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Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Not much to say on that besides that it's a major dagger. He was the big fish in the recruiting class.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

rdf8585 said:
Not much to say on that besides that it's a major dagger. He was the big fish in the recruiting class.
Click to expand...
Agreed that it is a loss, and I won't bite on sour grapes. Still I hope it's not a TJ Fox type move for him. We'll just have to shrug it off as best as possible. I wonder if we'll come up with a last minute addition like Andrew Buote who came in late the summer before his first year.
 
Wholin1 said:
Agreed that it is a loss, and I won't bite on sour grapes. Still I hope it's not a TJ Fox type move for him. We'll just have to shrug it off as best as possible. I wonder if we'll come up with a last minute addition like Andrew Buote who came in late the summer before his first year.
Click to expand...

How quickly the program evolves.
Now losing guys to NHL organizations
prior to matriculating.
Hard to imagine just a few years back.

I know one thing. Unlike our buddies
in Troy,we will look forward and not
***** about what could have been.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=632276 It's official.. OUCH!

My bet would be that the coaches either stand pat with the 3 forwards committed or possibly accelerate '13 recruit Nick Cruice. As much as Johnston would have been very nice to have, the cupboard is stacked with returning forwards next season and one freshman isn't going to make a huge difference. Cruice plays a power forward type game and could add depth, meanwhile the coaches can focus on getting another top forward for '13.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

ADK11 said:
http://flyers.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=632276 It's official.. OUCH!

My bet would be that the coaches either stand pat with the 3 forwards committed or possibly accelerate '13 recruit Nick Cruice. As much as Johnston would have been very nice to have, the cupboard is stacked with returning forwards next season and one freshman isn't going to make a huge difference. Cruice plays a power forward type game and could add depth, meanwhile the coaches can focus on getting another top forward for '13.
Click to expand...
The consensus from blogosphere seems to be that Johnston is far from NHL ready and a likely AHL or ECHL candidate next year. I hope for his sake that he made the right decision. So far as Union is concerned I think it's a lot less disruptive to the program to lose him at the outset rather than after a year or two. Still, the loss of any recruit means you are not getting a player that you would have liked to have.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Union93 said:
How quickly the program evolves.
Now losing guys to NHL organizations
prior to matriculating.
Hard to imagine just a few years back.

I know one thing. Unlike our buddies
in Troy,we will look forward and not
***** about what could have been.
Click to expand...

At least we don't claim victory when you lose a player.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Wholin1 said:
The consensus from blogosphere seems to be that Johnston is far from NHL ready and a likely AHL or ECHL candidate next year. I hope for his sake that he made the right decision. So far as Union is concerned I think it's a lot less disruptive to the program to lose him at the outset rather than after a year or two. Still, the loss of any recruit means you are not getting a player that you would have liked to have.
Click to expand...
It's definitely a big jump for Johnston, but it's hard to say "no" when you are given a once in a lifetime opportunity.

The longer term impact of this is less known. Losing 2 of the best players in program history in Zajac & Welsh, this would have been a nice way to "reload". We'll see what the coaches come up with..
 
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Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

This isn't great news, but not the end of the world either. The best forward in last year's class decommitted late in the offseason last year and everything turned out fine. ;)

Having Johnston would've been very nice, but I think Wilkins will be an impact player right away, so the cupboard isn't bare.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

ADK11 said:
It's definitely a big jump for Johnston, but it's hard to say "no" when you are given a once in a lifetime opportunity.
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I'm not sure I agree that him making the jump is a once in a lifetime opportunity. On the other hand a chance at a college education might be, and one that may have essentially been paid for based on what was likely a generous aid package.
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

Wholin1 said:
I'm not sure I agree that him making the jump is a once in a lifetime opportunity. On the other hand a chance at a college education might be, and one that may have essentially been paid for based on what was likely a generous aid package.
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Well that's the dilemma that Johnston had to choose from.. he's 21 and a NHL free agent, so there is no guarantee he'll ever get an offer like this again. If he goes to college he could end up not getting icetime or getting hurt or just not producing enough to get another NHL offer. Of course, those things could happen in the pros too and then you get cut, but at least you can say you gave it an honest try and went for the brass ring. It takes a lot of maturity and self-assurance to say "no" to an NHL offer and understand that if you're not good enough to make it in college hockey then you probably wouldn't have made it in the pros either and at least you'll have a good education at the end of the day. It's a tough decision, but I understand how following your dream wins out.

..and not to dwell too excessively on this, but another link on Johnston leaving from the SJHL website.. says it was tough calling Union's coaches
http://www.sjhl.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=2451
 
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Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

ADK11 said:
Well that's the dilemma that Johnston had to choose from.. he's 21 and a NHL free agent, so there is no guarantee he'll ever get an offer like this again. If he goes to college he could end up not getting icetime or getting hurt or just not producing enough to get another NHL offer. Of course, those things could happen in the pros too and then you get cut, but at least you can say you gave it an honest try and went for the brass ring. It takes a lot of maturity and self-assurance to say "no" to an NHL offer and understand that if you're not good enough to make it in college hockey then you probably wouldn't have made it in the pros either and at least you'll have a good education at the end of the day. It's a tough decision, but I understand how following your dream wins out.

..and not to dwell too excessively on this, but another link on Johnston leaving from the SJHL website.. says it was tough calling Union's coaches
http://www.sjhl.ca/news_item.aspx?news_id=2451
Click to expand...
Nothing wrong with dwelling on this in my view since there's really not much else going on during these otherwise quiet times. Your point is well taken and I'm sure it was a tough if not impossible offer to refuse. I just hope it works out for him. From the same article : "La Ronge defenseman and 2009-2010 SJHL Player of the Year Dustin Stevenson was faced with the same decision two years ago, and he made the same call as Johnston, opting to walk away from a Division I scholarship at St. Lawrence, and sign a pro deal with the Washington Capitals. Stevenson remains in the Capitals' system, and just wrapped up his second season with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays."
 
Re: Union Hockey Offseason Thread - That was fun...

The sad thing about this is that Andrew Johnston didn't even sign a very lucrative contract. It is good, but not great...
 
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