My opinions:
1. For the past several years UND has been average. I believe this really started with the type of players recruited around the same time as the new Ralph. The UND style-game has been more pro-style with bigger bodied, less-dynamic players (generalization: there have been obvious exceptions) whose games translate very well to the heavy NHL style.
2. Look at the offensive skill on Michigan vs UND. The guys they’ve had the past several years are unreal. It’s like U20 grad program. Dyneamic NHLers. Not grinders.
3. Same for the Gophers, BC, and BU. How many 1st-2nd rounders play on those teams? Game-breakers… Jackson Blake is close, but he is not Lane Hutson, Celebrini, Gautier, Snuggerud, Willander, Moore, etc. Shoot, I think Bemidji’s young defenseman is better than our best.
4. Why doesn’t UND have those players? I honestly can’t believe it. It should reload with 3-4 first rounders every year for all the reasons touched on in this thread: facilities, tradition, fan-base, finances. Used to have the game-breakers, always had a stud or 2 that were always threats to score. I haven’t seen that for a long time.