UNH Offseason Contract Edition.

[HockeyRef]

Shouldn't come as any surprise but just took a peek at the top scorers in the NCAA'S...wouldn't you know the top 10 point getters (with the exception of the lone NODAk player) are all skating in the FF?

If MS7 is indeed the Wizard of The Whitt behind the scenes maybe he can find something like these guys in that black bag of his??

Follow the blue and white road...
Follow the blue and white road..
Follow follow follow follow follow the blue and white road!

Ha!

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

Shouldn't come as any surprise but just took a peek at the top scorers in the NCAA'S...wouldn't you know the top 10 point getters (with the exception of the lone NODAk player) are all skating in the FF?

If MS7 is indeed the Wizard of The Whitt behind the scenes maybe he can find something like these guys in that black bag of his??

Follow the blue and white road...
Follow the blue and white road..
Follow follow follow follow follow the blue and white road!

Ha!

There are different team building philosophies. The big guns can get mercenaries, high draft picks that will play a year or two and act like shooting stars...then they're gone. The second tier programs need to get four or five (or more) 20-25 point scorers to compete over a four year period.

 

[HockeyRef]

There are different team building philosophies. The big guns can get mercenaries, high draft picks that will play a year or two and act like shooting stars...then they're gone. The second tier programs need to get four or five (or more) 20-25 point scorers to compete over a four year period.

Sounds good to me..those guys too. TyK types more than welcome..

 

[Chuck Murray]

There are different team building philosophies. The big guns can get mercenaries, high draft picks that will play a year or two and act like shooting stars...then they're gone. The second tier programs need to get four or five (or more) 20-25 point scorers to compete over a four year period.

I don't think that's changed all that much at NCAA D-1 level over the years. UNH has always been in the latter category, which I prefer as a fan anyway, because I prefer the continuity of seeing a bunch of kids sticking around for 4 years with an evolving set of teammates. Maybe that's down to having enjoyed the HS experience as a player, and (much) later as a coach? Rare exceptions like JvR (two years) and Tim "Sargent" Stutzle (0 years) haven't moved the needle here, whether they arrived or didn't, and we're still basically fishing in the same pond(s) now as we've been for a long, long time. Nothing wrong with that, but hopefully MS7 and his crew have been refining their message in recent years, and more importantly developing their abilities to coach players up. Nothing will make you more credible on the recruiting front than having the ability to turn little Junior Jeteye from Moose Jaw SK from a second liner with his Senior A team into someone able to earn a living in pro hockey. Once you demonstrate an ability to turn water into wine like that, recruits will start finding YOU, instead of just the other way around ...

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

I don't think that's changed all that much at NCAA D-1 level over the years. UNH has always been in the latter category, which I prefer as a fan anyway, because I prefer the continuity of seeing a bunch of kids sticking around for 4 years with an evolving set of teammates. Maybe that's down to having enjoyed the HS experience as a player, and (much) later as a coach? Rare exceptions like JvR (two years) and Tim "Sargent" Stutzle (0 years) haven't moved the needle here, whether they arrived or didn't, and we're still basically fishing in the same pond(s) now as we've been for a long, long time. Nothing wrong with that, but hopefully MS7 and his crew have been refining their message in recent years, and more importantly developing their abilities to coach players up. Nothing will make you more credible on the recruiting front than having the ability to turn little Junior Jeteye from Moose Jaw SK from a second liner with his Senior A team into someone able to earn a living in pro hockey. Once you demonstrate an ability to turn water into wine like that, recruits will start finding YOU, instead of just the other way around ...

I don't disagree with you. To me, Saviano was a prime example of a kid developing, developing well, over a four year period. Obviously, there exceptions to the rule in terms of progression (Gendron and Cafarelli come to mind immediately of this past team), when it happens, it's magical to see as a fan. I'm sure also for the coaching staff as its validates their thesis that a kid can play and contribute.

Not sure if you picked up on this, but a kid from Stratham just made the U17 National Team. I really hope we get to the point where we can "own" local NH talent.

