UNH 2024/2025 Goldberg Edition

[Beauty]

I'm entitled to an opinion on anything I want, kiddo. May want to check the Bill of Rights on that??? And, as you are someone who has hardly wanted for opportunities to share strong opinions on these boards, I would think you (of all people) would understand that. FWIW I couldn't care less what you or Mrs. Canaan or especially Jack (don't worry, he knows who he is) think about how the discussion of this topic is coming across.

Folks on here have asked me for years where my *admiration* of the weasel comes from, and I've responded how I can. Whether my sources even follow USCHO any more ... I know some do, others I haven't seen on here in years, and others are either readers-only or non-participants, but folks with first-hand knowledge I've based my opinions on. Regardless, information that comes here in confidence, stays in confidence, until that confidence is rescinded. And trust me on this, if nothing else ... I'm not out there asking my sources to rescind confidentiality promises, just so I can drag everyone through the fine details of something that predates at least half of the folks who still post on here. I'm flattered, I guess, that folks are still interested in my opinions on this antique message board. I know my (remaining) sources appreciate that I've kept promises, as they still trust me to post info they might want to get out there - but not attached to them - from time to time.

The WIS Luce Canaan window for this season is now officially closed.

Doubling down on nonsense. Cav's getting COY.

 

[Snively65]

You will be lucky to leave any arena this year and say that at the current pace.

Good thing that we played Stonehill when we did?

 

[HockeyRef]

You will be lucky to leave any arena this year and say that at the current pace.

Hey right now I feel lucky to be walking out of any where but just for the record I reserve any fist pumping for the Agganis...

And yeah Snives good thing we got that pesky Stonehill out of the way!! It's the little things...

 

[Snively65]

Hey right now I feel lucky to be walking out of any where but just for the record I reserve any fist pumping for the Agganis...

And yeah Snives good thing we got that pesky Stonehill out of the way!! It's the little things...

But, alas, our dominating 4-1 win over Stonehill to open season was only an exhibition game.

 

[Snively65]

The team was up for it and hope it makes them hungry for Vermont.

Hungry for cupcake Vermont? All that we need to do next weekend to escape the HEA basement is sweep UVM, which would put us in a tie with idle UMass-Flagship for ninth leaving UVM in the basement by one point.

 

[HockeyRef]

Hungry for cupcake Vermont? All that we need to do next weekend to escape the HEA basement is sweep UVM, which would put us in a tie with idle UMass-Flagship for ninth leaving UVM in the basement by one point.

Won't settle for less than a sweep...harrumph!

 

[Sparkee]

Won't settle for less than a sweep...harrumph!

You are in luck. It can’t get any worse than a sweep. UNH at worst can only lose two games.

 

[RENCEB]

I like to sometimes be a tourist on the other HEA threads, so I came across this post and I've been perplexed by it trying to figure it out. My best guess up to now is that it has something to do with general amount activity on this forum somehow? UMA, MC, and CT are the only HEA schools without a thread here, so them all being 0's and at the bottom would make sense on that front, but I'm not sure on the other variable. Maybe poll and/or pairwise position somehow? I'm gonna have to keep thinking about it...

As the resident (see also "Only") Merrimack poster here, I KNEW I should have started a thread for the '24-'25 season. However, having to continually reply to one's own posts is bad form.

 

[HockeyRef]

You are in luck. It can’t get any worse than a sweep. UNH at worst can only lose two games.

Haha very funny.

 

[Sparkee]

Haha very funny.

UNH got one spot better in the polls this week.

Since this poll is an extension of public perception, the consensus is Souza is doing a great job.

Time for some NESN interviews and pressure for a better contract extension and raise.

Make hey when the sun shines.

 

[Snively65]

Doubling down on nonsense. Cav's getting COY.

Could be Yukon’s year to win the HEA tourney AND a Nattie, to join fellow Connecticut Nattie winners Vlae and Quinnipiac.

 

[Dan]

UNH got one spot better in the polls this week...

This is what I was alluding to in my second-half prediction (hopefulness)...

