tnt

The first year in the new Ralph we struggled badly, but we turned it around the next year. Of course we had Zach Parise to thank for a lot of that. I’m hoping the whole freshman class chips in to help for a quick turnaround. Our defense has kept us in every game, we just need a few timely goals, and hopefully some of those come from an improved power play. (Can it get worse?)

I think Kawaguchi has become more consistent this year. Just need him to put a few more pucks in the net. I wish Mismash would have been as consistent in his intensity like Kawaguchi has. I also think Adams has been more consistent in his energy level the second half. With the threat of them not seeing as much ice time with the rookies we have coming in next year, I’m hoping they’ll up their game more.

That, and a few teams above them stand to lose a lot in seniors and underclassmen leaving early.

I actually started a thread like that a while back but I guess most people don’t want to say who they think are huge gets or misses when it is on record.

Not sure if you are saying the Wild are really talented or not. When Boudreau said that Granlund was a top ten forward in the league it made me laugh.

Did Mike Greenlay get demoted from the color guy to the between period guy with Audra Martin?

Seems to me we got a pretty clutch player in Connor Gaarder at the last minute when J.T. Miller decommitted in hockey. It won't be the last time this happens at this level, so the best you can do is try to find the next best candidate available.

Looks like he has some nice hands. #17

Anyone know much about Thomas Bordeleau of the development team and Carsen Richels of Blaine. Bordeleau seems to be doing very well, but is one of the few not committed. Is he even interested in college? Also, Carsen Richels is a Junior that is putting up very good numbers for Blaine. Is part of it that he is playing with Brodzinski? He seems to have a knack for scoring goals, we could use someone like Brandon Bochenski even if they don't skate well. Have no idea what kind of skater Richels is but I imagine he has some offers out there but maybe waiting for the right one.

It's kind of funny, under Hakstol they struggled moving defensemen on to the NHL, but had many forwards move on. Of course a lot of those were high end guys, but nonetheless, they did develop them well. Under Berry, it seems like we struggle with the forwards, but have a nice contingent of defensemen that look like they can move on.

Should Shaw leave, Matt Smaby maybe? Played for Shattuck, but from Minneapolis.

Define "poor".

Maybe Miami would switch places with you.

So, no problem, it is what it is, despite having major advantages in recruiting. So this all happened just within the last 3 or 4 years, because last I remembered we had a run of NCAA tournaments going, a run of top half league finishes, and a run of making the Frozen Faceoff/WCHA Final Five. We'll see how the rest of this year goes in those regards, but I don't think the coaches can be totally absolved in all of this. If mediocre is just the way things are going in college hockey, with all the budget problems we have been having, you might as well hire Grant Paranica and let him choose a cheap staff. My guess is the power play would not be any worse, and with the recruiting advantages they should still be able to finish in the middle of the NCHC. That said, I think things change next year and the subsequent years, which proves the point that they had some bad recruiting years by focusing too much on grinders and role players.

I guess if you can't beat the Griffins, you might as well get a Griffin.

Not only that, but most of the people constantly complaining were excited when we got many of the players on the current roster, so I would expect not to hear "good get" on future recruits when they commit.

If he's anything like Senden, I'll take him on my team anytime!

I still wish they could find a grad transfer or someone with a bunch of Junior experience that has a scoring pedigree, to complement the young guys they have coming in. Obviously easier said than done, but our program is attractive enough that we should always be able to maneuver bringing in guys that would add skills we could always use.

Hopefully this pushes Ricky forward like Dustin Johnson did when he overcame that horrendous ball moving ruling on the green in the U.S. Open a few years back. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and it obviously did for Dustin Johnson coming out on the positive end of a major after that.

Maybe Eades implements the same system as UND!

So in the last three years, where has UND finished in the league compared to where they were predicted to finish? I think we were predicted third this year, and that isn't going to happen.

I have really liked the effort lately, but when you constantly talk about how snakebitten you are and allow something you have discussed just as often in bad penalties, you aren't doing yourself a favor in all the tight games by not addressing it with discipline.

What frustrates me is to hear Berry once again talk about selfish penalties with Gardner, a without any action. He really must be a player's coach if there is no accountability. I actually think it is selfish of Berry to continue to allow this to happen without some sort of discipline. Who knows if we score another goal if we aren't shorthanded for those four minutes. No player is bigger than the team, and Berry needs to be their coach, not their friend. If you're not disciplined there, you probably lack discipline in other areas as well. Like the effort, but when you're having trouble scoring you can't afford to give up things in other areas.

It absolutely baffles me how someone can spend as much time trying to convince an opposing fan base that their team is not in the wrong. I can see putting out a contrary view, but to keep up the back and forth just seems like you somehow are begging for UND's approval. Marsha, Marsha, Marsha!

Wait a minute, didn't you go to Canisius?