dagies

Sandy has every reason to be coy about his interest even if he truly is not interested in making a move. He may be able to leverage this into a healthy pay raise in Duluth.

After being taken in by Sprig a few weeks ago, I was a bit more cautious this time around.

I think that trying to look through the netting laid more flat like that will only further block the view of the fans in the upper lower deck. I DO think that if they raised the glass another 5 feet or so (somehow) that the only pucks that would clear it are those shot so far away as to limit flesh damage, or they would have to be lofted, and not line drives, which cause little damage.

Duluth has netting in their rink too.

Seems like he was projected in the middle rounds so would think this surprising.

It was a Florida team. 9th round. Not really an endorsement.

I'd personally like to see someone like Steve Johnson or Cary Eades as a new assistant if they would be interested. Both good coaches IMO.

That's a heck of an article by Foss. Scott, my impressions on the coaching vacancy are similar to yours, but having Blais go to bat that hard for Hakstol helps make me feel more comfortable with that choice. Blais wouldn't have to lobby for Hakstol if he didn't think he was a good choice.

You know, it's pretty easy to look back in hindsight, but maybe we saw the signs coming. As mentioned, Blais once through out the 10 yr plan idea. As of late, there's been discussion and argument on this and other board about Blais comments and handling of players. Looking back, maybe he was just getting to the point where it was time for a change of scenery, and some of the signs were out there whether we wanted to see them or not.

I was wondering who the "dark horse" candidate might be outside of the normal handful of UND-tied candidates, and Tom Ward's name is an interesting one. Looking at this from another angle, what about a guy like Gwoz? Heck of a coach and I would think this job would be a step up. Not advocating him, but since it's open season on the Blais-replacement question I'm throwing it out there. Whoever says Hakstol is the likely candidate due to the Gino-Blais hiring model, don't forget Blais was an assistant and went on to coach high schools before being hired back. Maybe Eades is then our next coach. Personally, I feel Sandelin has done nicely in the WCHA as a coach and should be considered a front runner. And don't forget that we won championships with Scott on the bench and only came up short after he left. Coincidence or not I don't know. I just hope the settling process works quickly. If players leave because of this, let's just get it over with. If recruits back out, get it done. Let's find out what hand we have to play and then play it. I hope it doesn't take a season to deal out the hand.

Thanks for everything, Coach. Would love to be able to say I played for you. (Would love to be able to skate.)

PCM, I can agree with you on this: The 2003-04 team might be the team that missed the best opportunity to win the whole thing.

Can't argue with you there. I absolutely feel like this was a missed opportunity.

Last year's team was awfully good, but I think either 1998 or 1999 in my mind were the best team to not win a championship. Karl in nets, and teams that practically sleepwalked through the regular season schedule because they were so much better than everyone else. Of course, that might have been their undoing.

I see where you are going with that question, and I can't say for sure one way or the other. I think it depends on who those players are and what their skills are from year to year. I'm only conjecturing here, but will throw out a supposition or 2. If top Canadian goalies go Major Junior, for instance, potentially a lot more goals get scored in the BCHL for that reason, and the goalies in the league may not be highly thought of. I would guess that the top USHL scorers are as highly recruited as the BCHL scorers. From year to year one league may have a more highly prized scorer than the other, mostly likely. Bochenski was very highly sought after, and I think R Potulny was very highly thought of as well last year. The highest scorer in the BCHL I think was Nikiforuk who was NOT as highly recruited (guessing here) as he went to Omaha. Of course, Brady Murray was pretty well thought of and he was just behind Nikiforuk. I'm going to guess that the Sioux wouldn't trade Murray for Potulny, but they would have taken Potulny over Nikiforuk. (my guess, again). Anyway, plausible scenarios?

Whoever asked about Hagemo, I'm guessing that they haven't changed the roster info from earlier when he was actually a WI recruit, then changed his mind last winter/spring and decided to play for the Gophers. Scott, I haven't seen BCHL or USHL teams play so I don't have first hand experience, but from reading comments over the years, and looking at statistics I might agree that the Canadians teach their players to play both ways but the BCHL as a league might be more offensive oriented, where I think the USHL plays stronger defense overall. I just take those comments, and compare them to the scoring leaders for both leagues and it generally seems like the scoring leaders in the BCHL easily outscore the USHL. I'm sure more in-depth analysis of games played, goals against averages, shots per game and such would tell more accurately, but that's my impression. I do think the BCHL is a more physical league. I think there's a lot more fighting and such in the BCHL, than there is in the USHL.

I can see how this would have a chance in some of the Canadian cities, but it surprises me that they might be able to make it work down south. These will be new teams in a new league. Will people shell out that kind of dough down there?

I have to say I was happy to see Ballard sign early, as it happens to all teams with the good players. It's one of the dynamics of the state of the college game. That said, I'd rather see all players stay all 4 years. I'd rather see teams with their best potential playing each other and duking it out, rather than having the cream scraped from the top each year. But such as it is....

amen

Welcome aboard Chris!

Fanto A little more info

Hey, there's only, like, 50-60 face-offs every game.

I agree the award is for the whole season. If I remember correctly Berkhoel's season lasted a bit longer than our boys. Look, all I am saying is that I think an argument can be made in Berkhoel's favor. That doesn't mean you are not right. However, where you and I disagree is whether or not this is a screw-job on Parise. I'll just go back to staring at the cheerleaders now, since apparently that's what I do.

It's not as if Berkhoel was a slug all season and then just got hot. He's a very good goalie who played big in the biggest games of the year. He shut your player of the year nomination down in the biggest college game of that player's career to date, then went on to win the national championship, shutting down a 6-3 in the last minutes. I don't disagree with your analysis of Parise's play. But I believe one can argue that Berkhoel is worthy as well.

You obviously haven't seen me skate....