AJS

Yon is a one man disaster show out there, they'd be better off playing with 11 forwards.

It's not that they just can't score on the PP, they can't set anything up.

Here's an honest question about the three local players they offered recently, why did it take so long? The odds are stacked against them anyway, why not be the first to offer? You'd think that would be the best chance they'd have.

Western is a good hockey team, especially at home, but like most weekend, it'll end with frustration. I'm sure everyone saw this coming from a mile away, there's no way this team can bury the puck two nights in a row. Giving up a goal on every single Western PP is insanity. At this point it would be a miracle if UND scores a goal tonight. Best possible result tonight is a 2-0 loss, I'm thinking 3-0 is the likely score.

Comes down to tomorrow, UND has finally given itself a chance to get back into the NCAA tournament picture. Just win.

If one of them can kick it in the end zone every time, that'd be worth a scholarship by itself. It would single handily fix a huge disadvantage they've had.

I actually think pretty easily. We know the Canisius weekend sunk this team this year, without it, they'd be in the field currently. That is with possibly the lowest scoring forward unit any of us can remember. Why do I think it can be an easy turnaround? (1) Dominant defensive group - I too think Poolman stays, with him they will have 5 guys I trust in any situation (Peski is a solid #6 dman) -- Include most likely two solid Freshman recruits and you have a ridiculously deep / talented group. (2) Goaltending - Experience with both guys playing in all situations (except playoffs) 3) Forward group can't be worse. You have a home run freshman class four highly ranked prospects. Still have guys on this team that have a pretty high ceiling (think current sophomore class), hopefully a guy like Weatherby steps up. This team should be able to average another goal a game and defensively, their numbers which are solid won't go up.

Talking about the Nose guard position, for those that know a lot more than me. In a 3 / 4 defense is weight the most important aspect? If so, what's the minimum a guy would need to be to be solid? If a guy is quick, could he still be effective at like 260? Were true freshman Beach 6'4" (260) / Pierre 6'3" (255) brought in to eventual be in the NG mold or DE's? Talent wise, those two are pretty highly regarded recruits, could they step in next year? How much weight do Seguin (260) and Morrison (250) have to put on before they could be looked at as legitimate starters? I know both played last year, but are undersized for that position. None special teams, is my assessment fair that nose guard is currently the #1 glaring issue on the roster next year? Not saying others don't need to improve, but you know what I mean. If so, could a four person tandem of Beach / Pierre / Seguin / Morrison be adequate?

How are these assessments? Looking at each positional group in '19 compared to '18: First '19 projection, second '18 grade: QB: 6 / 5: Return everyone, so it won't be worse. With a new OC, comes a new system and a new QB competition. RB: 7 / 8: UND loses the best tandem in school history, Oliveria was dominant last year, Santiago unfortunately was hurt most season. This should still be a position of strength with JJ, Weah, London and Gordon moving back. Still deep and talented. OLine: 8 / 6: Lose one starter, but return 6 guys who I'd consider "starters". The depth is finally starting to build with this unit and they start out with a fantastic base. Six guys returning that have played big minutes is crucial. It's reasonable to expect a handful of guys who weren't part of that 6 to be ready for minutes this year. WR: 8 / 7 : Injuries really hurt this unit last year along with youth. Return everyone that played significant minutes. Have the experience with the big receivers (Wanzek, Toivonen, Maag), Adeoti gives them speed. Need a guy like Mckinney to take another step as he has big time speed. Guys like Greibel to get more comfortable with the offense. TE / FB: Lose Fielder, but really tough to give an assessment since they were so under utilized. Offense Overall: 8 / 6: It's tough to get over the last three games, but they were Ok before that. The biggest pro is the coaching change, that will make this offense (no other changes), better. I think there's a lot to like as far as player personnel goes. For starters, the O-Line will be improved, which helps out every other position. When looking at the QB / WR / O-Line you only lose one starter and minimal depth (1 O-Line / 1 WR - I'm not sure if Stiner played and Stanley barely played) in those 3 units combined. This new outlook should really help the QB position. You still have a really good RB unit. This really could be a good group. Is this the most overall depth they've had in the D1 era? Safety: 8 / 7: Return everybody CB: 8 / 7: Lose Harris, which is a big loss, return two solid established players (Holm, Blubaugh). Holm is a potential all-conference guy this year (if UND was in a conference) and Blubaugh improved immensely his sophomore year. The depth should be better this year, they basically only went 3 deep last year. Siegel / Odom are highly regarded and both played their 4 games while keeping their RS. You add the Hawaii transfer to the mix. I'm not sure their roll next year, but they bring in the best Freshman CB tandem in school history with Fort / Nelson. OLB: 7 / 6: Lose 1 starter (Palmborg), which is a big, but only loss. Turner is great, huge getting Haas back. Need Lawrence healthy. ILB: 8 / 8: You return both starters, who are very good. Hunt as well, but lose your depth with 2 Seniors graduating. Need a couple others to step into those roles. D-Line: 5 / 7: Bennett is a monster, will Ott be back to 100%? I'm not worried about the DE's, but there's a massive hole at NG. Defense Overall: 7 / 7: It all comes down to the NG position. Not worried at all about the secondary of the Linebackers. The DE's should be fine as well. They need to either get creative (possibly moving O-Lineman to NG), but it's a position where they don't have the size. They need one guy (if it's a drop down of JUCO), but ideally need two. Special Teams: Overall, like that they've brought in as many kickers as they have. If one can find the end zone on kick offs, that'll do wonders for at least one aspect.

