AJS

I've learned over the years to pump the breaks on optimism, so who knows. I'm not seeing what you're seeing in the Secondary. They only lose Coley and Agyekum. You think Ocansey is an unknown? I am confident the CB position will be an actual strength. When we talk about comparing to last year, I would have a hard time believing that Safety would be worse. Not saying it'll be a strength, but I would think it should be improved (healthy Fort and Buckner in Yr 2). Agree that the Secondary will be better than last year? I don't see how it wouldn't be. D-Line. This is a bit more of an unknown, but they really only lose Morrison (which is a loss) and then more Depth. They lose #'s, but I like what they brought in from the Portal. Like Safety, I don't think they'll be worse. LB I'm with you. I feel ok about ILB, but no idea what to think about OLB. At the same time, they weren't great last year, so how much worse could the OLB position actually get?

This is the week I think we really see some real movement in the portal. Here is my wishlist: Defenseman: Palocsik: Dartmouth - Currently the Top RHD in the portal Pyke: Alaska - Currently the Top LHD in the portal Krys: Brown - Currently the #2 RHD in the portal Goalie: 1A: Haider - Clarkson 1B: Persson - Miami

Disagree. Hoping for 15F 8D 3G. Recruit talent, develop talent. I said this previously, but I want this coaching staff to be handcuffed a bit. Part of development is actually playing. Any +1 for a F / D just brings a shorter leash for young talent. I'm hoping whatever happened this year was a one-off. 15F 8D 3G with a guy that (last F, D, G) is solid, but more of an emergency roll.

Heard both made the team. That would be big news having 2 North Dakota guys on the NTDP.

Correct. Need to go 3 for 3 in the portal. Here’s my question. How important is it that they get a RHD? Do you just go best available? All things even, you go RH of course, but you wouldn’t try to recruit someone you felt would have a lesser impact, just because they were RH. Right?

Jokes on them, they must not have seen the current winning season active streak UND is on.

Anyone else looking forward to UND’s release announcing Albrecht will be back? Preseason #1 team in the Culture rankings?

Giving it a little more thought. A guy like Brosz last year is probably the exception, but if you make the NCAA tournament, you're a good program. The only guys that would make sense that would enter would be because of either playing time or a Gopher (too much talent, see Cruickshank, Brosz last year). I just wouldn't anticipate a lot of high-end guys entering from those programs.

Very bad year overall for the athletic programs. Frustration has set in. I would guess that's why.

There's a balancing act for sure. At the same point, there are guys that fit. Like I mentioned, I think right now there are four that check all the boxes, regardless of who else enters.

Not yet. I would think the getting commitments would pick up next week or the week after. Really, we haven't seen too many commitments overall. Right now, I believe there are only 4 guys that are in the portal that the Coaching staff would be putting the full court press on.

How do we know that? What would be the point of St. Thomas having super high salaries for their Football program? They are in a non-scholarship league.

Here's my concern about the Forward group. It's going to be better this upcoming year than last, but do we need 4 players (in bold) with that skill set? I'm not saying not having any but, the game is changing. There are guys (ex: 21, 28) that if they are your 4th line type of guys. Look out. You can have an offensive ceiling and be effective defensively as well.

https://www.therinklive.com/junior-and-prospects/fargo-forces-lincoln-kuehne-shocked-and-excited-to-be-selected-for-ntdp-evaluation-camp

The quality of Goaltender is high in the portal. Feel good about not only what's in there, but UND's chances. What about defenseman? Knowing a RH shot is almost a necessity, I can only find two currently that seem like they would be solid gets. Tanner Palocsik - 3rd Team All ECAC (2nd Team All-Ivy) Luke Krys - 2nd Team All-Ivy Both Captains last year. Anyone else?

Go with 15F 8D 3G. Have 1 F 1 D 1 G that know their roll, high character, emergency type of player. Build the remaining 14 F 7 D 2 G with as much talent as you can. Coach your talent up, stick with guys through their ups and downs.

Moore, 5 Freshman, 2 Portal

I thought he progressed nicely. Not trying to pick on Farmer, but even at the end of the year that 3rd pair was inconsistent at best. That was one of my issues. It would have been one thing if the 6 that were playing were all lights out. That wasn't the case.

I'm excited for it. I don't mind seeing Freshman take their lumps. Who knows, maybe we'll get a Duluth situation from a few years back!

Worked his Freshman year.

This one just doesn't seem like a hindsight is 20/20 deal. Not having a single d-man that can come into a great position? I just feel this one is indefensible. Hard to gloss over the Farmer part as well. He wasn't good (for a portal guy). It's over and done with. What I'll say though is this off-season I'm going to be a portal fan. A Love that it looks like they are bringing in 5 Freshman D. Don't mind at all the portal for the other 2.

Potentially yes. I would like to see this team get down to 15F so they would be at that right now. Still waiting on Caulfield / Albrecht. I would think that 3 would have been the ideal # this off-season. My hope is still that Caulfied stays / Albrecht goes, so then they'll need 1 more.

This as well. I'm not sure if @jk is pushing back, because he thinks too many have went too far against the coaching staff but come on. I'm letting go and this time I'm officially in off-season mode! Need two defensemen now from the portal. Let's hope they nail the portal this time.