 

[deltabravo62]

The USHL geographically looks to be a Midwestern US league, so that's gotta be the biggest hurdle? Hooksett currently hosts an NAHL team in a 9 team Eastern Division (assuming Tri-Town Arena). My understanding is that USHL is Tier I, and NAHL is a Tier II league, so whether having an upgraded USHL team in the Queen City area gets them all the way into SNHU Arena (with numbers approaching even ECHL attendance) seems a stretch? Even if it were attainable on that front, I doubt a bus league is gonna want to add a team so far from its footprint ...

USHL Map | Teams - Sport League Maps : Maps of Sports Leagues

nahl-map.pdf

The Conway or Keene areas could be compelling options for a Tier II team, or Plymouth even? Shame with the downfall of Berlin over the last two generations, could've been a perfect host city for juniors, given its history, location, etc.

This is where my mind goes off the board and thinks a QMJHL team in Manchester would be the balance that could have worked. While it would be a more direct competition for UNH in terms of fans and potentially talent it would serve the purpose that the AHL team did in terms of "Tomorrow's NHL players today" to fans. I know there are very few CHL teams in the US and they don't typically last, I just always had a though that would be a "best option" for Manchester after the AHL/ECHL departure

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

So I have a question about the portal.

If an undergraduate enters the portal and doesn't get any interest or join a new team are they basically placed on waivers and their college careers done?

 

[Snively65]

I don't disagree with you. To me, Saviano was a prime example of a kid developing, developing well, over a four year period. Obviously, there exceptions to the rule in terms of progression (Gendron and Cafarelli come to mind immediately of this past team), when it happens, it's magical to see as a fan. I'm sure also for the coaching staff as its validates their thesis that a kid can play and contribute.

Not sure if you picked up on this, but a kid from Stratham just made the U17 National Team. I really hope we get to the point where we can "own" local NH talent.

As I noted a few pages back, Steve Saviano was recruited to entice his Reading childhood buddy Sean Collins to enroll at UNH the following year. Stevie Moses and HR’s suggestion of TyK also fit this mold of small speedy guys without any NHL prospects making use of the Whitt’s big sheet. Why not get back to that kind of recruiting? Oh ……… wait………

 

[Snively65]

I don't disagree with you. To me, Saviano was a prime example of a kid developing, developing well, over a four year period. Obviously, there exceptions to the rule in terms of progression (Gendron and Cafarelli come to mind immediately of this past team), when it happens, it's magical to see as a fan. I'm sure also for the coaching staff as its validates their thesis that a kid can play and contribute.

Not sure if you picked up on this, but a kid from Stratham just made the U17 National Team. I really hope we get to the point where we can "own" local NH talent.

As I noted a few pages back, Steve Saviano was recruited to entice his Reading childhood buddy Sean Collins to enroll at UNH the following year. Stevie Moses and HR’s suggestion of TyK also fit this mold of small speedy guys without any NHL prospects making use of the Whitt’s big sheet. Why not get back to that kind of recruiting? Oh ……… wait………

 

[JB]

Side comment - boy did BU get hosed yesterday. BU might not have scored if given a Power Play but wow did that crew missed a bunch of calls, a couple pretty egregious. This time of year with UNH out I generally just root for good hockey, the game was good but the third team on the ice was bad.

 

[TheGrouchyCat]

As I noted a few pages back, Steve Saviano was recruited to entice his Reading childhood buddy Sean Collins to enroll at UNH the following year. Stevie Moses and HR’s suggestion of TyK also fit this mold of small speedy guys without any NHL prospects making use of the Whitt’s big sheet. Why not get back to that kind of recruiting? Oh ……… wait………

Of course, I know the Saviano back story. Not only UNH lore but I'm good friends with his family.

 

[HockeyRef]

Side comment - boy did BU get hosed yesterday. BU might not have scored if given a Power Play but wow did that crew missed a bunch of calls, a couple pretty egregious. This time of year with UNH out I generally just root for good hockey, the game was good but the third team on the ice was bad.

You can bet Denver won't have that luxury Saturday...

 

[Chuck Murray]

You can bet Denver won't have that luxury Saturday...

