DAR

I think if an NHL deal gets done before the start of next year he will go. IMO the only way he stays is if the lockout is still on when the Sioux start camp. When it comes down to it I think it is going to be a situation similar to Bochenski's, where he signs shortly before the season starts. I do think the lockout will be settled toward the end of the summer.

Hak said it was 90/10 he would return. He had a pretty good year but has a lot of developing to do still at the college level. It is too early to speculate past the upcoming season on any of these players. Just having Smaby back is not enough to cover for the youth on defense, we need both the Matt's so the freshman are not thrown to the wolves more than they already will be.

Yeah it was great seeing Danny Boy Irmen get flattened a few times in that game. Prpich leveled him once as well. His only response was to take a run at Greene and draw a boneheaded penalty. Nice game Danny Boy, you and Potulny both sucked!!

He must have been there on the right night for his visit. It will be interesting to see how he does next year. 17 is pretty young to make an impact in the WCHA but from the sounds of it this is a very talented kid. We are going to have some real skill at forward next year.

This is great news, I know he will be very young coming in next year (17 I believe) but from what I have heard and read this kid has some great talent. It just shows the potential that this kid has if Hak is willing to bring him in as a freshman at 17. He will look great in a Sioux uniform. He probably will not have as much of an immediate impact as Kessel but will be a very good player.

Nothing more satisfying than ending the Goofers season in a convincing manner. The look on Lucia Pet's face as his team was getting steamrolled was priceless. My favorite line of that game was at the beginning of the game when the Sioux were on the power play early in the first period. The Sioux were really pressuring and the Goofers could not clear the puck and Clement says "this is like men against boys out here". It was also great to hear when Clement said the Goofers were on "life support" and the game was not even half over. At least we will be for the most part "Skippy" free this summer due to that whippin.

Ballard's a punk in my eyes, could never stand him as a Goofer. Always taking cheap shots when the refs weren't looking and would never stand up when challenged. That is the definition of a punk on skates.

Fuher will be teammates with those Goofer punks Ballard and Taffe. I think Westrum might be there as well. I thought Nick progressed well at UND, and it is good for him to get a taste of pro hockey.

Hopefully the fact that the Oilers are strapped financially as well as the lockout situation will keep him here. If not for the lockout situation he would be gone for sure, that is the only hope for Sioux fans. I think most fans realize how important this decision is to next year's team. IMO the chance at next year's National championship rests on this decision. You cannot have that young and inexperienced of a defense and expect to raise a banner. With Greene and Smaby some of that youth can be covered up somewhat. The forwards and goaltending will be national championship caliber, without Greene or Smaby the defenseman will not. I think we need them both back to have a good shot at the title.

With the state of the Sioux defense next year Lee is going to have to be able to come in and take a regular shift. There will be no easing him into the lineup and that will be the case even if both the Matt's stay.

YEAH!! I agree with that Brady is going to come back with a vengeance next year and he will have some talented linemates to play with. Look out for Brady! Zajac will be even better as well and he was great this year especially as the games became bigger Zajac stepped up big time for a freshman.

I like that, although I don't think Drew is as good of a passer as Genoway I think he would do fine on the point. That would be a lot of talent out on the ice. Potentally four first rounders on the ice as Toews (when he is eligible) and Lee are likely to go in the first round if there is ever a draft. Drop the puck!!!

If everyone stays we will have an excellent chance to be in Milwaukee a place where the Sioux have shined before! Man, I am going to have serious hockey withdrawl. I was a hockey fan while I was in school there but have followed it even more since I graduated in 99. It is a great sport and has provided me with a lot of great entertainment. I know Duncan is small but I really think he is going to be a dynamic player, I doubt he would be on a line with Murray though as they probably do not want the two smallest guys on the team on the same line. I agree that Zajac Spirko and Stafford should remain the top line. IMO they were the best line in the frozen four and the ESPN announcers praised that line often. I think Porter is going to have a big year next year as well. If he could just improve his scoring touch a little he could get 15-20 goals next year. He is a great skater and plays physical. I will be most interested to see how Toews does, will he be able to make the adjustment to the WCHA, based on the press clipping I think he will.

I just don't see Smaby and definitely not Stafford leaving. All this talk about Smaby is based on the quote from that Tampa GM. Time will tell but I see the only possible departure from this team is Greene. For some reason I feel like he will see the potential in next year's team and stay for one more kick at the can. I am going to remain optimistic that this will happen. I think he has put more of his heart and soul into this team than either Bo or Parise who I think we're obviously good players but were most concerned about their pro contracts rather than the Sioux.

A big thanks to the seniors for their contributions to the Sioux program. It was great to see their leadership on display as this team came together. It hurts to come up one game short and I am sure the players feel that way more than any of us as they have devoted their hockey careers to reaching that goal and to come up short has to be tough. As time passes I am sure they will look back on this season with extreme pride. Good luck to this years group of seniors in all their future endeavors.

The Bill Clement quote should be sent to that Tampa idiot. Did he watch the frozen four or the regional. Smaby will stay I am 99.5% confident in that. I do not even think he is ready to jump up a level before the end of the season run he had basically a pretty lousy season. Greene is more like 50/50.

I think the team and the coaching staff deserved criticism at that point. Much to their credit they turned it around and the team played up to or even exceeded their potential.

I am looking forward to seeing some of the incoming freshman forwards especially Toews and Duncan. I realize Toews is real young but I expect him to have an immediate impact. Duncan really had a good year for Salmon Arm, I think he will be a fan favorite. He is small but skilled and plays bigger than his size from what I have heard. It should be interesting to see where Kozek and Watkins fit in as well. The cupboard certainly is not bare. D is my main concern because it is a lot easier to play forward as a freshman and contribute than it is defense. I never expected Radke would see this little playing time so he is basically a freshman again. He apparently did not show the coaches enough to play in meaningful games as we went with 5 D for the whole NCAA tourney. I do not know what to expect out of him next year. Hopefully he works hard over the summer to improve the areas of his game that need improvement.

I just wish for once a guy could say hey I want that national championship and I am coming back to get it. The AHL is not exactly a glamourous league. Greene got more exposure playing for the Sioux this year than he ever would have in the AHL. Edmonton does not have much money to throw around so I am hoping with that and the labor situation that Greene comes back and leads us through the Grand Forks regional and on to Milwaukee for a repeat of the 1997 frozen four!!

This is a great site to follow Sioux hockey. I get my fix on this site on an almost a daily basis during the season and occasionally during the summer as well. A big thanks to those who make this site so great. I have enjoyed reading this site for a couple years now and could not imagine following the Sioux without SS.COM. THANK YOU!!