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Get swept by any on top of the NCHC schedule, and tournament chances could take a huge hit.

Would team chemistry have been bad again though. When one guy doesn’t have the same mindset, it can be a problem. Still think it was addition by subtraction.

Would be nice if an endowment was set up specifically for NIL, with the understanding that we aren’t just going to pay players to come here if that is their sole reason for coming. At some level they need to want to be here for the development model so they aren’t going to just be selfish teammates looking out only for themselves.

Another good thing about making the Frozen Four is hopefully UND has more get togethers that have contributions that will be specifically for NIL. Hopefully those promotions are well attended in Vegas.

I don’t question Penn State can get players that can produce offensively, but the expectation on the defensive end to transition to the NHL is another thing. You have to be a big producer at the NHL level for them to look past defensive shortcomings.

When I see elite players like this following Penn State, I wonder if they are looking for a payday, because other than a place to play against college competition, I don’t view Penn State as a program that gets players ready for the NHL.

Wouldn’t surprise me to see Mathis Preston go with his buddy to Denver, but maybe he is still weighing offers.

We know who he will blame if they lose in Las Vegas.

I would take that as well if every hit wasn’t scrutinized and overly punished in the college game like Kleven had to deal with. Hopefully if we do get Carels, he can use the physical side of his game without as much retribution for clean hits.

It really is no different than the reality that college hockey has more guys staying for shorter periods as well. The CHL is getting more talent that would have opted not to lose their college eligibility in the past, so much like college hockey they should just adjust and be thankful they get to watch NHL talent in the early stages of their career. I will miss seeing talent like Reschny and Verhoeff when they are gone, but sure am thankful for the opportunity to watch them. How many guys in the CHL would be playing in the USHL right now under the old rules to preserve eligibility. If anything, the USHL should be the most upset, because they will miss out watching some high end talent.

…and Penn State needs to be winners in the portal if they hope to be in the conversation getting into the tournament next year, as they lost a good deal of their experience. Would think DuPont would be looking to develop the part of his game that needs improvement before reaching the NHL, and that isn’t part of the Penn State development model.

Having lost 4 defensemen to graduation and the pro ranks, would bet Michigan State will use a lot of NIL to lure a big name CHL defenseman, beyond what they already have coming in with Chase Reid.

…and sometimes staying that extra year isn’t going to do anything for your development. Jost is an undersized forward that doesn’t have super speed and I’m not sure he would be anything what he is in the NHL whether he stayed or not. Anything either direction is pure speculation, which I guess is what we do on this board.

Still hoping for the Plante type chemistry with the Ruck brothers, especially if it means they aren’t going to a rival.

Frankly, I don’t want people in our programs with over the top parents, because usually the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. As we have seen with UND hockey getting rid of team cancers can make a world of difference just by that alone, and some of those guys had a lot of talent.