AJS

Even though the year is over and for as frustrating as this team was offensively and the PP was the worst I've ever seen, it's crazy to think that if UND just didn't get swept by Western in Grand Forks, if they won the Friday game they dominated, they would have finished 3rd and not 5th in the NCHC.

Count me in the group that is against making wholesale changes to the now Senior class, with the time it takes to acclimate to the college game and the time frame in which those you could recruit those extra players, I see it as a huge net negative. If I could wave a magic wand, my ideal off season for UND would be as follows. We know of 5 incoming Freshman forwards that have signed, four high caliber, true freshman and one overager, more of a walk on depth guy. There were only 3 Senior forwards on last years roster. My ideal summer with the forward group would be to cut two of the soon to be Senior forwards. There's two guys to me and it's glaring that have a roll that's either not needed or others can do it better. That would equal out the number of forwards leaving and coming in, while maintaining a pretty balanced roster by class. 3 Seniors, 3 Juniors, 4 Sophomores, 5 Freshman. On defense, not lose anyone early and replace Shaw with Frisch. I would be against replacing Rieger with Bast, although clearly a positive move talent wise, but I really feel you need the 8th guy as someone who really knows their role. If you replace Bast with Rieger I just don't think there's enough ice time to go around. Quick summary would be cutting two soon to be Senior forwards and replacing the other outgoing Seniors with incoming Freshman.

I can definitely get on board with that definition @Ogie Ogelthorp and the expectations that @The Sicatoka laid out to categorize them as "busts". I'll just never understand what went into the construction of the class once everything played out, meaning around Christmas the year prior. It was clear what this class was at that point. At that time it was nothing but making the tournament and Frozen Four performances, so there was obviously a lot of confidence (especially with Hak) that he could turn them into something. The huge misstep was last summer and I'll never understand how no changes were made.

The soon to be Senior 6 man forward class.

If he somehow misses the tournament again next year, I do think he's gone. I don't think it'll come to that though, I genuinely think things turn around next year and with the anchor being released a couple weeks from now next year, this will just be a bad two year dream.

Obviously meaning Forwards, but just wanted to clarify. My overall complaint isn't one of the 6 soon to be Forwards individually. I really like what Smith brings, I also like Bowen as a 4th line type guy. You could even make an argument for any other player individually, like Hoff has a chance to step up as we've seen flashes. Johnson you could stick on the 4th line in certain situations or be a guy who only plays because of injuries, same with Yon. The problem is under any circumstance you can't have all 6 as for the most part 5 of the 6 would have the same type role that in all reality you would only want 4 total on your roster having. The Freshman class this year (Senden / Hain / Keane) also play those type of roles and already do them better.

I have a problem with the term bust and this class, because what were people really expecting? This has been my problem with this class since Day 1, it didn't make any sense at the time and clearly it still doesn't make sense. I'm going to take Johnson out of the equation since he wasn't brought in as a forward. You had Jost (Blue Chip) and Hoff (Good recruit) coming in that should have been expected to contribute. Jost was a maximum two year guy, only was here for one, but met expectations. Hoff hasn't lived up to expectations and I'd consider so far a bust. Then we get to Bowen / Yon / Smith. I don't know what Bowen / Yon showed in Juniors that would have made anyone believe they were anything more than what they've become. Smith was the "lesser league" guy playing in the MJHL and has probably exceeded expectations. My ultimate point is you had 60% of the class that shouldn't have had expectations to begin with, that's not fine. You should never have over half of your class as role type players. Johnson switching to Forward has further put this class in a mess, because again, what would you expect? Side note: To bring in my post before about not seeing 3 underclassman cut (which won't happen), but would also be very frustrating to see a guy like Adams (possibly) transfer is I believe Berry has played favorites with this Junior class. This Junior class wasn't a "bust class", the writing has been on the wall, but given where some of the players were from basically has given them immunity to stay on the roster, even though last year a serious look should have been given to look for other options. Not taking that hard look helped put himself and this team in the position of (1) Not making the tournament again (2) Having 6 forwards who will now be Seniors that are all role players.

Really? The underclassman list is: Sophomores: Bast / Kierstad / Adams / Mismash / Kawaguchi / Rieger - There's no way in any world the four I have in bold would get cut, Adams transferring would leave a really bad taste in my mouth. Rieger would make sense given his current situation in the lineup and possibility of needing to find room for both Frisch and Bast. Freshman: JBD / Tychonick / Senden / Hain / Keane / Weatherby: Honestly, given the roles they had to have been brought in for, the only person who under performed was Weatherby, but cutting someone after just one year would be ridiculous. I don't see anyway the number is 3, I see Rieger as the only real possibility and Adams transferring as the other possibility.

For the most part, you're absolutely correct, my point more is on the emphasis that each player is so important. I'll add Luke Johnson to the list @hky added above. They've definitely kept players that had offers as well, looking to next year I'm looking at a guy like Poolman. IF they can keep a clean slate this summer, I think you'll see it do wonders next year.

I just can't emphasis how much each early departure truly matters when looking at next years roster (players sign pro contracts). UND losing the most players early over the past 3 years has played a huge part into missing the playoffs two years in a row. I'm in wait and see mode until that all gets worked out.

I would say a very positive first article regarding players leaving early. It'll be wait and see, of course, but I like that only Poolman was mentioned. https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/hockey/4586024-colton-poolman-wants-make-decision-future-fairly-quickly

UND winning one game against this Denver team in six games might be worse than getting swept at Canisius.

We've all seen it before, guys like Hextall and Johnson come to mind.

I'm optimistic, a lot though will depend on the decisions of Poolman, Mismash, JBD, Adams though.

Funny thing is I'll never be convinced by this, even though Denver wins every time. I cannot get over how they got swept by that team.

Denver absolutely is the worst Top 10 team I've ever seen. Just one persons opinion.

Huge difference between the Freshman now and the incoming Freshman class. I'm all in on next years class.

Absolutely, Denver is legitimately a bad hockey team. Lucked out playing the worst offensive team in the country.

Not true at all. Weatherby was the only forward that put up points last year in Juniors.

Only time I’m genuinely happy a season is over!

UND is the only team in the country Denver could sweep

Come on man, your first paragraph is a complete lie.

Pulled goalie officially game over

Just a few minutes left!

Can't come soon enough.