tnt

I think Miller could get his chance, but I thought he would see more ice time last year as well, especially when they were having trouble scoring early on. Hakstol wants him, and everyone, to be responsible defensively, which makes me wonder if he will have a chance to play on the first line or not. Hakstol might want more of a two-way forward to man the other spot on that line to free up Duncan and Oshie to use their skills more. Then again, he might just want a very talented offensive line to pressure the other team into submission. Of course I know he wants players to be responsible at both ends, Oshie and Duncan included.

Brendan and Ryan Connelly Bob and Brian DePiero

Where is Malone? Also, I think Chorney will be in the mix to be Captain, an alternate at the least.

I think Trupp has a good chance at being on the first line, and although I didn't see Brad Miller's name on your line combos, He could even be given that opportunity if he tightens up a bit defensively. Other than that, I still would see Brad Miller working on at least the 2nd Powerplay unit.

If Cichy gets delayed I predict he will be playing Major Junior, not college.

Depends on what you call recent. The Panzers, Ulmers and Hoogsteens come to mind.

Which is all the more reason why a respectable post shouldn't be ragged on. If he doesn't feel the need to be so defensive, maybe he could contribute more in a constructive manner like his last post.

I think that Fischer is probably ready to move up to the powerplay for them. What would we be saying if we lost Chorney besides Lee? Probably that we don't rebuild we just reload, which is true with the gophers as well. They always seem to have a good powerplay, so it is just a matter of getting a little more experience for those not used to playing the powerplay.

If you look at the roster for next year, maybe the coaches saw something missing in the equation that will add up to #8. With Porter and Fabian gone, the physical forwards appear to be Vandevelde and Kaip. They certainly can use another banger down low, especially one that has potential to score some goals and has even more size than any of the forementioned players. He may or may not play much this year, but it is certainly nice to have him to fill a role if others aren't producing in there roles.

I have no doubt that you and other people that know Greg Sheppard personally would defend him as a friend. He has a great deal of friends in the Twin Cities and not very many elsewhere, and that could be part of the problem. All I want is some consistency and there isn't any. While I don't know him personally, his behavior doesn't surprise me that much, as he has always come off as a pompous person. Of course most of that is based on the days he was officiating, and as I said I don't know him, so I don't know if that is the actual person.

I don't see Kaip on the point on the powerplay. I would think between Chorney, Genoway, Lappoint and Bina, the Sioux should be o.k. Kaip would be more valuable down low. Now if there are injuries ...

Hopefully there is some truth to the rumor, but until I hear something concrete on this, I'll wait for Chris, Brad's blog or some inside sources before I get too giddy.

I have never agreed on this premise of giving a point to a team that loses. It goes against everything in sports. If you lose, you lose. Not only that, I think the NHL has a problem of teams playing to get to overtime to get that one point, which kind of defeats the purpose. Just my two cents.

I am not one to believe that UND sports figures can do no wrong, but in this circumstance, I think justice was served. What benefit would it be for Bina to allow Oshie and Toews to escape. Do you think that the officer or anybody else around wouldn't know any of the hockey players? If they did make a run for it, they would have been in a whole lot more trouble.

What Bourque went to SCSU? The only other Bourque I can think of is Rene who went to Wisconsin.

No, your post didn't come off like that at all. After Gregoire changed his mind, I was just using the old Dumb and Dumber line to facetiously suggest we still had a shot at Hansen and Sacchetti since they hadn't signed letters. Sorry if it came off differently.

So you're saying there's a chance... I read ya. Seriously, I know the Sioux recruited Hansen hard, and I assume the same of Sacchetti, but as usual both the Sioux and the gophers filled their rosters with decent draft picks, so it doesn't sting the Sioux too hard losing out on some top talent.

Don't you think your expectations are a bit high. We didn't win a championship with Parise or Toews. Winning a Championship is a crapshoot. You have to have a lot of things go right, including team chemistry. I'm not saying we won't win one with him, but don't you think Hakstol would be bringing him in this year if he thought he could add an element the Sioux need and is ready to make an impact?

Agree we didn't have a top-end NHL draft talent from last year, but I'd take Chay Genoway as a talent any day.

But you can have a nice recruiting class without high draft picks. Seems to me the Hobey Baker winner was a great recruit and he wasn't drafted. Ideally you would like a few top draft picks because that means they have a prototypical body, but some prototypical types aren't stars in college. (See Barry Tallackson and Brad Winchester for examples). A good mix is what I would like, that way you can have some continuity in your recruiting and have a few more upperclassmen, as well as having top-end talent.

I think a lot of it has to do with the tone of the posts and poster and if they are indicative of that person or an abberation. Everyone flys off the handle at some point, but if most of the posts are respectful, then that person gets the benefit of the doubt.

It's fun to know little tidbits about UND sports, but I guess I part company when it becomes an insatiable demand by people to know every detail about relationships that should be between two people. I know I was the one asking for proof, but that wasn't from an inherent need to know, just to say don't throw hurtful information out there if you can't in good conscience expand on it. That demand for information is what makes people like Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith become newsworthy when there are a lot more important things going on around us. I don't want to sound like a saint in this regard, but I think not putting out both sides on an issue as important as someone's livlihood can be devastating not only to that person, but their family as well.

The one against Bemidji State must be due to the High School hockey tournament.

Perhaps asking for proof is a bit of a knee-jerk response, but if I have a pet peeve it is people that use the old "I've got a secret" mentality then leave it at that. This site isn't nearly as bad as another that uses the tired "another recruit has chosen to wear the treasured 'M'"! That phrase is used and then there becomes a guessing game. In other words, don't say it unless you want to play a game of 20 questions. I realize this is a message board and speculation will reign, but certain things shouldn't be put out there to fester. I certainly am no moderator, but that is where I come from and why I may have seemed a bit irritated.

If you espouse this, then you must certainly say that these people are betraying trusts to make themselves look better by being in the loop. Oh, and by the way, there are plenty of times when I have information from a source well ahead of time, but in order to keep getting that information and to avoid a betrayal of trust, I let it come out in its own time. So you see, I don't have to be the one that says that Dale Lennon dislikes Tom Buning. Just by saying that, I feel dirty, because while I don't know Dale Lennon personally, I don't think he would want that on a message board for public consumption. I know there are people I have major problems with, but I wouldn't want it to be fodder for the masses.