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The Barr Has Been Raised at UMaine

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boblav1 said:
Big changes coming for UMaine's rebuilding men's hockey team (bangordailynews.com)
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This could be big. If it's true that most or all of the team was out of shape, and he has a new regimen in mind for them to get ready to go, then that's gonna keep the team in more games. I recall them playing Omaha to a tie or one goal deficit after two periods both games to start the year back in October, and then they got completely obliterated in the third. Lack of conditioning would explain why they fell apart so dramatically in the third often this past year, especially early on. Hope this comes true.
 
amkirby10 said:
This could be big. If it's true that most or all of the team was out of shape, and he has a new regimen in mind for them to get ready to go, then that's gonna keep the team in more games. I recall them playing Omaha to a tie or one goal deficit after two periods both games to start the year back in October, and then they got completely obliterated in the third. Lack of conditioning would explain why they fell apart so dramatically in the third often this past year, especially early on. Hope this comes true.
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Yeah those were two good hockey games but they fell off in the third period both nights.

The 1 on 1 player evaluations will be telling, I’m torn between wanting to hold onto a couple guys and wanting to start fresh. I figure Dawe, JSS and Hebert will be invited back but not in top 6 roles. I don’t know what the pro prospects look like for Dawe and JSS isn’t the strongest skater. Hebert is probably the best pro prospect so wouldn’t be shocked to see him go. Barr mentioned competition for playing time which I think will really help this team.

I’m also wondering who the captains will be on next years team. My bet is Poisson wears the C, Breen, Houle and Breazeale wear the A’s
 
BlackBearFan19 said:
Yeah those were two good hockey games but they fell off in the third period both nights.

The 1 on 1 player evaluations will be telling, I’m torn between wanting to hold onto a couple guys and wanting to start fresh. I figure Dawe, JSS and Hebert will be invited back but not in top 6 roles. I don’t know what the pro prospects look like for Dawe and JSS isn’t the strongest skater. Hebert is probably the best pro prospect so wouldn’t be shocked to see him go. Barr mentioned competition for playing time which I think will really help this team.

I’m also wondering who the captains will be on next years team. My bet is Poisson wears the C, Breen, Houle and Breazeale wear the A’s
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JSS has entered the transfer portal.
 
FLHockeyMom said:
JSS has entered the transfer portal.
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Yeah, I saw this coming. If the guy I talked to back in December is to be believed, who would be one to have insider knowledge on the team, expect the majority of players with an extra year not to use it, at least not at Maine. He even mentioned one junior by name who he expects to quit hockey entirely, not just at Maine, but I don't want to give the name until it's confirmed. He said that there's gonna be an enormous amount of turnover at Maine this offseason, and that almost every senior and some juniors are gonna be done in Orono.
 
amkirby10 said:
Yeah, I saw this coming. If the guy I talked to back in December is to be believed, who would be one to have insider knowledge on the team, expect the majority of players with an extra year not to use it, at least not at Maine. He even mentioned one junior by name who he expects to quit hockey entirely, not just at Maine, but I don't want to give the name until it's confirmed. He said that there's gonna be an enormous amount of turnover at Maine this offseason, and that almost every senior and some juniors are gonna be done in Orono.
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Makes sense and with the size of the recruiting class the coaches planned for the mass exodus.

I’m far from having insider knowledge on the team but it’s hard for me to imagine Poisson, Bisson, Drobot, Thiessen, Bruneski or Fawcett leaving or quitting hockey. They all should see the ice next year. Bisson will be the most experienced defensemen and he had a really nice season. Poisson had a really strong finish and feels like he’s a leader. Drobot played significant minutes down the stretch and has been a solid guy his whole career. Bruneski took a huge leap this year and I think his skating is strong which seems to be the emphasis for Barr. Fawcett never cemented his role but he managed to have 5 goals which is significant. As for Thiessen, the net is open for the taking if he plays well. None of the goalies separated themselves.
 
BlackBearFan19 said:
Makes sense and with the size of the recruiting class the coaches planned for the mass exodus.

I’m far from having insider knowledge on the team but it’s hard for me to imagine Poisson, Bisson, Drobot, Thiessen, Bruneski or Fawcett leaving or quitting hockey. They all should see the ice next year. Bisson will be the most experienced defensemen and he had a really nice season. Poisson had a really strong finish and feels like he’s a leader. Drobot played significant minutes down the stretch and has been a solid guy his whole career. Bruneski took a huge leap this year and I think his skating is strong which seems to be the emphasis for Barr. Fawcett never cemented his role but he managed to have 5 goals which is significant. As for Thiessen, the net is open for the taking if he plays well. None of the goalies separated themselves.
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We'll see if his insight comes to fruition or not, but the part I disagree with you on was Theissen and goaltending. I think Ostman clearly established himself as the top goalie on the squad, and in my opinion should enter 2022-23 as the unquestioned starting goalie.
 
