Sawada picked 20th best incoming forward

by INCH: [www.insidecollegehockey.com]

Other ECAC:

6. Weller, Clk
11. Johnson, Drt

They've also posted the lists for goalies, defensive players, and classes. As many probably suspected, Cornell doesn't appear to have had a stellar recruiting class -- at least in the eyes of INCH.

At least i nthe eyes of INCH they don't. I expect this to be a much better class than expected, not so much in quantity of players as was the case the last two years, but in quality. In only losing three regulars, they couldn't add a large class, so they added a high-quality class. I expect Scott, Sawada, Pokuluk, and Krantz to all be major elements (as in top six forwards/top three defensemen) once they have developed. Their contributions this year, I expect will be higher than the contributions from last year's freshmen.

Cornell not ranked among the top 15 incoming classes overall. Could be, as others have said, that if you have solid sophomore-to-senior classes, you don't overstock this year and create dissension among bubble players who think they deserve to be skating the varsity and find themselves on the taxi squad. I think there's a unrealistic optimism among players about their talents. If they don't play, they gripe to their friends back home who might be recruits for the class of 2009.

Top five incoming classes were, according to INCH:
1. ND
2. BC
3. Minnesota
In ECAC
9. Clarkson
12. Dartmouth
[www.insidecollegehockey.com]


Not sure Miami likes its 15th place ranking (out of 15 top classes). Sure that's not the coeds at Miama (Fla)?
>>> 15.
Miami
With classes like last year – which featured Matt Christie, Marty Guerin and Brandon Crawford-West – and this group, the RedHawks are almost dispelling the theory that Oxford's best talent is its coed population. Almost. Impact players: Nathan Davis, Nino Musitelli, Mitch Ganzak

Not sure if I buy into that. To me, you gotta take the best players available when they become available.

Looking at the individual awards/etc garnered by these guys, I think the recruiting class is a lot stronger than INCH believes (or noticed).

recapping from earlier discussions:

Sawada was picked in the 2nd round of the NHL draft, was the BCHL coastal rookie of the year, played in the BCHL all-star game.

Topher Scott was his team's MVP, player of the week at least once, and represented his team at the USHL all-star game.

Doug Krantz was the BCHL coastal division's "best defenseman", his team's best defenseman and MVP. Played in the BCHL all-star game.

Pokulok made the SJHL all-rookie team.

When you compare their stats/awards agains the recruits from both Dartmouth and Clarkson (the two that made the top 15), I think that these guys stack up against them pretty well. It seems like a pretty strong class to me.

We'll find out who has the better incoming class when we play ND in the NCAA quarters next March.

Y'think NoDak is going to be ranked that low by then?

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

We'll find out who has the better incoming class when we play ND in the NCAA quarters next March. [/q]

Not predicting whether whether we'll be there next March or not, but the real measure of the class will be the following Marches, when this year's frosh have had a little more time to settle in and develop in the system.

FWIW, These things are subjective by their nature, but generally seem to have more hits than misses (in most sports).

INCHO posted the top 10 players by source, looking at USA Hockey NTDP, USHL, US Prep/HS, NAHL, EJHL, BCHL, Mountain/Central Canada, and Ontario/Eastern Canada. The breakdown for ECAC schools is as follows:

3 recruits:
Clarkson
Dartmouth
H******

2 recruits:
Union

1 recruit:
Cornell (Sawada)
Brown
Colgate
RPI
Yale

Then there's the matter of

- best returning players
- best coach
- best home facility
- bounce of the puck

Still, I would rather have Dustin Brown skating in on a sieve than Dustin Hoffman.

[Q]billhoward Wrote:

- bounce of the puck
[/q]


Or a puck on edge rolling just wide of an empty net

[Q]Avash '05 Wrote:

billhoward Wrote:

- bounce of the puck
[/Q]
Or a puck on edge rolling just wide of an empty net [/q]

Hee hee. Oh, and Harvard sucks.