With UNH off to a strong start, and Hockey East having a great season, they will not be hurt as much as one might think by losses to the strong teams remaining on their schedule. What matters in the PWR besides head-to-head match-ups? Winning percentage. Opponent's winning percentage. UNH gets a big boost there - as long as their own winning percentage stays above .500...

They need to sweep UVM. A split versus PWR #32 probably hurts more than a sweep at the hands of PWR #8 or PWR #9. They still have a game versus BU they could win to avoid a season sweep. Do so and they'd be just one game down on my 7-8-2 final stretch prediction (hope).

Why am I so hopefully optimistic? Because this may be the most important final stretch in UNH Hockey history. Forget any number of seasons where a national title contender crashed and burned; They need desperately to get back into a position where its possible to crashing and burn.

Next season is a HUGE question mark, with so many departing players to replace. I think Souza has this team playing pretty close to their ceiling. Its always been RECRUITING that has hindered his UNH teams. They need better players and more impactful talent. Period. Imagine how much easier recruiting would be for 2025-26 if the Wildcats make the NCAA Tournament, alongside significant freed up scholarship dollars and the 'promise' of a new facility. They also benefit from a much larger pool of impactful talent - MJ eligibility - and the presence of the transfer portal...

Make the tournament and reloading is an exciting opportunity. Miss the tournament and its a much harder proposition. I think Souza knows this and is coaching desperately for this objective, which is why the FR playingtime has been so scarce.

That said, I think they'd help themselves in that quest by playing Ryan MacPherson in a top-six role much more often. Commit to Player/C. MacPherson as the extra skater. The other extras add little. Perhaps Babbage occasionally, but I don't need to see any of the other forwards. Take a gamble on some upside, you might be surprised...

 

[Snively65]

This is what I was alluding to in my second-half prediction (hopefulness)...

With UNH off to a strong start, and Hockey East having a great season, they will not be hurt as much as one might think by losses to the strong teams remaining on their schedule. What matters in the PWR besides head-to-head match-ups? Winning percentage. Opponent's winning percentage. UNH gets a big boost there - as long as their own winning percentage stays above .500...

They need to sweep UVM. A split versus PWR #32 probably hurts more than a sweep at the hands of PWR #8 or PWR #9. They still have a game versus BU they could win to avoid a season sweep. Do so and they'd be just one game down on my 7-8-2 final stretch prediction (hope).

Why am I so hopefully optimistic? Because this may be the most important final stretch in UNH Hockey history. Forget any number of seasons where a national title contender crashed and burned; They need desperately to get back into a position where its possible to crashing and burn.

Next season is a HUGE question mark, with so many departing players to replace. I think Souza has this team playing pretty close to their ceiling. Its always been RECRUITING that has hindered his UNH teams. They need better players and more impactful talent. Period. Imagine how much easier recruiting would be for 2025-26 if the Wildcats make the NCAA Tournament, alongside significant freed up scholarship dollars and the 'promise' of a new facility. They also benefit from a much larger pool of impactful talent - MJ eligibility - and the presence of the transfer portal...

Make the tournament and reloading is an exciting opportunity. Miss the tournament and its a much harder proposition. I think Souza knows this and is coaching desperately for this objective, which is why the FR playingtime has been so scarce.

That said, I think they'd help themselves in that quest by playing Ryan MacPherson in a top-six role much more often. Commit to Player/C. MacPherson as the extra skater. The other extras add little. Perhaps Babbage occasionally, but I don't need to see any of the other forwards. Take a gamble on some upside, you might be surprised...

Well-reasoned optimistic post, Dan. Glad that we agree UNH must sweep UVM. I think that we need to sweep UMass-Flagship and UMass-Bazin also, along with a win against Mac, which would get us to 17 wins, enough to remain above 0.500.

 

[bakchk20]

Next season is a HUGE question mark, with so many departing players to replace. I think Souza has this team playing pretty close to their ceiling. Its always been RECRUITING that has hindered his UNH teams. They need better players and more impactful talent. Period. Imagine how much easier recruiting would be for 2025-26 if the Wildcats make the NCAA Tournament, alongside significant freed up scholarship dollars and the 'promise' of a new facility. They also benefit from a much larger pool of impactful talent - MJ eligibility - and the presence of the transfer portal...

