AJS

Now with Tray Buchanan transferring, could someone who follows the team closely give a quick summary of all the off season moves. Not so much the moves themselves, but is there more talent coming in than is leaving?

UND got their first '02 recruit May 24th of last year and had 3 from the '02 birth year by the end of July. My guess is you'll see a couple of '03 recruits over the next couple months.

This is what I'd think as well, it'd definitely be surprising if Senden was getting more than Huber.

Giving the recent departure of Huber, I bet and hope you're right. Obviously hope everything works out well for Huber as well. Moving forward, this also helps a lot with the potential log jam at forward with the '19 class. Bringing the potential number of forwards that could come in to 6 instead of 7.

Studying the schedule, how last year went, I know there's no guaranteed games at all, but I do like how the "conference" schedule breaks. It's much easier at the beginning than at the end, that will give this team a chance to win early and play meaningful games down the stretch.

It's also important to look at where UND was through the first two games last season. I still believe their performance in Utah was more than respectable and the Missouri State game was dominant. I don't think anyone (even with the Rodgers injury) could anticipate the rest of the year would turn out the way it did. What gives me optimism going forward is I believe what happened on the injury front was like a 100 year storm. I wrote about this a couple weeks ago, but what UND was left with at ILB (No Rodgers, Larson) turned that core into probably one of the worst in FCS football. Everything kind of snowballed from there. Everyone is pretty optimistic about the defensive side (at least the Front 7) to return to how they were in previous years. That single-handily will turn the team into a competitive bunch within the Big Sky schedule. Harris is a big X-factor, but a healthy Holm and other defensive backs being a year older (there were times when 3 of the 4 DBs were freshman), should improve as well. This is the year for the coaching staff and the program. They have a pretty small senior class (14 total players), so they'll be young once again across the board. I'm not a playoff or bust guy for the coaching staff, but they need to get to 7-4. If they can do that, I'd look for a big jump in '19.

A lot can change between this year and next and nobody will disagree that there are factors other than numbers that come into play when bringing a player in. This is all pure speculation and like you said, time will tell. Things I believe: 4 Forward spots available because of graduation (moving Johnson back to defense to cover for Shaw) Nobody jumps out as an early departure Wrote about the 4 Forwards who will be True Freshman (Rizzo, Blaisdell, Mancinelli, Caulfield) all with two years of junior experience. Given how they did as 16 year olds in juniors, Rizzo, Mancinelli & Blaisdell will all increase their totals significantly this year, that's a guarantee, barring injury. Caulfield will probably keep his point total steady. These are all high end guys who will have played two years in juniors. Is the coaching staff going to risk losing anyone of those 4 by pushing them back another year? I don't think so. Those 4 forwards take up the four Senior spots, now you still need room for Randklev as well. If Donovan goes high in the draft (possibility), it's possible we could have another JBD situation. It's the summer, so it's fun to speculate. You need a mix of players, but when push comes to shove, I don't see the coaching staff losing out on a potential high end forward by making them wait, to make room for Senden.

We’ll see, I just don’t see the math adding up for there being a spot for him.

I would be shocked if Senden ever ends up on campus.

Agreed. Why I'm optimistic: There was zero hesitation to return this year. Two year Captain Tucker Tucker made the right choice by leaving, but even with this skill set wasn't an "every dayer" in the NHL his first year. A lot can happen this year and if Colton makes another jump, then who knows, but right now, I'd bet on him returning. It's nice going into next year without a guaranteed "he's leaving early after this year" candidate.

Miller and Reid are both 01's, but late 01's. Unless they graduate a year early, they would both only be Juniors in HS next year. Currently, the only D-man they have that would be eligible to come in with the class of '19 would be Frisch. I would think Frisch would play a year in the USHL after his Senior year. They way I see it, it makes too much sense given the stock pile of high end '19 forwards, that Johnson moves back to defense to cover for Shaws loss. All eyes from then are on Poolman, if he leaves, bring in Frisch. I'm not sold on Poolman being gone after next year. Class '19: Frisch (If Poolman goes) Class '20: Kleven, Miller & Reid (loaded class with 2, 2 & 3 years of junior experience) all being true freshman. If Poolman stays his Senior year, you have 3 Senior D-man leaving after '19. Frisch comes in that year if that's the case bringing in 4 Freshman and most likely one of the current non-Seniors leave. Like with the '19 Forward class, the '20 Defensive class is going to not only be elite, but have a lot of Junior experience while being true freshman. This roster is about to get younger and younger and more and more talented in the next couple years.

