Offseason Thread

[BillyLP]

I know there are a good number of players coming in, but it seems like BG is going to have to try and be active in the transfer portal too, right? Seems like that'd be the only way to prevent falling into the consistent four year reload cycle.

[BGDrew]

I know there are a good number of players coming in, but it seems like BG is going to have to try and be active in the transfer portal too, right? Seems like that'd be the only way to prevent falling into the consistent four year reload cycle.

You risk losing recruits when you tell them they’ll need to play in the juniors for another year (if they’re even eligible for it).

The only player I really see a possibility of asking to stick in juniors for a season is Jack Blake. He should probably play another year of junior hockey, but with how thin BG is on the blue line that may not be possible.

I could see them trying to get a goalie in to

[jpfalcon09]

Ford likely ending up at North Dakota. Max Johnson announces he's going to Wisconsin.

All these guys going to big name programs makes it ever more frustrating they pissed away this season.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

While it stinks to lose these guys, I'm glad to see them moving on to blue blood programs where a) they'll experience a change that will positively impact their long term career prospects and that b) aren't in our league (well, so far). It would be hard yelling "Who's he, NOBODY!" at Brandon Kruse.

[pdt1081]

While it stinks to lose these guys, I'm glad to see them moving on to blue blood programs where a) they'll experience a change that will positively impact their long term career prospects and that b) aren't in our league (well, so far). It would be hard yelling "Who's he, NOBODY!" at Brandon Kruse.

Remember Ty saying they were making phone calls to other programs for some of these guys? I wouldn't be surprised at all to see one or two of those other schools on the schedule in the near future. NCAA sports are now a "business." For at least the next 4 years you are going to see this happening. Those other schools have a lot of Roster holes to fill with all of their early departures. It's free agency season.

[Schadenfreude]

Max Johnson has committed to Wisconsin.

It sounds as though Connor Ford is making his way to North Dakota.

I understand why we are letting these players go, but it still isn't fun watching it happen.

(Which is not to say there might not be some upside, as PDT notes.)

[jpfalcon09]

Max Johnson has committed to Wisconsin.

It sounds as though Connor Ford is making his way to North Dakota.

I understand why we are letting these players go, but it still isn't fun watching it happen.

(Which is not to say there might not be some upside, as PDT notes.)

BG isn't letting these players go. They're getting their degree from the university and taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility from the NCAA. They'd be graduating and moving onto the next phase of their life in any normal year.

The optics make this look bad. Bigger programs have had guys leave early to go pro and need roster spots filled for a year. Better to do it with with a 5th year senior than an incoming freshman. BG ends up looking like a feeder school out of all this. That's what pisses me off. Once again the schools who don't need any help are going to wind up benefitting the most out of all this. BG will be forced to reload and endure a couple transition years while BC won't miss the likes of Knight and Boldy nearly as much now.

It sucks, and I'm bitter about it.

[jpfalcon09]

Hearing Ford to North Dakota is done but I haven't seen any confirmation online.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Hearing Ford to North Dakota is done but I haven't seen any confirmation online.

CHN confirmed it.

[unfalconbelievable]

Ford likely ending up at North Dakota. Max Johnson announces he's going to Wisconsin.

All these guys going to big name programs makes it ever more frustrating they pissed away this season.

Frustrating doesn't say it..........

I use to think we just couldn't get "those" guys anymore to come to BG. Guys went to BC, ND, UMass, Denver, etc because they were better, but this transfer portal hiatus has me thinking otherwise. We have goes going to stronger programs left and right, which tells me that we have the guys, but something is broken. Either these good players were getting aren't thriving here for some reason or maybe the system we have in place is not letting them flourish or potentially it's coaching. I don't know the answer, but it's beyond frustrating when we see decent players leave to go to marquee programs knowing what could have been.

[BillyLP]

Ford likely ending up at North Dakota. Max Johnson announces he's going to Wisconsin.

All these guys going to big name programs makes it ever more frustrating they pissed away this season.

Frustrating doesn't say it..........

