(Boston) Sitting in Section 11 of TD Garden, Kent Hughes has a perfect view of Harvard’s power play, which he watches as he wraps up the interview with this author.
The noise of the crowd interrupts us. The dangerous Matt Coronato scores to give Harvard a 2-0 lead against Boston College. Things are going well for Hughes; it was Sean Farrell, the Canadian’s only hope in this duel, who managed the assist.
“It was a good pass, he brought the puck back, he describes to us. He’s such a smart player, it’s hard to bet against him. »
Betting against him is what many teams did in the 2020 draft by letting him slide to 124e rank, where Marc Bergevin and the Habs drafted him. His short stature – now 5’9” and 175 lbs – and his not necessarily dominant skating style have hurt him.
Will it be a robbery? It’s still too early to know, but we could have a better idea in a few months, if it’s up to Hughes.
“Sean, it’s not a physical question. It’s his sense of the game that allows him to be successful, emphasizes Hughes. He played at the Olympics, at the World Championship. It will depend on their end of the season, if they go far in the national championship. But of course we will want him to sign a contract. »
Decision to come
The Harvard University Crimson occupies the 10e rank in the American college circuit. A good team, but not necessarily among the favorites for the national title.
The NCAA playoffs begin in March, and the Frozen Four (semi-finals and final) will be played April 6-8. The Canadian’s season ends on April 13. If Harvard does not reach the final, Farrell could therefore play a few games in Montreal at the end of the season, as Jordan Harris did last year. This does not mean that he is ready for the NHL full-time, but the fact that the Canadian is excluded from the race for the playoffs is conducive to experiments.
By doing so, the 21-year-old would elapse the first year of his rookie contract, which will be two years if he initials it this spring (the duration of rookie contracts is provided for in the collective agreement according to age of the player).
As he had done when we met him in November, Farrell avoids questions about his future. “I’m going one game at a time. The goal of the team is to put themselves in a position to win championships,” he replies.
Hughes recalls that he does not officially have the right to negotiate with the player at the moment, and that with certain universities, it can be complicated to end a session remotely. Last season, another Harvard player, Nick Abruzzese, signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs to end the season.
Farrell also has the option of returning to college for a final year, but Hughes doesn’t expect such a move. “We discussed at the development camp, but I think he is ready to move on to the next stage,” believes the GM.
Talented passer
What the Canadian would get is a winger who is good at spotting his teammates. In 23 games, Farrell has 12 goals and 24 assists for 36 points. His average of 1.57 points per game is the 2e of the NCAA, behind Adam Fantilli, an 18-year-old player expected in the top 3 of the next draft.
On Monday, Harvard won 4-3 in overtime to advance to the Beanpot final. Farrell set up two goals, both from Coronato, each time on plays where he was well positioned to shoot, but always with opponents in his line of fire. Both times he took pucks close to his skates and went for the pass. As Martin St-Louis likes to say, Farrell didn’t play “a” game; he made the best game.
“I’ve always been a passer first, especially with a guy like Matt,” Farrell describes. When I have the chance to offer him a one-timer shot, it’s automatic. I would like to shoot, but when I see him unmarked, I always give him the pass. »
In Montreal, there is also a talented shooter, a certain Cole Caufield. The latter will not be there in March, however, as he will recover from his shoulder surgery. But the two short forwards know each other from playing in the United States National Development Program from 2017 to 2019.
However, they had not played in the same trio. “He was higher than me in the hierarchy! In his year of 72 goals, it was automatic that he was going to score in every game! »
Have they kept in touch since? ” Not really. But in hockey, even if it’s been four years since you last saw someone, it doesn’t change anything, it’s like the day before. I hope we meet soon. »
Crazy atmosphere
Kent Hughes was on hand to spy on four CH hopefuls, but also his two sons, Riley and Jack, Northeastern color bearers. The Beanpot brings together the same four universities each year, the other three being Harvard, Boston College and Boston University. “When my guys were choosing their college, they said they wanted to play the Beanpot. And I told them: it’s two Mondays in February and that’s it! But there is so much history. This tournament is serious around here. The first duel began at 5:00 p.m., the second immediately after, around 8:30 p.m. thanks in particular to the brass bands and the creativity of the supporters. The most entertaining were certainly those from Northeastern, who chanted “Ice is slippery” after a player from Boston University fell. The final will take place next Monday, the 13th. In 70 editions, it will be the very first final between Harvard and Northeastern. “It took us 70 tries,” joked the publicist who managed the press briefings. The CH will therefore have two hopes: Sean Farrell for Harvard and Jayden Struble for Northeastern.
Guillaume Lefrancois, The Press