Incredible job by the coaching staff, Rizzo is a legitimate cornerstone / #1 guy in a recruiting class. Never too early to speculate, but I'd be interesting to see how the '19 class plays out. You have the following groups: '01 Draft eligible (Seniors): Rizzo, Mancinelli, Blaisdell & Caulfield: This group will all be true freshman with two years of junior experience. Based on their first year, which were all successful in varying degrees, I don't think you'd be able to push anyone back another year. Senior (HS): Donovan: A lot will depend on how high he gets drafted, he has all the tools / size. +1: Randklev: Seemed to adapt well in his short stint last year, would only need one more year. Other: Senden: Would have to come in I realize there are other guys, but I count 7 that I don't think you could push back. Four seniors (3 F 1 D), I think they move Johnson back to Defense for his Senior year, which would take Shaw's spot opening up 4 forward roster spots. I'd also be shocked with the stock pile of recruits they have if Senden ever makes it to campus. That leaves 6 eligible forwards, Donovan is the most likely to push back, which would leave 5. They'd be a pretty good spot with that. A '19 recruiting class of Rizzo, Mancinelli, Blaisdell, Caulfied & Randklev would be a surefire Top 3 class (most likely #1).

Everyone agrees that you need players to fit into different roles to have a successful team. This hasn't been a trend, but I'd hope Berry looks at the junior class as a cautionary tale. What I mean, is depth guys are important, but you should never have more depth guys than guys you think can be offensive contributors. It's much more common for a guy to struggle at the college level after a solid junior career, than a guy to struggle scoring in juniors and all of a sudden become an offensive force. Berry did a lot to fix the '18 class (offensively), but the 50 / 50 ratio they are bringing in makes me nervous.

There's going to be a lot of questions in this post. I'll start with the defense. Looking back last year would the following quick assessment be fair. Defensively: Poor (One a 1 to 10 scale about a 2) My big questions would be: If fully healthy, would the ILB's go from the biggest weakness to the biggest strength on the defense? Is it a reasonable expectation that this front 7 returns to one of the stronger units in the Big Sky? Going from a team that couldn't stop the run or pass, fixing one of those completely would go a long way in becoming competitive. What needs to happen when viewing the secondary? Strictly guys staying healthy? I'm fully optimistic in the Front 7 doing a complete 180, but not so much the secondary. Even so, is it reasonable that there should be improved play from both the Safety & CB spots next year, strictly with guys coming back from injuries / getting experience? My hope is that after being a 2 last year, they can be either a 6 or 7 this year (Slightly above average defense).

Good information - with Frisch playing his senior year at Moorhead, I would bet he'll play a year of juniors after next year. UND wouldn't currently have any D-man recruits lined up for next year. Luke Bast would be a nice fit in that spot.

https://www.hockeycanada.ca/en-ca/videos/5784829667001/rbc-blaisdell-joins-exclusive-club Next year will be a fun one to follow for the committed recruits. The 2019 recruiting class has the potential to be very, very good. Not only good, but extremely young. A lot depends on their development, but you have 3 (Mancinelli, Blaisdell & Caulfield) that will be in their 2nd year of juniors in what will be their draft / senior year of HS. All three had strong 1st years, given their ages. Add in Randklev as well as the only +1 and I can't see there being room for anyone else.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/4446387-emails-show-logo-betty-part-kennedy-engelstad-feud Email correspondence between the assistants for Kennedy and McGarry runs contradictory to a statement McGarry made to the Herald about meeting availability. “(Kennedy) refused to have a meeting with me,” she said to the Herald on May 9. “I said let’s meet anytime in April or May, I’m open -- he said, ‘I’m not -- not available.’” Emails show a Kennedy assistant offering meeting dates April 12-13, 19-24 and May 1. I always find it amusing when someone flat out lies about something that can easily be proven otherwise. Unfortunately for her, the only Herald reporter (*one of the only) that actually tries to report on facts and not try to spin their story to fit their agenda got this one.

