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SpudsSioux

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Posts posted by SpudsSioux

  1. On 12/14/2023 at 11:53 PM, brianvf said:

    Does anyone have any info on what direction the two F/M dmen from the NTDP might be leaning?  Lindberg and Kuehne.
    We have a good group of incoming dmen, but hate to lose out on those local ND boys, especially when they are high skill.

    I don't think Kuehne is eligible yet. He's a fall birthday so he's only a Sophomore I believe. 

    • Upvote 1
  2. One thing I really noticed with this group is the D-corp (and forwards helping out) are not letting letting nearly the amount of backdoor one-timers and tap-ins happen. Someone this fall mentioned when they hired Simpson they wondered if he would be able to teach that awareness and sticks in the traffic areas (because he was one of the best ever at it). It sure seems like that has been a focus point. There were multiple times last weekend it looked like one was going right to a Gopher forward and our D would get a stick on it at the last second to negate it.

    They are still allowing too many breakaways, but it looks to me like some of those are just not being super crisp with our passing yet. Forwards get a pass picked off and a good transition team goes the other way fast. But I would think goalies would take a breakaway over a cross-ice pass to a wide open back door player any day.

    • Upvote 1
  3. Sorry I may have derailed this topic with that post. I was referring to the last time I really felt like this with the current run of high-end recruits. They didn't all make it here, but that was a time I felt like for about 2 years it just seemed like we were winning every big recruiting battle.

  4. 1 hour ago, AJS said:

    Starting with the Boisvert commitment, has there been a hotter stretch for this program in the past 17 years (post Oshie / Toews)? This has been lights out. Of course, I don't think the best player of the past 17 years is in the group, but I don't think the overall "ranking" has been higher during that stretch. 

     

    The only other one I can really think of is the run in 2010/2011 that seemed like we were winning every college recruiting battle for the NTDP kids...only to lose them to MJ after. I've wondered before if that's why our coaching staff went a different direction for awhile. I think the later recruiting now (not being able to until their Junior year) has helped with that a bit though.

    If I'm remembering right, all of these were in that 2010/2011 run of Hak's: Rocco, Koules, J. Schmaltz, N. Schmaltz, JT Miller, Stephan Matteau, Voltin, Thompson, Wilkie. Lots of program kids. Some panned out, some didn't, and some were 1st round picks that never ended up on campus.

    • Upvote 2
  5. For sure, would love to see one of those two! Hopefully if this is as big of a get as indicated (Kennedy tweeting it sure makes it seem like it), hopefully it's one of those guys. If not, it doesn't hurt our chances of landing a stud forward if we have a great group of D and goalie locked and loaded for them to play with!

     

  6. 3 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

    Well hopefully you're correct. That was my feeling as well that the longer it takes Mooney to decide the better chance we have. I've just had this bad feeling that the Gophs get both though. 

    Me too, haha. It seems like we're turning a little corner with the NTDP guys though (I know it could just be that we've had a nice run of local guys make it lately), but nice to see the 18s with 2 and the 17's with one early. If UND could lock up Lindberg that would be a nice presence on the 17's with Lindberg and O'Neill committed early here and Kuehne likely a primary UND target the grade below.

  7. Sounds like it may be awhile before Mooney makes a decision. That may give UND a better chance though if they can get him to come for a game. Still feels like a long shot there. Potter decision will likely come earlier and probably a better chance we get him. 

  8. 1 hour ago, tnt said:

    If he can get the players and especially the defense to play with the passion and love for UND that he did, I'm good with it.   Maybe it would have been nice if he had coaching experience somewhere, but I think he has a good background of knowledge and maybe some connections through his dad, and I sure wouldn't mind someone with his personality and passion talking to a recruit's parents.  I think Nick Oliver only had Junior assistant coach experience before St. Cloud hired him as an assistant, and that was with two full time positions, so I think you can see big time coaching potential before you have much experience.  I'm sure Smaby would have been preferable, but some guys that have that experience aren't going to take a pay cut unless they might be the next man up if you know what I mean. 

    Spot on. They weren't going to get Smaby. Not just a paycut, but he knows his next step is an Associate coach position with the current trajectory he's on. I'm fine with a young guy without experience for a 3rd position if it's because his coaching career got started late because he was playing pro hockey (Trupp was this way as well. As soon as he was done playing, his coaching climb has happened fast).

    Above all, I'm just glad there is a 3rd and that it's a D guy. Hoping that takes some off of Karl's plate and he can hit goaltending evaluation and recruiting harder.

     

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  9. I don't think we were ever in on Morin. I wish we were; he was one of my favorite prospects in this class, but we never seemed to be in the mix. Gophers were in the mix, so glad he's not going there.

    If we land Lindberg, Laurila and either Potter or Mooney (in addition to O'Neil and Schultz), this could still be an incredible class, but we need those to fall our way. 

     

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  10. 1 minute ago, siouxforce19 said:

    Isn’t Hensler a 2025 draft eligible? 

    Yup, you're right. I was thinking he was September as well, but he's October. So Laurila is the only one in that group that's 2024 eligible I think.

  11. Hensler and Laurila are both accelerating so could come in as early as 2024. Hensler seems like a lock to come in 2024 to wherever he commits. Laurila likely plays a year of juniors. I think those are the only two eligible for 2024 Draft. Laurila is very very young for the draft (makes the cut-off by about 2 weeks) so he's got his work cut out of for him to move up. Will need to have a big season on the 18s. Hensler seems like a top 10 lock at this point.

    Fleece and Morin both considered potential 1st round picks as well and will be 2025 prospects.

    Edit: Hensler is 2025 eligible for draft, not 2024. Thanks @siouxforce19

    • Like 1
  12. 25 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

    The seven I'm watching most are Hensler, Mooney, Lindberg, Laurila, Cullen Potter, O'Neill, Heil.

    Add Fleece and Morin and this is my watchlist as well. Come out with 2 D, 2-3 forwards and a goalie from that list and I would be over the moon.

    • Upvote 2
  13. I think the coaching staff will commit to any of the top tier defensemen. So much can change. I don't think anyone was thinking 2 years ago that Strathmann was going to play a year of juniors past his draft year and McInnis when he committed seemed like he would be a sure-fire true freshman, but one injury plagued year likely threw that off. You also need to account that the premier talents are 1-2 year guys so. We could realistically land Hensler for the 24-25 season and he could be gone before Lindberg is even eligible to come in (25-26).

    I think we'll get Lindberg and I'm feeling fairly confident on Laurila (60-70%). Lindberg is on a Gopher visit today, but I'm still hearing we're the front runner.

     

  14. 12 hours ago, brianvf said:

    What are the odds that we land one or more of the three Fargo/Moorhead studs?

    Laurila has already taken a visit here but he's visiting quite a few places from the sounds of that article today.
    Lindberg was compared to Frisch (nice), but also has a brother going to CC.
    O'Neill sounds like he is coming on strong and getting more elite as he gets older.

    I know the article indicates Laurila took a visit at Michigan State and has one planned for CC but it sounds like those are distant options. UND firmly in the top 3.

    • Upvote 1
  15. 12 hours ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

    Speaking of Moorhead, is Mason Kraft to Dinkytown pretty much expected?

    I don’t think it’s automatic. I think Ryan will encourage him to explore all his options. Surprisingly they don’t come off as die-hard Gopher fans. 

  16. Couple I would add to this list are Zachary Morin and Charlie Tretheway. Morin would have likely went 1 overall in the Q draft if not for signing a Tender with Youngstown. Doesn't look like he follows any colleges, but nice to see he follows Livanavage and Strathmann.

    • Upvote 2
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