I Ranger

PM sent.

I would take these tickets. I sent you an email. Thanks.

I agree with your assessment of Mitch but you have something against Mattson. I thought he was alright last weekend and should be a staple on the backend all year.

I don't. I think his play last friday night with the 3 penalties earned him the 8th D-spot. I wonder if he even made the trip.

Wilkie and Poganski don't worry me much since they are young and new to the league. It may take them a little time to get used to the pace and the strength of the players. The other two you mention worry me since they have been in the league for at least a season. In Rowe's case for quite a few years even though he has been injured quite a bit.

That's an interesting question. The Sioux have many forwards lined up for future years with the possibility of Schmaltz, Wilkie, Gersich, Poganski, Olson, Rowe and Voltin for next year. It will be interesting to see who gets brought in. I think Schmaltz and Olson are the only guarantees at this point. I was wondering if this opens up the possibility of a guy like Tyler Sheehy? Not sure if there is interest either way just throwing it out there to see if anyone has any insight. I'm thinking it would be a long shot though.

Just heard this as well.

I don't know why all the hate for Mattson. I thought he was just fine last weekend. I would be willing to guess that Simpson-Schmaltz and LaDue-Mattson are set and the third pairing is the toss-up. After last weekend, I think we see Ausmus-Stecher Friday and go from there. I thought Thompson definitely looked like a young freshman D on Saturday night. I don't recall him getting a shift in the last 10-12 minutes of the game and OT.

I am looking for 2-3 tickets to both the friday and saturday games Nov 1-2 vs St. Cloud and 4 tickets to Saturday Nov 16 game against UMD. Please reply to this posting if you have any available.

See #33. Don't forget at one-time he was part of next years talented recruiting class.

I've heard the first line is Caggiula-Mark Mac-Grimaldi. Not sure on the other lines though. Wonder if that makes Tambellini the second line center with possibly Parks and maybe Murphy or Johnson.

Parks

http://www.tsn.ca/toronto/blogs/jonas_siegel/?id=432219 Nice write up on Mac.

Eades will not be the guy even if he continues to have great success in the USHL. His departure didn't have much to do with his coaching ability. I think this is a moot point for a while though. I don't see Hak leaving any time soon.

I was thinking the same. When he committed late winter/early spring, I assumed he was a shoe in to come in this fall and all signs I've heard/read were that he would be able to step right in.

He is only 5 months younger than Ausmus and going to be anywhere from a 1st to 3rd round NHL draft pick so he is coming in. Not to mention Ausmus says that is who he will be living with. Looks like the big question is whether or not Stecher comes in.

I hope this doesn't happen. Minnesota did this almost the entire year and I think it held them back. Yeah they won a lot of games but I think they would have been even better if they rolled 6 D and 12 forwards a night rather than dressing 8 D and having them shuffle in at forward. I've just never liked the idea of forcing a D to play forward just to get him on the ice.

I agree with you here. I wonder how this will affect a guy like Stecher who is a top notch recruit who seems ready for college hockey this year. I wonder how he would feel about playing another year of juniors. I'm sure the coaches have been up front with him and he is aware of the situation. I also think we may never see Crisfield on campus.

I have no doubt the small crowds played into Yale and Niagra's favor in the regionals. Those two schools are used to playing in front of 1000-3000 people whereas Minnesota and UND play in front of 10,000 people on blizzardy nights in January and February and had just played there last games in front of 17,000-18,000 at the X. I do believe the small regional crowds favor the lesser teams but with that said the more talented team should win the majority of time no matter where the game is played. You should be able to get up for a regional final if it was played in front of zero fans when your season is on the line.

I certainly agree with this. A few days after the Yale debacle I started thinking what it was this team was missing and I came to the conclusion that this team missed Brock Nelson more than anyone realized.

I was thinking those two may not make it to campus as well. Especially Rowe since Olson seems to be a similiar style of player.

It's looking like our 2014 class could be interesting considering we have quite a few who could come in but very few seniors on the roster. I don't see a whole lot of early departure potential either. As I see it, we only lose one forward (Rodwell) and I would imagine Olson, Schmaltz and Wilkie are locks to come then you still have Poganski, Rowe and Voltin that could as well. Could make for some interesting decisions.

Murphy will be an everyday player. He is probably our best incoming forward although the other two will probably get drafted higher.

The Wild only lose Haula's rights if he withdraws from school and waits until July 1 to become a free agent. If he stays in school, the Wild retain his rights just like Montreal with Kristo this year.

I agree. He is easily the most talented player in the country when he wants to be but I saw two maybe three shifts the whole game where he looked interested. If he played with Rau's intensity, he would be scary good. Just hate player's that waste their talent. If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that Bjugstad wouldn't even make the top 10 Hobey candidates I would have said you were crazy.