So true that the bigger pool is out there. Do you all think there is less loyalty with the transfer portal now a fixture? Seems it to me.

Neutral Zone has next years recruiting class at #8 nationally. The problem with that ranking is that a number or 2026 kids are on the list, so something there to sort out.

This 2024-25 class was ranked #63 and was also the smallest of all D-1...3 players. Clearly the class size affects the ranking math; I don't know how or have time to figure it out. What troubles me is that the MacPhearsons were both rated 4.0 and can barely get on the ice. NZ has Tournas & DeAngelis at 4.0 and Sam Oliver at 4.25. (DeAngelis is on some UNH recruit lists but not on others...) Another 7+/- guys are at 3.75. At face value, its a pretty strong, large class, clearly boosted by CHL.

I'm wondering if it might be time to walk from some that are on the 2025 and 2026 lists - or even already in the building - in hopes of upgrades in the transfer portal and more CHL? It's not fun or pretty to cut kids but others have gone about it that way...

 

[Sparkee]

So true that the bigger pool is out there. Do you all think there is less loyalty with the transfer portal now a fixture? Seems it to me.

Neutral Zone has next years recruiting class at #8 nationally. The problem with that ranking is that a number or 2026 kids are on the list, so something there to sort out.

This 2024-25 class was ranked #63 and was also the smallest of all D-1...3 players. Clearly the class size affects the ranking math; I don't know how or have time to figure it out. What troubles me is that the MacPhearsons were both rated 4.0 and can barely get on the ice. NZ has Tournas & DeAngelis at 4.0 and Sam Oliver at 4.25. (DeAngelis is on some UNH recruit lists but not on others...) Another 7+/- guys are at 3.75. At face value, its a pretty strong, large class, clearly boosted by CHL.

I'm wondering if it might be time to walk from some that are on the 2025 and 2026 lists - or even already in the building - in hopes of upgrades in the transfer portal and more CHL? It's not fun or pretty to cut kids but others have gone about it that way...

I think UNH has a great recruiting class next year since adding a couple of major junior guys. Oliver seems like a blue chipper.

 

[HockeyRef]

This is what I was alluding to in my second-half prediction (hopefulness)...

With UNH off to a strong start, and Hockey East having a great season, they will not be hurt as much as one might think by losses to the strong teams remaining on their schedule. What matters in the PWR besides head-to-head match-ups? Winning percentage. Opponent's winning percentage. UNH gets a big boost there - as long as their own winning percentage stays above .500...

They need to sweep UVM. A split versus PWR #32 probably hurts more than a sweep at the hands of PWR #8 or PWR #9. They still have a game versus BU they could win to avoid a season sweep. Do so and they'd be just one game down on my 7-8-2 final stretch prediction (hope).

Why am I so hopefully optimistic? Because this may be the most important final stretch in UNH Hockey history. Forget any number of seasons where a national title contender crashed and burned; They need desperately to get back into a position where its possible to crashing and burn.

Next season is a HUGE question mark, with so many departing players to replace. I think Souza has this team playing pretty close to their ceiling. Its always been RECRUITING that has hindered his UNH teams. They need better players and more impactful talent. Period. Imagine how much easier recruiting would be for 2025-26 if the Wildcats make the NCAA Tournament, alongside significant freed up scholarship dollars and the 'promise' of a new facility. They also benefit from a much larger pool of impactful talent - MJ eligibility - and the presence of the transfer portal...

Make the tournament and reloading is an exciting opportunity. Miss the tournament and its a much harder proposition. I think Souza knows this and is coaching desperately for this objective, which is why the FR playingtime has been so scarce.

That said, I think they'd help themselves in that quest by playing Ryan MacPherson in a top-six role much more often. Commit to Player/C. MacPherson as the extra skater. The other extras add little. Perhaps Babbage occasionally, but I don't need to see any of the other forwards. Take a gamble on some upside, you might be surprised...

