I got shouted down earlier in the season during/after the BU series, but I still think the difference between Maine as a program that's overall fine and a Maine program that is a year in and year out contender is one or two of those big 6'4" NHL draft picks.
Having our studs be water-buggy Nadeaus or Poiriers or Marqueses is nice and all, but sometimes you just need a future NHL power forward to bully his way to the net in a game where nothing else is really happening or working. It isn't a one or the other, it's both. And, yes, those guys cost money. Maine has money. Even after arena upgrades, building the basketball arena, and softball stadium, and soccer field, there is money. Either in a bank account or fans' pockets. Maine's gotta get dedicated to figuring out NIL or revenue sharing or something or we're going to fall further behind the BCs, BUs, UConns and Providences who are spending that money, even before we get into Big Ten or NCHC money.