AJS

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.

You hear all the time that everyone is dealing with injuries, but is that actually true? Was Notre Dame missing anyone? Duluth? Denver? Michigan? Minnesota? Completely understand that this is the biggest loser argument or statement, but this team one of these years needs to be healthy going into the playoffs. This game would have been different with Hain / Sanderson. I'm convinced that a healthy Mismash / Senden would have changed last years outcome vs Duluth. Nothing can be done, but it matters.

I'm a huge balance the classes guy. If the coaches don't feel anyone is ready, then go portal, but I think this is such a perfect situation for Livanavage. My thought would be the Top 6 today are your six, Ferner is a great #8 guy. Slide that Freshman into the #7 spot. Get him minutes, let him get in the weight room. I'm not sure how you're using the term "depth", but we can't have a guy in the Ferner mold come in from the portal. Injuries happen, you need a high ender in that #7 spot.

My opinion, I think he sits 5th on the Forward recruit pecking order. The way I laid it out, I think you can get to 4 FR forwards fairly easily (3 Seniors / 1 Portal), after that it seems to become more difficult.

This was the most pessimistic I ever was going into the playoffs. The entire coaching staff and this group deserves so much credit for punching above its weight class for the year. It was so apparent the last few weeks that the deficiencies at Forward, from an overall talent standpoint had finally caught up to them. The PP was broken, so much to the point that scoring was not realistic, you had to worry more about giving up a SH goal. I still like a lot of the pieces, but talent aside, they picked the wrong time (starting against CC, so entire playoff) to go ice cold.

I think this D-core is borderline elite next year if only Sanderson goes. Looking at the regional line chart, where would you want a portal guy to fit in? Kleven (JR) - Frisch (SR) Jandric (GR) - Bast (SO) Moore (JR) - Johnson (SO) Ferner (SR) This seems like the perfect position to bring in a Freshman.

I'm reserving strong reactions until I see if the portal comes into play. If Hain staying then means another current (bottom 6) Forward to the portal, then I can get behind that. Hain is a great bottom 6 guy. This team NEEDS guys that are legitimate Top 6 NCHC Forwards and Hain is not that. Edit: I used the Term Top 6 / Bottom 6, but. For UND, you want to go Top 9 / Bottom 3. Most guys can play a solid two way game. This forward group needs more skill.

This will be an interesting off-season, because from my point of view, this seems like a very easy puzzle to put together. You have a lot of great pieces currently on the roster as well as signed to come in. You put them together and you have a team that will contend for a # 1 seed. Leaving: Seniors: UND needs to move on from the Seniors that took place on Senior night (Senden, Hain, Ford, Driscoll). Some have eligibility, some don't, but like last year, those that took part that was their moment. Early Departures (NHL): Sanderson. UND needs to keep the list at that. This is another crucial component. Others will have offers. Transfer Portal: I won't name the name, but there's one Forward that clearly sticks out as someone who never materialized into the roll he was brought in to play. Hope that a fresh start does both well. Total: 4 Forwards, 1 Defense, 1 Goalie Incoming: Forwards: Blake / McLaughlin / Strinden / James. Very straight forward. 3 guys that will be brought in as Top 6 potential and a very good bottom 6 center. Defense: Not sure where they go here. I would prefer to go with a Freshman. Returning so much, you'll be able to bring him along slowly. Goaltending: Coaches call. I've been wanting Hedquist, but the Portal for goalies is pretty enticing. If those pieces come together, you have a team that will be a #1 seed and has a realistic chance as any at a Championship. Talking out loud here, but that being the case, I might start to lean towards going after a proven goalie from the portal. If you can grab one of the Top proven goalies (CC / MSU goalie), that solidifies that position.

I'm guessing every single team in the Albany bracket is ecstatic they are there. I wouldn't necessarily go 25% chance across the board, but I think all four teams would have somewhat the same odds of making it to Boston.

Miller alluded to it in his mailbag, but looking at the defensive front 7, they should be really good next year. D-Line Lickfeldt Hudson Seguin LB Turner Urwiler Larson Haas Shannon The above list are guys that were on the roster last year, but aren't in Spring ball. I did cross out Hudson / Haas, because they either never played last year or unfortunately in Haas' case only played 1/2 a game. D-Line: With the mid-year switch of Pierre to NT, this team returns all 4 (Morrison, Beach, Pierre, Orlando) NT's from last year. Pulling up a random depth chart, they return Johnson / Lennon on one side, lose Seguin, but McNaboe saw a lot of game time. I did like Lickfeldt as a solid depth guy. For a positional group that uses a lot of bodies, losing 1 off the 2-Deep and 1 solid depth guy isn't bad. Prediction: They were solid last year, but this group will be better this year. ILB: Lose a four year starter in Larson, but return everybody else. Krzanowski is excellent, White has been in the 2-Deep for years, I thought Kelley was outstanding and really looks the part. McNeal / Pedigo are exciting young players. Prediction: This is a perfect example of a situation where yes, you do lose a big time starter, but when you return all the other pieces, you'll be able to absorb that hit. I'll be a little conservative and predict they will match last years output as a group. OLB: This one we'll really have to dig into. They return 2 of the 4 on last Falls 2-deep. Navratil / Mullin. Lose your best OLB (Turner) and a very solid back up to him in Shannon. Urwiler was one of the guys in the mix as a depth guy last year. You lose three. Remember, this positional group was hit really hard with injuries last year. Navratil was out for a few games, so we really got to see some depth. Plug in Navratil / Mullin on one side. MVJ who started to play more and more at the end of last year I thought was really exciting. Cooper who I would argue as a Grad transfer will be more valuable next year then Urwiler would have been (just talking next year only). Do you feel comfortable with MVJ / Cooper on the other side? Miller wrote that Koshiol is moving from Safety to OLB, a move which has paid dividends in the past for UND. Might not be right away, but that should help add depth. Prediction: Take a step back from last year. Potential concerns (I really have no idea) about depth after the 2-Deep, although I think the 2-Deep is fine. Overall: Better on the line, same on the interior and will take a step back on the outside. All things considered, I don't think we see this Front 7 take a step back from last year. I think we're looking at a good MVFC Front 7. All eyes then move to the secondary. Especially when it comes to how many you need to bring it, it makes it manageable if you really only need true help in select spots.