UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

[RockTheWhit]

As for Pesce, I guess UNH fans should be lamenting the fact that he did all those press conferences/media availabilities rather than chatting with Mike Paliotta

Pesce and Paliotta have the same agent and he knows the CBA quite well.

PS- Sorry for being late to this part of the discussion.

[NCAA watcher]

Exactly my thought, not sure why Watcher thinks that Maller and Cleland will not be on the team in 2016-1017. I would be very surprised if either of them gets drafted and skips senior year, especially Maller, but I could be wrong.

Mistake on my part putting them in the wrong class

cHC. Good guess now that I think of it. I had though maybe one if the Yandle parents, uncles who played for Malden Catholic

[C-H-C]

Mistake on my part putting them in the wrong class

cHC. Good guess now that I think of it. I had though maybe one if the Yandle parents, uncles who played for Malden Catholic

If he is who I'm guessing he is, he has a son who came up through youth and junior hockey. This might account for his connections in the hockey parents community.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Speaking of Joey Laleggia he was just signed by the Oilers...had 136 points in 156 GP....impressive to say the least...

[Snively65]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

I'm going to have to disagree that he is a "respected" journalist. Unless he has an alter ego, "respected journalists" don't go on fan boy websites and troll. And if he was, he would not have been so bold to predict right after UNH eliminated PC from Hockey East that the Friars were a lock for the NCAAs.

Don't forget, his first foray into this thread was his constant whining about the Vecchione affair. At first I figured he was from Saugus since he inferred that he had great knowledge of the kid and his family. And for awhile I actually thought he might be Chris Serino believe it or not since Chris was from Saugus and coached him at Malden Catholic. I now publicly apologize, and profusely, to the Serinio famiily for even having that thought cross my mind. I have no idea who he is, and like Bill B (who came out of the woodwork last week to renew his insults), I don't really care. I do like intelligent conversation of the program and, thankfully, the vast majority who post here provide it.

+1 Gotta love this thread.

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

UNH lines:

I think first you have to look at the system and structure. Like it or not there is a defensive focus UNH has had since the 98-99 season. Before 98-99 there was some serious run and gun hockey going on, fun to watch.

Now this is from memory watching the games but I think part of the second half was getting a set of lines that fit the structure and could generate a forecheck. I looked at some line charts on Hockey East online and those charts seem to say what I remember might be B.S. or a slight system change not as much the lines. What I recall is the centers playing more time high in the offensive zone and deep in the defensive zone early in the year. Second half if Downing went in offensively Thrush would rotate high in the zone and then play behind the net if the play transitioned, same with Poturalski and Correale. This allowed those two lines to provide a more consistent forecheck while still having the 3rd man on defense.

So I look at the line up with this in mind. You need forward lines with at least one wing that can go in the corners and do some dirty work and is also defensively responsible to help the center. With that in mind I am not sure:

Blackburn - Poturalski – Kelleher

will work as a line. Doing this will force Poturalski to stay high in the zone and will really diminish the forecheck pressure as I don’t think Umile will trust Kelleher or Blackburn to play low if the puck transitions. Also who does the dirty work in the corners? I like Poturalski & Kelleher together and need a dirty work defensively responsible player to compliment and think that leaves me Correale or MacDonald or maybe Gaudreault.

Same thinking as I liked Foegele and Eiserman together. Eiserman made space and I hope Foegele develops into a scorer. Now I need a play maker to go with them at center. My understanding is Blackburn is a center so maybe later in the year. But I might try McNicholas.

Using that thinking I would look at:

Correale - Poturalski – Kelleher
Foegele – McNicholas – Eiserman
Blackburn – Smith – Hill
Salvaggio – Gaudreault- Vela

Lastly I think you have to throw some players in the fire. You are going to lose a bunch of games early until the Freshman come up to speed. If you are going to lose anyway at least get some growth out of it.

Umile has always been too loyal to upper class players. I think some of that cost UNH a shot at high end players as they want/need to play out of the gate. It is also why the typical UNH season starts fast and finishes slow. Early other teams are taking lumps getting the talented Freshman time and later they are reaping what was sown early. Next year needs to be another growth year.

