AJS

Let's hope for a couple in the next 10 picks or else my predictions are going to start to look really bad.

What's everyone's predictions for this weekend? My guesses will be strictly by rounds Pinto (2nd) Blaisdell (3rd) Caulfield (4th) Rowe (5th) Rizzo (5th) Moore (6th) Bast (6th) Not drafted: Scheel, Frisch, Budy

https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nhl/news/nhl-draft-2019-prospect-rankings-big-board/4s69mzaevfhq1j6u7jl57kqd0 53. Blaisdell https://www.tsn.ca/americans-set-to-dominate-first-round-of-the-nhl-draft-1.1323878 45. Pinto 83. Caulfield It's going to be a wild Day 2 this year for UND recruits. Here's the summary of the 5 lists, parenthesis over total amount ranked. Pinto - 40 (120), 40 (92), 45 (92), 56 (250), NR (62) Blaisdell - 53 (62), 55 (92), 80 (120), 165 (250), NR (92) Caulfield - 52 (120) 83 (92), 183 (250), NR (62), NR (92) The others only ranked in the 250

2019 Draft is less than a week away, some final mock drafts: https://thehockeynews.com/news/article/2019-nhl-draft-ranking-the-top-120-prospects 40. Pinto 52. Caulfield 80. Blaisdell https://thehockeywriters.com/2019-nhl-draft-rankings-top-250/ 56. Pinto 94. Rizzo 117. Rowe 157. Bast 165. Blaisdell 183. Caulfield https://www.tsn.ca/craig-s-list-caufield-scores-his-way-into-top-5-1.1316942 40. Pinto 55. Blaisdell

The schedule is tough no doubt and I might not have a very clear view of the FCS landscape, but here are my thoughts. Obviously things change a little on an annual basis, but let's use last year as an example, you have Tier 1 (NDSU), Tier 2 (Handful of teams - let's say 2-8 that are pretty comparable), Tier 3 (little larger 9-17), and so on and so on. What I'm not so gracefully trying to say is Tier 2, last year included Weber State who was the #2 overall seed wasn't this powerhouse of a team that UND had no chance of competing with. They were a better team, but UND was within 1 point at halftime and for a bit led the game in the second half. We'll see how things play out, but like I've said, I don't believe that UND is that far away from being a really solid FCS team. I'm not predicting an undefeated season, but they should be able to hold their own against everyone on their schedule.

My 3 keys: 1) Nose Guard position - Can it be adequate 2) Freund being far superior @ OC 3) Special Teams - Specifically kicking. Can they kick the ball into the end zone I still have nightmares about the ILB position two years ago, that's why NG is my #1 key. Only as strong as your weakest link. I'm not saying the other groups is four deep with All-Americans, but it's a pretty strong unit with as few questions as I can remember (outside of NG).

Replace 8 wins with playoffs and you've got it. I didn't think I needed a disclaimer, but apparently I did, my opinion on Bubba wouldn't be based on just what happens next year, but his entire body of work. Next year, the potential excuse is tough schedule, last year was the Offensive Coordinator / Special Teams, year before was injuries. I expect more than 0 Playoff wins and 1 Playoff appearances in 6 years. I'm optimistic going into next year as I always am, I really do think UND is close to being a very good team. There does come a time when you run out of excuses and that time is now for Bubba and his staff.

I think most people are on the same page as this, if he doesn't make the playoffs this year he should be gone.

Yes, every article on his commitment has him coming in 2020. GF Herald: The current plan is for him to play the next two years with Central Illinois Flying Aces, then come to campus in the fall of 2020.

Budy is a kind of an under the radar really important and big commitment. What an add to the 2020 class. A top four of Bowen, Halliday, Rizzo and Budy is spectacular.

I would love this. Since not everyone is abiding by the gentleman's agreement, Berry and staff shouldn't either.

Looks like he played 3 games this year with Chilliwack (like Bowen two years ago), must be a good player, based on his age he’ll be a Junior in HS next year.

