grooverider
Your Team Sucks
Possible..there has been some portal entrants popping in with the "do not contact" flag which means they already picked a team before the portal
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
University of Maine Off-season 2024: Insert Pun Here
- Thread starter ticapnews
- Start date
Possible..there has been some portal entrants popping in with the "do not contact" flag which means they already picked a team before the portal
I know it is a high probability that both J. Nadeau or Breen won't return...but and that's a big but..if they came back it would be like adding a high end portal transfers...this last week or so has been alot to digest in comings and goings to the roster...
AMC
Registered User
A few thoughts:
1. While Bradly is likely not "ready" to be a force in the NHL, that doesn't mean it is bad for his development to sign a professional contract. As soon as someone turns pro it isn't like he is then what he was at the date he turned professional for the rest of his career. He's a first round NHL draft pick. How many first round NHL draft picks play more than a year of college hockey? Less than 50% I would wager. I think it is probably as simple as, this was the plan when he was drafted. He can work on getting bigger and stronger and everything he needs with an NHL franchise's nutritionist and strength coach and not have to worry about making it to English 100 on Wednesday morning. Is it the right decision? Who knows. But this isn't a shocking decision.
2. Obviously, this stings a bit more than when BC/BU/Michigan have their annual summer exoduses, because Maine doesn't typically get first round NHL talent. It's not how the program has been built since the early 1990's when we invented the term "retroactive financial aid." I don't see this as any sort of indictment of the coaching staff. I don't see how "recruiting rankings" really apply to judge what Maine has coming in. NCAA hockey recruiting is basically a two tiered system, you're going to have the pretty ranking classes at BC, BU, Minnesota, Michigan, etc. who can get the USNTDP players, the first round draft picks, and win with 18 and 19 year olds. Those are going to be your "high ranked" prospects. Maine needs to win the way that Quinnipiac wins, or Duluth wins, or Denver wins: with players who matriculate at age 20, guys who aren't going to come in and stay for 3-4 years and progress from third line energy guys to reliable scorers by the time they graduate. Those guys aren't highly rated as recruits. Sure, it would be great to find the occasional Bradly Nadeau or Gustav Nyquist, but frankly, we have to look at those guys as cherries on the sundae. The ice cream itself is going to be someone who develops at Maine.
3. As regards money, obviously Maine isn't an NIL machine. But even if so, non-Americans can't accept NIL money when they are on student visas. Frankly, it's probably a saving grace for Maine that we can't get outcompeted to get money to Canadian prospects like we would be if we tried to wade into the USNTDP pool. It makes the playing field a bit more level. The only way Bradly or any other international player was going to get paid was to sign a pro contract. I don't think the Nadeaus were living in poverty by any means, but it's silly if someone offers you close to a million dollars not to take it if the other option is $0. He can finish his UMaine degree for a tiny fraction of his signing bonus if he ever wants to.
4. Maine's going to be fine. Barr has taken Maine from 7 to 15 to 23 wins in three years. Any handwringing is just performative. With the transfer portal, it's always going to be an annual project to re-create the team. Graduates and Bradly aside, the spine of the team remains largely intact. I don't think Maine is going to be 5th in PWR again next year (that was over this year's team's head anyways), but top half of Hockey East and playing meaningful games to make the NCAAs is absolutely in play. If someone had offered that to us for year four when Barr was hired, we'd all have taken it in a second.
1. While Bradly is likely not "ready" to be a force in the NHL, that doesn't mean it is bad for his development to sign a professional contract. As soon as someone turns pro it isn't like he is then what he was at the date he turned professional for the rest of his career. He's a first round NHL draft pick. How many first round NHL draft picks play more than a year of college hockey? Less than 50% I would wager. I think it is probably as simple as, this was the plan when he was drafted. He can work on getting bigger and stronger and everything he needs with an NHL franchise's nutritionist and strength coach and not have to worry about making it to English 100 on Wednesday morning. Is it the right decision? Who knows. But this isn't a shocking decision.
2. Obviously, this stings a bit more than when BC/BU/Michigan have their annual summer exoduses, because Maine doesn't typically get first round NHL talent. It's not how the program has been built since the early 1990's when we invented the term "retroactive financial aid." I don't see this as any sort of indictment of the coaching staff. I don't see how "recruiting rankings" really apply to judge what Maine has coming in. NCAA hockey recruiting is basically a two tiered system, you're going to have the pretty ranking classes at BC, BU, Minnesota, Michigan, etc. who can get the USNTDP players, the first round draft picks, and win with 18 and 19 year olds. Those are going to be your "high ranked" prospects. Maine needs to win the way that Quinnipiac wins, or Duluth wins, or Denver wins: with players who matriculate at age 20, guys who aren't going to come in and stay for 3-4 years and progress from third line energy guys to reliable scorers by the time they graduate. Those guys aren't highly rated as recruits. Sure, it would be great to find the occasional Bradly Nadeau or Gustav Nyquist, but frankly, we have to look at those guys as cherries on the sundae. The ice cream itself is going to be someone who develops at Maine.