BlackBearFan19 said:
Makes sense and with the size of the recruiting class the coaches planned for the mass exodus.
.
Click to expand...

Good luck to those guys leaving. Hope they land somewhere and they have some success.

I thought I read somewhere that Barr wants 26 or 27 guys on the team for the rebuild. Seems like there is some room for players to return. I can see where some upperclassman might not like the direction the program is going?? ie lack of playing time.
 
walrus said:
Good luck to those guys leaving. Hope they land somewhere and they have some success.

I thought I read somewhere that Barr wants 26 or 27 guys on the team for the rebuild. Seems like there is some room for players to return. I can see where some upperclassman might not like the direction the program is going?? ie lack of playing time.
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Barr said on one if the last coaches show that ideally he would like 26 to 27 on a roster, but during a rebuild like this he thinks they may likely have 28 to 29 for the next couple years.

Sounds like he will be pushing the 30 roster. The portal will be full of players to choose from also.

Should be interesting off season. Hope they stay transparent as things move along.
 
FLHockeyMom said:
Dawe has followed JSS into the transfer portal.
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Another one that doesn't surprise me. I salute him for what he did when he was here, but he's a guy I think that really needs a change of scenery, same with Schmitty.

Jackcurtis23 said:
Does someone have a link to the portal?
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This is the link I've been using to monitor the portal, I found it on Reddit. I don't know how whoever maintains this finds their information, because it isn't me, but it aligns with a lot of what I've seen and heard so far and looks somewhat reliable.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SnAo5zRTca15P0NtjXplt3_MEviK0h85QbgNmS2vxxI/edit#gid=0
 
amkirby10 said:
Another one that doesn't surprise me. I salute him for what he did when he was here, but he's a guy I think that really needs a change of scenery, same with Schmitty.



This is the link I've been using to monitor the portal, I found it on Reddit. I don't know how whoever maintains this finds their information, because it isn't me, but it aligns with a lot of what I've seen and heard so far and looks somewhat reliable.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SnAo5zRTca15P0NtjXplt3_MEviK0h85QbgNmS2vxxI/edit#gid=0
Click to expand...

Thanks!
 
ticapnews said:
The transfer portal is completely foreign to me. Is there anyone there Maine is (or should be) looking at?
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Well, given that most of what we have to work with is a spreadsheet with names and stats, it's hard to get a full picture, as stats don't tell everything, unless the kid was playing in Hockey East and we got a quick peek at him for a weekend. That said, based on my impressions, easily the best player in the portal right now is Jacob Nordqvist, from Lake Superior. Has only one year left, but has 13-49-62 in 138 collegiate games, playing defense. Also is a career +28 and only has 68 PIM. Given that Maine isn't just one player away from a big run, not sure if player and school is a good fit, but purely from best player available, he looks to be it in my eyes. Would be a huge boost on the blue line, most likely. I would not be holding my breath, though.

As far as better or more logical fits for Maine, I'm not exactly sure. The biggest one I could potentially see would be in goal if Theissen (or Ostman, I guess) were to for some reason leave, I don't think the Russian kid is ready for college yet, I'd want to see him get another year in the USHL. My guess on what they will actually do, given that a lot of guys are leaving, and Barr has said he expects the roster to number in the high twenties, I would expect a few additions, particularly at forward. Only six freshman forwards are confirmed by my count, and with four already gone and maybe more on the way out, and a thin roster to start with, they'll probably need the bodies. If all eligible D return next year, with 5 newcomers that should be about 9 defensemen, which is probably enough, but maybe they'd add one more. Just my thoughts on the situation, I don't think they will make any big splashes, but they could use extra bodies and more depth, and to carry the huge roster the coach wants they'll probably need a handful of transfers
 
ticapnews said:
The transfer portal is completely foreign to me. Is there anyone there Maine is (or should be) looking at?
Click to expand...

Looks like Theissen is also listed in the transfer portal (which isn't a shock the way the rotation shook out this year). Gotta think Maine will be bringing a netminder in.

I wonder if they would consider someone like Nate McDonald from Cornell who could be a decent platoon option with Ostman for a year.
 
tylerzx2002 said:
Looks like Theissen is also listed in the transfer portal (which isn't a shock the way the rotation shook out this year). Gotta think Maine will be bringing a netminder in.

I wonder if they would consider someone like Nate McDonald from Cornell who could be a decent platoon option with Ostman for a year.
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I didn't have insider info for this one, but I had a hunch. I would guess then that Barr gave him the start in the playoffs knowing he was leaving, and it was kind of a lost season anyway, which was a feeling I had after the game. I would guess they target a grad transfer goalie with only one year of eligibility left as either a platoon or a backup for Ostman.
 
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