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Walsh Hall

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Posts posted by Walsh Hall

  1. Some of the names mentioned signed knowing that they probably weren’t NHL players.  They get a nice bonus and start their pro career earning pretty decent money for their age.  They can only play for so many years.

    There is definitely a lot more to the discussion than is the player current ready for the NHL.

     

    • Upvote 4
  2. 8 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

    As you can see by the lineup that we sent out the vast majority of the second half, these are the type of players the head man prefers apparently. As has been stated on this board numerous times, when an offensively challenged team sits three pretty skilled forwards (Hoff, Adams, Yon) for a slow footed defensive defenseman at forward something is wrong. Offensive skilled forwards had extremely short leashes whereas our low-skilled grinder type forwards had miles. To me Smith is a great example. He had two or three good weekends in a row in November-December which bought him a regular lineup spot the rest of the year even though he did basically nothing in the second half.

    Adams had 1 points in his last 11 games.  Prior to the last game, Hoff had 1 point in 11 games.  If he played like he did in the last game he would have won the Hobey Baker.  That wasn't indicative of his play for the year.  Yon had 3 points all year.   You can't call these guys skilled forwards at this point at the college level.  If you're not scoring you better be doing other things to get on the ice.

    Smith, Olsen, and Simonson definitely weren't scoring either, but check the stats.  They didn't allow goals.   They aren't easy to play against.  Simonson's +/- is amazing considering his lack of offensive production.

    I have a ton of hope in Hoff and Adams.  Both have the ability to be productive offensively.  I think they both get there, but they weren't there last year.

    • Upvote 1
  3. 3 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

    15 forwards.
    How many are legitimate "top six" guys? 

    We have this strange affection for bottom six grinder guys.
    Yes, you need them, but not 12 of the 15 forwards. 

    Simonson: 139 games, 9 goals
    Olson: 121 games, 11 goals
    Smith: 66 games, 8 goals
    Bowen: 66 games, 8 goals
    Yon: 60 games, 4 goals 

    This team needs offense, both mindset and production. 

     

     The top 3 didn’t score, but at least didn’t give up ES goals.  Not so much for Bowen and Adams.

  4. 16 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

    He's defensive deficiencies are so glaring at times that I'm not sure how that will translate as a pro even with his offensive skills.

    I think he is good in his own end.  The glaring mistakes seem to happen when pressing to make something happen offensively.  On this squad he had to be pressing given the lack of playmakers.

  5. 13 minutes ago, geaux_sioux said:

    I’ll be watching 16 pretty hard today. Another game like yesterday and I would hope he leaves after the season. 

    He could easily be the second highest returning scorer next year.  He has his moments, but if your kicking him off the team you might as well start totally from scratch.

  6. For the Hoff, Adams, Yon argument... There is the eye test and the stats.  Top 9 forwards were locked in.  After them, Simonson plays, despite not scoring, as he was not a defensive liability and his +/- clearly shows it.

    The last two spots were really who won’t lose us the game more so than who will win us the game.  None of the options produced offensively relative to their defensive responsibility.

    Johnson was decent in that regard, certainly as good as the other options.  The last spot between Bowen and the above seems to be a coin flip.  For positioning I suppose Bowen got the nod.

    https://www.collegehockeynews.com/stats/team/North-Dakota/40

  7. FYI - ND Bantam Team Numbers -  The number of kids on each team varies quite a bit.

    6 - GF  AA, A, A, B1, B1, B

    6 - Fargo AA, A, B1, B1, B, B

    5 - Bismarck A, A, B1, B, B

    4 - WF A, A, B, B

    3 - Minot A, B1, B

    2 - Williston  A, B

    2 - Jamestown/VC B1, B

    2 - Mandan B1, B

    1 - Devils Lake A (bumped to B1 for state tournament)

    1 - Grafton A

    1 - Mayport A

    1 - Dickinson  B1

    1 - Angels (Fargo B1)

    1 - Park River B1

    1 - Northwood B

    1 - Rugby B

    1 - Richland (MT) B

    1 - Watford City B

    1 - Hazen B

    1 - Crosby B

    1 - Bottineau B

     

  8. What is the specific problem that is trying to be rectified?  Trying to establish a more balanced and competitive HS league?   Produce the most college players possible?

    I don't see the point in having a tier 1 team.  It would destroy high school hockey.  If a couple elite kids who are legitimate prospects need to bolt for better competition their junior and senior years that's great, but to take a bunch of good high school players, that will never be anything better than good high school players, out of the system seems wasteful.  

    I know parents think their kid is the greatest and will be playing in the NHL in a few years,  but giving up HS, and chance to win a state title is foolish for 98% of the kids.

    I do agree that a 2 class system for the HS league would be appropriate.  Dividing them would be the interesting part.  I'd say 6 teams are clearly at the top, and after that it gets difficult.

  9. 6 minutes ago, iluvdebbies said:

    It's coming.....It's just a matter of how they split the divisions. Right now they are looking at two, ten team, divisions.....AA&A.

    That would be a tough split.   The bottom of the top 10 would be screwed.  You throw a Jamestown, Mandan, Dickinson... in the top group and they may go literally years without winning a league game.  Would it be based on attendance or historical quality of team?

  10. 2 hours ago, Yote 53 said:

    You realize there is nothing stopping any North Dakota town from travelling over to Minnesota for youth hockey tournaments too.  They could even schedule a trip to one of the gazillion tournaments in Winnipeg each year if they want to increase their level of competition.  There is plenty of competition out there, you just need to schedule it and be willing to drive a few miles.

    Bismarck youth hockey teams (as well other ND towns like Devil's Lake) are regulars in tournaments in Fargo and Grand Forks and those tournaments are full of Minnesota teams.  Moorhead tournaments are an option too.   Been to all three places multiple times and those tournaments are a cross section of ND, northern MN, Twin Cities Metro, and Canadian teams.  Travelling for youth hockey, unless you live in the Twin Cities Metro, is a fact of life.

    There's different levels of traveling.    For Bismarck to play a AA Bantam schedule just isn't a legitimate possibility.  Playing Bantam A is a palatable option for them.  This year Minot's Bantam A team was better than (beat them twice this weekend) Fargo's AA team.  Bantam A isn't the end of the world.   GF is up an entire level from either.

    I can't see having high schools leave the state league.

  11. In looking at the ranking, if UND gets in the draw might not be that bad.  They may have a potential match-up with DU in the second round, but without having to play SCSU in the first round UND would have a fighting change to advance.  Nobody looks like a juggernaut this year.   If DU and SCSU both get 1 seeds UND would avoid them until the frozen four.  They are (2) of the teams I'd least like to play.

    • Upvote 1
  12. Before Curl was at Bismarck they were not dominate by any definition.  Look through the past champions and records.  Minus Curl they don’t win this year.  

    I don’t understand why GF doesnt have a couple very high level girls each class.  It really only takes 2-3 about averages girls to have a very competitive team.

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