Speed_Kills

Connor Davis put up very similar numbers to DJ in junior and will be competing for 4th line ice time with a super deep forward group... deepest I can remember. The portal guys are all really solid additions who are heavy, experienced and can contribute 10+ goals. They have a 1st round pick who I expect to break out in a big way in Reschny. Back-to-back top 5 goal scorers in the USHL (Zellers, Cooper). Back-to-back USHL POY winners (Zeller, Swanson). Hard as nails to play against guys who also contribute on the scoresheet in Croal and Kernan. Enjoy the ride. Not sure where the concern is. This team should be very good again! Excited for it, enjoy the ride.

EJ coming back. Laurila has Liv potential. Mackenzie played on Canada's WJC team and has been a top player in WHL all year. Carels (strongly linked/rumored) is a projected top-10 pick who models his game after Jake Sanderson. They'll be just fine.

Verhoeff - Emery Carels*** - Laurila Mackenzie - Lindberg With rumors of another possible WHL player (unconfirmed). UND will likely want to dress extra D again this next year. I like Strath but he was looking at 6th or 7th spot rotation again this year playing 10-12 minutes per game. He has offensive upside and he probably wants to play PP and more minutes. I get it.

Strongly disagree the defense will be hurting next year and that the group this year didn't live up to their billing. They were a little looser in the last month of the season at times but they shut down some really good teams all year. Spunar being really good helped of course. Wait until the cards fall and you get to watch some of the kids they have coming in.

My predictions with no formal insight… Definite early departures: Liv and Wiebe. Homer (could go portal). Poss early departures: Emery and Spunar. I think Spunar more likely to sign than EJ. Portal: Jubenvil, D Andrew.

Rizzo (and his Dad) wanted more or less "guarantees" of top-6 minutes, PP time, etc. as a freshman. He was told you have to earn those at UND so he bolted for DU - unfortunately worked out well for him.

Scott Morrow (UMass) is the big one I can think of. He was very much ready for the college game. But overall, I agree.

This was a couple of years ago now and someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but I saw a statistic at one point that the Best Defensive Forward winners in the NCHC have played more collective NHL games than the league MVPs. A lot more room on an NHL roster for guys who win faceoffs, block shots, play PK, etc.

Really good problem to have and I'll agree here. Littler and Klee bring a similar style of play... Littler probably gets the nod over Klee, scores timely goals and wins battles especially in the o-zone (also a little less likely to take penalties which is a big deal come playoff time). Zakreski and Menghini bring a completely different game. Geno brings speed/north-south game, Zakreski brings more scoring touch but doesn't have Geno's speed.

Also did not see much of 4 at the end of the game on Saturday. Have not heard any status question mark, though.

I'll disagree on that goal. I think DJ was in the perfect position for shot block. M Plante fired the puck 2+ feet wide of the net and it ricochetted off his brother's leg and in. Hard to fault the winger who was in the direct-to-net shooting lane.

Been hearing (not completely verified) rumors that he's debating decommitment and opening recruitment back up - even if he's asked to come in 2026-27. Would agree he will be playing somewhere else if it's not next year for sure.

Looks like it'll be a trio of Cullens in Dinkytown. Gross.

I'd be fine if they never put numbers on the front of the jersey again. *shrug*

Welp, looks like Bear won't be coming to North Dakota next year either. Signed with DET.