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UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
- Thread starter Snively65
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
Greg you are correct that there are striking parallels to 1986. But I would contend that the current situation is worse.
Though the record was worse back in '86 that team was only four years removed from the Frozen Four. And that trip in '82 was UNH's third trip there in six seasons. The school was at least relevant back then. Barring something totally unprecedented and unforseen this will be the fifteenth consecutive season that the 'Cats aren't playing in the FF. They were getting hammered on the ice by lack of talent butalso partially because of the interlocking schedule with the WCHA. Still I would take that over today's interlocking schedule with Atlantic Hockey and the ECAC. It was like the last couple years of the Holt era the program fell off a cliff.
But this has been different. Its been like the Chinese water Torture the last few years, and (not to mix metaphors) but now the roof and sills of the house have been rotted away and its almost like you have to start from scratch.
And as 'Watcher and Dan have pointed out there is nowhere near the talent in the pipeline today that there was thirty years ago to reboot the rebuild. Sure, the program was rebuilt back then (fairly quickly as it turns out) and probably can be retooled again. However the landscape is much different today. Last night I watched parts of three nationally telecast college hockey games, not to mention the two local ones available on NESN. You guys want to whine because Mike Gildon chose Ohio State? Well perhaps he wants to play on national television once in a while, not on a computer screen every night. Hopefully his older brother got home in time to catch the end of the game coached by the staff he was so suspicious of.
Greg you are correct that there are striking parallels to 1986. But I would contend that the current situation is worse.
Though the record was worse back in '86 that team was only four years removed from the Frozen Four. And that trip in '82 was UNH's third trip there in six seasons. The school was at least relevant back then. Barring something totally unprecedented and unforseen this will be the fifteenth consecutive season that the 'Cats aren't playing in the FF. They were getting hammered on the ice by lack of talent butalso partially because of the interlocking schedule with the WCHA. Still I would take that over today's interlocking schedule with Atlantic Hockey and the ECAC. It was like the last couple years of the Holt era the program fell off a cliff.
But this has been different. Its been like the Chinese water Torture the last few years, and (not to mix metaphors) but now the roof and sills of the house have been rotted away and its almost like you have to start from scratch.
And as 'Watcher and Dan have pointed out there is nowhere near the talent in the pipeline today that there was thirty years ago to reboot the rebuild. Sure, the program was rebuilt back then (fairly quickly as it turns out) and probably can be retooled again. However the landscape is much different today. Last night I watched parts of three nationally telecast college hockey games, not to mention the two local ones available on NESN. You guys want to whine because Mike Gildon chose Ohio State? Well perhaps he wants to play on national television once in a while, not on a computer screen every night. Hopefully his older brother got home in time to catch the end of the game coached by the staff he was so suspicious of.
JB
Desk Chair Coach
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
I actually don't think Lassonde is a bad idea.
Note not the same as a good idea...
He at least knows what a goalie looks like. Building from the net out isn't a bad way to go. It would then be a selling point to forwards, "we need scoring and your my guy".
I actually don't think Lassonde is a bad idea.
Note not the same as a good idea...
He at least knows what a goalie looks like. Building from the net out isn't a bad way to go. It would then be a selling point to forwards, "we need scoring and your my guy".
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
Hiring someone who has coached an above-.500 team before is a decent start.
Give him and Mike three year contracts to be co-head coaches. Let Dave focus on Goalie and Ds, and Let Mike lend his expertise on forwards, and let them (Ok, Dave) pick the lead recruiter, and then see what the next three years brings.
Hiring someone who has coached an above-.500 team before is a decent start.
Give him and Mike three year contracts to be co-head coaches. Let Dave focus on Goalie and Ds, and Let Mike lend his expertise on forwards, and let them (Ok, Dave) pick the lead recruiter, and then see what the next three years brings.
JB
Desk Chair Coach
Sort of my thinking. Somebody has to be lead dog. At this point I might pick Lassonde, however might get him back as lead assistant. Somebody has to make the final calls and at this point I think Lassonde has more/better experience, plus he has other experienced ears to ask questions to... Think Miami and Denver experience and Gwoz...
At this point UNH isn't much to sell and you could do worse. Plus I don't think Marty has the balls to do something bold.
Problem is the first advise is always going to be Mr Clutch old 599.
HockeyRef
Well-known member
Still like to know why he left? Not that it really matters just curious?
JB
Desk Chair Coach
My understanding is Lassonde left to work with Gowz in Denver when Denver was a wagon. They had history from Miami a decade plus before and Gwoz wanted a goalie coach. Also Denver has/had more money. Seemed like a great move until Gowz got himself dumped from Denver doing something bold.
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
Some of the grassy knoll types were saying on here he left because of the Johnny Gaudreau situation. Perhaps that was true, although I always felt like that was too easy an explanation - it fit with the narrative those with the dominant self pity gene like to tell. But who knows, maybe that was the case.
As somebody who is Dave's age I always figured that money/security likely played into it. Its not like he was getting rich as an assistant coach at a state school. You get a bit older and you think about financial security. Probably more $$$ with other opportunities.
Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall...perhaps a combination of all three (and others)
I guess you would have to ask him.
Some of the grassy knoll types were saying on here he left because of the Johnny Gaudreau situation. Perhaps that was true, although I always felt like that was too easy an explanation - it fit with the narrative those with the dominant self pity gene like to tell. But who knows, maybe that was the case.
As somebody who is Dave's age I always figured that money/security likely played into it. Its not like he was getting rich as an assistant coach at a state school. You get a bit older and you think about financial security. Probably more $$$ with other opportunities.
