The Barr Has Been Raised at UMaine

[Chuck Murray]

I think it would make a lot of sense to trade Swayman to improve their defense then sign Rask. Their defense is absolutely HORRIBLE and they have no chance if it isn't improved. They really blew it in the off-season with who they signed and didn't sign.

I don't disagree the B's have made some horrendous decisions impacting their blue line, but I'm not sure you're going to get what the B's truly need - another legit top pairing defenseman to go with McAvoy - for Swayman, whose value has to have been eroded somewhat from his tepid start to this season. Paying Ullmark at the level that could/should have been allotted to a top pairing quality defender was the gaffe, and it's hard not to look at Dan Vladar doing pretty well out in Calgary so far and thinking a Swayman/Vladar duo, supplemented by a quality experienced defenseman was the way they needed to go. Oops.

Rask is going to be 35 years old before the end of the regular season, and now he's damaged goods, plus lots of wear and tear over the last 10 or so seasons of carrying the load in Boston. If Swayman or Ullmark can't find better form in the next month or two before the Olympics, no reason not to sign Rask to a short term deal. They're seeing him every day now, they can determine better than anyone else what he's up to, and what he might not be up to. Rask wants to be here, so he'd take a short term deal to show the rest of the league what he's capable of, and then this offseason he'll have some leverage that he currently doesn't have to drive a better deal - if not in Boston, then somewhere else to his liking.

As I said before, Ullmark is virtually untradeable. And I don't think you get as much as you might want to get for Swayman, so if Rask does get signed, I think Swayman goes to Providence to bide his time, get regular playing time, and wait to see how Tuukka 2.0 turns out this summer. But to be clear, we agree 100%, the B's problem is on the blue line, I just don't think too many (any?) NHL GM's are gonna give you even a second pairing guy whose contract is not expiring for Swayman right now. The B's have too many 3rd pairing types already masquerading on their first and second pairings, selling Swayman short isn't going to fix that problem. Unless you take a shot at an older top pairing guy with an expiring contract, and try to extend him? Kind of what Sweeney did with Hall up front in the latter stages of last season? We'll see ...

 

[NorthMike]

I think it would make a lot of sense to trade Swayman to improve their defense then sign Rask. Their defense is absolutely HORRIBLE and they have no chance if it isn’t improved. They really blew it in the off-season with who they signed and didn’t sign.

Swaymans value at this point wouldnt be enough to make an impact in trades for D men. He' s young and just starting, dont think anyone would put that much value on his prospects at this point. But we know he will do good in the long run.

 

[Toronto_1]

Maine recruit Xavier Henry recently changed his commitment to UVM. He's from Toronto and attended St. Andrew's Prep before heading to the BCHL. That's the same school as another Maine recruit, Grayson Arnott. Anybody have any insight at to why the switch was made? Thanks!

 

[Fishman'81]

It is too bad the University cannot figure out new revenue streams for hockey. They have a journalism and broadcasting school, why not produce their own live game coverage and stream it and charge either monthly or per game like NCHCTV.

It's a nice model they have but all teams participate, even the one's that already have a local TV agreement as it helps the other member schools save by using the home teams feed so they have no travel expenses. Would benefit the students in the J&B school and the U in revenue.

How's about a "free" stream, and sell ads up the framma-zamma..?

Does ANYONE pay for streams outright anymore? There's definitely more profit to be had in calling it "free" and soaking the hucksters, while all the purported viewers are either taking BR breaks, making another highball, or taking the pup out for a hot-squat while the ads drone on.

Advertisers just don't get it... Why not just take their dollars and run?

 

[Fishman'81]

Decent roster but coaching not for sh**. Purcell was fun to watch, didnt realize he was so lean, 6'3" at 177#, if thats correct.

He had a pretty decent NHL career, too. (Rolleyes.)

And then you had Lundin and this other guy, Ben Bishop.

Coaching at the college level is primarily about bringing in talent, seems to me.

Tim did that, Red never did.

 

[ticapnews]

How's about a "free" stream, and sell ads up the framma-zamma..?

Does ANYONE pay for streams outright anymore? There's definitely more profit to be had in calling it "free" and soaking the hucksters, while all the purported viewers are either taking BR breaks, making another highball, or taking the pup out for a hot-squat while the ads drone on.

Advertisers just don't get it... Why not just take their dollars and run?

That's the Learfield model. Listening to a broadcast is a 3 hour commercial interrupted occasionally by hockey.

 

[Drew S.]

It is too bad the University cannot figure out new revenue streams for hockey. They have a journalism and broadcasting school, why not produce their own live game coverage and stream it and charge either monthly or per game like NCHCTV.

It's a nice model they have but all teams participate, even the one's that already have a local TV agreement as it helps the other member schools save by using the home teams feed so they have no travel expenses. Would benefit the students in the J&B school and the U in revenue.

