sagard

The Gophers usually allow the Sioux to win a game, so you won't have to do that much whining.

UND already has seven players signed for '05. There may be a borderline case for an '06 recruit that may have been a deciding factor, but to me that would have been worth the risk. Doesn't really matter now, Hakstol is the guy.

I disagree. Hakstol could have been immediately named the interim coach for the '04-'05 season. It's not like Hakstol wouldn't have worked just as hard as an interim, vs. being the head coach. He could of had it both ways.

For him to be a "long term" Sioux coach, I really think the Sioux do need to win it next year. Or at least winning a title in the next couple of years. This years Sioux will have a very nice mix of experienced defensemen, goaltending and a very good group of forwards. If the Sioux don't win the NCAA's and suffer some early departures the following couple of seasons, Hakstol will receive a large portion of the blame rightly or wrongly.

Keep in mind he did win in both the old Ralph: http://www.uscho.com/box/?date=20000122&vi...me=UND&gender=m And the new Ralph: http://www.uscho.com/box/?date=20020209&vi...me=UND&gender=m I don't know if anyone else can make that claim. That said, the Sioux lit him up plenty. It seems like he is finally playing up to the reported talent he had entering college.

The thing is that even if UND may eventually hire Hakstol, the Herald (VF) are still full of it. The only way they would gain credibility (it probably wouldn't last, but I'd at least admit they got this one right) in my mind is if Hakstol is named by 7/9/04. Hakstol could easily be the best choice, but unless a national search is done nobody will know for sure.

The biggest irony is let's say the Sioux go with Hakstol. Now say in another three or four years and another NC later Lucia gets the itch to try the NHL. Who do you think the Gophers would go after? Promote Guenzel finally? Maybe, but more likely it would be a search like the last one and they could zero in on Sandelin.

Has Rick sounded in with his voice of reason yet on any of the boards?

I'll only do it if I get the title "Chief Custodial Engineer" and I must get business cards and letterhead saying so. Honestly it was Virg Foss who wrote the original proclamation right? I don't even need PCM's article talking to the principle decision maker to know it still had a 50/50 chance of being Hakstol vs. someone else. Those odds were good enough for the Herald obviously.

I now truly hope for the sane Sioux fans on this board that Hakstol does get hired. This will be quite a spectacle if there really is a nation wide search going on.

To me the biggest failure on UND's part is missing out on the fact they could of had it both ways. Hakstol could have been named "interim" Head Coach for the '04-'05 season and UND could have taken their time deciding if he was truly the right guy for the job. He certainly may be. I don't think there are many recruits that would have been put off by this and it would have kept the continuity of last years team for next years championship run. Anyhow, I really don't think Hakstol can be evaluated for his performance for at least three years. If he actually does have any minor flaws, they will be completely masked by next years loaded Sioux team.

Don't worry. Your in good company with myself and WPoS. Eaganites.

I think it is an inevitable collision. Of course I thought that last year and the year before as well.

I fully expect to see the Sioux's season end at the Maroosh this year. How about you? If UND thought for any reason to think Lucia might even consider the head job at UND, they would be stupid not to contact him. I'm guessing Lucia's next job will be in professional hockey someday though.

I echo your sentiments. I also have similar thoughts about my favorite team. If I were guessing, I'd pick the Sioux for the top of the WCHA unless they have two more early departures. Even then they still might be my pick, the Sioux were just too far ahead of the field last year to think otherwise. I have no doubt Hakstol will do great next year with the Sioux (even Dahl would), but in opinion he is unproven as a long term coach. Not that he is a bad choice, but if I were making the selection I'd look all over the country and who else may be interested in checking out Grand Forks.

Neither Wheeler or Vanek will make their fame as defensive forwards, if it turns out that Wheeler plays at both ends of the rink it simply means that his NHL career will extend beyond his prolific scoring years. As a top five pick, the Gophers would be very lucky to get more than two years from Wheeler. I'm guessing if he keeps developing a single year would be most likely. Playing with the Guyer/Sertich/Hirsch group as seniors, Potulny/Irmen as juniors and a mature defensive core, I'm sure he will be focussed on scoring from the outset.

It all depends on how well he plays, if he grows and how the new CBA deals with undrafted free agents. Take comfort in the fact that if he leaves early, it will likely be due to his having at least one great season with the Sioux.

Hakstol may turn out to be a Hall of Fame type coach, but right now he is a riskier choice than trying to land a proven WCHA/D1 head coach.

I agree about Sandelin, if you don't take a promotion when it is offered, he may not get another chance.

This is the type of direction I would expect UND to explore, not necessarily hire, but definately explore. There are obviously going to be many top coaches in the country trying to get a shot at the job. The three with direct recent UND ties will always be there, unless Sandelin really wouldn't return. I find thought to be rediculous. Even taking a look at guys like Jeff Jackson or Jerry York wouldn't be the worst thing to do. Many guys that would be considered untouchable by most would have to at least think about the UND position.

Take your trash to USCHO or POI. The summer crew here definately doesn't need to hear it.

All I can say is wow. Congrats to Coach Blais. UND is a premier program with the premier facility in the nation. I'm sure there will be inquiries from all over the country to fill the job. If I were doing the picking I'd go for someone with WCHA head coaching experience. The WCHA is truly brutal and the pressures on the coaches has to be very high. There is no reason for UND to settle for less.

As long as UND wasn't going to steal Lucia when Blais left, why would we care?

There are a couple of decent threads, just like here only no Sioux fans.