Handyman

Quoting Shooter is like making this stuff up yourself He is right as often as I am, and I have no sources, no inside info and dont get paid to write a column. He may be right though...the only thing I have heard saying MArtin is staying was on PA and Dubay...and well they are on the same level as Shooter

Hey where you been Shawn? Kissing a bunch of BADger butts? BTW if any of you on this board were the UND fan who came to Bennigans the other day, sorry but I had to give you and your buddy crap

Hey I can be annoyed...it aint like I am going to find you and kill you man

Yeah it is the first 6 times you see it.

You didnt catch me, I just have been looking for an excuse to say how sad you are and you provided it. You more enabled me than caught me per se

You know how some people say POI is obssessed with UND...I am starting to think that Goon is obssessed with the Gophers. He is even checking out people's personal pages and using them. It is funny, because it is so sad

Smieja only dressed for exhibitions and made one save in the Italy game. Kellen Briggs is the #3 goalie for the Gophs.

Why do I have a feeling the Sioux didnt invent the "Center Ice Salute"? (note: You might have, I am not old enough to know like some of you but it does seem rather unlikely)

As a Gopher fan, I dont think the Sioux defense is bad. In fact they impressed me more during the Mariucci series than Parise did. Greene and Co. punished the heck out of our forwards and played a very solid position defense to protect your goalie from shots. They play excellent defense. Problem is they cant move the puck. Despite what some think that is very important. They dont need to go end to end and score ala Keith Ballard, or be able to crash the net like a Paul Martin, or even have a booming shot like a Ballard or Leopold (or Roche) but they need to be able to get the puck out of the zone. To me, the most valuable part of having Ballard, Martin or when we had Jordan was that if the other team put the pressure on, those guys would get the puck and bring out of the zone themselves. It seems like a little thing, but it helps a ton. By doing so it often allowed for a line change, or a breakout to happen. They could also pass well which helped to garner more end to end rushes for the likes of a Vanek or whomever. Heck even Demarchi as a senior was decent at getting the puck out without banging off the boards. The 6 or 7 games I saw the Sioux play, I noticed much of what you guys are saying, that Greene and the boys would be content to just shoot the puck off the boards and out of the zone. It is almost like playing a PK. That is not a recipe for success. I agree with dagies (I think it was dagies) who said that offensively the Gophs would trump you (offensive d-men) and defensive you trump us. The Gophs arent horrible, in fact most of the D-men are very good defensively, but they cant shut a team down like your defensive guys. Just like your guys arent bad offensively, but they cant score/move the puck equal to Ballard, Martin and Harrington.

Goon, It is no different than all the Sioux fans who swore that Bayda would be back for his senior season and such. Every team is like that. (see: Cornell with newly departed Lenevue) We will see what happens when the games are played, but if I had to choose between Weber and Brandt, I wouldnt even think twice and take the goalie that won the Frozen Four As for Roche, here's hoping he is wearing the Wild sweater next year

Sagard, As I have said before, you are way to pessimistic about both. Neither Martin nor Vanek has received an offer yet and you are already counting them as gone. I am all about being prepared but you seem to need suicide watch sometimes. The team will be fine no matter what happens, it isnt like they are hurting for talented players on D or at forward. Just remember sthere will be players from last years squad (who saw regular time) who will not play next year due to depth. As for Roche, if he can't make the Wild squad this year (especially if Suckeras and Brad Brown are gone) than I will seriously wonder what NHL future he has. The team needs a PP QB and added scoring punch and that is his game. The Wild traded Murphy away (who I think was the better player but I digress) so now is the time for Travis to step up and take his shot. I hope he succeeds, cause a good offensive defensemen may just be the missing piece to the puzzle for the Wild.

