sagard

I think you might be giving our guys a little too much credit for a nice weekend in Mankato. The grit and defense was lacking for all but 3-4 weekends out of the year. We'll see in October though. I'm just mainly hoping for a return of the power play.

I believe you are being overly dramatic, but I guess that really isn't too surprising.

I don't think your comments are accurate anymore. It certainly used to be but now they don't really have an identity other than being soft. They give up tons of shots and scoring opportunities and they don't block shots to save their lives. This series could have gone either way, but as the series went on Theodore got better and Backstrom got worse.

Nobody really knows or has said how the Snow/Okposo negotiations went. The only strange part was the idea that Okposo obviously would have signed for the nine NHL games and an AHL deal at the beginning of the season. It really seems like a problem that doesn't need fixing because most guys aren't going to walk on their team for the cup of coffee that Okposo got.

One thing those who long for the Dean Blais days need to remember how much more competitive the coaching ranks are now in the WCHA. Blais started his fantastic run taking on Woog, Sertich and Sauer in their later years. While they were still capable, they were starting to slip. Gwozdecky was getting the rink built and DU wasn't really as dangerous as they would become. Lucia was of course very good at CC, but now they have a new rink and really haven't dropped off under Owens. It sure seems like the WCHA coaches are pretty much killing each other over recruits. Blais would no doubt be fine again in the WCHA, but the days of four league titles in five seasons are over in my opinion. Four Frozen Fours in a row is a pretty fine accomplishment as most of you know. As soon as you guys don't run into DU or BC in the playoffs, I'm thinking your set.

Lucia can't set a hard date because he doesn't make the rules. He may have indicated publicly that he would have liked players to make a decision by a certain date, but don't confuse that with the truth. Lucia would have waited all summer to have a chance at another season from RP, DI, EJ, KO, PK, etc.... Same with next year and Wheeler, Stoa, and the rest who may get professional offers.

I think Jackson has given the CCHA the third power house team they have been missing since his LSSU days. Notre Dame was VERY good last year and easily could have been in Michigan States skates with the title had they escaped their regional.

No reason a team can't make the Frozen Four in any given year. Look at Notre Dame and how close UW was to making it. The biggest trick is to make the tourney every year and take your chances from there.

This is the new NHL. He can't get a high offer. I'm guessing if offered a signing bonus and an AHL roster spot he'd take off, but who knows. Playing another season for the Sioux wouldn't be the worst thing for him.

I'm with you. Goals are tough. Let the soccer goals (which are typically skill) count.

Miami actually should have beaten BC. One of their big guys had the entire right side of the net from ice to crossbar with Muse all tied up, but he simply shovelled it into Muse on the left hand side. As for what could have been, who knows. Miami was really the only team that played BC close so I'm guessing they would have given your guys all they could handle as well.

I'd guess 90% of the NCAA hockey teams share this motto. The only thing that might concern me would be the frequency in which some get notice by law enforcement.

I don't think they did make the right call. The motion he made to trap the puck was not a distinct kicking motion. The puck redirected in off the original trap. It doesn't really matter. Goals are hard enough to come by in today's hockey they should simply allow anything off a skate to count. The rule is bad and the call that was made could have been called correctly with sound reasoning either way. Typically when a play is that close you stick with the call made on the ice.

It happened in front of me and I like the refs was looking up ice. I only caught it out of the corner of my eye and I thought it was cheap. It almost seemed like he was intending to trip him, but then caught a bigger chunk of Chorney's leg then he was expecting.

One ticket get you into both semi-finals right?

If you guys would have received your typical goaltending I think both the last two matchups with BC would have been about 4-2 in your favor. Stuff balances out over time, so UND should hopefully get past BC. The main thing is to get ahead of those clowns and make them play from behind.

That's because their kids go to private schools. As much as people like to hate on light rail, where is the outcry about Stadium handouts? They are a waste and will be just as much of a burden to tax payers as light rail. If tPaw and the rest of the repubs would have stood out against Pohlad or be currently telling Zygi to beat it, I could respect their tax positions a lot more. Of course cutting $200 million isn't a bad thing. Some of that crap that the Dems sent to Pawlenty makes me really sad.

I'm not sure I should do that to you all. I've pretty much been on your side since the two goals in the last minute of the '01 Finals. I was almost bitter enough during the Mariucci series to hope the worst on you guys, but then there was an incident at the Final Five that probably has me back in your corner.

I don't have a seat yet, but I'll be wearing my Gopher bumblebee jersey. Please feel free to say hello or simply rag on the Gophers to say hi.

I'd go a little lower on Michigan/BC/Notre Dame. Hockey is a pleasant diversion to these people, not something worth going to Denver for. Are you thinking semi-final lower bowl tickets will go for less than face at the rink?

You'd mock Lucia if he said they were going to finish top of the league, so I'm guessing he probably couldn't win with you.

With your local knowledge where is the best place to park if coming in from the south of town?

Just don't let some dude pass out and get painted on. That was pretty funny though.

Wheeler would have huge incentive to sign with Phoenix no matter what. They are the only team that can pay him old CBA money. We are talking the difference between Turris (and everyone now) bonus money $85K and vs. old CBA money $500K+. The only way he doesn't sign with Pheonix is if they have given up on him and refuse to pay. Most seem to think he can be an NHL top six forward and that Pheonix will pony up.

Yep. They would still have the hammer as well because they could pay him way more than anyone else.