tnt

Which leads me to the question how UND has been slow to recruit some legacy guys that have ended up having good college careers and many have had a cup of tea in the NHL as well. We have seen guys like Morelli, Archibald, Ward, Zombo, Sandelin, and Slukynsky have really nice college careers while other legacy guys we have recruited have either not made it to campus or have had underwhelming careers.

It’s like I said before, recruiting involves a lot of different things coming together. Very interesting that he mentioned a couple times how the current players made him feel welcome. Hopefully the coaches stress how important that is in the whole recruiting process. We have a lot to offer, but if the players aren’t receptive that could be a deal breaker.

There is no doubt that something needs to be fixed in the portal and NIL systems because this kind of raiding of teams and the subsequent chain effect isn’t good for what is supposed to be amateur athletics. The more I witness it, the less I like college sports.

Kind of refreshing to get the social media hype going and add some excitement back to the program. Need to celebrate all our recruits, because obviously the staff feels they can add something to our program. Don’t know why you would only send out a bat signal on guys you consider major gets, as it would send the wrong message when you are trying to get everyone pulling together as a team.

When they were talking about finding centers in his podcast, Schlossman mentioned the CHL for possibilities, but also mentioned Kernan decommitting from Mankato.

Exactly, feel bad for them, but we have to reconstruct our roster. Actually glad they didn’t reach for a portal guy that would have basically added to depth of the team. Probably need a high ender to slot in the top center, but it is nice to get guys that will fit the kind of guy we want.

If this is true, then the whole process is basically a sham. The job doesn't close until Monday, and already we have a guy picked? If they keep going down this route, good luck trying to get someone outside the circle to apply for any job. So put all the "supposed" candidates through the "process" to pretend you are open to all the candidates?

If we don't have enough connections in Canada with Jackson, Chyzyk and Simpson, then what is another one going to add. They have some pretty good players in the U.S. as well, and we haven't been able to get as many of them as you would think we could/should.

So we shouldn't have been recruiting Pohlkamp last year? Don't agree on only recruiting guys that won't upset the apple cart by displacing guys that are already here. With that line of thinking, if Boisvert was staying and Carter Bear was going to commit, we shouldn't go after Gavin McKenna. Get the best players that play the way you want them to -- period!

If things don't work out for Jackson, don't know if the administration would continue to pull from within the current coaches on staff like they did this time. At some point you go for a young coach and do a complete overhaul.

You can get around that, as he can say he helped recruit to his Major Junior team. That being said, don't think you would have him coming in as an associate head coach with that salary with that little experience. There may be others that fit the bill outside the UND circle, but within the circle, Smaby and Herter seem to be the candidates if interested.

Even if you brought in Lindberg, that would be 8 guys, and like people have mentioned it might be wise to bring in a 9th because of Zmolek's injury. I think it would be smart to hold off Lindberg for another year and let him develop in the USHL like Laurilla did. Besides, it might be wise to bring in a Junior defenseman to even out the classes, as it is most likely you could lose Livanavage and Wiebe to the pros after next year, leaving you with no Senior defense, unless Zmolek gets another year because of his injuries. So it is possible they could bring in a couple guys if they held off Lindberg.

That Luke Ashton from Minnesota State is a big boy at 6’6 and had a decent freshman year.

So Brady Cleveland had a no contact with his portal entry, is Komzak leaving because someone else is coming in and he saw the writing on the wall.

3 more freshmen, or 3 including Klee and Zellers?

Considering one of his biggest assets is his speed, probably not a great injury to have.

I think they have shown under Ferschweiler that they are always going to be a tough team to play, especially in their own building. I am hoping UND gets back to their identity, and can become a team that is known for bringing it every shift game in and game out.

They also have something that they have never had before in their programs history -- a target on their backs. How they handle that and whether guys like Slukynsky and Nehring can duplicate their seasons will go a long way in determining whether they can defend their league title and make another run. I think the big thing is that they have a system that they play, and Ferschweiler seems to be able to get them to play it.

Nobody thought they were loaded this year, including Schlossman. We've seen how team chemistry can change quite a bit from one year to the next, and I would imagine that would be even moreso when the portal is used extensively.

Might be a nice line with Strinden at center and Swanson on the other wing.

Pritchard?

Looking at the plans, I see a couple 9 story parking garages. I think that is where the Ralph is severely lacking. Having to walk numerous city blocks in 30 below wind chill makes one question why they don’t stay at home.

That would make sense, as you would think someone who has played all year would be in the lineup for your playoff game if available.

Nick Schmaltz with goal # 20 tonight. He joins Boeser, Nelson and Pinto in getting to 20 this year. Would live to see Blake get 3 in his last few games to join the club.

Would be interesting to know if he’s had injuries, or if he has been out of the lineup on occasion for other reasons. Not everyone who bleeds green is a perfect fit. Certainly they must have regretted giving up too early on other recruits, so waiting another year certainly wouldn’t hurt if progress goals are communicated.