AJS

It's not advantageous for the player to wait to enter the portal or for the coaching staff to lead anybody on. We found out about Senden / Hain yesterday. I would say start the clock this morning. If we don't hear about anything in the next 3 days, the portal is not happening. I do think we will see it, so it'll happen sooner than later.

Denver did return a lot, but did look at their roster this year? They nailed their Freshman class. Mazur (36 points), Rizzo (35 points), Behrens <Defense> (29 points), Devine (18 points), Buium <Defense> (17 points). Also, added a 22 goal scorer as a Grad transfer in Wright. 35% of their points came from players that were not on their roster last year.

On a great team, Calder would be a perfect 3rd line guy.

Look at the line charts for Denver / Minnesota / Michigan. Mazur / Rizzo / Wright on the 3rd line. That'll get you to the Frozen Four. Duke / Beecher / Samoskevich on the 3rd line. That'll get you to the Frozen Four.

You would think this would be something that we'll find out really soon, like end of week type deal. The sooner the better for the player if they were to go to the portal.

This is ultimately the million dollar type question that Berry will have to answer soon. Is he going to look at his available roster / incoming recruits and build his Forward group to make them in his eyes the strongest potential group. To add to your first sentence, is he going to look at Hain / Albrecht for example and pick one. If that's the case, you'll see at least two current forwards enter the portal, maybe more. Senden / Hain play a roll others play better. Edit: My idea of the strongest roster might not be Berry's, obviously. He might like the Senden line at 3 and Ness line at 4. For me, I would like only one "checking" type line.

Domino # 1 has fallen. What's exciting about this is Berry is seemingly constructing his ideal roster for next year. He wanted Hain / Senden back and they are coming back. Home runs in the portal at Goaltending / Defense. Still domino #2 (potential portal current players) #3 (who's in from FR class).

Lets get some predictions, how do you see the forward position playing out? This is what I think will happen, not what I hope happens. Senden / Hain both return 1 Player on current roster enter the portal 3 Freshman forwards (Blake / McLaughlin / Strinden) I think they carry 16 forwards next year.

Is next years Defense going to be up there with recent great units (2020/2021 - 2015/2016)? It's definitely deeper then 2020/2021.

The two that stick out as legitimate Top 4 guys are Farmer and Daschke.

The issue being (unless this was corrected) was returning players that weren't in at WR or TE had the same exact weights as last Fall.

Very intrigued. If it's someone that can bring the defensively unit into the next hypothetical level, you go for it, regardless of years left. This is the most important aspect that I need to almost recondition my thinking around. If you need balance, there's always the portal. So, why wouldn't you load up and take it one year at a time.

Before it's announced, hoping it's a guy that could be considered Top 4 with at least 2 years of eligibility. UND defensively is in a very unique situation returning so much, where a Top 4 guy isn't a make or break type deal, but considering they don't have to be picky, load up! I do like Ferner as a strong #8 guy, but the more talent / depth the better.

Agreed. I really have no idea how this is going to play out.

James with a goal and an assist in the 1st, goal yesterday. 25G 28A on the year, Top 20 in points. He’s forcing his way onto next years roster. There’s no way you keep a guy that’s almost at a PPG in juniors another year. Edit: Finished with 2 goals and 2 assists.

Said it before, but since they are going to the portal for D, go for the best option that has 2+ years remaining.

You’re correct, he only has a year.

Yes.

It's nice that they can be very selective with the portal defenseman. @The Sicatoka also, kind of always looking ahead another year, I think it would be wise to get someone who has (& will use) 2 or more years of eligibility. That would eliminate a Grad transfer at that position. I am surprised that we didn't hear anything on the forward front. With the rumors circulating here, you would expect Four forwards to come in (Blake / McLaughlin / Spicer / Strinden) and only 2 to leave (Ford / Senden). I just don't see 17 Forwards. I would have thought if someone on the current group was going to the Portal they would have done that by now. I thought that was going to be the case, but seems less likely now.

17F is high. I’ve always liked 15F, which is normal and what they had this year. It does sound from those with some inside information here that the plan is for 4F to come in, so something has to give. Easiest way to get there would be no Seniors return plus one transfer out. I’m sure things will start to clear up this week.

At the time Rizzo would have committed we would have been. He was on the Jost path (had a year in the BCHL under his belt), year # 2 (draft year) ahead of him. He was a year out when he committed. He was a monster recruit, there's no way a school wouldn't have offered him. I remember Wisconsin, but I think Denver was also one of his Final 3.

I've been mentioning Livanavage, but insert whichever Freshman the coaches feel is most prepared. If that's Benoit or Dunbar then great! Defenseman are much, much harder to track if you aren't watching them.

All I know is he was part of the official class release (Sanderson class). I've never seen anyone else included that was not there that Fall.

Exactly! Always have that next year in the back of your head as well.

I've said this before, but Rizzo was announced with the incoming UND Freshman class per their official release (happens in June / July). The schools / coaches absolutely expected him to be there that Fall.