would be most unlikely (near impossible ) that we could ever get these kinds of recruits to come to Troy at this time. But these 2 brothers, a junior and a freshman, seem to make the difference virtually every game for the team. Since we are firmly in the off season early again, just tossing this out there for everyone to ponder. If we could leave everything else discussed the same. Keep the offense we have, keep the coaching staff we have, keep the HFH just as it is, how much of a difference does everyone here think we would see if we had those two fellows recruited here and playing here for the past year?
Would we still be talking about major changes needed or would we be perhaps still playing this year?
But at the same time I have to wonder how far away from putting a competitive team on the ice we really are? Perhaps even some rather small change making a formidable difference? I have spent the last couple weeks watching a top notch Denver team play with the two defensive player brothers (the Buium boys). I fully understand that it would be most unlikely (near impossible ) that we could ever get these kinds of recruits to come to Troy at this time. But these 2 brothers, a junior and a freshman, seem to make the difference virtually every game for the team. Since we are firmly in the off season early again, just tossing this out there for everyone to ponder. If we could leave everything else discussed the same. Keep the offense we have, keep the coaching staff we have, keep the HFH just as it is, how much of a difference does everyone here think we would see if we had those two fellows recruited here and playing here for the past year?
Would we still be talking about major changes needed or would we be perhaps still playing this year?
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
What did you do make a twitter link work? Even though there are *'s, the link works!
We will never know doc. Theirs a better chance of seeing god before this coaching staff recruits anyone even remotely like the buium brothers to Troy. Think back to appert and the defenseman he had in Troy. Bergin, foss, Bailen, brutlag, koudys etc… forwards pirri, haggerty, d”amigo, zalewski, Higgs, burgess. How did appert get them to Troy?
Really, really good hair! Seriously, SA was a good recruiter and evaluator of talent.
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I only posed the question to get us all talking about the subject in a bit of a different light. Obviously we need to address a number of things but I wanted to see how people here felt about just how much of a difference one change (2 very good defense recruits) would have made.
Wicked Slappaahs
I miss Tie Domi
It's a 3 to 5 year rebuild timeframe Doc...provided you hire the right coach. Barr, Brekke, Cashman, Mayotte are current examples of that time frame with all of their teams making playoff runs this year.
Ralph Baer
Let's Go 'Tute!
He was a good evaluator of talent, perhaps even great, but his ability to recruit seemed to me to go downhill over his tenure at RPI.
Respect your opinion. I don't want to relitigate but players like Reilly, Burgess, etc. were good gets at the end. Nolan was an outstanding recruiter. I think even at the end of his tenure the league was starting to lose luster. We're seeing it now with the league's weakness in general. One thing Seth did do was always have an Engineering major on the team. I don't believe that has been the case lately.