[Chuck Murray]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Skipped a day and look at what I missed. Best quality speculation AND insight (hard sometimes to tell which is which) posted on here in a LONG time. Continue, please.

[JB]

Skipped a day and look at what I missed. Best quality speculation AND insight (hard sometimes to tell which is which) posted on here in a LONG time. Continue, please.

It has been awhile for good stuff hasn't it.

[Snively65]

UNH lines:

I think first you have to look at the system and structure. Like it or not there is a defensive focus UNH has had since the 98-99 season. Before 98-99 there was some serious run and gun hockey going on, fun to watch.

Now this is from memory watching the games but I think part of the second half was getting a set of lines that fit the structure and could generate a forecheck. I looked at some line charts on Hockey East online and those charts seem to say what I remember might be B.S. or a slight system change not as much the lines. What I recall is the centers playing more time high in the offensive zone and deep in the defensive zone early in the year. Second half if Downing went in offensively Thrush would rotate high in the zone and then play behind the net if the play transitioned, same with Poturalski and Correale. This allowed those two lines to provide a more consistent forecheck while still having the 3rd man on defense.

So I look at the line up with this in mind. You need forward lines with at least one wing that can go in the corners and do some dirty work and is also defensively responsible to help the center. With that in mind I am not sure:

Blackburn - Poturalski – Kelleher

will work as a line. Doing this will force Poturalski to stay high in the zone and will really diminish the forecheck pressure as I don’t think Umile will trust Kelleher or Blackburn to play low if the puck transitions. Also who does the dirty work in the corners? I like Poturalski & Kelleher together and need a dirty work defensively responsible player to compliment and think that leaves me Correale or MacDonald or maybe Gaudreault.

Same thinking as I liked Foegele and Eiserman together. Eiserman made space and I hope Foegele develops into a scorer. Now I need a play maker to go with them at center. My understanding is Blackburn is a center so maybe later in the year. But I might try McNicholas.

Using that thinking I would look at:

Correale - Poturalski – Kelleher
Foegele – McNicholas – Eiserman
Blackburn – Smith – Hill
Salvaggio – Gaudreault- Vela

Lastly I think you have to throw some players in the fire. You are going to lose a bunch of games early until the Freshman come up to speed. If you are going to lose anyway at least get some growth out of it.

Umile has always been too loyal to upper class players. I think some of that cost UNH a shot at high end players as they want/need to play out of the gate. It is also why the typical UNH season starts fast and finishes slow. Early other teams are taking lumps getting the talented Freshman time and later they are reaping what was sown early. Next year needs to be another growth year.

Very astute post, JB. I like the idea of having Correale on the first line to create some space for Poturalski, and also allow Kelleher to use his speed to shake loose from defenders. I agree that the challenge will be finding a center for Foegele and Eiserman on the second line early on.

[NCAA watcher]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Stuck on train with phone battery dying, so I sketched out on pad the UNH rosters already in place for the next years. This is the crew that Umile will finish his career with. At this point the recruiting is mainly for 2018 and later.
-----------------
2015-16
So. Eiserman - So. Poturalski - Jr.Kelleher
So.Foegele -- So.McNicholas - Sr.Correale
Sr.Smith---Fr.Blackburn -- Fr.Vela
Fr.BVR --So.Salvaggio -- Sr.Gaudreault
Fr.Kalinowski -- Sr.Hill -- Sr.MacDonald
Jr.Bourque - Fr.Miller
D
Jr.Cleland -- Fr.Masonius
Jr.Maller --- So.Marks
So.Furgele -- Sr.Quast
So.Chanter --So.Boyd

2016-17
Jr. Eiserman - Jr. Poturalski - Sr.Kelleher
Jr.Foegele -- So.Blackburn -- So.Vela
Fr.Nazarian--Jr.McNicholas - Fr.Fregona
So.BVR --Jr.Salvaggio -- Fr.C.Kelleher
So.Kalinowski --Fr.Grasso- So.Miller
Sr.Bourque -- Fr.Cefalu

