Early Departures Elsewhere: 2013 Edition

[ugarte]

I was shocked when Sasha went.  I thought he actually got worse during his college career.

Ye Olde Ryan Hughes Syndrome.

Of our other major early departures I would also mention Pelletier and Hynes as big surprises.

JMP's departure didn't shock me. He had proved what he needed to in college and he signed a pretty substantial contract, IIRC.

[Trotsky]

JMP's departure didn't shock me. He had proved what he needed to in college and he signed a pretty substantial contract, IIRC.

I didn't mean shocked in the sense of how could you leave us and for what?  Truckloads of money?  Think of the higher things in life, Jean-Marc, now get back here and finish your art and architecture degree.

I meant shocked in the sense of who the fuck is going to drop that much cash on this guy?

[Trotsky]

Ye Olde Ryan Hughes Syndrome.

I'm not sure Ryan got worse.  He looked worse when he lost 67% of the most explosive line Cornell has skated since the Carter presidency, but that might simply mean he was never really that good to begin with.

[ugarte]

JMP's departure didn't shock me. He had proved what he needed to in college and he signed a pretty substantial contract, IIRC.

I didn't mean shocked in the sense of how could you leave us and for what?  Truckloads of money?  Think of the higher things in life, Jean-Marc, now get back here and finish your art and architecture degree.

I meant shocked in the sense of who the fuck is going to drop that much cash on this guy?

I went back and looked at his stats and now I'M shocked. I thought he had a year as a primary starter but... nope. On the other hand, if the Flyers cared enough to draft him in the second round that was pretty good evidence that he might not be in Ithaca for four years. Especially if he couldn't beat Jason Elliott out of the starting job.

EDIT: I was thinking of Parris Duffus when I wrote "he proved what he needed to in college."

[ugarte]

Ye Olde Ryan Hughes Syndrome.

I'm not sure Ryan got worse.  He looked worse when he lost 67% of the most explosive line Cornell has skated since the Carter presidency, but that might simply mean he was never really that good to begin with.

Eh. He was drafted off of his pre-Cornell skills and then never developed / regressed with the team. The four goals in a 5-4 loss still survives as a very emotionally confusing memory for me.

EDIT: Now that I'm going down memory lane, I looked Hughes up. He had a couple of good minor league seasons and a cup of coffee with Boston (stunned I didn't remember that). Then probably injuries, since he hardly played in the IHL the year after he got on the ice with the Bruins. I'll stop blaming McCutcheon for ruining him.

[ugarte]

Ye Olde Ryan Hughes Syndrome.

I'm not sure Ryan got worse.  He looked worse when he lost 67% of the most explosive line Cornell has skated since the Carter presidency, but that might simply mean he was never really that good to begin with.

Eh. He was drafted off of his pre-Cornell skills and then never developed / regressed with the team. The four goals in a 5-4 loss still survives as a very emotionally confusing memory for me.

EDIT: Now that I'm going down memory lane, I looked Hughes up. He had a couple of good minor league seasons and a cup of coffee with Boston (stunned I didn't remember that). Then probably injuries, since he hardly played in the IHL the year after he got on the ice with the Bruins. I'll stop blaming McCutcheon for ruining him.

SECOND EDIT: Anyone got $1.15 burning a hole in his/her pocket?

[Trotsky]

Of the players who have been hyped prior to playing their first Cornell game, JMP is near the top and perhaps at the top of goalies (Post-1980.  Older memories may vary.)

The pre-hyped that I recall are, in rough order and I'm sure I am forgetting a couple:

Manderville
Riley Nash
Nieuwendyk
Mark McRae
Casey Jones
The Devin Brothers
Ferlin
Joe Dragon
Pete Marcov
Chartrand (but maybe only because he happened to be in a NYT article prior to coming)
Murray
Matt Connors (they can't all pan out)
Mark McCutcheon

JMP
Iles
Darrin McInnis

[nyc94]

I'll stop blaming McCutcheon for ruining him.

I remember a story going around that Hughes' father blamed McCutcheon and was telling anyone and everyone in Canada not to play for him.

[Jerseygirl]

I'm pretty sure Baby came in already drafted. Are we counting that as pre-hyped, or are we setting that bar higher? I just remember a lot of people being excited by how big he was (yes, that's what she said). But since I was also an '03, I lack a certain historical perspective on the matter.

[Trotsky]

I'm pretty sure Baby came in already drafted. Are we counting that as pre-hyped, or are we setting that bar higher? I just remember a lot of people being excited by how big he was (yes, that's what she said). But since I was also an '03, I lack a certain historical perspective on the matter.

I don't recall Baby buzz, but of course there were also times when I was a lot more plugged in.  Others' lists will I'm sure be quite different.  I suspect for example that nobody not on eLF ever heard any buzz about Connors -- he may have been the Big Dave Francis of his time.

[BearLover]

Which underclassman looks like he's ready for the pros again? I'm having a hard time worrying about early departures this year.

Bardreau

Are you kidding me?  He's not even one of the top three Sophomores on the team...

[marty]

Which underclassman looks like he's ready for the pros again? I'm having a hard time worrying about early departures this year.

Bardreau

Are you kidding me?  He's not even one of the top three Sophomores on the team...

... in bizarro world.

[BearLover]

Which underclassman looks like he's ready for the pros again? I'm having a hard time worrying about early departures this year.

Bardreau

Are you kidding me?  He's not even one of the top three Sophomores on the team...

... in bizarro world.

You think Bardreau is better than Ferlin, Lowry, and Ryan?  When he averages about 1/2 as many PPG as those guys?  When he wasn't even drafted, unlike those guys?  I'm sorry, but what makes you think he's at all ready for the NHL, or will ever play in the NHL?  I love Bardreau and he'll make a great captain.  He doesn't appear to be much of an NHL prospect though.  Hope I'm wrong.

[Trotsky]

Hope I'm wrong.

Me, too!  BTW, Bardreau's stock seems to have been rising with a bullet.  During the WJC they were really singing his praises.

You are certainly right he was not as highly thought of as those guys when he got here, but he has quietly become a much better player, and last December was his coming out party.  People are watching him now.

Bardreau's late development reminds me of a guy who I watched come up through the Portland Winter Hawks system in the WHL.  Paul Gaustad.  He was a completely unheralded late bloomer who came from nowhere to seize an excellent NHL career.

[marty]

Hope I'm wrong.

Me, too!  BTW, Bardreau's stock seems to have been rising with a bullet.  During the WJC they were really singing his praises.

You are certainly right he was not as highly thought of as those guys when he got here, but he has quietly become a much better player, and last December was his coming out party.  People are watching him now.

Bardreau's late development reminds me of a guy who I watched come up through the Portland Winter Hawks system in the WHL.  Paul Gaustad.  He was a completely unheralded late bloomer who came from nowhere to seize an excellent NHL career.

My bias was based on seeing him eat up Union this year on the night before the injury at RPI.