I would have expected them to bring in help for next year, just based on the gaps, but Poturalski leaving this early was a surprise, so no real ability to bring someone in. They had more notice with Foegele, but also didn't get help for that hole, so they will be pretty shorthanded up front. The counter to that is that the graduating class is easy to replace, and the incoming talent is pretty good. No All-Rookie team members, but not the 3rd/4th line types. Grasso and Fegona have offensive skills, but are very small (5'7) and not elite Gionta electrifying sorts. Think Saviano sort of upside.
Blackburn is a good puck distributor, smart and vision, but his skating needs work to get to this level, and will hold him back from being an elite forward. Charlie Kelleher is not at Tyler's level, but a good initial energy kid with some puck skills, a slight bit less than Nazarian. BVR has size to get dirty goals, but a very poor man's Marcus Vela. Sacco is just depth, presumably (hopefully) not getting any scholarship money, but a chance to play because of the holes up front.
Wyse will be an upgrade over Quast.
Looking further into the future, the talent drop off is more pronounced. If you read Bomberhockey, Hockeydad and others, those kids who had All-Hockey East level talent (Farabee and Ryczek) or options left. Most of the remainder have underperformed in juniors, many to a significant degree where one questions if they can contribute meaningfully. If you read the pro-Souza UNH1932, UNH will be honoring its commitments to kids. A noble thing, but a very hard hole to get out of in today's NCAA. It is no surprise that North Dakota has top talent when they can just walk from their 16 year old commitment busts (Pelnik, Crisfield, Cakebread, D.Mattson, Voltin, Rowe, Mantha). This allows them to jump on kids who drop their commitments elsewhere (Boeser, Stecher). Last year's winner, Providence, walked from Aldworth, Cam Lee, Alvaro, Logan Day, Amorosa, McLaughlin. That allows them to get Ryzek, Conway and Duhaime. BU has cut MacTavish, Polesello, Kurker, Collier, Myron, Duane, Piccinich, Starrett, Coughlin. It is the way business is done these days. Honoring its commitments will have a potential longer term payoff, but it hurts in the immediate horizon.
The biggest need for upgrade seems to be Defense. Darcy has not developed quite the upside hoped, but gets decent grades from Central Scouting and from guys I've talked to as a steady 4/5 defenseman. Corson Green has lots of positive reviews for his raw skills, though he has yet to play in a competitive league. Bahn is a wildcard, with little pedigree. Up front, longer term, Crookshank gets very good reivews, though a notch below "blue chippah." Esposito probably gets the most upside, playing as a senior in the USHL. His stats were disappointing, but he has two years to assume a bigger role. Cipollone and Jason O'Neil were decent midget scorers, but not of the sort where you would be surprised at their low first year Junior stats. I don't see a lot of upside there, I'd say they are Jamie Hill sorts. And Aaron O'neill has just not developed even though he was a USNDPT camp invitee.
Maybe over the summer we can pick up a player or two that de-commits somewhere else to fill the two slots you list as vacant for the coming season. I'm with you e.cat cautiously optimistic about this season...expecting better than last at least, with a few more wins sprinkled in and maybe a better HE showing. Verizon bound? hmmmmmmm
