I usually don't get involved in draft-related discussions, but in reviewing C-H-C's exhaustive listing of UNH draft picks (well done BTW) dating back to the '97/'98 season, it's hard not to be struck by how few of those players ever got even a cup of coffee at the NHL level.
* Only JvR and Dan Winnik (the latter basically a 3rd/4th line forward) are the only players with 100+ NHL games
* Darren Haydar and Derek Bekar are the only other two to have played 10+ games (and both under 25 games)
* A large majority of the drafted players played zero (0) games at the NHL level (at least not RS or playoffs)
In the meantime, undrafted guys like Jason Krog and Bobby Butler (so far) have been classic AHL/NHL 'tweeners with 100+ NHL games.
Not sure how that reflects on the crap-shoot nature of the lower rounds of the NHL Draft, or maybe even how these players developed (or not) during their time at UNH. I think many of us have resigned ourselves to the idea that UNH is simply not fishing in the same talent "pond" as the likes of BC and BU historically, and C-H-C's list certainly bears that out.
But the question I have - and I'm not trying to start trouble, honestly - is this ...
Should we be impressed with Coach Umile's ability to have kept UNH punching above its weight for so long? OR ...
Should we be troubled by the fact so few of Coach Umile's players have gone on to successful NHL careers?
I'll be interested to see how the likes of TvR, Knodel, Goumas and Sorkin (and eventually Pesce) make out in the coming years. But to be totally honest, history is hardly on their side. JMHO.