I Ranger

Uff no Guch and those forward lines don’t look so hot!

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I agree with your first 4 forwards but I think they have Portz play another year in the USHL. I think simply because he is a late bloomer and wouldn't have any hurt feelings playing another year as I'm sure that was the plan all along. Not sure if that means Bowen or Halliday come next year though as I think both could use another year. I think as we have been saying for quite some time that this class will simply be addition by subtraction. I do agree with your D though although it sounds like Miller is making a strong case to come in next year but I think simply Moore has to come as he is a year older. Both are having nice years.

I agree. Way too shaky in the d zone and turnover prone for my liking. Would like to see him as the extra skater though.

Is Braden Costello not a committ anymore? I haven't seen anything on here about it but Heisenberg doesn't have him listed as a UND recruit anymore. Not surprising if true.

Amen. If u enjoy watching a game on the big screen with 70,000 other people, outdoor games are for u. U can’t see anything live from ur seats. No thanks!

As I’ve said multiple times no thanks on the outdoor games. Once was plenty. Play hockey in hockey arenas not football/baseball stadiums!

Please no. Hockey is meant to be played at hockey rinks! We’ve already crossed off the outdoor game theme. Once was enough(too much) in my opinion.

I would say the 5,000 to Penn St would be way high. My guess more to UND and quite a bit less to Penn St

One huge factor for Penn St is they play Iowa at home that same Saturday. I was surprised they scheduled this game on a day when Penn St played football at home so I think that will greatly reduce any casual Penn St fan making the trip and greatly reduces their total number in attendance.

Agree and said the same thing to quite a few different people this weekend. Christmas break can't come quick enough for him.

Thanks but I’m getting a little older and probably can’t keep up anymore!

Not a fan of Bowen? I like what he has brought and don’t think you can take him out of the lineup.

Sorry to beat a dead horse but I just don’t and never will get #5 cracking the lineup. Maybe I could see it against a big heavy team like a Western Michigan but against a team built on speed skill and transition like St Cloud not so much.

I’m actually in the camp that I hope we really don’t change much if anything with the lines. I really like that 4th line of Bowen-Weatherby-Blaisdell and think our depth can really wear teams down. Weatherby is turning into a beast down low. I like how Caulfield’s game has come along and thought he fit in ok with Pinto and Michaud. Sorry but I don’t want to see Johnson again unless we have injuries. He’s clearly the 15th forward in my book

I think Frisch is ahead of Tychonik at this point but I could see rolling with Tychonik or quite possibly going one game per weekend for each. I would prefer using the extra skater to dress both though as I think in most cases 12 forwards is plenty. I agree that Judd has come along way and has earned a spot and I would say Keane would be ahead of both Yon and Johnson in the forward pecking order.

It will be interesting to see how many Penn St fans attend. I would set the over/under at 1,000 as they play Iowa at home in football the same day which will greatly deteriorate their attendance.

Agreed Caulfield has come along way in a little over a month. Nice to see and could be quite beneficial to the group as he gets more and more comfortable out there.

I agree. Getting a year older and stronger and sprinkling in some nice freshman sure helps. College hockey is tough and it takes some talented players a few years to figure it out which is why it was nice to see a guy like Adams not bail when many thought it was possible he would (ala Murphy and Wilkie). I know it could have been partially a coaches decision with WIlkie and Murphy but you can't tell me those two the last few years wouldn't have helped our scoring challenged teams as upperclassmen. Also, having seniors like Bowen and Smith in energy/3rd-4th line/penalty kill rolls is massive. I really feel our forward depth can wear some teams down and score from all lines. This is certainly something we haven't had in a while even on some of our really good squads.

Has to be hard to sit Keane though as he has been pretty good as of late.

I thought we might see Reiger tonight but for Tychonick who was awful last night.

I agree I thought Adams was our best player tonight. That had to be #6 worst game of his career and #17 should be in a suit right now. He has got a long way to go and easily the odd man out of the top 6 right.

I totally agree with this. My biggest argument against CJ, (other than his foot speed and low offensive skill) is that he stays in the lineup supposedly because he is defensively responsible with zero offensive upside on teams the past couple years that simply couldn't score. Like I mentioned previously, I think the 19th skater is perfect for easing a freshman D in the lineup and not for dressing an extra forward which we seem to do more often than not recently and I think it's because they want CJ as that extra forward.

To me this is the best place to utilize the extra skater you can dress now. Being able to dress a 7th d-man every night and work in a freshman D slowly to me is ideal. Unless someone is playing a little dinged I don't get dressing a 13th forward. Maybe that's just me because I've had enough of watching #5 dress ahead of others over the years!

Really? I thought Frisch looked ok but not great and seemed to struggle with position at times (mostly on one PP he was out for) but was pretty solid defensively. I could see he wasn't too confident with the puck but that will come with time/experience. For Caulfield, he couldn't have played more than about 5-6 shifts and it was evident to me that his feet/skating is what is holding him back (funny to say that when Casey Johnson continues to play though).