dagies

more might make the tournament, but it's a longer road to the championship. Like burd said, not sure how that affects the conversation, but FWIW.

Find one with a gopher in its mouth and you've got me.

Of course not. They came for the Red Pepper

You're correct. I'm not big on generic animal names but that one isn't bad at all

I'll meet you in the middle. I wouldn't tell you that you need to "calm down" on this topic. I just think it's blown out of proportion. I fully expected to get frustrated with Melrose but they just didn't bother me like they did many others. I thought they got excited when BU got the puck and the next time down the ice I thought they got excited when Murphy got the puck. Maybe a little over the top, and maybe they mispronouced Caggiula's name, but I thought they were complimentary, called out if there was a missed call that benefited either team, etc. I'd have preferred Matvick or Starman, but I just didn't think it was horrible. Of course, I remember the regional way back when when we had Gary Thorne and no one quite measures up to that.

gfhockey, thank you for confirming what we all know. You have no idea what you're talking about, and just say things to rile people up. You won't answer the simplest question, which should have been easy being you represented that you had the knowledge.

with ya on this

I actually love their garlic-parmesan wings Have tried but when I'm in town and available they're always too full to get in!!

You said the coach had a good game plan. I'd like you to tell me what it was, since I couldn't watch the game. Simple question

not only that, but if I recall correctly many people complimented Jones on how he handled the decision making process. Kept everyone informed and didn't use one as leverage against the other, etc.

I think Matvick does a great job, and if I recall correctly there were gopher fans several years ago critical that he was a UND homer during a regional in Grand Forks. My memory could be wrong on that, but I've always thought Matvick does a nice job.

I think there are gophers in that camp

I brought it up again in the Expectations For Next Year thread. Crickets are still chirping

gfhockey, this was in response to yourpost saying Providence's coach had a good game plan. Since you are an expert I was curious if you would tell us what that game plan was. Chirp chirp chirp....

This is an emotionally charged conversation, but let's keep things civil, ok? Name calling is against the forum rules.

crickets are still chirping on the question I asked you

On the live chat today Schlossman said he talked to 2 former captains in Boston who both said fans critical of Hakstol have no clue just how good this coaching staff is.

Wow, I don't take it that way at all. Many people thought it was a foregone conclusion he would sign. This says he's thick in the middle of making a decision. maybe 50-50. Schlossman can only pass on what McIntyre tells him, and this is a reasonable update. I also think it's interesting that it's down to just 2 options. I don't know Zane, but it seems consistent with him that he would be loyal to the Bruins, and give them extra consideration in his decision making. And as stated above, the other angle is that this is just hard negotiating. We shall see

Regarding the comparison of Hakstol with Woog, and Woog's ultimate demise. Woog had a nice run without winning a national championship, but his demise wasn't about not winning the NCAA's, it was because it became clear the D1 game had moved beyond him. Woog recruited only MN players (with only the most rare exception) and recruited (and was very successful) in an era when he could cherry pick the best MN players and they would come straight from high school. No juniors. Times changed faster than Woog changed, and he went from very good results to a couple of years of average to below average results, and didn't exhibit any signs of adapting to the change in times. That's what lead to his demise. Hakstol's situation is not analogous to Woog's. At least not yet. Hakstol has adapted to a different style of team/play, and he's still pulling in excellent recruits. His teams and players still develop and get better throughout the year and their careers. If that changes, then I'll be more ready to accept an argument that it's time to move along. But I don't see a need to be concerned for the future.

“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” W. Gretzky (attributed anyway) Or Why I'll take my chances with the guy who gets me there consistently

ok, well, should be interesting trying to ban the forum's owner.....

that's what I recall as well

I had plans and wasn't able to watch the game. What was Providence's game plan?

Like it too. There may be reasons that's not deemed to be a good idea in this day and age (beyond aesthetics) but I'd like to see your idea happen.

Noticed a quote by a Providence player in a story following the game. Gillies said "We truly believe that once you get in (the tournament) that that's the hard part. Any team can take it." By that logic, the hard work and biggest accomplishment is making the NCAA tournament. Then you have a 1/16th chance to win the thing.