I Ranger

I think we just have to simplify the game. Pucks deep and get on the forecheck and chip pucks out of your own zone as cleanly as possilbe. Unfortunately handling the puck is quite the chore on this ice and holding on to it for longer only increases the likely hood of getting a bad bounce and costly turnover. Really takes the skill out of the game.

As has been mentioned multiple times, the ice was horrendous! Anyone who thinks this didn't play a factor as it's a great equalizer for the lesser skilled team is crazy. Even the simplest plays/passes were difficult all game. The age old complaint of regionals playing on garbage ice for the most important games of the year but at least it's a neutral site! Ridiculous!

Going to have to play simple hockey. Pucks in deep and grinder goals. I've seen some bad ice in regionals but this looks like it could be the worst!

I agree. Or it could very well be similar to last year in that they're aware of the high-end players that will be/are available and haven't really even opened their recruitment yet as they are waiting for their CHL seasons to finish. I have not doubt we will be after these types even if it means pushing others back and potentially losing more.

So the rumor around the World Juniors appartently was that UND had 2 pretty big silent commits playing. Carels is the most obvious guess as he has been linked here for quite some time and wasn't the other potentially a Euro forward? There weren't any forwards on Canada or USA that aren't signed or uncommitted so I thought the assumption was it could be one of the higher end Finnish or Swedish forwards?

Nick Oliver? My best guess at the moment. Can't imagine many coaches updating their resumes for this one!

You are correct and Jax said as much during the interview on Game Notes.

Has been my fear all along as well.

Good interview with Jax on Chiclets Game Notes. He starts around the 46 minute mark.

Agreed and the next captain as well. I just stated it in another thread but I just don't see them losing anyone they prefer to keep.

Stranger things have happened but I don't see them losing anyone that they want to keep. And I don't think that list is very long at least according to the fanbase.

I agree on Carels. I was just throwing out the hypothetical of the other three righties if we were to be targeting them as well.

Let's say "if" we were lucky enough to have the option of Lin, Rudolph or DuPont for next year who would be the most impactful. I've brought up this question before to a few people. Who do we think would be more impactful on the ice an 18 year old Lin or Rudolph or a 17 year old DuPont? I get the prestige a DuPont would bring to the program but I feel the 18 year old's could potentially be more impactful in year one. Just my thought.

I'm certainly not thrilled with the performance on Saturday but I think we should all take a deep breath and remember where this program was at exactly one year ago!

I'm still shocked Strinden and James aren't flipped. Just seems obvious to me. Strinden-Ollie-Croal.

I'm certainly not excited to see O'Neil go as he wasn't one I was expecting to bail if being pushed back based on where he is from but like we've known for a while something had to give with this forward group and still likely more to come. I'm a little afraid the same conundrum may come up with Lindberg as well.

I figured after being health bombed last night that we would be reading about him signing with Chicago today regardless of whether or not they won.

I'm sure that's the case and with that I would imagine whomever gets them that would mean two forwards get pushed back or more likely pushed out. That's just the new crazy world of recruiting with the CHL opening and especially when it seems alot of the bigger "blue chip" recruits wait until after there season is over to "officially/publicly" commit.

I've stated this before in other threads. When the line of Ollie, Croal and Strinden were together all three were playing their best hockey and that is when Strinden was on a heater. I've been extremely surprised the line has never been put back together which I'm hoping is the weekend. The only reason the line got disbanded was because I believe Croal has a couple week stretch were he was sick.

They are all Hibbing kids and won both Pee Wee and Bantam state at the "A" level.

Agreed and like you mention the "problem" doesn't go away the following season with O'Neil, Sanderson, Williams and McKamey set to come in and that's obviously not counting potential future CHL forwards.

I wonder if Joey Cullen is really in play? I have to imagine very few programs spent much time on Wyatt assuming he would just follow his brother to Mich St. I'd like to be in on McKinnon too!

Faber too I believe.

Such an easy switch. Flip Strinden and James!

I can't believe they haven't gone back to the Strinden-Ollie-Croal line which only disbanded when Croal was hurt. That was the line when Strinden was red hot and the other two were playing their best as well. I like Strinden's game but he's a guy that fits in much better on a more grind type line vs a skilled top 6 role.