sagard

The team has no talent at QB. Sure over 20 years we've seen the Giants with Hostetler, the Ravens, the Bucs and the Steelers with Rothlesburger as a rookie win without a great QB, but everyone else who has won has had a great QB. The way the Vikes are built they are trying to win this thing the hard way.

Am I to understand the WCHA has ****-canned the tight officiating up north now as well? It was a good run, but I think it's going to be nothing but same old-same old with the WCHA ref crews again. Down here they still are calling the stickwork tight, but the holding and obstruction are completely back in play.

Heck some NHL teams love it so much their best player gets hurt and misses the first part of the season.

What's the score and time left?

If it helps... MSU has earned 7pts at Mariucci over the years vs. only 2 pts at the Midwest/Altel arena.

I'd be a supporter of shootouts if WCHA play if they went away from a 2pt game. 5pts -- regulation win. 4pts/1pt - OT win/OT Loss 3pts/2pts - SO win/SO loss The NHL scoring system is broke with OT games being worth 3pts and other games only 2.

MSU hosted the Gophers at the X a few years ago as well. At that time they were given the prime seats and the "X" did the right things to make them feel at home. I think they even painted a purple cow over the Wild logo. Game was a 9-6 battle featuring no defense and little goaltending. Tickets are still available for lower bowl, but club is sold out. There will be lots unsold in the upper level.

I'll be disappointed if Eaves doesn't snap this weekend.

I'm not sure you watched the same game as I. Grotting was about the 5th or 7th guy into the Fischer (he didn't like Hoeffel getting drilled) scrum, White just wrapped him up and had no intentions to fight. Still hasn't thrown a punch. Grotting was looking for action and started wailing. Either White is a puss or Lucia has these guys under strict control, suppose it could be both. Hope UND keeps kicking UW while they are down.

Parise on Ice. Those were such good times.

It is truly mind blowing how popular the Vikings and Timberwolves are. Hopefully one of them will choose to move to Grand Forks or LA or somewhere.

I think you would have set the record playing for those Gophers teams. He lost focus nearly every spring save for the weekend regional at Mariucci his freshmen year. That weekend he had no margin for error and raised hopes only to dash them in Columbus.

Pretty impressive for UND to oust UW from it's perch. Especially considering after the Gophers leave both rinks UW is 6K ahead in attendance. UW fans are not the best, just the most drunk.

Best of wishes and best of luck for you and your family.

Killed is too kind. There were some upset folks who thought he'd play in the AHL. Sillyness.

I'm guessing you description fits 99% of the players. I'm guessing 1% get whatever they can negotiate.

Lamouroux stops those two shots at least 9 of 10 times in the games I've seen him play as well. I think the Sioux are better next year if Finley returns.

That couldn't happen once he turned pro. No way to the Wild sign him let alone put him in the lineup without him spending four years in Houston.

Tampering would be another team telling Wheeler's adviser to explore the free agency route, because they would intend to sign him to big bucks with promised NHL time. Not sure what exactly the NHL considers tampering, but I'm sure they have a rule that defines it.

Unless Wheeler's adviser has done some homework (tampering by the NHL team) and has a commitment from someone to play Blake in around 40+ NHL games next season this was one of the most financially irresponsible moves I have ever seen. It's like tearing up a $600K lottery ticket or maybe spending all $600K on new tickets. Blake is going to have to prove his value where ever he signs and if he was good enough he would have played in Phoenix. Blake could have kept his options open. He could have returned for one more year of college and had the option of free agency or the Phoenix offer to fall back on. If he blew up next year like a Porter, Sejna, Pohl, etc... Pheonix would been begging to sign him and probably giving him the easy incentives some guys get.

The money is all negotiable. I'm sure Sid Crosby did slightly better than spending money. That said UND got Toews and I'm guessing others to turn their back on the CHL, so I don't see why this Clarke dude would be any different.

Someone might wanna tell Hak that NCAA semi's are more important than Final Five 3rd place games. I'll speak to Lucia.

I bet this jumps to #3 when the Sioux finally take down the Gophers in a championship game at the X. For me reguarding the Gophers, in terms of how much fun it is to be there: 1. NCAA Championship 2. Final Five Championship 3. Regional Championship 4. WCHA Clincher Two and three are pretty interchangeable to me. In terms of drama though, two of the three recent Gopher regional wins were relatively easy wins. As a Sioux fan I'd love the regionals with OT wins vs. the Gophs and UW.

Ahhhhh noo.. That was you guys until '01.

You can call it an implosion. I'm sure your spot on. The Gophers should be winning National Championships every year. If not that at least winning the WCHA League or tourney title. So here is what we are left for the uber talented local kids: Play for Lucia. Get yelled at all season. Win either the WCHA league or tourney twice or more in your career. Maybe make a Frozen Four/win National Title, but of course HC/AFA/RIT is waiting to put you on youtube. Play for Gwoz. Nice big city option. He'll pretty much have your back no matter what you do. You may get the boot, but at least you won't get ripped in the media. Play for Hakstol. Great team. What is really nice is you don't have to show up until Feb for hockey. Your guaranteed a Frozen Four shot every year and if you don't run into DU or BC you'll get the big ring. Play for Eaves. Just don't cross him and if your not worried about your parents falling asleep during games it's great. Play for Owens/Jutting/Sandy/Motzko/etc.... This is the first time in a long time I think we all have to worry more about Jackson, Berensen, and York more than we need to worry about each other.