DAR

I agree that Oshie has some talent but I do not like the trade off. It is such a step up in competition that you can't blame the kid if he struggles this year. He should be in the USHL to become more used to a faster game. I think he is going to be a good player but it will take time.

I don't!

I don't know if I would call Smaby "a rock" for next season. It depends if he plays like he did in the NCAA's or like he did for a good part of the regular season which was often times average at best. Hopefully once Greene officially leaves he will know that he is the leader of the d corps and elevate his game. He is going to be depended on very heavily next year with or without Greene.

It just sucks as a fan of the team when a highly regarded player comes in has a good year is injured most of the second year and bolts without realizing his potential in a SIOUX uniform. For me, I could care less how Murray does in Europe. I am sure he is a good kid so good luck in the future but he no longer plays for the Sioux or in North America for that matter so I will not be following his pro career. Sometimes it is a tougher pill to swallow as a fan especially with high hopes for the team next year when something at least to most fans unexpected happens like this. Murray would have been one of the last players I would have thought would have left after last season. Obviously I am not in the inner circle of the team so maybe some saw this coming who are close to the team. I think most fans were quite surprised by this.

No offense but the Sioux will go nowhere with Foyt and Marving playing full time at d next year. They just do not have the talent level to be regulars. I too am concerned with the number of freshman on this team. The coaches need to figure out a way to balance out the classes in the future a little bit better. I have said this before but Greene is the key, we can survive the loss of Murray and be there at the end for the regional at the Ralph but it is going to be impossible to replace the leadership and senior presence of Greene on the blue line. Without Greene you'd have Smaby, Lee, Chorney, Radke, Jones and a 6th d-man yet to be determined. There is no way you can win a national championship with that green of a d. I don't care how good the forwards are. Yes Greene takes some bad penalties but his physical presence is something that cannot be overstated. Especially after his performance in the NCAA's, opposing forwards will play more hesitant when he is on the ice.

Europe is one thing but the WCHA is nowhere near as physical as the NHL or the AHL. There are hired goons in both leagues to mix it up and the players are bigger and stronger. I just think that Murray wanted to get paid for playing hockey. I am sure he sees Parise and Bochenski doing well and wants to join them on the "money line"!!

Hopefully Zajac Stafford and Spirko can continue their magic from the end of last season as I am sure they will start the season as the top line. Aside from Porter and Prpich there will be a lot of new faces and chemistry will need to be developed. I was hoping for the top line above and a second line of Murray Toews and Porter. That would have been a great line as well but no such luck. I think Porter and Toews will be on the second line but who joins them. I still think the checking line will be Kaip Prpich and Fabian with Watkins maybe on that line instead of Fabian on the large ice sheet for his speed. I know he was the fastest skater at the BCHL all star game. I think he is a pretty good defensive player. Forget the offseason, let's drop the puck and see how this all plays out. If Greene signs and Bina cannot play next year our D will have to be the most inexperienced in the history of Sioux hockey. That will be a formula for a lot of growing pains and a difficult time getting out of the West regional and maybe even making the tournament. Radke had better be working his a** off because he will be counted on heavily next year.

It will be interesting to see how Oshie does. A very young team for next year just got even younger with Oshie replacing Murray. You would think prospects for the year after next would look great at forward with Prpich as the only senior but I am sure Zajac and Stafford will continue the trend and jump ship after this season. Is it just me, but it sure seems like the Sioux have more early defections that any other team in the WCHA, maybe that speaks to the talent level....or maybe a lack of loyalty.

That was mostly because no one was chomping at the bit to sign them, both were undrafted. Although I am glad they stayed all four years if the offer would have been there things probably would have been different. The same thing for Matt Jones, I don't think Phoenix was in any hurry to have him turn pro. He will have a tough time making the NHL anyways. It is great that he wanted to fulfill his four years but I think things are different when the almighty green is put in front of you.

What about sticking it out for 4 year's and actually earning a degree. Oh yeah I forgot that most of the hockey players rarely go to class anyways. This was really a surprise to me......a new trend in college hockey........defecting to Europe!

Yeah bring em' in for a year maybe two and watch em' take off for the first offer they get. It gets very frustrating from a fan's perspective and I am sure for the coaching staff as well. Greene will be next it is only a matter of time. The only hope is if the lockout extends into the college season, otherwise he is as good as gone. When Murray was recruited I thought he was even maybe a bigger catch than Parise because he would likely play all 4 years. Not exactly a memorable career for Murray in a Sioux uni. The good part is we played most of the season last year without him so we won't know what were missing.

# 16 is typically a number that a forward would wear but who knows.

On next year's team Brad Miller will have a hard time cracking the line-up IMO. If he does it will be on the 4th line. I think he has some talent but as deep as the team is at forward he will really have to impress the coaches to move into a top 3 line spot. If you figure the line combos it is hard to figure him in anywhere but the 4th line, but we shall see when practice starts, maybe he will turn some heads.

I do not think it is the wisest thing to bring Oshie in next year but what do I know. The talent is there but a year in the USHL is really needed in my opinion. I don't quite understand this one but that is why I don't make the decisions but just get to criticize them on SS.com!!

Do you care to elaborate on who you have a suspicion may not be back next year. Any insider info???

Could it be that Brad Miller will not be coming in for this year, it can't be Brady. Those are the only two "shoulders" I know of. If true, I find this to be an unexpected development, Oshie has great potential but I think he is being rushed a little bit much by making the jump right to the WCHA. Not a whole lot of players have great success with that jump, it is becoming more and more rare these days.

I do not see Stafford as an early defection candidate at all this year, he will undoubtedly be back for next season. I think we have plenty of talent at forward to work with. D will be the big concern as far as youth and depth quality.

Without Greene this team is going to be so green on defense it is going to be painful. The WCHA is not a league that is made for freshman defenseman, forwards have an easier transition than defenseman. This Alexander kid does not do much for me, he obviously was not recruited much if at all. He is 20 and still seeking a college team. If we are depending on him to be a top 6 d next year we are really in trouble back there. Based on his numbers he is not offensive minded and he is average size at best. Sounds like he is walking on so maybe that will provide motivation to earn a scholarship and he will surprise some people.

Why of course he is serious, what planet are you living on??

Jason Blake is having a nice season for the Islanders, I see he is their leader in +/-. I always knew he would be a responsible two way player in the pros. I heard through the rumor mill too that Blais is really pushing management and the head coach to call up Karl for the game against the Hurricanes.