DU Misses Out On Last-Minute Defensive Recruit

Garrett Harr
From: MLive.com

When Northeastern University head hockey coach Greg Cronin left the school for an NHL coaching position with the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer, it set off a chain reaction. Several players looked into transfering, one star defected to major juniors and recruits considered decommitting. Prized blueline recruit Garrett Haar weighed his options, and with his stock on the rise, decided to see what schools might be interested.

In no time Haar had offers from Western Michigan, Boston College, Boston University, Denver and Minnesota-Duluth. On Monday he decided to attend Western Michigan.

Haar, an offensive defenseman, played for the USHL’s Fargo Force last season tallying 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists) and a plus/minus rating of plus nine in 51 games before being drafted by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round (207th overall).

Capitals’ General Manager George McPhee called Haar “the biggest surprise of the camp,” in a July 16 Washington Post story on the team’s development camp. “For a young man that was four picks away from not being drafted, he really played well here,” McPhee continued. “Liked his hockey sense, the way he competed I like the way he defends and he looks real strong on his skates.”

21 comments:

dggoddard said...

John Ryder's name is on the DU Roster today. Not sure when he was added or if it had anything to do with this last minute recruiting battle.

So many unanswered questions when in comes to scholarship dollars, who gets what piece of the pie and what happens when an elite recruits comes available at the 11th hour.

Anonymous said...

WMU is going to really make waves. The university is now pouring money into that program, and with an ex-NHL coach in Andy Murray on board, they are going to start winning recruiting battles for kids that they used to lose.

vizoroo said...

Roster still showing Chris Nutini ??
I think Ryder has been there all along.

Trust_Me said...

Answer on Ryder:

Ryder was always planning on coming back this year. The only question was whether he did so as a graduate student or as an undergrad.

See, as of the end of spring 2011, Ryder had already completed his degree requirements in Finance, so he COULD have pulled a Dusty Jackson and come back as grad student. However, upon looking at his credits, he realized that he was close enough to getting a second major that it made sense to come back as an undergrad and finish a second degree (in marketing, if I'm not mistaken).

Upon making this decision, there were some administrative hurdles regarding his "progress towards degree" requirements that had to be cleared both with the NCAA and DU before he could "officially" be added to the roster.

Hurdles cleared, Ryder is now "officially" back.

No idea what's up with Nutini still being on the roster...don't think he's got a redshirt year to play with, so I'd imagine that's a typo...

Anonymous said...

Ryder rocks. He is the man.

dggoddard said...

You can see the effect Cronin's departure at Northeastern and Murray's arrival at Western Michigan in one swift recruiting transfer.

These recruits would play on the Moon if they thought the coach could give them a leg up in reaching the NHL.

Things may have been crowded on the blueline if Haar had of decided on DU. As it is the Pioneers appear to be solid back there. Nonetheless, interesting to hear DU was in the running.

Lets see if the Lassonde rumor bears fruit. He might have a big impact on the defensive schemes.

Aluuum said...

Interesting that Lassonde is leaving a long time appointment in his home state for a lateral transfer(not a promotion) to out west.

cis said...

WMU will be in the NCHC and they will not be a doormat.

Anonymous said...

We already have CC labeled as the doormat, so don't worry about that.

dggoddard said...

CC's doormat is made out of hemp.

Anonymous said...

So this tells me, we were atleast half-heartedly recruiting this guy, a defenceman. Where the hell are the goalies in our recruiting plan? I think at one point there was speculation of Brittain leaving college early, and Murray is burning through his school years. We're getting stacked with skaters in the coming years. It just seems to me, in terms of recruits, either they got nothing right now to speak of, or nothing is being said publicly about what Goaltenders they are spying. And that concerns me just a tad, knowing LaLonde has packed his shit and left the building. Even if #1 stays here to graduate and becomes better than ever, Unless Olkinura poops a golden egg and turns into the next Domink Hasek or whomever..... DU needs a goalie recruit - or am I way out of line on these remarks?

Anonymous said...

