stickboy1956

"Stud" goalies are hard to find to begin with - having 2 on your team is very rare these days. Usually high-end goalies want to play, not ride the bench. They will want playing time. You could say UMN had 2 highly rated goalies last year: Frazee and Kangas. (I know - Frazee stunk as a Gopher but he was a highly rated goalie coming in as a frosh) I bet the UMN coaching staff whispered to Kangas that there was a great chance he would see a lot of ice time, even with Frazee there.

You can have an offense that is balanced and average. Whlle we only lost Oshie and Kaip up front, replacing TJ's points isn't a lock with the new players coming in/or veteran players stepping up. We also need to replace almost 50 points from the blueline with Bina and Chorney leaving. I do think our scoring will be down from last year. TJ will be hard to replace.

I know they have had zero NCAA wins, but I do recall Dahl putting some legit teams on the ice, including the one that beat us (and Blais) in the F5. Save the joke label for other teams in the league.

I could see VV centering Kozek and Duncan. Duncan and Kozek finished the season on the same line last year and VV has probably earned a chance to be our #1 center. I could also see Gregoire and Toews being together on a line - with maybe Watkins or Malone on the other wing.

I assume the Minn series will be part of the student season tix package, although classes are not in session.

Olsen is on the Canada Summer Under-18 Team roster - one of the few non-CHL/college eligible players in camp. http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.cfm/ci_id...nr_id/55921.htm

It's official - http://wild.nhl.com/ "For the first time in franchise history, the Wild will begin its preseason schedule away from the state of Minnesota, instead opening its show on the road Sept. 20 in one of the most impressive hockey facilities in the world ...

2008 United States Under-18 Select Team UMinn recruits are represented well (Walters, Budish, Leddy). I thought that NTDP players were not eligible for the team but Beau Schmitz of the U17 team is on the roster and Nick Mattson is not. We need some 91 recruits - UMinn has got a good start. Chris Heisenberg's 2009 Hockey Recruits

I just thought I saw that we lead the nation in attendance. The visablity of the program is pretty high, locally and nationally. UMinn has an advantage vs. us via TV in that FSN is available via DirectTV/Dish Net, while FSSN is only available via "old school" dish. If FSSN were available on Digital Sat, it might help recruiting (if we need help).

I think the hockey team does ok re: marketing. It is probably the 2nd most exposed/marketed team in the country, behind UMinn with its FSN contract. I don't believe Wisco gets the same coverage on FSN Wisco vs UMinn.

I submit the Sioux do not play the hold/obstuction game - they play a physical/speed game, which is how they have played since Gino took over in 78-79; Blais' teams played the same way, as does the current team. See a pattern?

What tactics does Hakstol employ vs. Blais that holds scoring down? A trap? Left wing lock? I don't think so. One observation - I think players in this era shoot less than they did years ago. I don't think this is coaching, though. Did you notice that scoring is down league wide the past couple years? I guess Steve Johnson is the answer.

I wonder why Joe didn't go to the Caps Dev Camp? http://capitals.nhl.com/team/app/?service=...rticleid=367602

I know you are a Minnesota hater but you do realize the Wild had a larger payroll than the Red Wings last year, don't you?

He will be 22 soon - he got the max contract for this CBA . He was not a blue chip recruit - a few years ago he was playing in Owatonna in the NAHL. I think he made out pretty well.

Agreed.

... or is it a baraometer of the talent level of our recruits??

... and we know he didn't tell his players this? Didn't we have a pretty good GAA coming into that game?

What should have Hakstol done differently in preparing his team? It was his 4th F4 as a head coach and has 2 trips as an assistant w/Blais.

1. It's official - Feinhage is coming, not MW http://www.areavoices.com/undhockey/?blog=28803 2. Frattin needs to earn his top 6 position - he was brought in as a scorer and he needs more than 4 next year to keep himself in the lineup.

How do you know goal will be our "weak link" this year? Eidsness is the first Sioux goalie drafted since 1993 (Toby Kvalevog). I suspect as the league gets younger, our goalies will be younger as well. We should get used to it. Quality, older (20) goalies are going to be harder to find. We have had some pretty good seasons from rookie goalies in the past, as I recall. I bet the coaching staff thinks he's ready.

JPL is on the Blues dev camp roster along with TJ and Chris Porter. http://downloads.blues.nhl.com/other/08dev...camp_roster.pdf

Yes - that is the best explaination. It's too bad he didn't decide to do what Ness did. I guess my overall point was that I wish he was coming this year. I'd rather have him be a three years vs. two.

To be more accurate, somewhere along the way, Kristo was held back a grade. He is a June, 90, compared to Fienhage, who is a May 90 bday. Aaron Ness was held back a grade at some point as well (May 90 bday) - he "accelerated" his studies to get back to where he should be. Kristo could have done the same thing. Jordan Schroeder is the kid who will be coming to college "early" - he will be draft eligible next year. Don't expect to see Kristo at UND more than 2 years - this is why it would have been nice to see him at UND this year.

It looks like the Wild also are interested in Defense, too. (I know - it's posted in another thread.) http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_9597147 "Strong, right-handed defenseman," said Tommy Thompson, Wild director of player personnel. "He had enough credits to graduate (from high school after) the first semester. He stayed at Eastview for football. Then he went to Indiana to play in the USHL." Without giving away any secrets, it's fair to say Thompson really likes him. In a draft top-heavy with defensemen, it's difficult to project which team will grab him. "It's really hard to predict where you will go," Fienhage said. "Wherever I go, it will be great. I think it would be fun playing for the Wild. I guess I'll know in a couple of days."