and my guess is that he might even earn himself a second pairing spot with a really good camp. Better after three than after one, as we know.

Other than Seth Jones, the depth chart is filled with guys who have potential but aren't quite living up to it and grinders who are in some degree of placeholding. Plenty of opportunity here for a steady player, particularly given the man in charge.

the Pigeon Roost. Great dressing room guy and he can keep the cheap shot artists in check but he's at his absolute peak as a 3rd pairing guy.

I may be faster than he is - in Goalie skates.

after he was drafted is definitely in line with my expectations. Peeke had one season in the USHL, but did not play in the league past his high school graduation/draft year. A fourth year would have been a nice, but unexpected bonus. I'm not sure what his academic status is, but players like Ian Cole have gone pro and graduated after just three seasons.

Regarding your point of recruiting around it, I would anticipate Jackson knew this was a strong possibility. Departures like Tinordi leaving without getting on campus and Palmieri darting in the middle of the summer can put the program in a bind with regards to recruiting. This definitely falls into a different category.

Likewise, how lucky is UMass, having Makar (4th overall pick) give them two full seasons after he was drafted?

don’t think we will be recruiting any more 2nd round talent anymore listening to Jackson and the importance he places on guys staying 3 or 4 years.

One of them is obviously for Makar who will likely sign within hours of UMass' last game, particularly if they make the playoffs. In comments Sunday Jared Bednar made it pretty clear he would use him if he had the chance. That would mean there's one left for Morrison. On one hand I don't see them pressuring him to sign because they have a bunch of young gritty two-way forwards in their AHL/NHL system right now - AJ Greer, JT Compher, Vadislav Kamenev, Matt Nieto, Matt Calvert, Shane Bowers etc. On the other hand they got burned with Will Butcher playing all four years and going UFA. As it usually is it'll be Morrison's decision, will be interesting what he decides to do.

he mentioned NTDP guys who are "under the radar". The implication is that high-mid first rounders are off the list. Going further than that is dumb and he knows it. Both Peeke and Morrison have been there three years - same as Lee. So I'm not sure what point you're making here.

at who we are recruiting. Outside of Morrison and Peeke at round 2, the majority of our draft picks are 5-7 rounders with Pivonka being a 4th. There are currently 31 1st and 2nd rounders playing D1 hockey with BU having 5 players and that model hasn't worked out for them

are first rounders and the moment they come in everybody figures one year, two at the absolute max. That's true of the ones who have been stiffing BC and BU the last few years. Not a surprise in the bunch. We may not land 2-rounders but I can't see Jackson not going after a kid we can land at that level (which you don't know until they get drafted anyway). As I said, Peeke lasted three and Morrison has, as well.

I think he especially means one-and-dones or players who never make it to college hockey

Morrison have done three. Not seeing the connection involving late round 1 - Round 2 guys.

seems unlikely he gets any meaningful "performance bonuses", which is how the McDaves and the Eichels can go above the ceiling.

the other issue is length based on age. I think Peeke might be 2 years. There's also a lot of jockeying to "burn" the first year by getting in an NHL game in April.

who doesn't like where he ended up in the draft. But that's a complete crap shoot, especially since Fox may have decided that only because Carolina added Hamilton to their RH shots on the blue line.