Re: UNH Wildcats-The Back Nine and Beyond!
It may be time to blow up the first-line all together. If not, I think the change you may need to make is not on the LW, but with the guy on the right. Salvaggio has never been an elite goal scorer (last season and his senior year of HS, not withstanding). He and McNicholas do not have some undeniable chemistry that can’t be broken up. Their 2016-17 goal scoring was essentially a product of their third line-mate Tyler Kelleher. TK is gone, and there really aren’t any equal or equivalent talents on the current roster to plug into that spot…
Salvaggio wasn’t much of a goal scorer at the USHL level. He managed just 20 in 69 USHL games, before scoring 3 in his first 40 games at UNH. He has a hard shot, which is not particularly deceptive or accurate. When he plays with a transcendent playmaker he can finish off a lot of open looks, but without a TK or AP on this team, he isn’t going to approach another 20-goal season. Additionally, he is always looking to score and is just not the type of player who will ever do much in the way of creating scoring chances for his linemates (outside of rebound opportunities). Pairing him with a couple of passing playmakers who can’t do much to create for themselves and don’t draw a lot of defensive coverage, may not be a very good fit for anybody…
You can read many threads on this board and find fan-bases upset about their coaches’ constant line-up tinkering. It’s just as frustrating, at least to me, to watch Umile line up trios for the exhibition game and run them out there together most of the season, regardless of result (aside from injuries forcing his hand). It’s time to mix it up. And for me that starts with breaking up the two seniors. The team doesn’t really have a single pure goal-scorer/sniper on the roster and that’s a problem, but here’s what I’d try…
----
BVR – McNicholas – Grasso
* While Grasso was more of a playmaker in the USHL, he did score 20+ in his final season in the league and 20 more last year. BVR was a goal scorer in junior hockey, posting two 20+ goal campaigns. This line pairs two potential goal scorers (as opposed to one) with the team’s best playmaker. BVR and Grasso are also capable passers who can create some chances for McNicholas that Salvaggio wouldn’t…
Salvaggio – Blackburn – Kelleher
* This line gives you a nose-for-the-net type in Salvaggio, a pass-first playmaker in Kelleher and a well-rounded, creative offensive center in Blackburn. Blackburn could be the shifty center needed to get Salvaggio going, and as a threat to score in his own right might draw a lot of attention off of #10. Additionally, he should work well with Kelleher as they make plays for each other.
Nazarian – Vela – Fregona
* Without elite scoring options, this team needs depth. You can coach the forwards to be defensively responsible – as they did well at the beginning of the year. You cannot coach them to score goals. Miller on the third line limits its chances to add depth scoring. I’d rather pair a couple of fast, shifty buzzing wings with a tough center who can go to the net for screens and rebounds and do the dirty work to win pucks. Vela can play that role and does have the skill to catch fire and become the offensive threat we’ve always thought he was. Once Fregona gets a chance to contribute to the offense, I expect he will. Nazarian brings a little bit of everything.
Miller – Cefalu - MacAdams
* This is a group with limited offensive ability, but one that will skate hard and forecheck. Hopefully, they can bring energy and transition the puck up ice, limiting opponents zone time and making them work hard in their own end.
It may be time to blow up the first-line all together. If not, I think the change you may need to make is not on the LW, but with the guy on the right. Salvaggio has never been an elite goal scorer (last season and his senior year of HS, not withstanding). He and McNicholas do not have some undeniable chemistry that can’t be broken up. Their 2016-17 goal scoring was essentially a product of their third line-mate Tyler Kelleher. TK is gone, and there really aren’t any equal or equivalent talents on the current roster to plug into that spot…
Salvaggio wasn’t much of a goal scorer at the USHL level. He managed just 20 in 69 USHL games, before scoring 3 in his first 40 games at UNH. He has a hard shot, which is not particularly deceptive or accurate. When he plays with a transcendent playmaker he can finish off a lot of open looks, but without a TK or AP on this team, he isn’t going to approach another 20-goal season. Additionally, he is always looking to score and is just not the type of player who will ever do much in the way of creating scoring chances for his linemates (outside of rebound opportunities). Pairing him with a couple of passing playmakers who can’t do much to create for themselves and don’t draw a lot of defensive coverage, may not be a very good fit for anybody…
You can read many threads on this board and find fan-bases upset about their coaches’ constant line-up tinkering. It’s just as frustrating, at least to me, to watch Umile line up trios for the exhibition game and run them out there together most of the season, regardless of result (aside from injuries forcing his hand). It’s time to mix it up. And for me that starts with breaking up the two seniors. The team doesn’t really have a single pure goal-scorer/sniper on the roster and that’s a problem, but here’s what I’d try…
----
BVR – McNicholas – Grasso
* While Grasso was more of a playmaker in the USHL, he did score 20+ in his final season in the league and 20 more last year. BVR was a goal scorer in junior hockey, posting two 20+ goal campaigns. This line pairs two potential goal scorers (as opposed to one) with the team’s best playmaker. BVR and Grasso are also capable passers who can create some chances for McNicholas that Salvaggio wouldn’t…
Salvaggio – Blackburn – Kelleher
* This line gives you a nose-for-the-net type in Salvaggio, a pass-first playmaker in Kelleher and a well-rounded, creative offensive center in Blackburn. Blackburn could be the shifty center needed to get Salvaggio going, and as a threat to score in his own right might draw a lot of attention off of #10. Additionally, he should work well with Kelleher as they make plays for each other.
Nazarian – Vela – Fregona
* Without elite scoring options, this team needs depth. You can coach the forwards to be defensively responsible – as they did well at the beginning of the year. You cannot coach them to score goals. Miller on the third line limits its chances to add depth scoring. I’d rather pair a couple of fast, shifty buzzing wings with a tough center who can go to the net for screens and rebounds and do the dirty work to win pucks. Vela can play that role and does have the skill to catch fire and become the offensive threat we’ve always thought he was. Once Fregona gets a chance to contribute to the offense, I expect he will. Nazarian brings a little bit of everything.
Miller – Cefalu - MacAdams
* This is a group with limited offensive ability, but one that will skate hard and forecheck. Hopefully, they can bring energy and transition the puck up ice, limiting opponents zone time and making them work hard in their own end.
Last edited:
