ScottM

The same plaintive whines from students as when I went to UND. However, standing wasn't really an issue, people generally only stood when there was scoring, fighting or something else worth watching. From a fan, and former player's perspective, I don't really see how a bunch of semi-sober clowns standing really intimidates anybody on the ice, especially if they're just standing there, picking their asses and not paying attention to the game. A loud, noisy crowd is something else. If they move a bunch of the students to the upper bowl, they should try to do something to increase the sound/noise from that area. Maybe mic it or adjust any sound baffles they have so the noise is directed at the ice. As far as a "boycott" is concerned, they reduced student seating at least once in the old barn because the team wasn't doing well, student "fans" weren't showing up and the AD saw a chance to sell the seats to the public. Result: When the team came back again, more students were left standing outside or watching the games from home or a bar if they were on the tube. 60% students in the old REA? Maybe if there was a basketball game at Hyslop around the same time. Even when the gophers or badgers came to town, you might be pressing to reach 45-50% students. Unlike most student ticketholders, most season holders view the game as more than an excuse to get drunk, find out where the parties are and generally socialize.

Without getting into the details, I've always been convinced that the NoDak higher ed system has been marked by redundancy, administrative overlap, personal/local fiefdoms and general inefficiencies. I don't see UND as part of grand plot to undermine 'SU, so much as I see 'SU trying to burnish itself in Chapman's image, academically and otherwise. Its attempts to create a "downtown campus" in Fargo is amusing, and pathetic. Moreover, its sad attempts to link D1 athletics with academic prowess are equally sad. It really makes no sense for 'SU to create substantially similar PhD programs already in place at UND, a mere hour away, just as it makes no sense for UND to duplicate 'SU programs in architecture and/or pharmacy. NoDak is a small, and getting smaller, state with limited educational resources. It should really start to run higher-ed like a business and cut out the fat. A good place to start would be the four-year schools in Mayville and Valley City, both within a short drive of Fargo and/or GF. As far as the D-1 crap, I think the Big Sky Conference threw more cold water on 'SU than UND ever did. However, whatever keeps the "Marcia Watchers in Fargo" happy.

I tend to agree with Sicatoka's assessments of the forwards. There were too many guys dragging ass, coasting and otherwise watching guys like Money and Parise try to carry the team. We have a talented, and very underachieving, crew upfront at times. Most of these guys can, and should do, more in the scoring/assist department. If not, there are some hungry SSM alums coming in ...

I prefer the standard NHL size rink for the pros and college. The smaller rinks lend themselves to a quicker game and a more physical game IMO. I think a smaller rink forces teams to go after the puck as the smaller surface leaves little time/room and forces quicker action on both ends, and leaves less room for error.

It's kind of odd, but whenever I go back to NoDak, my family's from Jamestown and Fargo, I get this feeling of great relaxation and sometimes toy with the idea of moving back. Then I look at the economic and tax structure, and the entrenched xenophobia ... no dice. Dorgan and a few others are trying to pass a law that would give tax breaks, etc. for the Plains states' rural areas from NoDak down to Texas. However, tax breaks don't make up for the lack of economic opportunity and other things that cause most people to leave in the first place. Sad, but true.

Probably true. However, I find it annoying to have "State of Hockey" plastered all over the X, only to have it filled with fans who don't know what forechecking is. Well, then again, sometimes the Wild doesn't either.

I went to the game Monday night, as well as the first home game in the Avs series. A buddy of mine has seasons 7 rows behind the Wild bench. I have never been so annoyed by so many "hockey ignorant" people in my life. They make the corporate "stiffs" at Mariucci, and now probably REA, look sharp. "State of Hockey" is a nice marketing slogan, but it sure as hell doesn't represent the vast majority of the state's population, Wild "fan" base or the media. Give me a good college hockey, or even most Minnesota HS hockey, crowd any day over these clods.

You can try findlaw. There are a number of forums and other sources of general information for lawyers and non-lawyers.

I think Murray and Smaby will have the biggest impacts coming in. Murray will have a full year of BCHL hockey under his belt and he has done well in a tough league. Smaby's looked like a man among boys when I've seen him play. He's big enough to handle himself on each end, and may be a nice surprise on the PP. I think he'd do well paired with Jones or Schneider. Whomever is "the man" in goal should benefit by more experience and poise upfront. I like what I've heard about Ziegelmann, but even the best goalies will look bad if the other guys leave them hanging out. I am not so sure about Sedevie. Neck injuries are strange things and can affect one long after the injury. I hope he can play, and play as well as he's been billed, but I'm not holding my breath on him getting a starting spot.

Ryan's just ticked that the Bruins have sucked for years, and that Borque had to go to the Avs to win a Cup.

Here's DummyBoy's latest spin on the Avs' loss. Link Okay, generally I like Forsberg, but whenever anybody got near him his head snapped back and he wilted like a little girl. Great talent, but also a great whiner. Glad the Wild, whatever that is , proved me wrong. Nice, hard driving win.

If a player doesn't like the club who's drafted him, he can go MJ or to Europe for a year and then try to come back as a free agent or re-enter the draft, unless the rules changed. That said, most clubs won't drop $$$ on a player unless it's a mutual decision. Once he gets into the system, coaches from the big club, GMs and coaches from the farm teams regularly discuss each player's progress. A college player or one who's been drafted but is playing MJ generally doesn't get scoped except by scouts. Certain players make it through the farm system pretty quickly and earn a spot up top without many problems, such as Dany Heatley. Others linger for years, and that's where they may stay. Besides, I think an 80 game schedule and the level of competition more closely mimics NHL play than does a typical college schedule and the routine of college life. Consequently, I have no qualms about somebody like Bayda or Hale leaving early if they think their chances are better of making it to the big show by gutting it out in the AHL. I just don't buy the standard "if he stays in college he'll be better off in the NHL" than if he leaves for the farm team early. That's nothing but self-indulgent homerism of the highest order. Let the kid reach for the ring when it's best for them.