I dont think anyone questions Lucia's coaching, I mean he took a cruddy CC team under Beutow and turned them completely around and his turnaround here is well documented. Same with Blais, those last few years under Gino were BAD! Dahl is not on the level of a Lucia or a Blais. He is a mediocre coach who recruits well but honestly stinks it up in the big games. Players dont respect him which is why they defect all the time. SCCC will never be a serious contender as long as he is at the helm. This year they were going to be bad anyways, and now it gets worse. Their recruits are above average but nothing to write home about and now they have lost their top defensemen (and arguably their only good one) a young forward they were counting on, and another top player (Hendricks) is days away from jumping ship. Add in Schuster and the other 35 people that are gone and his team has no depth and no real threats except maybe Joe Jensen to make any noise. The team underachieved last year, and will out and out suck this year. Myself, I really enjoy knowing that

Vanek may leave, although history doesnt show that to be a real strong possibility. But who knows what Buffalo wants. IMO they would be smarter to bring both Vanek and Ballard after next season (assuming the strike doesnt happen) and market the heck out of the duo. They could make a windfall if both make the team. If you want my opinion, the strike/lockout is the key. If there is one, than you will see Vanek, Parise and Suter sticking around after next season. (Yes I am saying they are all playing next year in the WCHA...although I pray Suter leaves Sconnie hanging ) If there is no stoppage, all three will be gone. Most scouts think Suter and Vanek are ready now, and chances are Parise will have a better season next year than he did this year. NJ seems willing now (my what a difference 5 years can make I guess) to sign players (Hale, rumors of Martin this year and Tallackson possibly next year) and I believe they want Zach in their system badly. That is just my $.02 on the issue.

Take it for what it is worth, but I remember reading interviews with Potulny and Irmen about their commitments. They both talked about how they independantly made the decision and how they had no idea where each was going until the decision was made. Now that could mean nothing, but at least on the surface it would seem that they both just wanted to come here for their own reasons. (not because their buddy was coming) And as soon as Grant signed here I heard about Ryan, and some of the things I heard could rival they hype Parise got.

Does anyone want to take bets on the chances that Rick will make up an even more lame excuse as to why the Sioux are better if and when the Gophs do win the "all important" WCHA and NC in the same season. My guess is he will pull out the "Your title doesnt mean as much because you didnt win it with a midget goalie" card

I wouldnt hold your breathe on that one

If it lasts that long they might as well keep on striking til the end of time cause NO ONE will care. The league is in shambles anyways and a strike that lasts more than a few days could cause irreparable harm.

This is Shooter we are talking about...the only difference between him and Sid is Shooter actually went to college No offense but I still dont like this pick for the Wild. The Wild need big power forwards not more undersized playmakers. I am not knocking Parise I just dont think he fits the needs the Wild have. They lack size, something Parise is lacking.

Where does Darcy Wakaluk (sp?) fit in since Jon Casey has been mentioned

I think you can guess how it felt to be Brunette by looking at the picture of his celebration after the goal I wont call Marty the best until he wins as many Cups as Roy and as many Conn Smythes. He may pass him in wins (I wouldnt guarantee it though) and other records but the Conn Smythes speak for themselves IMHO.

Brodeur should never be considered as good as Roy for the simple fact that he has played his entire career for a defensive oriented team in NJ. While Colorado and Montreal played good team defense, they did not base their entire system on the trap. In the modern era I would say it goes: 1) Roy 2) Brodeur 3) Hasek

It is tough for me to have any sort of opinion on this subject. On one hand, I totally get what Hammy is saying in that if the player is doing everything he can academically, is on his best behavior at all times and works his but off in games and practice it is tough to agree with him or her getting the axe in an amateur setting. I just have this hatred of the idea that college athletics are turning into a "win at all costs, second is unacceptable" situation. It just will never seem right to punish a player for doing his best and just falling short. (assuming he is doing everything right) On the other hand, I am a student currently who for a couple semesters actually had to pay his own way through school without the aid of loans or scholarships. I dont like the special treatment athletes get and never will because it is a crock. These kids get for free what everyone else pays for and some take it for granted. They get the chance to play sports as a means to a better future...that is enough of a perk to justify them giving 100%. If they dont, or if they dont live up to the expectations that come with a scholarship they should be replaced by someone who will. No matter what both sides of this argument have a legit beef. It isn't cut or dry/black or white...each case is different. If it were up to me, I would probably not cut the kid if he was getting the grades and doing everything I asked of him. If I needed the scholarship money, I would find some other way to keep the kid in school (legally of course) financially. I think a kid like that can be a great example, especially for the stars of the team. That is just me though. Like I said before, I dont begrudge any coach the right to do what is in his teams best interests. I may not agree and may even criticize but I wont tell him or her what they can or can't do.