"all ultimately ended up in disappointment". This is just me but there's no difference whether the disappointment happened in the Frozen Four or earlier. You seem to be putting lots of stock in Frozen Four appearances and NCAA tournament wins. I'm not sure I agree. Personally for me, the barometer is winning national titles. Everything else is secondary. Honest question .. would you rather have your team have won a title 8 years ago with little postseason success since, or be like our friends to the East who have several NCAA tournament wins and some Frozen Four appearances over the past several years, but haven't hung an NCAA banner in over 20 years.