To me at least, everything is becoming clearer and clearer. The article that transpired today is likely one part of "the feud", but it doesn't paint McGarry in the best light. Others have commented on this, but it's as simple as a group (not only Kennedy) wanting what they feel is best for UND and the athletic department (branding, ect) and McGarry shutting it down. What really surprises me is (1) Why she'd care (2) all emails in Millers article were to the Engelstad Family Foundation. That surprises me (or I guess really doesn't), but shows that McGarry is the one that calls all the shots. I'm really stuck on the why 'd she care what the logo was in the center of the Betty. The problem for Kennedy is he doesn't have any chips and McGarry has them all. It doesn't matter how unreasonable she's being, he has to figure out a way to smooth it over.

Looking at their schedule from a semi-optimistic look, here's what I like. Start with MVSU at home - it'll be a D1 win, will get a lot of different players reps (need to sell hope) Washington - Big loss, but it'll get the guys reps against the best team they'll see all year SHSU - Don't like this matchup at all Idaho State - Perfect team to start the "conference" season against, at home UNC - One of the better teams to start the "conference" road season against Montana - Bye week going into a home game against Montana Sac State - If you were hand picking an away schedule, you'd have this team on it I've never experienced a season as a fan like last years, where the rug was completely pulled our from under me. Was this just a one time occurrence? For me, this year is about selling hope for as long as you can. The way I look at it, is you start out with a win and a pay game. That brings you to your first fork in the road. You can sell optimism at 1-1 with a loss to Washington. A win against SHSU would significantly change everyone's expectation. A loss would hurt, but not completely derail. I really like the way the first four / five games of the "conference" schedule start out. I don't know if we'd make any significant changes if we could hand pick a schedule. The back end is much tougher @ Idaho & @ Northern Arizona, but better play those games at the end, then at the beginning. Also, how about not having the bye week scheduled the last week of the year. It's in a pretty good spot next year.

I should have looked up his stats before posting the "high end" part. Still, would be a nice piece in someone's class. I still don't see how he'd fit for UND coming in next year. Would be all for him playing in the USHL and coming in the year after. Edit: @scpa0305 put it well above. You can ignore my two posts on him.

In this day and age it happens less and less with how young recruiting has gotten, but I do enjoy these rare recruiting battles for an actual high end proven player.

I think this is much, much more likely. The timing is pretty brutal overall for Senden, but I'd look at this as an addition by subtraction for the incoming recruiting class. We all know we need players to fill different roles, but I would say it would be worrisome to bring in more depth players than potential impact players in a forward recruiting class. With Senden (if true) not coming in, UND brings in 4 forwards, with an even balance, this move will also bring the total number of forwards next year to 15.

Yes.

So, you have JBD probably coming in a year earlier than the coaching staff planned (for a good reason obviously). This caused Casey Johnson to move full time to forward. My question would be, I think we now have 1 more forward than usual. There's no really incoming forwards that could be pushed back. Does everything think there will be a Wilkie type situation this summer?

One thing that I hope most people take from this story, is that at the end of the day, Kennedy was trying to do what's best for the University of North Dakota. His tactics or how he approached the situation clearly didn't work / could have been handled better, but he saw something in the contract or how things were being handled that was a red flag. What's really frustrating, is to take a step forward as a University, they need a President with a vision who is willing to lead. It might not be popular at times, but I'd much rather have someone who's ambitious, then someone who would have looked over the contract, noticed a red flag and didn't say anything. It's much easier to sit back, not say anything and go along with their day. The problem for Kennedy is it appears there's too many who just want the status quo, would rather have him just bury his head.