Castagna and Walsh - The Worry Zone

[BearLover]

Yes, good for him. I am a fan of the Cornell hockey team, though.

[Al DeFlorio]

Yes, good for him. I am a fan of the Cornell hockey team, though.

We all are here.  Stop your posturing

[adamw]

Not really sure what it would take to convince BL that the player movement, and departure, is so accelerated nowadays, that any comparison to even 5-10 years ago is meaningless - but - for the sake of everyone else ...

Today, Western Michigan lost two undrafted players and their fourth-round goaltender - all to early signings. Two of those were sophomores. This is so commonplace now, it's a yawn. I really don't have time to do deep dive on actual numbers right now - because it's not easy to do from a simple database search.

You know another way I know this? I used to write a little news blurb for every player that departed early, probably up until as recently as 4-5 years ago. Now, there are so many, and they happen so fast, I don't even bother.

I get that it's commonplace, and I understand that it's becoming more commonplace. But the fact it's happening on a wide basis doesn't itself explain why e.g. Hoyt Stanley would make that decision--his individual calculus isn't any different than it would have been 5-10 years ago when we'd retain that type of player. These are highly personal decisions. Jackson LaCombe (high second round pick, now an NHL star) stayed at Minnesota all four years, after all.

I'm looking at it like this, basically: the last four years our season was ended by BU and Denver. How are we going to beat these teams and get to the Frozen Four? Well, we certainly can't out-recruit them. But we can out-retain them and beat them with experience. But if Cornell players are leaving early just like theirs--well, then we really have no chance at all.

Don't disagree with any of that. I share the same concern/lament. I just disagree with comparing it to 25 or even 5 years ago, or implying that it's a trend, let alone one that's caused by the new coaching staff.  Not trying to be Casey's apologist for any of this.  I tell coaches this all the time - I don't defend you because I like you, I defend because I believe it.

So - I've laid out reasons why things are different today vs. a couple years ago - and while most of that can be dismissed as speculation, if you want, I think it's well-founded.

Obviously transferring is WAY easier now than before, right? So any comparison before two years ago is pretty much irrelevant.  Robertson left, and two transfers came in.  Both of these things were unheard of just a couple years ago. That has nothing to do with Cornell doing something wrong. You don't know if 100 players would've transferred out in Schafer's tenure if it were that easy. No way to know. But credit to Casey for being prepared to replace him. Not just with two transfers in, but in being ready to get Veilleux when that opportunity presented itself, and same with Cournoyer. I'd venture to say he's way more pro-active on all of this stuff now than the past staff, partially because you have to be, and partially because you can be.

We can't get inside Stanley's head to know for sure -- but circumstances have changed, even if it's just the "atmosphere" in college sports these days.  Coaches are doing so much more recruiting to cover their rear ends for anyone leaving, that it can create a self-fulfilling prophecy. I'm not saying that's the case here - I'm just giving one point to consider as a difference that explains things beyond "the coach is different." Maybe Ottawa wanted him more than other 4th rounders Cornell has had in the past. Could be a one off.

You're right on Lacombe. There are others. Dylan James this year. Etc... There will always be examples in the micro.  I am just referring to the macro atmosphere. I have no clue why Stanley made that decision. But usually, if an NHL team wants you after junior year, you go. That kind of pressure is very prevalent in college hockey these days. I don't think it's unusual. I don't think it should be a cause for worry beyond the usual worry.  And I think Casey and the staff are extremely prepared to adapt to it.

And Cornell has it a lot better off than Clarkson, St. Lawrence, Union, Colgate and RPI right now.

[marty]

Good grief!  Stanley realized a life-long dream to sign a pro contract.  That's all the calculus he needed.

"Your reach should exceed your grasp, or what's a heaven for."  Enough with the repetitive deep analysis  He's taking a shot at the prize. Good luck to him.

FWIW anyone want to see BLer's calculus credentials? Didn't he "proactively" stop arguing about this a few weeks ago after the horse had already been rendered into glue?