D
Sr.Cleland -- So.Masonius
Sr.Maller --- Jr.Marks
Jr.Furgele -- Jr.Chanter
Jr.Boyd -- Fr.Darcy
Fr.Nonis

2017-18
Sr. Eiserman - Sr. Poturalski -- Jr.Vela
Sr.Foegele -- Jr.Blackburn - So.Fregona
So.Nazarian--Sr.McNicholas -- So.C.Kelleher
Jr.BVR --Sr.Salvaggio --So.Grasso
Jr.Kalinowski - Fr.Cipollone -- Fr.J.O'Neill
So.Cefalu---Jr.Miller -- Fr.A.O'Neill

D
Fr.Ryczek -- Jr.Masonius
Fr. _______--- Sr.Marks
Sr.Furgele -- Sr.Chanter
Sr.Boyd -- So.Darcy
So.Nonis

2018-19
Jr.Nazarian -- Sr.Blackburn - Sr.Vela
Sr.BVR- Jr.C.Kelleher--Jr.Fregona
Fr.Farabee-- So.J.O'Neill --Jr.Grasso
Fr.____ -So.Cipollone-- Fr.Esposito
Sr.Kalinowski--Sr.Miller -- So.A.O'Neill
Jr.Cefalu-

D
So.Ryczek -- Sr.Masonius
So. _______--- Fr.____
Jr.Darcy---- Fr._____
Fr.______ ---Jr.Nonis

[chickod]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Stuck on train

C'mon...really? Keolis runs the finest transportation system in North America...

[JB]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Is there are way to "rate" these players based on there skill set? Including where they should project on a NCAA tournament team?

I am thinking a table - clueless how to post here. Categories Scorer, Assist Guy, Space Maker, Grinder, Defensive Specialist & Projection (Top 6, Bottom 6, Bench Warmer)

Eiserman he is not likely to be a top end assist guy or scorer. However he is still a top 6 forward based on speed and size - Space Making.

Poturalski is a assist guy that can finish, Top 6

Kelleher is a finisher, Top 6

Blackburn is an assist guy, Top 6

Gaudreault is a grinder, Bottom 6

Add in natural position.

A summary table, subjective yes but could lead to some interesting discussion. I think we will see too many grinders and space makers not nearly enough finishers.

[e.cat]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

Stuck on train with phone battery dying, so I sketched out on pad the UNH rosters already in place for the next years. This is the crew that Umile will finish his career with. At this point the recruiting is mainly for 2018 and later.
-----------------
2015-16
So. Eiserman - So. Poturalski - Jr.Kelleher
So.Foegele -- So.McNicholas - Sr.Correale
Sr.Smith---Fr.Blackburn -- Fr.Vela
Fr.BVR --So.Salvaggio -- Sr.Gaudreault
Fr.Kalinowski -- Sr.Hill -- Sr.MacDonald
Jr.Bourque - Fr.Miller
D
Jr.Cleland -- Fr.Masonius
Jr.Maller --- So.Marks
So.Furgele -- Sr.Quast
So.Chanter --So.Boyd

2016-17
Jr. Eiserman - Jr. Poturalski - Sr.Kelleher
Jr.Foegele -- So.Blackburn -- So.Vela
Fr.Nazarian--Jr.McNicholas - Fr.Fregona
So.BVR --Jr.Salvaggio -- Fr.C.Kelleher
So.Kalinowski --Fr.Grasso- So.Miller
Sr.Bourque -- Fr.Cefalu

D
Sr.Cleland -- So.Masonius
Sr.Maller --- Jr.Marks
Jr.Furgele -- Jr.Chanter
Jr.Boyd -- Fr.Darcy
Fr.Nonis

2017-18
Sr. Eiserman - Sr. Poturalski -- Jr.Vela
Sr.Foegele -- Jr.Blackburn - So.Fregona
So.Nazarian--Sr.McNicholas -- So.C.Kelleher
Jr.BVR --Sr.Salvaggio --So.Grasso
Jr.Kalinowski - Fr.Cipollone -- Fr.J.O'Neill
So.Cefalu---Jr.Miller -- Fr.A.O'Neill

