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UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

A point I want to emphasize but do not think it came across too well earlier: yes, recruits will more often than not go to the "name recognized" school. That is one of the *primary* factors. Two other factors not to be minimized is the coach/coaching style and opportunity. Bazin has earned a very good reputation in the last few years. Also UML is now showing that there are excellent pro opportunities when coming out of the program. 9 out of 10 kids being recruited will probably go to BC vs UML. 3 years ago it would have been 10 out of 10.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

BostonSoccerDad said:
A point I want to emphasize but do not think it came across too well earlier: yes, recruits will more often than not go to the "name recognized" school. That is one of the *primary* factors. Two other factors not to be minimized is the coach/coaching style and opportunity. Bazin has earned a very good reputation in the last few years. Also UML is now showing that there are excellent pro opportunities when coming out of the program. 9 out of 10 kids being recruited will probably go to BC vs UML. 3 years ago it would have been 10 out of 10.
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Let's wait and see how the next two classes shake out before we go comparing ourselves to the top program in the country. I think Gambardella and Campbell have the chance to be impact players going forward, but with the exception of Kapla the current freshman class was underwhelming at best. With the amount of losses to graduation and pro contracts, next year's class is going to dictate if Lowell continues to move forward or if they slide back into the middle of Hockey East with about six other programs. When I see some players come in that make me think "the rest of Hockey East is wishing they had this kid", then you can start talking about Lowell drawing players away from the traditional powerhouses. Until then it just sounds ridiculous.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

I guess it is saying something that people actually come in here and troll. Before we weren't important enough to be on the radar screen. Of course now we are doooooomed so they will go away soon :p :p
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

Well I have read a lot of the back and forth that has occurred, and I think all folks are correct in many levels. If my memory is correct, when Norm first came into Lowell he stated that a majority of his recruiting would be toward the older players in the junior leagues. Not to sound cliché, but I am going to anyway. Bazin is going to get the best players that fit his system, not necessarily the best player in the pool. Reason being he knows he can't get them, at least yet. Plus I think there is a certain level of hockey maturity he wants - however this is my speculation. I think over time he will get top talent that he wants, but just like anything it will take time. As to the Lowell fans that have great expectations and hope, I am with you 100%. However, the reality is Bazin is not York, and will not be York for many, many years. Could he be? Of course he could! Will he be, that depends and remains to be seen. But I think that's the fun of it. The exciting thing for Lowell fans is this, Bazin is young, and he can get players to play into his system. Even York said it. He figured out a way to get players to buy into his style and play to win. While the losses of Wilson, Connor and Folin hurt, it only helps - big time. And with Holstrom, Pendenza and Carr signing contracts, our school is even more on the map as kids that are drafted or Undrafted feel Lowell can showcase their talents.

For me, while the loss of Wilson, Connor and Folin hurt, I think a big concern is losing coaching staff (not Bazin), particularly Lammers and Ellsworth. Those guys have equal credit for the rise of Lowell, and I am sure that other D1 or even D3 schools will want them.

As for this past freshmen class. Campbell, gambradella and Kapla are very good talent. I also think Manicia(sp) Showed flashes of solid hockey. So overall I don't think that class was all that weak.

Really interested to see the crop of talent to come in and have full confidence Bazin will have this team playing hard next season. I have no doubt.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

hawkeytown said:
Bazin is young, and he can get players to play into his system.

.
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I had used the word "system" a couple of times in one of my earlier posts so it was cool to see hawkeytown also use it a few times in his. I also think this will be more the key to any continued success that Bazin has here. He may not be able to get all the blue-chippers but he will get the guys that are the best ones to fit into his system. My gut instinct is that the mark of Bazin teams will always be "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts".

