SiouxForever

Who's to say that some of the Juniors now are safe to play every game as Seniors? That junior class has been pretty fortunate, one of the weakest recruiting classes in quite sometime. Bring in bodies next fall. Make them earn their ice time.

The team showed promise tonight and that is a good sign. Chyzk, Tambo, Pattyn scoring is a good thing. Give those guys some confidence going forward. Once Mark Mac and St.Clair get healthy and get their form back, this team will have a better makeup. Not happy with the tie, but after watching the effort and compete level, I think the team is taking steps on improving. They'll start winning games playing like that. Really liked the Park, Chyzk, Pattyn line. They cycled the puck well and went to the net with the puck. OD looked great back in the lineup. Going forward the team needs to build in the scoring department. Mark Mac will have to get it rolling, Tambo and Chyzk need to continue to score here and there. Drake and Rocco, obviously will need to continue to lead there as well as OD. Last note, still need to work on the PP. They need to move the puck around with more speed. Also, the guys really need to focus (need laser focus) on making passes on the sticks instead of in the skates on the PP. I also wouldn't mind see the PP being worked down low more than up top every now to change it up. Our PP is too telegraphed.

Sorry, Dave the Penguins will not be in the Finals in the spring. Here's to wishful thinking, though.

1) It's UND's system that causes lack of scoring. Off the glass and out for the breakout and then dump it in after gaining the redline. The coaching staff's theory is this, it's trying to reduce mistakes/turnovers etc that could lead to scoring chances for the opposition. Hak is known for this style, especially with freshman in the lineup as they need to "learn" and "adjust" to the college level. This style of play is always noticeable at the beginning of the year. Trying to keep the "risks" low while competing in the game with a probability of winning the game or keeping it close most nights. 2) With that said, the style of play is not a possession game. This is what frustrates me and Hak's style. A possession game is huge, see the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. That's why the Hawks are so successful and tough to play against. To have a team that has the makeup to play a possession game you need speed and skilled players, especially on the bluneliine, a quick transition game. You might take some risks offensively here and there with a mistake that ends up in the back of your net, but last time I checked you have to score goals to win in hockey. It's a lot more fun to watch too. St. Cloud State moved the puck and transitioned better all weekend. You tell me what team was more exciting to watch this weekend. It sure wasn't UND...boring hockey. 3) UND hasn't had a good power play in years. This lies on the coaching staff. You need to find a player on the power play that can gain the zone. Dumping it in and chasing the puck is so ineffiecient. The gophers rarely dump the puck in on a power play. The best NHL teams rarely dump it in. Guys like Kane and Datsyuk are such an asset to their team because their skill and speed allows them to gain the zone on most attempts. Don't buy into this? The NHL is tracking statistical data on this. The ability to gain the zone with speed on the power play is huge! Not only is this crucial on the power play, but even 5-on-5 play. It generates more offensive. 4) UND's inability of scoring is also due to their past recruiting classes and skill sets. There's plenty of parity in college hockey and there's a lot of good college players out there. Not every recruit wants to go to UND and is going to be sold on the program, tradition, and it's facilities. We don't need to land every NHL draft prospect recruit too. Over the last 2-3 years, UND has struggled to find and recruit those good college players. Give them credit on finding Drake, that's a perfect example and great find. UND struggles on scoring because of their players ability and skill set. Mitch, Conner, Step, Derick, both coltyn's, and Chyzk all bring different elements to the team and play a role for the team. You need role players, however that's too much commonality in the lineup with these players and as a result they bring the same skill set to the lineup. They are not able to generate offense. The inability to score or become true scorers, especially at the college level hurts UND. I'm not throwing these players under the bus or claiming by all means they are terrible college players, I'm stating UND has too many players with the same skill set and what they bring to the table. This dispalys their lack of efficiency in generating offense. UND's forward recruits the past few years haven't been great, it's the harsh reality. That's why they can't score and generate more offense.

Someone should get some highlights up from last night, please.

In Hak we trust, I guess. I'm not the coach.

Goon, a Nook is consider more of an ereader than tablet. To answers your questions, I'd probably say no.

No question. No doubt. Hot goalie. Full-sixty minutes. Battle. Compete level. Complacent. Didn't get the bounces. Bad refs. Soft, not physical enough. Frankly, not good enough. A little suspect tonight. No puck luck. Lunch-pail mentality. Puck possession game. We need to bear down. Get some bodies in front. Get pucks to the net. Quit playing perimeter hockey, go to the hard-knose areas. Tighten up defensively. Create scoring chances. Teach Rocco how to not hit pipes. Man, I could go on forever. I'll stop. It's a new year. can't wait!

I like this...BUT no way Chyzk sits out. Hopefully, he learned enough lessons last year. The team will need his size and scoring ability, especially if OD can't regain his form from freshman year. I think OD will be fighting for a spot plenty of weekends this year. Can't put together a better 4th line than that too. That 4th line could be great!

Let's get some ideas on what everyone thinks the lines will be prior to the first exhibition game, which is about a week away.

One of that the best signs I saw was the "Mr irrelevant" Sign showcasing the Minnesota Gophers logo. Well, done!!!

Green jersey is just flat out ugly. Their green jerseys used to be great.

For 1.2 Million, you'd play in the KHL too. Just need a bodyguard.

Scheels in Grand Forks has plenty of Sioux gear. They won't be running out anytime soon.

Ed Belfoure. Craig ludwig.

I personally think this group of D and class will be one of the best UND's had in quite sometime.

Poolman will probably receive less of a scholarship, however isn't his dad employed by UND as a trainer? I'm sure they'll figure out something with his kid going to UND. Not that it is a big deal.

So next year on D is looking like this: Simpson - Sr. Mattson - Jr. Panzeralla - Jr. Schmaltz - So. Ladue - Fr. Ausmus - Fr. Thompson - Fr. Stetcher - Fr. I potentially see Panzerall sitting and if Mattson continues to struggles, he'll be watching some nights too. Ladue will be an older Fr, I can't see him sitting. Thompson is a tremendous skating and puck moving d-man, I can't see him sitting. And finally, with Ausum's style of D, which the team desperately needs, I don't see him not being in the lineup too. Overall, the D-lineup will be quite interesting next year, but that is a good thing to have.

Hard to add players to the Wild's future teams when Parise and Suter both have 98 million dollar contracts. That will kill them in adding free agents in the summer. I said it from the beginning, adding those two players to the team was nice and brought excitement to the city, but it will not generate in deep playoff wins or a true Stanley Cup contender anytime soon. There's too much depth in the NHL and the Wild are one of the teams that will lack that going forward in the years to come. Zucker and Coyle will not be stars in the NHL too. Zucker will have a better career than Coyle, but they're not going to be All-Stars. Trust me.

They should bring him in next year to add grit. If some other (scholarship) player has to sit out, so be it!

Nerves, or breakdown? Kind of odd...

Who knows? Maybe there's some injuries and who knows with Chyzks case. He's been the biggest question to me all season with his situation. Glad he is in the lineup. I hope he scores!

If Forbort is sick of school, he'll sign for the money. He'd be really dumb to sign though in the off-season. He needs another year to round out his game and establish himself. He won't be cracking the Kings lineup anytime soon. He'll more or less be in the AHL for quite sometime. Might as well come back nexy year, play on another good UND team and build some confidence and produce offensively while tightening his defensive game.

It would just be nice to get placed in a regional where UND isn't paired with Minnesota or BC. Just once.

Picture this team in the NCHC now without these Seniors. That's why they need to take advantage of their NCAA bid this year starting next week.