Interesting. I don't hate that at all. My wish list: Boschee Sather Herbst As far as excitement, a pretty good distance between each of them.

It was pretty telling the swing of emotions I had while reading this last page. Starting with @Sioux Lite post and then quickly followed by @UNDhoops. I've had my fingers crossed that it would be Boschee from Day 1, so I'm mentally preparing myself now for disappointment.

Agree with this. Why would I have thought there would be finalists named for this position? I know there is for the President, but I'm trying to think back to other coaching hires at UND.

Finalists - Wednesday (05/29) Head Coach Announcement: Following Wednesday (06/05)

I put way more of the blame on Berry than Shaw for last years power play, because I think the construction of the forward group was mostly to blame. I mean Johnson spent time on the PP and he might be the worst forward playing D1 hockey. Even though I feel Shaw kind of got thrown under the bus, clearly a move had to be made. I really like the KG hire as does everyone else.

Tom Miller posted a week ago that phone interviews were taking place last week. Any guesses on (1) When we'll hear who the finalists are (2) When UND will name the head coach?

Very, it's fun to look how things have played out since then. Couple things that stuck out. Nailed their Top 3 Caulfield ranked much higher than he would be now Cole Caufield at 45 Bobby Brink at 65 Overall though, a pretty solid list looking back at it

Everyone probably does it a little different, but I have always broken it down into the following categories: I'll use this years freshman class as an example as it fits pretty perfectly. Cornerstone (Top End): Pinto Top 6 Talent: Blaisdell Quality Depth: Caulfield Depth: Albrecht It's not an exact science obviously, but there's a difference between Quality Depth and Depth. Using last years team, I would put the likes of Hain, Senden and Smith (as well as Hoff as I stated) under the quality depth category. Guys who would fall into the strictly Depth category would be Johnson / Yon. You can be a Top 6 talent and not be in the top 6, depending on the structure of the team. Likewise as we saw last year, you can have guys play in the Top 6 that aren't true Top 6 talent.

I agree Hoff leaving isn't an addition by subtraction. I put him in the "quality depth" category. I wouldn't have slotted him into the 2-4 line role if the roster was fully healthy, but he would be my first guy in, in case of injury. Having him play the first fill in type role would have been very helpful to this team next year. I do agree that he could have then fit almost anywhere on the roster (3rd / 4th lines especially) without a set back in talent. As far as addition by subtraction, there are a couple of players on the roster that would definitely fall into that category, but Hoff isn't one of them.

I know there's been discussion about the Hoff signing in the early departures thread, but I thought I'd add some comments on here. First of all, best of luck to him in the future. As it relates to next years team, we all knew something had to give in regards to the forward position next year. We are pretty confident we'll see 5 new forwards (4 Freshman and 1 Grad Transfer) and there were only 3 Seniors graduating. I look at it this way, if you made a list of the forwards that are returning / coming in, looking at different variables like (1) Play / production during their UND career (2) Players Grade (3) Upside for returning players and the usual for incoming forwards, you could make a list of which players would hurt the most leaving. Not only that, but what kind situation it might cause if that player leaves (i.e. Seniors pushed out with no other options). Taking all of that information into account, Hoff signing a pro contract in his home country was definitely the smoothest option. By that I mean the player that had an option to sign that would hurt the least. From a talent standpoint, there are a couple players (also going to be Seniors) that everyone would have preferred, but would have been left with no options (I would guess). In my hypothetical lines for next year, I didn't see Hoff starting, but would have had him as the first option in case of an injury. He also had the talent to insert himself into the lineup and there not to be a drop off in talent on the 3rd or 4th lines. This will hurt from a quality depth standpoint, which was one of the things that plagued this forward group last year. The forward number is now 16, my question is will we see another person exit?

I've stayed clear of this conversation since I know so little about any potential candidate that I have nothing to provide. From an outsiders view though, if we're talking who would bring the most excitement / hype with the hire, it'd be Boschee for me. I think that would be really exciting for UND Men's Basketball, a real shot in the arm.

Or the more important question, how does the 2020 ND class stack up talent wise?