Exactly..........He has played nowhere near a 2nd line centerman this season.
4th line of Smith Gardner Gornall.........I could deal with that.
The Euros with Boeser could be 2nd line
3rd Yon Bowen Wilkie
Oh.........and the UMD hockey program has been around for 73 years. Other than this season name another year where UMD has swept UND in a season series?
I get the economics of things but Keaton leaving was a huge mistake. LJ could have stayed too. The others bolting I get. As much as LJ made some really bonehead plays if he alone stayed your top line is 16 17 19 with the heavy line intact. 3rd line is the Euros and Wilkie or Yon. Doesn't help the blue line but that is 3 very solid lines.
Players IMO who have taken a step back instead of forward this season:
Wolanin, Shaw, Ausmus, Gardner, Simo, Boeser, Wilkie and throw Cam in there too........and I'm not going on strictly production. Young team or not that is 8 non-freshman of 19 "regulars" that have not played to their potential skill, effort and/or leadership wise. This ship only gets righted if those guys figure it out.
Now to also make this point....Simo and Boeser's effort and compete level last night was very good so that's a positive.
Guys who should play next weekend (if everyone is healthy) IMO
Jost, Gersich, Boeser, Yon, Hoff, JJ, Gornall, Bowen, Pogo, both Poolmans, Johnson, and Peski. 13 of need 18 skaters. Take your pick on the rest.
Here's what we have kids........a bad turnover and a softie. A bad penalty and an unscreened PPG given up.
This team doesn't do nearly enough good things to overcome their mistakes and bad plays to compete against top end quality teams.