I dunno 'Ref ... maybe it's me, but I've always gotten the impression that so-called Western teams enjoy an edge with the zebras at this time of the season. Maybe it goes back to the CHDA days, when the West was usually loaded with older, bigger, more physical teams? I watched some of the BC-Michigan game last night after my Over-50 footy game with my teammates at a local watering hole, and after the initial BC goal, I felt like Michigan was hanging with BC and allowed to play an edgy game that kept the Eagles a little off-balance. But the beer and food was good, and I kinda lost track of where things were going in the second period when BC started to pull away. I'll be surprised if Denver doesn't try the same heavy/edgy approach with BC tomorrow night, and as a tourney-tested team, I do think they'll have a puncher's chance to pull off the upset. DRW have drafted heavily from the Pios' program in recent years, so I'll be leaning their way for that reason too.

Are any fellow old-timers on here generally irked like me, when this time of the season arrives, and we're out of it?

 

[HockeyRef]

I dunno 'Ref ... maybe it's me, but I've always gotten the impression that so-called Western teams enjoy an edge with the zebras at this time of the season. Maybe it goes back to the CHDA days, when the West was usually loaded with older, bigger, more physical teams? I watched some of the BC-Michigan game last night after my Over-50 footy game with my teammates at a local watering hole, and after the initial BC goal, I felt like Michigan was hanging with BC and allowed to play an edgy game that kept the Eagles a little off-balance. But the beer and food was good, and I kinda lost track of where things were going in the second period when BC started to pull away. I'll be surprised if Denver doesn't try the same heavy/edgy approach with BC tomorrow night, and as a tourney-tested team, I do think they'll have a puncher's chance to pull off the upset. DRW have drafted heavily from the Pios' program in recent years, so I'll be leaning their way for that reason too.

Are any fellow old-timers on here generally irked like me, when this time of the season arrives, and we're out of it?

There is no way DU goes another night without a single penalty called against them...esp against this offense. But I do agree they have a shot...I've got the Eagles winning 3-2...lol

 

[StillKIA2]

Side comment - boy did BU get hosed yesterday. BU might not have scored if given a Power Play but wow did that crew missed a bunch of calls, a couple pretty egregious. This time of year with UNH out I generally just root for good hockey, the game was good but the third team on the ice was bad.

I’ve only watched through the celibrini head hit and while that might be called, i think celibrini changed direction and skated into the denver player with his own head at chest height…denver could not have avoided the hit without pulling a basketball move, throwing himself backwards and denver did not extend his arms to add to the impact at all…other than that non call, BU got away with a trip/interference two minutes in (but there was no change of possession, so that’s also not gonna get called. ). I’ll watch more, but how many whiffs did BU make in the first 15 minutes right on the doorstep with an open net after a beautiful cross crease pass? Like 6? Ya gonna blame the refs for those whiffs, too?

 

[e.cat]

Switching back and forth between WWIII and BC Denver. FUBAR

 

[HockeyRef]

Welp Chuck can't speak for everyone but you had some faith in the Pios where most probably didn't! What a game for the Pios esp for Matt Davis.

Great season for the Eagles has to be hard. Funny...haven't heard from my brother in law hmmm...

Another season over....be well all.

 

[Chuck Murray]

Welp Chuck can't speak for everyone but you had some faith in the Pios where most probably didn't! What a game for the Pios esp for Matt Davis.

Ironically, my son-in-law's name is Matt Davis. He and our daughter also expecting our second grandchild too.

Throw in a monumental OT road win for DRW, and it's been an epic 48 hours at the WIS Estate.

NOT so excited about WWIII breaking out on the other side of the world, but I'll deal with that tomorrah ...

 

[Felger]

We need to track a new stat and fill in the lines retroactively: DIHL = Deer In Headlights Look.

You mean like Greg Brown and Mike Ayers, seemingly overwhelmed when it came to pulling their goalie down two goals in the National Championship game? Pretty clear the moment was too big. The ultimate irony, in the case of the latter, is that the game was taking place in the Xcel Energy Center.

 

[Snively65]

You mean like Greg Brown and Mike Ayers, seemingly overwhelmed when it came to pulling their goalie down two goals in the National Championship game? Pretty clear the moment was too big. The ultimate irony, in the case of the latter, is that the game was taking place in the Xcel Energy Center.

I always thought that the Exel Center semis game in 2002 should have been Matt Carney’s in net so as not to break up the rotation. I admit that the result may well have been the same.