Even more for WMU...along with getting Haar, they first pulled Justin Kovacs from Northeastern...another premium player out of the Cedar Rapids Roughriders stable...that apparently DU completely overlooked and was Murray's first official recruit. Should WMU be in the NCHC...they will be anything but the doormat!

Ring_of_Fire said...

@ Anon 2:17

Even if Brittain DOES leave early, given his injury status, it's tremendously unlikely that he'll leave until he's had at least one more FULL year under his belt. This means that DU's #1 goalie position is all but locked up until after the 2012-2013 season...and, depending on Sam's decision whether or not to leave early, it COULD be locked up until after the 2013-2014 season.

Also, with the arrival of Olkinura, the back-up goalie position has just become a whole lot more crowded as well...particularly with Murray (who definitely will NOT leave early) not set to graduate until after the 2012-2013 season.

That depth chart, more than anything, likely accounts for the relative dearth of blue-chip goalie recruits lining up at the doors of Magness.

If I were a betting man (and I am...) I would bet that due to the injury and subsequent surgery, Brittain will likely stay his entire eligibility. Thus, DU will look to bring in a "blue chip" goalie recruit at the beginning of the 2013-14 season.

Any earlier, and a kid is (likely) just signing up to ride pine for at LEAST two years...a situation that, when you're talking about NHL drafted players, isn't exactly a good development trajectory.

Anonymous said...

Right now, all we have are serious question marks in goal.

Can Sammy rebound after injury?

Is Murray going to be a capable WCHA goalie?

Is Olkimura a viable back up? Or more?

Who stays and who leaves?

The answer to every question is we need to wait and see....

Ring_of_Fire said...

@ 3:32...

Agreed. More or less.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that, scholarship-wise, DU's hands are essentially tied here.

Even if Gwoz & Co. could find the second coming of Wade Dubielewicz next year; the NCAA limitations on scholarships do not, as a practical matter, allow a team to bring in more than two full scholarship goaltenders at any one time. In fact, frequently, NCAA backup goalies are merely on partial scholarships in order to free up money for other needs.

In DU's situation, both Murray and Brittain are on full rides, meaning that Olkimura is likely getting very minimal scholarship money (rather like Lars Paulgaard).

Now, in order to even get a sniff at a blue chip goalie recruit, DU would have to dangle a full ride - not to mention the opportunity at fairly extensive playing time; neither of which appear likely to happen until after the 2012 season.

Tough situation to be in, to be sure...particularly given the uncertainty of Sammy's injury and rehab, but there you have it...

Anonymous said...

Rumor has it that Olkimura is on a 1/2 ride. Wouldn't surprise me if Murray's deal has been shortened up, but these things are cloaked in secrecy.

Maybe DU knows that Sam will be leaving after this season which would make Olkimura's scholarship deal look more intriguing.

Ring_of_Fire said...

@ 5:21...

I just can't see how leaving the relative coziness and predictability of a college hockey program such as DU's for the grind of the bus leagues after what amounts to AT MOST 1/3 of a season between the pipes makes any sense for Sam or his future career.

In fact, my guess is that, with the glut of goalies Florida has in its system, Dale Tallon is probably begging Sam to stay in school as long as he can.

Now, I have no direct knowledge of this but I would not be at all surprised to hear that Sam and the coaching and training staffs are at least considering a medical redshirt year. Though surgery did go well and rehab is, by all accounts, progressing as expected, they just don't know how everything's gonna go, yet...particularly once he gets on the ice and starts moving laterally and twisting.

Naturally, a lot depends on how Murray and Olkimura acquit themselves in Sammy's absence and where the team is in the league and national standings. If DU's doing well and there isn't a glaring need between the pipes, why rush Sam back? Why not let him redshirt?

Anyway. All interesting pondering for a slow Tuesday...

Aluuum said...

Hey Ring, I think you're the Swam.

Imaws Kcup said...

No way Aluum. He's a good poster and seemingly very knowledgeable, but his style is much different.

Skip Wacum said...

MOVE YOUR FEET!!

Aluuum said...

I agree K cup. Ring is an excellent poster' just like the Swam. Plus the writing style is very similer.
I hold to my suspicions. The SWam has returned,