sagard

Glad to see all you long timers are still going strong. I think you guys are over thinking it all. Get amazing goaltending and you have a chance. Anything less and you don't. That is what makes the Gophers last two losses in the finals and this year so painful. Goalies had been great right up until they weren't. Every team is going to be put in a bad spot during their tourney run and their goalie has to buy time for the rest of the team to recover. Doesn't matter if it's not fair, do the job. DU should have been bounced by UMass. But they weren't and look at them now. Denver does the best job in the country in the respect that when they have a great team they seem to win it all at a much higher frequency then say when the Gophers have a great team. UMD similar. UND Similar before Hak. Then you guys just became great every year. This is my second 20 year drought between Gophers titles, so it's pretty comical to hear you all complain about 2016. Any least you all didn't lose to QU.

Damn sorry to hear this guys. Condolences to his friends and family.

Congrats to all of you! I'm happy for all you long timers, with so many close calls over the years I have no resentment with your team winning!

If you need to be broken of your love of college hockey join the Big Ten! Good luck in a couple weeks.

Great draw for you guys. BU should be close, but I don't see them getting away with playing only one period against the Sioux. The crowd might help them a little, but it won't be enough unless they really improve their play from the regional.

Big role reversal this year. The Gophers are middling at best and the Sioux are cruising. Looks like a Fargo match up to me!

With four teams per group making the playoffs it doesn't matter nearly as much compared to when only three got through. Russia will suck during group play and mess up the brackets as usual.

It was definitely more intimate. But that didn't stop you guys from teasing 5>3.

JS was pretty helpful as freshmen, certainly aided Stoa getting a contract. Second year exposed him lacking finishing ability. Statistically Grimaldi looks a bit better especially if he didn't see top line icetime. But yeah preseason expectations of JS were pretty high.

Ferris. They will make the tourney more often than not in this current format.

Grimaldi reminds me of Jordan Schroeder. Both stood out on the WJC stage and for what ever reason underwhelmed in college. Both left early and will end up spending a lot of time in the A.

I'm pretty sure you final analysis nailed it. I'd listen arguments why each of the big four could be #1 and none would be wrong. They are certainly close enough that whoever wins the next tourney could move to the head of the class. In no order: BC - Great history. Dominance unequaled in the York era. 8 Title games since 1998. UND - Incredible new comer. Seven titles and may have the highest wins per season. UM - Unrivaled history. Paved way for many midwestern programs. UMich - 9 titles are hard to get no matter when they were played.

If the Big Ten and the NCHC could work something out and hold their tourneys at a single site and share revenue these leagues would have a lot better chance at a successful tourney. As it is now good luck if the Sioux and Gophers aren't playing.

Well said. I've felt the same way but for the gophers many times. The '97 Final Five and the '07 OT Regional Final being my most painful. The '05 semi and the '12 regional finals weren't nearly as emotional. The better team won those games decisively, despite being lower seeded.

Rau is great but replaceable. Despite his rough effort vs. Union I haven't seen a goalie like Wilcox wearing the Gophers M. Goalies clearly need more development so Wilcox will hopefully be on campus another couple of years.