Riddle is probably my favorite player on the Minnesota squad. I think there may be a remote, outside chance he'd go this summer. I've never been convinced that another year in NCAA hockey is any better for a player's development than time in the AHL. Doesn't matter if it's Panzer, Bayda, Roche, Heatley, Cullen, Pohl, Taffe, Senja or anybody else who left early or stayed for their degree. The level of competition is higher in that league, the schedule and training is similar to an NHL club, hockey is your main focus and you're playing for your chance to make the Big Show. Getting called up and sent down gives you more exposure to the coaches than cursory checks from scouts at the college level. I'd submit that there is probably no correlation between a player staying for four years or leaving early for a stint in the AHL that could not be explained by individual talent, drive, hard work and plain luck. One benefit for the clubs is that the player develops on the school's dime. The downside is that if a player's chances of playing in the NHL for an extended career are remote anyway as is generally the case, he's probably not doing himself any favors by "gaming the system" and trying to leverage his position by staying in school for another season.

I thought the original plan was for old REA to become the new bouncyball home, while Hyslop was turned into a spa or wellness center for students, etc. I'd rather new REA just stay a hockey barn, although a special case can be made for 'SU or exhibition games with Kansas, etc. Beyond that, mult-purpose barns generally have problems with ice, maintenance issues, etc.

I think the Wild started to wilt a bit towards the end of the game, once the Avs got their act together. I think the Avs will take the series just on talent and depth, but I did enjoy watching/listening to the boos raining down on the Avs yesterday. That said, I've got tickets for the next matchup.

Money talks and BS walks. Considering what the Devs offered David Hale, who was out much of the season but a first rounder, I would not be surprised to see other top talent from the college ranks scream "Show me the money!" and then forget what they've said about staying for a Title, their senior year, their degree, etc. I don't recall any recent college players after a great season or Title win saying, "Screw this noise, I'm outta here on the next bus." Well, maybe Roche ... Time-value of money, people. Time-value of money.

If the Wild are going to any damage in the playoffs, now or in the future, they will need to get some forwards who can stay on the puck. While the "knock" on the Wild is that they are a defensive team, I think their biggest problem is they have too many smaller, albeit talented, forwards. When the Wild play a very physical team, they tend to lose the puck at critical times in their own zone and mid ice.

Does Eddie have any college eligibility left?

I agree with Jim's views on the goaltending situation. I don't believe that switching guys in/out really did much except alter the chemistry of the team. If the guys upfront know a goalie well, they can player better in front of him. Does the goalie wander? Does the goalie play the puck often? Can the goalie handle himself if a forward is crowding the crease? Moreover, I think the constant switching of goalies affected the overall confidence of the team. The goalies didn't have a chance to develop their own rythym and confidence, and the forwards/d-men may have spent more time playing overly "cautious" hockey, e.g., playing to not lose, as opposed to playing to win. That said, none of the goalies really showed the confidence and skill, at least down the stretch, to make the job his own. Brandt may be "the man" now, but he'd better play like it if Sedevie and Ziggy both show up.

Beer, firearms and hockey ... yeah, sign me up for that. This has "riot in progress" written all over it.

Screw the scheduling, just win, baby!

I tend to agree with the premise that one player can make a difference. However, while Potulny was out, Minnesota also had other injuries too, but having Grant back seemed to spark them when it mattered. In our case, when Hale left, we should have had enough leadership from the other captains and the upperclassmen to close the gap. While nobody can doubt that having Hale around *may* have made a difference in some situations, I submit the breakdown in leadership was more problematic. One of the things that's really bothered me about the team the past couple of seasons is that we seem to lack people who are willing to kick somebody in the ass or otherwise get the slackers going. Blais can only do so much from the bench, or in the lockerroom, but I think a Leader has to really emerge over the offseason and get people focused on winning. Screw the media hype, screw the polls, screw the road schedule, screw the officiating, screw the "bad" ice, screw who's staying or going on other teams, we have to take care our of own business and just win.

Yep. Those guys worked very well together. When they got rolling, points were nearly assured. I don't see that chemistry between Money and Parise. I'd guess Blais will line Murray with Parise, but I'd like to see Money with his own line, and maybe McMahon or Prpich with him. Towards the end of the season IMO, the team seemed almost afraid to shoot the puck. Alot of the time they seemed to wait for the "perfect" shot. I agree they should have gone to the net more often and worked for the rebounds and garbage shots. Accuracy? How about some new contacts?

Yeah, the Stream Yellow crowd can follow their team to the Ozarks or the Oklahoma panhandle for conference play.

I'm not sure we really need a Roche or Murphy clone to have a complete team, but it is nice when the d-men can also score. I thought Schneider really improved his offensive game, I'd expect that to get even better next season. I thought Jones would have/should have improved his offensive output as well. Then again, if our forwards can actually manage to pull the trigger, than the dink around with the puck in the opponents' zone it'll be less of an issue. On another matter, personally, I'd take Money and Parise off the same line. They play differently, and they approach scoring differently. They can produce really well, but I don't sense any chemistry between the two where they can feed off each other's drive and talent. The "Line of Fire" from the 00-01 team had that chemistry, and when they moved down ice you were almost guaranteed a goal.