brianvf

I too am wondering if either Marto or LaPoint will come in next season, or if Bina will essentially take Smaby's spot in the lineup. Wonder which one the coaches would bring in if they can only bring one.

I haven't seen the entire schedule yet, but from what Hakstol said on the last Coaches Show, we will have Manitoba for the season exhibition opener, then have Quinnipiac coming to the Ralph to open the regular season.

Those rankings are for one point in time. So when the Blues drafted Oshie, the ranking of their prospects also includes members of their AHL teams, etc, so those players will obviously be ranked above a player that just graduated HS. Now, with Oshie's great frosh season at UND, his ranking has skyrocketed above players that are currently playing for their AHL affiliate.

That's because of the style of hockey that they play.... oops, I've said too much.

That would definitely hurt SCSU's chances next year. If Bobby leaves, I can't see SCSU finishing above 7th next season.

Do their 3-peat chances diminish a little now with Earl gone? Maybe Elliott will follow, but I doubt it. They will still be a very good team next season...

Earl leaves UW: http://www.dailybreeze.com/sports/articles/2633746.html

As you wish.

His name is Finley. Joe Finley.

I agree with you here. Both should be players that stay all four years and really develop into special players by the time they are juniors or seniors. Kozek is a sniper with his wrist shot, and Watkins was using his speed to create chances at the end of this past season.

Nice, good to see him starting to get some more points...

Sure...keep telling yourself that. My first few posts over there were right after the UMN/UND series at the Ralph when Irmen and Chorney did their 'jersey tugs'. I made a simple comment about how I felt that type of celebration wasn't needed, and that I didn't like it when either player did it. I got ripped instantly by 3 or 4 Gopher fans, telling me to 'go back to USCHO or SS.com' and calling me a troll, even though I mentioned both Chorney AND Irmen in my original post. I will say that a few Gopher fans, whom I have 'known' for years from posting here or over on USCHO, backed me and told the other Gopher fans that I wasn't a troll. But I would hardly say that I was welcomed over there with open arms like you say.

Congrats to Smaby, and good luck in the NHL.

Hopefully the Sioux can get a Duncan-like year out of Vandevelde next season. It sounds like he has progressed nicely in the past year. With early departures, I wonder if they would bring in LaPoint or Marto first if they bring one in for this fall. Marto has already played a season in the USHL, but I wonder which player they feel is further along in their development.

Looks like he might be close to signing regardless. http://torontosun.com/Sports/Hockey/2006/0...529541-sun.html

Wow, half the Sioux roster. So we should be expecting at least 10-12 early departures this offseason?

Trupp is an 07 recruit, and LaPoint might go to the USHL for a year. There has also been speculation that Marto may spend another year in the USHL. I suppose it all depends on who leaves early.

Thanks for posting Prp. You will be missed next year...

The Sioux Shop in the Ralph sells the Chexx machines, custom painted with the Sioux/Gopher players and the Sioux logo at center ice. Not sure on the cost, but I definitely want one someday...

It's hard to lose when you only have yourself to play against.

Maybe they made a secret pact...to all stay around for another season to get a run at the title. Hey, we can dream, can't we?

I can't even imagine how good of a player he would be if he stayed for his jr year. He would be a potential Hobey candidate, that's for sure. Let's hope his dad is right!

I put the "too young to win anything this year" line in my signature on USCHO during the pre-season threads, as many fans, both opposing and Sioux fans, proclaimed that the Sioux were too young to do anything with their season. After going through struggles, they finished the season strong. They were a team that didn't have many expectations placed on their shoulders before the season started, and they got some valuable playoff experiences with their late season run. Hopefully they can build on that next year.

Do you have a source for this? Sounds like the Sioux could get hit very hard with defections this off-season. Not fun. I'm not sure why Parise would go, especially after he said that he would for sure be back for his senior season. Money can always change plans though. Smaby, Stafford, Parise, Spirko, Zajac, Toews, and Oshie. All possibilites to go this off-season.

Yeah Sioux Sioux! Go Sioux! Hoping for a good game and a Sioux victory!