Incidentally somewhat to that point is a comment that Dave Starman made during the regional broadcasts. Most of you were probably in Worcester and not watching TV but I happened to be watching while on a trip to Las Vegas. Between periods he was asked why Hellebuyck, with his outrageous numbers, wasn't part of the Hobey discussion. Starman said he thought it was because Connor was perceived as a 'system goalie'. Whether that's true or not, I think it's telling on how Bazin's teams are built....
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

bazin has done a great job but enough with the york comparisons/fantasies. not sure how it started but it's out of place. you're already seeing him being mentioned as a potential candidate for CC. bigger job opportunities will continue to come up. at his age i don't think lowell is a destination job. forget about york and be happy that you have norm bazin, a very impressive coach thus far.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

J.D. said:
bazin has done a great job but enough with the york comparisons/fantasies. not sure how it started but it's out of place. you're already seeing him being mentioned as a potential candidate for CC. bigger job opportunities will continue to come up. at his age i don't think lowell is a destination job. forget about york and be happy that you have norm bazin, a very impressive coach thus far.
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I think this is way off base. He has family ties in the area. Why make a lateral move? Not everyone aspires to take over a dynasty that is already established. Some people like to start their own.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

family ties in the area only go so far. and i didn't say he would take cc job just that if he keeps this up, bigger opportunities will come up. money talks as well. how much does he currently make?

i'm not doubting his love for lowell, just think it's naive to automatically rule out him moving on to another job given his age.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

J.D. said:
family ties in the area only go so far. and i didn't say he would take cc job just that if he keeps this up, bigger opportunities will come up. money talks as well. how much does he currently make?

i'm not doubting his love for lowell, just think it's naive to automatically rule out him moving on to another job given his age.
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Money may not be the sole motivator for everyone. I just don't think moving from here is something on the radar right now. Not saying never but I would be surprised. Everyone has different motivation that drives them. For some it is $ and for some it is legacy.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

fair enough. just curious though, how much does he make? and has he been given a raise since his first year? do they have the funds to give him a nice bump?
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

leswp1 said:
Money may not be the sole motivator for everyone. I just don't think moving from here is something on the radar right now. Not saying never but I would be surprised. Everyone has different motivation that drives them. For some it is $ and for some it is legacy.
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Agree with the "never say never" idea and there's no question in my mind that other offers will come his way. But I think the current administration is far different from what we've seen in the past and has an almost infinitely higher commitment to the success of the program than previous admins. And don't overlook the fact that he's an alum. That's one thing that's always been pretty unique in college sports -- coaches (in many sports) have aspired to coach and stay at their alma maters, often in lieu of the "bigger and better" opportunity....

And I also agree with those downplaying the York comparison-related comments. There is absolutely no way, based on the small number of data points we have, to make ANY comparison (positive OR negative). Put this discussion completely on the table and let's pick it up again in 10 years.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

J.D. said:
fair enough. just curious though, how much does he make? and has he been given a raise since his first year? do they have the funds to give him a nice bump?
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I don't think the idea is off base. I definitely got nervous when I saw the CC opening become available because he was an assistant there already. I can see why people would make that connection.

He made $289,518.47 in 2013. Here's my source:
(http://www.bostonglobe.com/2014/02/12/salary/hfNNu0PRJqdJIIgXFbeWDP/story.html)
Edit: We might see a bigger number next year and future years when it becomes public record again.

It's my understanding he got a raise after last season and an extension through 2018. I actually think he might have gotten a raise after his first year as well after that remarkable turnaround.

I think its reasonable to think he might decide to move on if another school offered him significantly more money. I think the only thing we can hope for is he's happy with his situation at the moment and has a goal to turn Lowell into a top program. He is an alumnus, which I think helps, because it seems like many good coaches that have held long tenures are also alums of the school they are coaching.
 
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Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

J.D. said:
fair enough. just curious though, how much does he make? and has he been given a raise since his first year? do they have the funds to give him a nice bump?
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I don't know how much he makes but he's been given two extensions since arriving and is under contract until 2018.
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

Does anyone else find it bizarre that we are having these kinds of conversations in here in April instead of say, late Feb :D
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

leswp1 said:
Does anyone else find it bizarre that we are having these kinds of conversations in here in April instead of say, late Feb :D
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There are a few people who I sit with in my section at Tsongas with whom I have been sitting with since the mid 80's. A few times during the last couple of late March/early April's we've said to each other, "Did you EVER think, when you were sitting with 500 of your closest friends in Tully Forum, that you would see a day like this?"
 
Re: UMass Lowell Offseason 2014: Brave New World

I'd be shocked if he left for CC. It was amazing to see the amount of his own teammates that were out in Worcester. The amount of hockey alumni that have started showing up is great, and a lot of that is due to Bazin.

I do believe that he'll get bigger $$ offers somewhere if he keeps this up. But if the administration that's in charge now sticks around (or their beliefs do), then I can see Lowell doing it's best to try and compete salary wise.
 
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