Good question, now I'm second guessing myself. Trying to remember line charts I've seen this year. I know Rizzo plays center for sure, do all three? Regardless, I expect to see two freshman as the #1 / #2 centers next year to fill in for Gardner / Jones, with the other playing in a Top 6 role.

Honestly, given the terrible field position UND has given up recently on kick offs, if one of these kids can kick it into the end zone every time, this will be huge for the special teams unit.

I haven't been this excited about a class in a long time, it's what this program needs an infusion of pure talent.

Rizzo / Pinto are your #1/#2 centers, Blaisdell will be a Top 6 winger. Caulfield would be an ideal 3rd line winger.

This is my question as well. My thought has always been that just because a forward is talented offensively, doesn't mean they can't be solid and responsible defensively as well. I do think this coaching staff has fallen in love too much true role players. How do you win games? By having each line be better than the opposing line. I get that seems obvious, but does that mean your fourth line is just an energy / grind type line? Not every player is going to match their expectation, so load up on guys who you consider to be high impact guys. Not all will succeed and they'll turn into your four year guys (see Hoff), you'll also have the Poganski and Gardners who are solid and stick it out for four years. Senden will work out, but I look at guys like Hain who will be the perfect four year guy who does have offensive ability. They are on the right track with next years class. Four high end caliber guys, you recruit early enough these days that you have a pretty good idea who has a chance to make an impact when they get here (see next years recruiting class).

Really? You are literally talking about 100% of the 2019 Freshman class. Every single member will be an 18 year old true freshman. Blaisdell, Caulfield, Pinto, Rizzo will be the four incoming forward recruits, Bast / Frisch will be the two incoming defensive recruits. You are right, the two most recent recruits don't fit that mold, but guess who does? True Freshman (locks) of the 2020 class, Halliday, Bowen, Miller, Kleven (possibility of Reid).

USHL Pinto - '00 (F): 19-15-34 (34GP) Gaber - '99 (F): 12-16-28 (39GP) Halliday - '02 (F): 8-17-25 (33GP) Mancinelli - '01 (F): 8-12-20 (36GP) Randklev - '99 (F): 3-8-11 (21GP) Frisch - '00 (D): 2-11-13 (34GP) Schmaltz - 01' (F): 2-9-11 (37GP) Miller - 01' (D): 3-7-10 (33GP) Reid - 01' (D): 0-10-10 (37GP) Costello - 00' (F): 2-4-6 (32GP) NTDP U18 Caulfield - 01' (F): 7-20-27 (38GP) Rowe - 01' (G): 3.49 GAA / .878 SV% NTDP U17 Sanderson -02' (D): 3-16-19 (35GP) Kleven -02' (D): 2-5-7 (32GP) AJHL Bast - 00' (D): 7-24-31 (36GP) BCHL Blaisdell - 01' (F): 31-24-54 (45GP) Stratton - 99' (F): 11-30-41 (50GP) Bowen -02' (F) 18-16-34 (50GP) Rizzo - 01' (F): 10-23-33 (29GP) Other Kunz -02' (F): 10-9-19 (17GP) -- SSM Prep Montgomery - 02' (F): 4-7-11 (9GP) -- Sioux Falls U16 / 1-1-2 (15GP) Waterloo (USHL) -- Per Elite Prospects James -03' (F): 16-13-29 (29GP) -- Calgary Midget AAA / 1-1-2 (2GP) AJHL

He had the most impressive Junior stat line out of all the '01 recruits, really nice to see him producing like most thought he would this year. He's going to be very important to that 2020 class.

How embarrassing for her.

Great post @yzerman19. Ultimately, it falls on the coaching staff to bring in the right players for this system to work, but I agree that their current system can be effective. My overall statement with the coaching staff would be, a college hockey coach at UND is a results driven profession. It's wins and losses, not about morale victories or excuses. No, I don't think that missing the NCAA tournament two years in a row (if that happens) is acceptable. I am frustrated and definitely get the frustration. Where I'll end of disagreeing with a lot of you, is I don't think this team is far off from being a really good team. I get why some are skeptical, but it would only take a slight uptick in offense to really turn their record around.

Another positive is with only one power play tonight, their % stayed pretty similar. Currently 47th in the country at 15.2%.

We're pretty much on standings watch at this point, which made losing that extra point so demoralizing tonight. This season is really starting me to not believe in percentages, or things will eventually even out, but one thing UND will have going for them in the Quarters is the team they are playing will most likely already be firmly in the NCAAs. I still like this team on the road in round one, especially against a team they are better than (Denver). Then it's down to two games, where again, they are playing for their NCAA lives. Of course last year they were and lost, when every other team that needed to win their conference tourney did.

Shaw has to go, that goes without saying. The power play is an abomination. I've turned the corner and will give Berry next year before I start calling for his job. To say this has been a weird season is an understatement. The coaching staff in general has put this team in a great position and have seen great effort night after night, they just can't seem to put it together.

Impossible

This X100. We've seen these teams play four times and UND was clearly the better team 3 times, but will finish probably 15 spots behind them in the pairwise. I have no idea how Denver is where they are, they are so average.

I said it after last night, this year is like nothing I've ever seen over 20 years watching hockey. A team that time and time again outplays the opponent, but has a record like they do. It would be one thing if they had Goaltending problems, but they don't.