AJS

Completely agree. I hope there's been some lessons learned this year. Unless you're talking high end / Top 6 guys of course, but there's no reason to bring back Player A for a 5th year when you have others that are more than capable to fill that spot.

Definitely. Don't they have arguably the Top 3 recruits in next years class?

Moving this to the correct thread. I see two crucial things that have to happen this off-season and then a handful of other interesting scenarios to follow. Crucial: Two goalies are brought in to challenge for the starting job. They both need to be starting quality goalies. Like @The Sicatoka mentioned, either going to be 3 Goalies on roster (if Hellsten leaves), or 4 if he stays. Hellsten if he stays needs to become more of an emergency goalie. 15 uses his Covid year. Important: 17 Returns for his Senior year 28 Uses his Covid Year* 18 / 29 - Hope they return for Junior years Expected: 25 Signs 6 Enters Portal

Why wouldn't they?

I think so, but I do think it's debatable. Minnesota, Michigan, Boston U, Boston College. Those schools are clearly at a higher level. I would put UND with Denver (Wisconsin?) on the next level.

Agreed, it wasn't fun, but I had hope that year. Whichever one of the years (or it could have been both), they played really hard and just could not score. Any individual game they could pass the eye test. Like I mentioned, I always had hope they would turn it around. Those teams barely missed the playoffs. I've never followed a UND team where you don't believe they can do it. Last Saturday. They weren't doing it. This isn't sandbagging, or downplaying, you know they had no shot of winning that game. Very weird feeling.

Big time. The two most critical off-season moves would be. Hellsten transfers out. Clearly bring in two capable goalies to battle for the starting job. 15 Stays. This is for a multitude of reasons.

This year does feel different than the previous years where Berry's teams missed the playoffs. I would say that was a talent issue. That Poolman class overall was BAD. This year, I'm convinced it's not talent this year. I would pin this one on coaching. The development for some players (ex: Schmaltz, Johnson, Constantini) has been shocking. Clearly the team has tuned them out, because that's the only explanation for the same mistakes happening over and over. Let's endure these next few weeks. The season will thankfully be over soon. Start fresh next year with a new leadership group.

Tough times. Here's the good news. Fortunately, UND has advantages that most teams do not. They are still a Top 5 destination for recruits. The overall recruiting pipeline is solid and although I do not like the transfer portal, it's an advantage for UND. A bounce back is likely. Here's the bad news. The coaching staff. UND has an extremely average coaching staff. When you have average coaching abilities, but you can get talent, you're still going to win for the most part. We're looking based on a pretty good sample size, that they'll make the playoffs slightly over half the time. The other down Berry years have never felt like this. This is just not a fun team to follow. It really is unfair and unfortunate, but a lot of the frustration for me is falling on the 5th year guys. I would rather see 29 or 18 than 10. 11 for 19. 6 for 3. I've never felt like the development of players is really being hindered like I do this year. Very important offseason is ahead. With the advantages they have, a turnaround is likely if they nail it.

Tonight was their shot to win. Cannot picture them winning tomorrow. Regular season now meaningless.

Being realistic he can’t. You cannot have him as your #2 guy. Need two options next year.

Wildly outplayed them all period. One special play by Denver and they get one. Unbelievable.

3! Just trying his best out there!

Is 3 really a 5th year guy?

Pathetic

Berry keeps sitting #6 so he can play the turnover machine #3. He loves awful guys from the portal.

My opinion, but he seemed to be about as bad of an under 2-minute Coach as there is. Awful temperament did not feel like he was in control. This one is sort of weird, but his appearance was so sloppy. His suits were 2 sizes too big. Back to Sather and this team. It'll take more than a win on Saturday to make me reconsider where I'm currently at, but things can change. Two dominant wins in a row definitely has my attention.

Said it before the Miami series, hoping this team does enough to make the next series interesting. Prolong the importance of the regular season another weekend. Miami was a must sweep weekend and they did that. Clearly, this is a must split weekend. @ Denver is as tough a trip as there is, so UND will have to bring their A game both nights. Excited for Friday. There's a real opportunity to spark some excitement for the homestretch if they can win Friday.

That was absolutely the most pathetic display I’ve ever seen.

Makes sense, definitely the safest scenario given where everything stands right now. Given the clear-cut Top 4 / Bottom 4 that would put UND in pretty good situation to move up to 5 since I do think Duluth / CC have hard schedules to end the year. I would want Omaha out of any of the top 4 teams currently in the 1st round. That being said, I'm cheering for Duluth > Western this weekend. Going all in on what appears to be a long shot at home ice given where they are now. Duluth takes points from Western; Miami somehow splits with SCSU. Start to tighten up things between the Top and Bottom 4.

In NCHC play are you thinking Miami (clearly) and Duluth this weekend? Last weekend's results made me pivot what I think needs to happen from a UND perspective in other conference games.

Don't see much need for discussion. Finishing dead last in the conference two years in a row might be a new UND athletics low. What @GoodGood said makes the most sense to me, let Sather go now and see how Herbst does the last few weeks. Unfortunately, the only person who might be worse at their job than Sather is Chaves, so who knows how this will play out. As far as players potentially leaving. For how bad this situation is currently, that is a moot issue. There is some talent that you hope stays, but 1 conference win. This program needs a fresh start. One of these times, can UND make a home run hire?

Starting to seem like there’s no difference in the record needed to get back in at large conversation as there is to secure home ice. 6-2 to finish. Here’s my question. Who are we cheering for next weekend? Do we want the teams close to UND in the standings to keep winning (ex: Duluth > Western)?

One game at a time. Win tonight to make Friday night @ Denver interesting. 4-2 UND.