Re: UNH Hockey: Treading Water or Trending Upward
Obviously Lekkas was huge last night as expected. Was glad we got the win and was remiss not to mention the PP goal by Max. I watched him with great intent last night. Given the opponent his skating and offensive sense really stood out. We will need that big time in the games to come. All players need to come to play a full 60 to make it into the post season!
Also Engaras has quietly continued to be a great addition to the team. Smart player and I think I we will see more good things from him. Hoping Charlie Chase and Sato will be back in the line up soon!
Couple of things: Darius what's up? Miss your level headed commentary. Keeps me grounded �� Like Chuck I think it's fine to debate stuff here. Cant take it personally. And Chuck: why why why did I click on your you tube? (Twice ��
Shame on me hahaha. Should have known better...Snowflake that I am....ha!!!
Going to be a wild finish to the HE final standings. One game at a time...Going to have to put on our big boy pants and skates going forward. Anything can happen!!! Go 'Cats!!!
I've been impressed with Engaras as well. Terrific, all around D-1 player, he has been a positive force since getting through his seemingly-forever eligibility issues, and he's been well worth the wait. Should be well-positioned to give the 'Cats two more full seasons at an even more productive level, now that he's established himself this year in mid-season. Kudos to him, considering the crap and the waiting and all, he could have just gone home and moved on. But he didn't, and I think we're all glad he did.
Kudos to Gildon on getting the all-important equalizer last night early in the third. If UNH was chasing the game much longer, it really could have gotten to be a problem, and pressing later and later could have seen frustration and loss of focus result in an error that could have deepened their deficit. Big players are supposed to make big plays, and Gildon was there when needed.
On the issue of "VSS" … uncharacteristically, I'm going to end up kind of on the fence. I've always felt the kid has got the goods and those who have pointed out that with big talent, comes big expectations … yeah, I agree with that 100%. And sometimes it can be frustrating to watch Gildon when he is not on his game, or eschews the easier/simpler play to try a risky exit that blows up in his face. You want to think the kid would know better. But a lot has been asked of Gildon during his time at UNH, and for the most part, I think he's met expectations, if not exceeded them. Recall, he was a highly sought-after player that Wisconsin basically released due to a glut of incoming talent in the position. I've said before, and I'll say again, without speculating on the specifics, but there was a reason it transpired that way. UNH was not his original first choice. And something Wisconsin saw made Gildon not their first choice in the long run either. With that said, it's kind of worked out pretty well for both here.
Would I like to see a more dependable, and more physical player? Sure. But we've gotten three (3) terrific seasons out of Max so far, which is one more season than the likes of JvR and Poturalski gave us. He also came at a time when UNH was starving for puck-moving defensemen. I liken him more to Dan Winnik (another 3 year guy), who I was never quite convinced gave us the physical play his size and stature suggested might be there (and later proved on 3rd and 4th lines across the NHL). Maybe guys like Gildon and Winnik play at 90-95% at this level, because they don't want to hurt their future chances at the next level? Another 3 year guy (TvR) suffered a horrific injury in his time at UNH, and although he's gone on to great NHL success since, he did leave a year early (and no one blamed him for it) to some degree because of that injury. Things happen.
I don't consider myself all that different from most team sports fans, in that I admire the guys who give full commitment to the team, and play the game full-out, like the most important thing in the world is winning that evening's game. And at this level, if one of those guys sticks around for all 4 years, then they've shown their commitment to the cause, and I admire that. Gildon has been here for 3 years now, and that's already one more year than many on here thought we'd get to see, so I do appreciate his commitment, in much the same way I appreciated the commitments of TvR, or Eric Nickulas or Derek Bekar. So I guess I'm more on the "glass half full" side of the debate here. And if the story ends here, I'll probably look back at things that way.
But if Gildon sticks around for all four years, and UNH continues to makes its way back to not only respectability (which is kind of where they are now) but then on to true competitiveness at the top level of the league, we will all look back at his career as a kid who wasn't meant to be here at the outset, but somehow did end up here, gave his all (or pretty darned close to it), and got the UNH program out of the toilet when he started, and back to true relevance by the time he left it. The next three weeks will tell a tale, no doubt, and if it ends well this season, I will wish the guy well if he decides it's time to move on.
The possibility of a Year Four, and completion of a transformative turnaround, could see Gildon elevated in the hearts and minds of the UNH faithful like few before him have been.
And that's what I'm still rooting for. JMHO.
P.S. to HR - thanks as always for being a good sport. We're all fans in our different ways.
) Shame on me hahaha. Should have known better...Snowflake that I am....ha!!! 
