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.

Losing the interlocking ND was (from a fan perspective) an unexpected outcome of the re-brand and an extra kick in the nuts. The football team had a variant of that for decades.

Agree. His PxP is very average at best (he’s admittedly gotten better with less corny phrases and letting the game speak for itself) but he’s a HUGE ambassador for college hockey. He negotiated a certain percentage of hockey (college or NHL) into ESPN contract. Yes, he favors HE but they are also on ESPN+ but I think he’s done a really nice job of increasing exposure to hockey. He will be missed when he retires if someone doesn’t take the reigns from him.

I think we will continue to be in the running in the future for those type of players as that transition becomes more popular and more of known entity. There's also no guarantee the top CHL guys even go college route. The top guys in the CHL historically have done well in the NHL. First year of a new dynamic, these kids have a lot to think about.

The BSU series drives me nuts. High risk, no reward.

Yes

I'll take that problem.

I have no firm knowledge of DJ and Herter's current relationship but they were teammates at UND for 3 years. The HC decision was not theirs to make. If Herter comes back I'd say the decision made by the powers-that-be would be a non-issue.

I think there is a "meaningful chance." I won't put a percentage on it but it's his if he wants it. Depends on if 1) he wants to make a so-called lateral move to come home after being passed up for the head job and 2) does he get a significant pay raise by doing so. Source I know spoke with Herter and he was under the impression after the interview process that he would have been offered UND HC job if WMU had been eliminated in the regionals. UND wanted to move quickly and WMU kept/keeps winning. I do think they haven't posted the associate HC position in the hope that he wants to come in. Would be a huge get. Very connected. Winner everywhere he goes.

I believe this is correct. Online articles indicate that *if* he decides to go the college route, NIL dollars are not important. Most important is development for the next level. Several sources indicate North Dakota and Michigan are the two in the running. Here's to hoping.

Honestly, his chances of playing are not greater if he enters the portal. A sub-.900 save percentage is not that attractive. Unless he goes lower half of CCHA or AHA he will be a back-up/competing for starts wherever (if) he goes. I’m very neutral on what he chooses to do.