SpudsSioux

Mooney and Potter timelines don't match up unless something drastically changed. Gotta be Lindberg or Heil.

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.

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.

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.

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.

He will be this year. He was tendered to the Force for the upcoming season.

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.

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

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.

I think the part that made it relevant was that it was a genuine concern of EJ's and Berry either sensed that or EJ told him that. Sounds like Berry told some of the guys that they had a good chance of landing him, but he was going to invite Quincy to come on the visit with him because he though it would help and clearly it did. EJ left the visit feeling really good about how he would fit in on campus and in the community. So to us it maybe doesn't feel like a big deal or relevant, but if Berry felt it was and was able to put together a visit experience that put this kid at ease and landed us a huge recruit from the NTDP right before the new recruiting cycle begins, I give kudos to Berry for for having a pulse on that and winning this battle.

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.

Correct. Spartans, not Mavs.

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.

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.

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.

I would love to see them add a defensive coach and let KG go back to focusing more on the goaltenders (recruiting and developing). I would think/hope that Smaby is someone they're looking at.

2: Komzak 3: Pyke 4: Wiebe 6: Britt 7: Livanavage 14: Berg 15: Benoit 18: Perron 20: Pehrson 24: Emerson 25: Zmolek 28: Johannes 32: Persson 30: Hedquist

I think we all agree the Brent Johnson situation was mismanaged. Honestly, if you look at a few of the decisions made since then, I think the coaches have even looked in the mirror and know that bringing him in too early was a mistake on their part. If they continued to do it over and over again I would be concerned they weren't learning. The fact they had Wiebe play another year in the BCHL and they aren't rushing Strathmann in tells me that they learned from that mistake as well.

That's funny. Weird that there would be such a difference from the online roster. Hope the new guys don't shrink when they get to Grand Forks, too!

Who were the 5'8 defensemen? I'm getting this for our D last season based on the roster 6'5 (Kleven), 6'2 (Sidorski, Moore), 6 (Johnson), 5'11 (Farmer, Jandric, Frisch), 5'10 (Bast)

Not necessarily. Remember Hensler is accelerating, hasn't made a decision, and by all accounts appears we are very much in the mix. a one-year rental signals to me either they project Mcinnis or Ausmus to be ready OR they are feeling optimistic about Hensler.

As I said, a Boris disciple. Every kid I've seen that works with Boris has very, very good edgework.

Haha I get that. Last year is sticking out like a sore thumb right now. I do think with a little added weight and strength we'll be pleasantly surprised with how much more Blake and O-Mac can fight thru contact this year. We'll also be seeing some better skaters replacing those leaving (Perron's edgework is night and day better than any of the departing forwards), Livanavage is a Boris disciple...he's skating/edgework will be noticeable from day one.

Omac and Blake getting knocked over is not because of edgework. O-Mac for sure needs to get stronger and Blake can too. Tough to use Frisch as the example because of his aunts, but then discount Sanderson because of his dad. I can get on board with saying they need to be a better skating team across the board and maybe not seeing improvement in guys like Kunz, Albrecht, Ness, Jamernik, etc. What I took issue with was that you said Frisch is the only above average skater we've had recently which was downright laughable.

You don't think Sanderson, Jandric, O-Mac or Blake have above average edge work?! Just because they're not showing off their edgework to start the period doesn't mean they're not working on that in practice. You don't see someone turn on a dime to elude pressure like Blake does unless his edge work is exceptional. Also, I think if you listen to Dylan James interview about how they had been working with him on staying lower thru his stride to create more power (and seeing a difference at the end of the season when he was blowing by people), it sure seems like this is still something being worked on quite intentionally.