Offseason Thread

[pdt1081]

With Cullen and Theo being gone the program was in serious need of an offensively minded guy on the back end. Fills a huge need.

I wouldn't exactly expect big numbers from him. I'm guessing he was on the coaches' radar at one point, they just didn't have room for him at the time. With the two departures from what would be his class, it makes sense to bring him on now. He's a 97, which puts him right in between Theo and Cullen.

[mbenecke]

Justin Wells lands at Boston College.

This one is a little surprising to me, but didn’t his dad play for Jerry?

[jpfalcon09]

Justin Wells lands at Boston College.

This one is a little surprising to me, but didn’t his dad play for Jerry?

Yep, Jeff played at BG from 90-94.

Would be nice if Jerry scheduled BG for a future game or two as a nod to helping them out this upcoming year.

I believe this leaves Musser and Wright as the only two seniors still in the portal.

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Intellectually I get all this, but every time I see a name pop up it feels like a punch in the gut.

[mbenecke]

Intellectually I get all this, but every time I see a name pop up it feels like a punch in the gut.

I feel the same. It's tough to see these guys go.

[jpfalcon09]

Intellectually I get all this, but every time I see a name pop up it feels like a punch in the gut.

This group underachieved in my eyes, so while it's difficult to see them move on, I believe it's for the best interest of the program.

[AZIce]

This group underachieved in my eyes, so while it's difficult to see them move on, I believe it's for the best interest of the program.

Did this group underachieve because of talent or coaching?

Bergeron is gone, yet the same cycle keeps happening......now this group of guys are gone.

I guess if it keeps happening in the next year or so we'll finally know the answer.

[Critical Thinker]

This group underachieved in my eyes, so while it's difficult to see them move on, I believe it's for the best interest of the program.

Did this group underachieve because of talent or coaching?

Bergeron is gone, yet the same cycle keeps happening......now this group of guys are gone.

I guess if it keeps happening in the next year or so we'll finally know the answer.

Berge and Ty's previous classes didn't finish 5th and get knocked out in the first round as upperclassmen. Some of the underachieving had to be talent.

[jbakerifm]

Intellectually I get all this, but every time I see a name pop up it feels like a punch in the gut.

This group underachieved in my eyes, so while it's difficult to see them move on, I believe it's for the best interest of the program.

Agreed. I think that group got too much hype and bought into it too much. They didn't show up prepared to play too often. Although they may have had more raw talent than some previous classes they definitely lacked some of the grit and determination that a lot of those guys had. I mean the ncaa berth was nice and all but we quickly forget they blew a lead at the end for the conference title AND in the ncaa game, not to mention tons of games against poor teams. They played like they didn't have anything to prove.

I'm excited to see the new guys and the experienced players that are left play. The two transfers are definitely coming in with something to prove and have some skill.

It's easy to blame the coaches when things don't go well, but there's only so many ways to tell guys to bring their best everyday and every game. If they won't, they don't.

[TommyG]

It’s a catch 22...the program is overrated because of the wins it accumulates playing a lackluster schedule most years. They need to schedule tougher non-con opponents to prepare themselves for more 2nd half and postseason success, but doing that will likely expose them as being overrated.
Hopefully for the team and it’s fans they can have some success early next year and everyone can pretend BG Hockey is a top ten program again. Seems so long ago fans were so disrespected that Michigan was ranked ahead of BG....
Never has a program accomplished less and had a false narrative of being an elite program. Last conference championship playoff or regular season 1988....

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

2018-19 - Swept ranked Western Michigan, won/tied with ranked Ohio State, swept ranked Mankato
2019-20 - Swept ranked Western Michigan, swept ranked Notre Dame
2020-21 - Swept ranked Quinnipiac

Apparently the program is overrated because of wins accumulated playing a lackluster schedule most years. Or maybe all these teams were wildly overrated in their own right.

[TommyG]

SOS

2017- 48th
2018- 41st
2019-46th
2020- 25th

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

I was challenging your entire snarky premise. Doubling down doesn't magically make it valid.

[TommyG]

The challenge of a good schedule isn’t playing 3-4 big series a year...it’s playing good teams on a consistent basis. In the WCHA your easy weekends were conference games. If they want a good overall schedule they need to play every non conference series against a non Atlantic hockey team.
SOS should improve slightly with losing Huntsville and Alaska Anchorage...but knowing BG, they’ll schedule Huntsville non conference every year in their quest for 20 wins against a 40+ SOS.

[pdt1081]

The challenge of a good schedule isn’t playing 3-4 big series a year...it’s playing good teams on a consistent basis. In the WCHA your easy weekends were conference games. If they want a good overall schedule they need to play every non conference series against a non Atlantic hockey team.
SOS should improve slightly with losing Huntsville and Alaska Anchorage...but knowing BG, they’ll schedule Huntsville non conference every year in their quest for 20 wins against a 40+ SOS.

There's nothing easy about the WCHA schedule.