D
Fr.Ryczek -- Jr.Masonius
Fr. _______--- Sr.Marks
Sr.Furgele -- Sr.Chanter
Sr.Boyd -- So.Darcy
So.Nonis

2018-19
Jr.Nazarian -- Sr.Blackburn - Sr.Vela
Sr.BVR- Jr.C.Kelleher--Jr.Fregona
Fr.Farabee-- So.J.O'Neill --Jr.Grasso
Fr.____ -So.Cipollone-- Fr.Esposito
Sr.Kalinowski--Sr.Miller -- So.A.O'Neill
Jr.Cefalu-

D
So.Ryczek -- Sr.Masonius
So. _______--- Fr.____
Jr.Darcy---- Fr._____
Fr.______ ---Jr.Nonis

Thats good stuff watcher from you and JB. My concern is, who will be leaving early from this crowd?

[wildcatdc]

Stuck on train with phone battery dying, so I sketched out on pad the UNH rosters already in place for the next years. This is the crew that Umile will finish his career with. At this point the recruiting is mainly for 2018 and later.
-----------------
2015-16
So. Eiserman - So. Poturalski - Jr.Kelleher
So.Foegele -- So.McNicholas - Sr.Correale
Sr.Smith---Fr.Blackburn -- Fr.Vela
Fr.BVR --So.Salvaggio -- Sr.Gaudreault
Fr.Kalinowski -- Sr.Hill -- Sr.MacDonald
Jr.Bourque - Fr.Miller
D
Jr.Cleland -- Fr.Masonius
Jr.Maller --- So.Marks
So.Furgele -- Sr.Quast
So.Chanter --So.Boyd

2016-17
Jr. Eiserman - Jr. Poturalski - Sr.Kelleher
Jr.Foegele -- So.Blackburn -- So.Vela
Fr.Nazarian--Jr.McNicholas - Fr.Fregona
So.BVR --Jr.Salvaggio -- Fr.C.Kelleher
So.Kalinowski --Fr.Grasso- So.Miller
Sr.Bourque -- Fr.Cefalu

D
Sr.Cleland -- So.Masonius
Sr.Maller --- Jr.Marks
Jr.Furgele -- Jr.Chanter
Jr.Boyd -- Fr.Darcy
Fr.Nonis

2017-18
Sr. Eiserman - Sr. Poturalski -- Jr.Vela
Sr.Foegele -- Jr.Blackburn - So.Fregona
So.Nazarian--Sr.McNicholas -- So.C.Kelleher
Jr.BVR --Sr.Salvaggio --So.Grasso
Jr.Kalinowski - Fr.Cipollone -- Fr.J.O'Neill
So.Cefalu---Jr.Miller -- Fr.A.O'Neill

D
Fr.Ryczek -- Jr.Masonius
Fr. _______--- Sr.Marks
Sr.Furgele -- Sr.Chanter
Sr.Boyd -- So.Darcy
So.Nonis

2018-19
Jr.Nazarian -- Sr.Blackburn - Sr.Vela
Sr.BVR- Jr.C.Kelleher--Jr.Fregona
Fr.Farabee-- So.J.O'Neill --Jr.Grasso
Fr.____ -So.Cipollone-- Fr.Esposito
Sr.Kalinowski--Sr.Miller -- So.A.O'Neill
Jr.Cefalu-

D
So.Ryczek -- Sr.Masonius
So. _______--- Fr.____
Jr.Darcy---- Fr._____
Fr.______ ---Jr.Nonis

When's the last time we even had the possibility of keeping our first two lines (forwards and blue liners) together two years in a row?

Seems like a nice situation to be in.

[HockeyRef]

Re: UNH Wildcats TD Garden and Beyond 2015

NEWS FLASH! Willows continues to kill it in Worcester...4 points in 3 games...scores tying goal tonight...super amateur video by yours truly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evYXmNgHHTU