I Ranger

Kawaguchi was definitely not a great skater but neither is Blake. This is another reason why I don't think he is near NHL ready. You can really notice a not so great skater when they are tired and that is exactly when Blake shows he isn't a very efficient skater.

100% agree. The first 10 minutes of the game last night he got knocked on his ass about 5 times and I made mention how this is showing he is no where near ready for the next level physically! His skill is off the charts but I don't recall ever seeing a player of his talent take so many crushing hits. He gets crushed at least once per game.

I don't know if I have ever seen a UND team get so manhandled physically by a team not remotely known for that type of play. Not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but I think Michigan's physical play was one of the reasons we looked totally gassed in the third. Other than Johannes, every forward seemed to take a beating and I think that won the game for Michigan.

We must have been watching different games as this was by far way more entertaining than anything that was being played at the X this weekend.

It's going to be Michigan or Quinnipiac as it lines up now. Not a great draw to say the least!

So this loss looks like it means we get Michigan or Quinnipiac in the first round rather than potentially the ECAC winner. Lovely!

My analysis and this has been all year even when they have been successful is too much player movement and not enough puck movement. I get everything runs through Blake but we need to move the puck quicker and not just have Blake skate around trying to find a play.

For those traveling to the cities this weekend, be aware Sunday looks like an ugly day to be driving back as of now!

The one stat that really jumps out at me because I've mentioned it to bunch of different people over Blake's first two years is that he will never dump the puck in even though sometimes that is the correct and really only play he has. I know he doesn't do it often but to only have dumped it in 5 times all year with how much he has the puck is absolutely crazy to me!

And don't forget about replacing Emerson as well so 5 forwards needed. My thought was 4 of our current recruits (Swanson, Boisvert and Croal for sure) and one of Littler and Panzer would be my guess but maybe Klee is in there as well and then hit the portal for one?

Yep I agree. Switch Strinden and Jamernik and those are the lines I was hoping for last weekend and perfect moving forward.

Unfortunately I'm with you. I actually think this may be one of the worst AA tourney's in sometime. At least on paper, all the best teams got beat in sections. I hope I'm wrong but the quarterfinals could be a little like class A with some serious blowouts.

Switch James and Albrecht and I'd love those lines.

Not many goalies come into college hockey at 18 and have success. I would be surprised if we bring in Heil in the fall of 25 but it sure looks like that is the plan as of now.

Nor old enough! We don't have any other option but to hit the portal if Persson leaves.

I thought so too but the article you quote above makes me wonder about this now with him being honored this weekend. No other choice but to hit the portal again if he doesn't come back.

Anyone know who the potential recruit was on the bench with Dane on Saturday night?

I'm assuming you mean on the setting screens part certainly not the wheels? And as for the reason why Kunz and not Perron, I can answer this based on Berry's history. I can almost guarantee he will say because if you move Perron that would mean changing 3 of the 4 lines rather than just 2 with the Kunz move.

Yeah I wouldn't mind this and have been saying these two have been held back a bit by their line combos. Strinden could even still center and Jammer could play wing. You could maybe even try Kunz with Strinden and Perron but he is just such a poor skater that he would be left behind by those two. Schmaltz is a great team guy, PK'er and defensively responsible center but has very little offensive upside. He fits the 4th line center role more so than Strinden but like someone mentioned(Oxbow I think it may have been you) a while back when I was giving my take on lines that no way Berry moves Schmaltz to the 4th line even though that is where he fits in this lineup now.

Denver in the Frozen Four I believe.

My feeling all along was we see five forwards leave (Gaber, Jammer, Johannes, Ness and Albrecht) and five come in (Boisvert, Swanson, Croal, Panzer and Littler). I would think this opens the door for a portal forward unless they believe Zellers is ready but I think he plays a year of juniors before he comes in which was the original plan for him.

I don't hate these lines. My other option for James was putting him with OMC and Blake so I like that and I like the look of the 1st line. Just think Perron and Strinden are under utilized with this lineup. Hope I'm wrong!

The game should have been over either way as the Finland player touched the puck before it crossed the goal line so icing should have been waved off anyway. They would have had to turn and go 200 feet in 6 seconds. No chance. In hindsight, the blown icing call and faceoff moved to center ice actually gave Finland a better chance than they should have had.

Yes I agree with you on the Schmaltz comment and it not likely to happen centering the fourth line. I wasn't crazy about that line but I ran out of options as I like the first three I put together. I just think James and Strinden need a shot playing together and with another talented forward in Perron as they have been our best two forwards recently in my mind.

My two cents on lines I'd like to see given a shot this weekend: Gaber-OMC-Blake James-Strinden-Perron (I think both James and Strinden have been held back a bit and could thrive playing together and using their speed along with Perron) Johannes-Berg-Jamernik (Line that could matchup against any teams top line and also provide offense) Kunz-Schmaltz-Albrecht