I use to think we just couldn't get "those" guys anymore to come to BG. Guys went to BC, ND, UMass, Denver, etc because they were better, but this transfer portal hiatus has me thinking otherwise. We have goes going to stronger programs left and right, which tells me that we have the guys, but something is broken. Either these good players were getting aren't thriving here for some reason or maybe the system we have in place is not letting them flourish or potentially it's coaching. I don't know the answer, but it's beyond frustrating when we see decent players leave to go to marquee programs knowing what could have been.

Not saying the frustration isn't justified, but it's worth waiting to see how they actually play at their new programs. Some of them might thrive and play like All-Americans, some might barely see the ice.

[TommyG]

It’s been a tough 2021 for BG Hockey. I for one think it says something when these guys jump ship as opposed to staying and trying to win a title. Whether that says something about the coaches or the players themselves I’m not sure?
Regardless it isn’t a good sign. Program seems to be trending down again. It’s been an avg to slightly above avg program that has been overrated for the past 5 years. If they take a step back they could be completely irrelevant again rather quickly.

[jpfalcon09]

It’s been a tough 2021 for BG Hockey. I for one think it says something when these guys jump ship as opposed to staying and trying to win a title. Whether that says something about the coaches or the players themselves I’m not sure?
Regardless it isn’t a good sign. Program seems to be trending down again. It’s been an avg to slightly above avg program that has been overrated for the past 5 years. If they take a step back they could be completely irrelevant again rather quickly.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you're talking about. No one has jumped ship. All the transfers out of the program would be gone in a normal year due to graduation. The program was due to take a heavy numbers hit this year no matter what happened.

Secondly, BG will have 7-8 guys from a massive recruiting class coming on campus next year. Keeping the guys leaving for another year means jettisoning this class as those guys are out of options in junior hockey. That would wreck this program even more.

[Schadenfreude]

It’s been a tough 2021 for BG Hockey. I for one think it says something when these guys jump ship as opposed to staying and trying to win a title. Whether that says something about the coaches or the players themselves I’m not sure?
Regardless it isn’t a good sign. Program seems to be trending down again. It’s been an avg to slightly above avg program that has been overrated for the past 5 years. If they take a step back they could be completely irrelevant again rather quickly.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you're talking about. No one has jumped ship. All the transfers out of the program would be gone in a normal year due to graduation. The program was due to take a heavy numbers hit this year no matter what happened.

Secondly, BG will have 7-8 guys from a massive recruiting class coming on campus next year. Keeping the guys leaving for another year means jettisoning this class as those guys are out of options in junior hockey. That would wreck this program even more.

And this is what I meant when I said "letting them go." It looks to me like BGSU faced a big numbers problem here and a choice: Maintain its commitments to incoming freshman or break those commitments. Eigner decided to honor those commitments, which means there just wasn't room for these graduating seniors to stay for a bonus year.

(But I'll stand corrected.)

On the positive side, this shows we don't take a back seat to anybody when it comes to recruiting talent.

[TommyG]

[quote=TommyG post_id=435939 time=<a href="tel:1617814826">1617814826</a> user_id=52309]
It’s been a tough 2021 for BG Hockey. I for one think it says something when these guys jump ship as opposed to staying and trying to win a title. Whether that says something about the coaches or the players themselves I’m not sure?
Regardless it isn’t a good sign. Program seems to be trending down again. It’s been an avg to slightly above avg program that has been overrated for the past 5 years. If they take a step back they could be completely irrelevant again rather quickly.

I'm sorry but you don't know what you're talking about. No one has jumped ship. All the transfers out of the program would be gone in a normal year due to graduation. The program was due to take a heavy numbers hit this year no matter what happened.

Secondly, BG will have 7-8 guys from a massive recruiting class coming on campus next year. Keeping the guys leaving for another year means jettisoning this class as those guys are out of options in junior hockey. That would wreck this program even more.
[/quote]

Easy there boss.... I know a little than you think...there is some wiggle room with rosters/scholarships due to Covid. If you think Eigner was like “Hey guys you all got to go” you’re wrong. I’m sure there a couple guys they told they may not have a spot for, but there we’re definitely guys they were trying to keep. It isn’t beneficial to say publicly they were hoping to keep certain guys so they are acting like they are mutually parting ways.