BU Men’s Ice Hockey Depth Chart Projections

By: Daniel Shulman

NOTE: THESE ARE PROJECTIONS OF THE BU MEN’S ICE HOCKEY DEPTH CHART

Forwards

  1. Matt Lane               Danny O’Regan                Ahti Oksanen
  2. A. J. Greer              Robbie Baillargeon          Jordan Greenway
  3. Nikolas Olsson      Mike Moran                       Nick Roberto
  4. Chase Phelps         Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson  Bobo Carpenter
  1. Tommy Kelley      Ryan Cloonan                    Dillon Lawrence

With the loss of Jack Eichel and Evan Rodrigues, the two top scorers from a year ago, the first line is in desperate need of repair. Danny O’Regan will head the first unit at center, leading the team with a 56.4% success rate at the face-off dot. On the wings will be Ahti Oksanen and Matt Lane. Oksanen spent the first half of last season on the first line while Lane was a mainstay on the second line. With Lane’s speed and ability to skate to the net, he may earn himself a spot on line one along with Oksanen.

Line two will see Robbie Baillargeon at center with upstart sophomore AJ Greer and freshman Jordan Greenway on the wings. Greer came on late last year, earning the starting job over J.J. Piccinich and eventually, his promotion to the second line. Greenway joins from the U.S. Under-18 Team where he recorded nine goals and 35 assists in 53 games.

The third line will be the physical unit, with Mike Moran at center joined by Nikolas Olsson and Nick Roberto on the wings. Moran enjoyed a 49.2% success rate in the face-off circle last season, tallying four goals in the process. Olsson had an injury plagued season last year, registering just 11 points. Roberto played in every game last season, registering 12 points.

Line four will feature two freshmen and a sophomore. Jakob Forsbacka-Karlsson will be centering a line with Bobo Carpenter and Chase Phelps. Phelps was a mainstay on the fourth line last season, registering two goals and two assists. Phelps has had a good preseason thus far and looks poised to break out in 2015-16. On the other side, Carpenter is a promising local recruit who registered 63 points in 60 games last season with Sioux City of the USHL.

The reserves are juniors Tommy Kelley, walk-on Dillon Lawrence, and freshman Ryan Cloonan. Cloonan registered 65 points last season with the Boston Jr. Bruins, including 21 on the power play. Although he is projected to be in the reserves, it may only be a matter of time before Cloonan breaks through into the starting lineup.

Defense

  1. Brandon Hickey           John MacLeod
  2. Doyle Somerby             Charlie McAvoy
  3. Brien Diffley                 Brandon Fortunato
  1. Matt Grzelcyk (inj.)   Shane Switzer

With no departing defensemen from last year’s squad, the blue line unit will remain pretty much the same, with the exception of two changes. On line two, freshman Charlie McAvoy comes in to replace Brandon Fortunato. Despite being the first Terrier to go unpenalized in a season since Jack Parker played, Fortunato has had trouble with puck distribution in his own defensive zone. McAvoy and Fortunato could likely switch off until one earns the job permanently. Fortunato could also factor as a seventh defensemen dressed on the fourth forward line.

Matt Grzelcyk remains sidelined with a knee injury for which he received surgery over the offseason. There is no set timetable for his return, but when he comes back, he will likely reclaim his position on the top defensive line.

New recruit Shane Switzer also joins the defensive unit. The 6’2” player known for his passing abilities, he collected 41 points in 60 AJHL games last season, and will definitely see some ice time despite a stacked blue line.

Goaltending

  1. Sean Maguire
  2. Connor LaCouvee
  3. Max Prawdzik

With three goaltenders on the roster, Sean Maguire looks to be an early frontrunner for the starting job, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ends up splitting the time toward the end of the season with LaCouvee. The senior who missed all of last season with a concussion, Maguire returns to action in 2015-16. He split the duties with Matt O’Connor in 2013-14, going 3-12-0 with a 2.90 goals against average and a 0.919 save percentage. Maguire has proven himself to be a solid goaltender, and despite the poor record two years ago, he has an entirely new defense in front of him.

Sophomore Connor LaCouvee went 3-4-1 last season, only getting six starting nods. He posted a 0.913 save percentage and a 2.58 goals against average during that time. LaCouvee, with the help of the Terriers’ strong defense and the experience he gained last season, looks poised to be the Terriers’ number one goalie in the future, maybe as early as this season if Maguire falters.

At third string, freshman Max Prawdzik adds depth to a position that is certainly lacking. Prawdzik was the 2015 Massachusetts Independent School League MVP. He led the Brooks school to the New England Prep Large School Championship with a 1.25 GAA and a .944 save percentage. Prawdzik is an impressive recruit and looks poised to compete with LaCouvee for the starting job over the next few years.

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