3. As regards money, obviously Maine isn't an NIL machine. But even if so, non-Americans can't accept NIL money when they are on student visas. Frankly, it's probably a saving grace for Maine that we can't get outcompeted to get money to Canadian prospects like we would be if we tried to wade into the USNTDP pool. It makes the playing field a bit more level. The only way Bradly or any other international player was going to get paid was to sign a pro contract. I don't think the Nadeaus were living in poverty by any means, but it's silly if someone offers you close to a million dollars not to take it if the other option is $0. He can finish his UMaine degree for a tiny fraction of his signing bonus if he ever wants to.
4. Maine's going to be fine. Barr has taken Maine from 7 to 15 to 23 wins in three years. Any handwringing is just performative. With the transfer portal, it's always going to be an annual project to re-create the team. Graduates and Bradly aside, the spine of the team remains largely intact. I don't think Maine is going to be 5th in PWR again next year (that was over this year's team's head anyways), but top half of Hockey East and playing meaningful games to make the NCAAs is absolutely in play. If someone had offered that to us for year four when Barr was hired, we'd all have taken it in a second.
ticapnews
Never Forget!
While we're at it, just reanimate the corpses of Shawn, Red and Guy and recreate the coaching staff from my freshman season.
Let the guy enjoy his retirement. He's more than earned it.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Ostman got an award for being the Business School Outstanding International Student…
https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2024/04...7nUJ65MonpyF10
https://umaine.edu/news/blog/2024/04...7nUJ65MonpyF10
ticapnews
Never Forget!
We are just chatting and remembering him fondly!
on a different topic…the Bruins will be facing tge Hurricanes and their new number 29….Bradley Nadeau
Sparkee
Blackbear
He will play tonight?
I think he's there along with Morrow...but checked potential lineups w/lines and d-paring plus goaltenders and both were not in the lineup charts and were at the bottom of the list...would assume as healthy scratches(?)...that is my take from looking at the site.
FLHockeyMom
New member
Hurtig to Michigan Tech.
Agreed. Unless someone leaves or an elite player is somehow served up on a silver platter, I don't expect much action in the portal anywhere but up front.
We are just chatting and remembering him fondly!
on a different topic…the Bruins will be facing tge Hurricanes and their new number 29….Bradley Nadeau
He's a scratch.
Chuck Murray
WIS & Effingwoods Hockey Almanac
They'll no doubt want both guys to practice with the rest of the team a few times before giving them their NHL debuts, and before the playoffs start. Both may stick around as "Black Aces" (or whatever term the 'Canes use for the few extra guys who will be around to practice with them) as long as they're still in the playoffs, especially with no AHL affiliate to go to. And with Carolina, they could be traveling with that team well into May, possibly longer ...
UnMcGovernable
Member
I agree with this. The Canes end the season with Blue, Blackhawks, and Blue Jackets. I suspect Brad and Morrow get some minutes in those games once Carolina is locked into their position. Hopefully Brad can learn and crack the lineup sooner rather than later.
Fishman'81
Black Bear since D-2
A lot of us are dancing around the obvious here...
More than likely, stick a fork in Maine for the next couple of years, if not beyond.
Red buried this program from his get-go. As well as Barr has done up to this point, Maine has been delegated to a stepping-stone program due to the Gendron disaster, all things considered.
But, last year was fun.
More than likely, stick a fork in Maine for the next couple of years, if not beyond.
Red buried this program from his get-go. As well as Barr has done up to this point, Maine has been delegated to a stepping-stone program due to the Gendron disaster, all things considered.
But, last year was fun.
Sparkee
Blackbear
Gunnerwolfe Fontaine is going to OSU.
Here is an updated watch list…
Forwards
*********
Cruz Lucious - RW - 4.5 - 1.44
Samu Salminen - LC - 4.25 - 0.77
Steven Sardarian - LC - 4.0 - 0.76
William Whitelaw - RC - 4.5 - 0.74
Luigi Benincasa - RW - 3.5 - 0.53
Jack Richard - LW - 3.5 - (0.4)
Daimon Gardner - LC - 4.0 - 0.23
Michael Emerson - RW - 4.0 - (-0.1)
Defense
********
Sebastian Tornqvist - RD - 4.0 - 0.33
John Driscoll - RD - 3.75 - 0.33
Nate Benoit - LD - 4.0 - 0.19
Ben Brunette - LD - 4.0 - (-0.04)