Appreciate your take Dan..wondered what you had been thinking over these past couple of weeks. Agree we must sweep UVM...team needs it to have something to fight for not to mention your valid points.

Of course we all know our UVM track record; split with them last season up there. Welp here's hoping...

 

[Dan]

Well-reasoned optimistic post, Dan.

Well, TBH, its why I want to be optimistic moreso than simple optimism...

 

[Dan]

So true that the bigger pool is out there. Do you all think there is less loyalty with the transfer portal now a fixture? Seems it to me.

Neutral Zone has next years recruiting class at #8 nationally. The problem with that ranking is that a number or 2026 kids are on the list, so something there to sort out.

This 2024-25 class was ranked #63 and was also the smallest of all D-1...3 players. Clearly the class size affects the ranking math; I don't know how or have time to figure it out. What troubles me is that the MacPhearsons were both rated 4.0 and can barely get on the ice. NZ has Tournas & DeAngelis at 4.0 and Sam Oliver at 4.25. (DeAngelis is on some UNH recruit lists but not on others...) Another 7+/- guys are at 3.75. At face value, its a pretty strong, large class, clearly boosted by CHL.

I'm wondering if it might be time to walk from some that are on the 2025 and 2026 lists - or even already in the building - in hopes of upgrades in the transfer portal and more CHL? It's not fun or pretty to cut kids but others have gone about it that way...

Always hard to take that approach - but they'll need to consider all options to put the right team on the ice next season. At the very least, I wouldn't mind some strategic deferals to take advantage of the MJ pool. I like the three MJ kids theyve grabbed so far and think they could use more. Tournas is blowing up the NAHL, but its the NAHL. They could use more scoring and the defense needs more experience...

There are A LOT of players available that wouldn't otherwise be available. In a normal year, all the impact for next season is long committed. I hope they find a way to take further advantage one way or another. It could be a get out of (recruiting) jail free card if used correctly...

You can essentially add Josh Player and Connor MacPherson to next year's class, too.

--

R. Macpherson - (Oliver) - Conmy
Winters - Ring - LeClerc

They may be done on offense - and I don't think the above is a bad top six. Tournas is young and we'll see if they bring him in as a true freshman. Sadowski is having a tough year. DeTurris is 20, but every other potential FR forward still has JR eligibility. If they could find a pure scorer or play maker I'd take a chance.

The D could really use another top defenseman, preferably on the left side. Even if they loved what they have they'll be entirely green. The two OHL defensemen, Reid Conn, Fitzgerald and Player are probably your core right now.

Grout hasn't played much since switching to the WHL, but adding he and Seguin-Lescarbeau to the crease with Whale is probably more than enough.

 

[Potluck]

I watched the BU game at the Whit last Friday and was pleased with how UNH played but obviously not the result. Ring, Lavins and Conmy could play well for any D1 team, and the potential for a transfer exodus should be of some concern.

How much more losing are the good players going to withstand? When added to the delayed or perhaps the potential postponement of the transformative renovations, the case for staying becomes weaker.

I don’t want to dwell on the negative but UNH is last in the league and just began the toughest part of its schedule. With no proven backup goaltender and a heavy workload ahead against strong league competition, is Whale going to keep the team out of the HE basement? There’s reason for great concern.

 

[Snively65]

I watched the BU game at the Whit last Friday and was pleased with how UNH played but obviously not the result. Ring, Lavins and Conmy could play well for any D1 team, and the potential for a transfer exodus should be of some concern.

How much more losing are the good players going to withstand? When added to the delayed or perhaps the potential postponement of the transformative renovations, the case for staying becomes weaker.

I don’t want to dwell on the negative but UNH is last in the league and just began the toughest part of its schedule. With no proven backup goaltender and a heavy workload ahead against strong league competition, is Whale going to keep the team out of the HE basement? There’s reason for great concern.

Bummer. Dan just got me trying to be more optimistic, but now Potluck has me back where I was 24 hours ago.