I Ranger

I'll take Gregoire tonight. Go Sioux!

I'll go with the guy who got me knocked out in the last one VandeVelde for Friday.

The Sioux are interested but I'm pretty sure he will be Boston University bound. I'm actually surprised he hasn't committed yet which may be a sign that he is waying his options a little bit but I still say he heads to BU.

He's a July 91 Birthdate making him 18. I would guess the only way he comes here would be as a 2012 recruit since it seems like we are quite full for 2010 (Mattson, Rodwell, Fink?, St. Clair?) and 2011 (Fink?, St. Clair?, Parks, O'Donnel, Nelson). I think he would have to play two more years of juniors if he wants to play here.

First time in second round for me as well. I'll take Hextall tonight.

I'll go with Gregoire.

I'm with you here. I haven't seen the men's black yet but I like the looks of these the best.

Do you think with St. Clair committing this means we are out of the running for Sahir Gill? Unless Gill or St. Clair along with a few other committed recruits are willing to wait until 2011 to come in.

Yeah that's the one. I believe the Exiled One mentioned he thinks he will end up here. I think he is originally from North Dakota but moved to Edina and played there until obviously moving on to the Development Team.

I kind of like the look of those but I would switch Cichy with Rowney or Bruneteau to have kind of a grinder/shut-down line of Hextall-Zajac-Rowney or Bruneteau with Lammy, Cichy and Knight as another line. Lammy could fit very nicely on that shut-down line as well but may need to center the fourth line instead. Also I am wondering if Hextall and Gregoire stay on a line together as they played the last half of the year together with Duncan and played quite well.

With the loss of Frattin now, how do you guys see the line combos playing out? Does Frattin's dismissal mean VandeVelde and Malone will both center lines now rather than Malone playing on Vande's wing with Frattin? I kind of like Malone on wing rather than center but he may be needed to play center.

Any clue if there is interest in Nolan Zajac? Just wondering since the obvious connections and I figure if we're looking at D he would be one. Although it seems like we are quite full for D until 2011 with Mattson and Forbort more than likely coming in next year.

Anybody know if there is anything going on with Matt White? I see he isn't listed on Heisenberg's recruiting site under USHL or listed on North Dakota recruits. Did something happen or is this a mistake? Just saw on Brad's twitter account that he won't be playing for Lincoln this year and he is contemplating hanging up the skates. It's looking like with the addition of Knight this year and White possibly quitting that we now have some availability to add a couple forwards to next years class.

It's going to be quite difficult to get someone to campus now with school beginning next week. I sure hope so though since 13 forwards is rather low.

Anybody see Brad's blog? Yikes! Not a good start to the season.

TEO do you know if he is being offered for 2010 or 2011? Just wondering as it seems like we are quite full with forwards for 2010 and even 2011 unless there are quite a few early departures.

It's interesting that from what I heard he choose SCSU over UND due to the opportunity to play right away when SCSU goalie situation is much more crammed (assumed to be crammed) now than UND's is/would have been had Lee committed here as then Dell wouldn't have been in the equation. It would have only been Lee and Eidsness whereas at SCSU he has to compete with Dunn and Weslosky assuming they are both there when he gets there this fall. I think he would have split time at either place anyway.

Fink isn't an old recruit. He graduated from high school this year and this upcoming season would be the first year he would be able to come in. He played his junior and senior high school years in the USHL and maybe that is why you assume he's an older recruit. He could still play two more seasons in the USHL if he or the coaches wanted him to. He is a few months older than Mattson and Knight and a day older than Rodwell.

This is what Hockey News had to say about Dylan Olsen after the NHL combine. Anyone have any info on if this is true or if it's just a reporter with bad information? THE ONLY JR. A player to make the grade for Canada

Yes he is but that would mean going back for a fourth year of juniors which he may not want to do. I know it has been done before but I would guess he wouldn't want to do it.

I understand what you're saying here but say we replace the forwards like this: 2009 Duncan-Cichy Kozek-Kristo Watkins-Bruneteau Miller-Forney? Martens-Knight, Mattson or Rowney That leaves 2010 Vandevelde-Knight, Mattson or Rowney Zajac-Knight, Mattson, or Rowney Plus Fink, Rodwell and White are suppose to be coming in. I know there is a chance for an early departure or two but I don't foresee more than one at this point.

Anybody think they may bring in one more forward next year than they had this year? I think just by a pure numbers stand point that it makes sense to bring an extra forward this year (which would be 15 forwards) just so we don't have so many freshman next year. Maybe one of these recruits isn't a big scholarship guy and therefore they would bring him in this year but I'm not sure which one maybe Rowney as others have mentioned due to his age.

I would guess Forney's decision factors in as well. If he comes back, then one of those guys comes in and if he doesn't come back then possibly two of the three would be here next year. I hope Forney comes back and shows us why he was so highly coveted a few years ago. Anyway, we should know in the next couple of weeks who will be here next year.

I would guess with the way VandeVelde, Frattin and Malone played in the last game against UNH and how much Hak liked that line that they would be paired together for the start of the year. The only way I think that won't happen is if they want Malone to play center but I liked the way he played on a wing with VV and Frattin. Also, I could see Kristo and Cichy playing together.

Not likely since he has to still get drafted in June. Anyone notice McBain's contract $600,000 a year if in the NHL and Stoa's looks like it will be for the max? Both are 2nd rounders I believe so I don't think McBain's agent did very good negotiating.