Perhaps he saw the writing on the wall...perhaps a combination of all three (and others)
I guess you would have to ask him.
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
Here's the official story.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/college...h-talks-candidly-about-why-he-left-unh/20024/
If I recall the gossip, though, there was some issue about salary, and perhaps the future. If you pull together disparate threads, this is also around the time Borek feels he was promised the gig upon Umile retiring. So perhaps Lassonde saw the handwriting on the wall, ... even though Marty and Umile then smudged it over by ***ing all over the program.
edit: amazing to realize how even the prospect of being average and have some competence around feels like a lifeline.
Here's the official story.
http://blogs.denverpost.com/college...h-talks-candidly-about-why-he-left-unh/20024/
If I recall the gossip, though, there was some issue about salary, and perhaps the future. If you pull together disparate threads, this is also around the time Borek feels he was promised the gig upon Umile retiring. So perhaps Lassonde saw the handwriting on the wall, ... even though Marty and Umile then smudged it over by ***ing all over the program.
edit: amazing to realize how even the prospect of being average and have some competence around feels like a lifeline.
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JB
Desk Chair Coach
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
If Lassonde is coming back I would like to think part of leaving was frustration about the disconnected head coach.
I never liked Borek's recruiting. However between Lassonde, Borek and Torts did they all really got a raw deal as 2 were doing the job for 3 because Old 599 had checked out 5+ years ago.
If Lassonde is coming back I would like to think part of leaving was frustration about the disconnected head coach.
I never liked Borek's recruiting. However between Lassonde, Borek and Torts did they all really got a raw deal as 2 were doing the job for 3 because Old 599 had checked out 5+ years ago.
If Lassonde was the choice I would actually be very impressed. I said weeks ago that Souza hiring someone who might challenge him would say a lot - and that I didn't expect it. (Spoiler alert, I still don't, but...).
Lassonde played a larger role in recruiting than most realize and was the guy (I've been told) who truly landed JVR. His hiring is probably about as good as they could expect to do. But I have a hard time seeing him coming back to UNH to work for a player he coached who has been gifted the position he wanted...
I'd rather have Lassonde be the HC than anyone on the current staff. But the best hire would be Gwozdecky l, himself. Every time watcher posts quotes about Souza taking over IF things go well I let optimism creep in that maybe an open search his a real possibility. Thanks for leading me on Watcher...
Gwoz would immediately maximize talent, open up new avenues of high-end recruiting, being UNH back and retire again in 5-7 years leaving a very attractive job for the next candidate. Short of that there are very few options that will inspire me...
Gwoz/Lassonde/Ayers or bust
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Lassonde left UNH twice - if anything he simply seems like a guy interested in different experiences and being open to different ways of coaching and different schools. Unlike say a guy who does things the same way at the same place for 30 years because it's comfortable...
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
GREAT movie! One of my all-time favorites!
GREAT movie! One of my all-time favorites!
Agree this is much worse. Two years after 86 UNH had the following guys on their roster...
Flanagan
Winnes
Lazzaro
Amodeo
Dean
Morrow
Morrow
Mitrovic
Aiken
Imagine if in 88 the best talents on the UNH team were Horner, Grassie and Riel B? That's where we're heading - at best? - right now. Anyone up for a team full of Mark McGinns? With early recruiting we know that over the next two years UNH (who will lose the JRs and SRs, as well as Gildon, at least) will add the following...
Verrier
Crookshank
Green
Esposito
Cippolone
McElhaney
Pierson
Stevenson
Bahn
Sweeney??
Wazny??
If you're keeping score at home only one player on the second list projects to contribute at the level of any player on the first list. Unless major gains are made in recruiting - just wait until the third year when Maass and the Sophs leave. That may be the cliff at the end of our long slow roll down hill...
On the bright side there are scholarships and PT just waiting to be thrown at high-end types. On the downside, Souza hasn't proven he can even sell that...
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As for TV - so few games are on national TV anymore. That's not really a major recruiting issue. As someone who constantly searches for college games on TV last night was a massive anomaly. UNH has a pretty good set up with games on ESPN3, but why they walked away from getting ALL home games picked up on FSN is beyond me...
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Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
Question: What is the operational definition for "poetic justice"?
Answer: 599
Question: What is the operational definition for "poetic justice"?
Answer: 599
Darius
Go 'cats!
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
We have a Jobu shrine at work. Unfortunately our product hasn't improved much and managing clients remains a challenge. No matter, having Jobu on your side is the way to go.GREAT movie! One of my all-time favorites!
NCAA watcher
Registered User
Re: UNH Wildcats 2017-2018 Season - The Quest Continues
Announcers lamenting the surprise that Kohei Sato, a walk on with 16 career junior play goals, was not able to complete the scoring play. Just rotten puck luck, I guess. With any luck, that would have been Chris Miller, with his 18 career junior goals (in three seasons) or a top line guy like Jason Salvaggio and his 20 career junior goals. Or that guys like Joe Sacco, a walk on with 10 career goals, is injured.
And U.Conn gets goal and powerplay.
Announcers lamenting the surprise that Kohei Sato, a walk on with 16 career junior play goals, was not able to complete the scoring play. Just rotten puck luck, I guess. With any luck, that would have been Chris Miller, with his 18 career junior goals (in three seasons) or a top line guy like Jason Salvaggio and his 20 career junior goals. Or that guys like Joe Sacco, a walk on with 10 career goals, is injured.
And U.Conn gets goal and powerplay.
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