For me the bigger shame is the state/school doesn’t fund the athletic department properly. Our state higher education system could be run so much better but isn’t because of how life was 50 years ago.

 

[walrus]

He had a pretty decent NHL career, too. (Rolleyes.)

And then you had Lundin and this other guy, Ben Bishop.

Coaching at the college level is primarily about bringing in talent, seems to me.

Tim did that, Red never did.

Grant did that?

 

[Fishman'81]

That's the Learfield model. Listening to a broadcast is a 3 hour commercial interrupted occasionally by hockey.

Well, nobody had to buy what turned-out to be an unwatchable stream, either.

 

[Fishman'81]

Grant did that?

Please. It was at least a joint effort, and we're looking at a roster that was post-Grant, ain't we?

Not going to pick nits, because it's beyond obvious that the preceding staff recruited WAAAAAY better then Red did.

Barr has an empty toolbox now, clearly. We'll have to see if there's any incremental improvement during the next few years.

Not going to get my panties in a bunch over this year's disaster, because it was going to happen even if Jesus himself tried to coach this crew of cast-offs.

 

[Fishman'81]

Well, nobody had to buy what turned-out to be an unwatchable stream that they already paid a premium for, either.

Free, HD streams are becoming commonplace these days, and it's pretty easy to ignore the feeble attempts to sell you a used car.

I say: bring it on at Maine! Hammond Lumber alone will pay for the bulk of it, God bless 'em.

 

[AMC]

That's the Learfield model. Listening to a broadcast is a 3 hour commercial interrupted occasionally by hockey.

That actually seems to be more of a Maine issue than a national Learfield issue. They have a great app (the Varsity Network) that lets you listen free to any of their affiliated schools' broadcasts in any sport (plus coaching shows, and they had an NFL Red Zone type thing going for college football Saturdays). I noted two things:

1. No school other than Maine football did that stupid fake crowd noise shit.
2. The commercial load varied wildly from school to school.

 

[Runsub5]

Maine recruit Xavier Henry recently changed his commitment to UVM. He's from Toronto and attended St. Andrew's Prep before heading to the BCHL. That's the same school as another Maine recruit, Grayson Arnott. Anybody have any insight at to why the switch was made? Thanks!

Could be a number of reasons. He wasn't recruited by Barr so perhaps he feels no allegiance to the Maine program. Maybe Vermont was also recruiting him at the same time Maine was? He is a big player at 6-5 and 201. He appears to be a physical player with 25 PIM in 15 games so far this season. Discipline? Perhaps he is not the type of player Barr is looking for?

 

[Jackcurtis23]

Could be a number of reasons. He wasn't recruited by Barr so perhaps he feels no allegiance to the Maine program. Maybe Vermont was also recruiting him at the same time Maine was? He is a big player at 6-5 and 201. He appears to be a physical player with 25 PIM in 15 games so far this season. Discipline? Perhaps he is not the type of player Barr is looking for?

Whatever the reason for the breakup in commitment, him going to a terrible program like Vermont suggests he might not be high on may program's radar.

 

[Drew S.]

I see Andy Moore committed to Northeastern today, I wonder if Ben offered him? Maine’s obviously got a lot of kids committed but would have been nice to see him in blue. Haven’t been many Maine kids at the DI level in recent times.

 

[Drew S.]

Whatever the reason for the breakup in commitment, him going to a terrible program like Vermont suggests he might not be high on may program's radar.

I got the impression he would have been decent enough, maybe a Bisson type player or something like that but think with the kids Maine has committed it isn’t much of a loss. It’s the goalies and forwards I worry about.

 

[Fishman'81]

Whatever the reason for the breakup in commitment, him going to a terrible program like Vermont suggests he might not be high on may program's radar.

That crossed my mind, as well... It ain't like he bailed on Maine for North Dakota.

 

[NorthMike]

Whatever the reason for the breakup in commitment, him going to a terrible program like Vermont suggests he might not be high on may program's radar.

I wouldnt call vt a terrible program anymore. They have some fast, young, skilled kids brought in by woodcroft. I have a feeling he'll rebuild that program to be competitive in HE. Maine will have their hands full this weekend.

 

[Fishman'81]

I wouldnt call vt a terrible program anymore. They have some fast, young, skilled kids brought in by woodcroft. I have a feeling he'll rebuild that program to be competitive in HE. Maine will have their hands full this weekend.

This end-stage Red team would have its hands full against The Little Sisters of the Poor "Fightin' Altar Boys".

Maine wouldn't be a solid Vegas favorite over ANYONE right now. Our program has hit rock-bottom.

 

[NorthMike]

This end-stage Red team would have its hands full against The Little Sisters of the Poor "Fightin' Altar Boys".

Maine wouldn't be a solid Vegas favorite over ANYONE right now. Our program has hit rock-bottom.

At least with rock bottom theres only one direction to go! That is aside from a burial.