stoneySIOUX

He's my biggest miss we've had in a long time.

It's not comparable, honestly. Walk on vs. scholly.

What player should he cut? Rizzo will be a scholly player. Rizzo has underperformed when he was healthy this year, so it would probably be good for him.

Yeah, I heard it was even prior to Michaud entering the transfer portal that they wanted him there for one more year. Sounded like Guchi was slotted as the top center. Seeing him play that spot at times late this season maybe was his try out? Anyway, big get for us, IMO. Gives Rizzo more seasoning, too and he can get healthy completely, if that's the plan.

I've heard he's not coming in this year.

Who's your example that that hasn't happened yet? Other than Mismash, who's been injured for large chunks and is only a junior this year, who would you say is higher end? JBD and Johnny are the two high enders and both had very good years. Gooch is our leading scorer. Scheel? Would have been an all league player had he not gotten injured. I don't understand.

Definitely a big get. Immediately becomes our top centerman, IMO.

Time to defend my title! Gaudreau (CGY) Ovechkin (WSH) Marchand (BOS) Kucherov (TB) Stamkos (TB) Oshie (WSH) (Had to have my Sioux) Giordano (CGY) Krug (BOS) Hedman (TB) Carlson (WSH)

We were all very upset when he decommitted because some expected him to perform immediately at the college level as a true freshman. Seems like maybe Bubbs knew what he was doing when Donavon was told (from what we seem to know) that he needed another year of work. He didn't light it up in his senior year and is dropping in all scouting rankings. Definitely seems like he needed another year. Could he go to Wisconsin and prove me wrong? Absolutely. He's very talented. But, early on, looks like Bubbs was right. I wish him the best. I really do.

And they are out in the first round and no longer have their top 5 (6? I can't remember) going into next season. The discussion was a perception of a lack of development, right? Also a discussion of local players and their impact? We're expecting top scoring from Yon, Bowen and Johnson? Our top scorers seem to be developing just fine, to me.

Again, our best players, as whole have been our defensemen and Sophs (Pooly, Guch, Kierstad and Mash when healthy). These guys now become the top of the classes and the team. Any expectation of top scoring from guys like Yon, Bowen, Johnson is and was nothing but unrealistic. Now, we look to have some high end scoring touch coming in. These kinds of players are the ones that should be ones we "judge" in terms of Bubbs' recruiting chops and development, IMO.

I already told you I wouldn't take him over any of our current... well, I guess I could clarify... any of our who I think will be Top 6 defensemen coming this year. This isn't necessarily ripping on him. He's a very good player. It's more so props for a tremendous pipeline we have right now, IMO.

That's fair. Whom? And whom would he replace?

By what definition are you saying superior? Lizotte has a 46 career points and he's done, Benson 56 and he's done (Had 7 as a senior). Rauhauser, he's been very good, but would you take him over any of our current defensemen? I wouldn't. Great numbers in the WCHA and yes, I'm denigrating the competition. Johnson, Bowen and Yon all came into this program as non-scholly roleplayers. I just don't understand why people thought these guys were going to light up the league. Bowen feels like he could/should have taken a step, but he's not a stud. He's a roleplayer.

Yup, sounds like a mid rounder in Moore. Certainly a good get.

Completely agree. Recruiting is simply pegging players as what they are going to be when they are in college. Obviously not a great science. Hopefully we see an impact from our freshies this year and a steps from the rest of the guys.

I do? Did I say that, ever? I think the freshmen will absolutely contribute. It'll be up to the upperclassmen, specifically the sophomores, to carry the biggest load.

Of those 10 goal scorers during those past 15 years, most of those are upperclassmen. That's what I'm saying. It's an unrealistic expectation to think underclassmen are going to consistently score a lot of goals.

Our recruiting is, and has been, incredibly good over the past handful of years. Our pipeline is absolutely loaded. If people want to argue against that, I mean, go for it.

I think it's partly because most players play four years and develop throughout their career. Our leading scorer was a Sophomore and is not a finished product and should take a step again, next year. Along with other Sophs, like they are supposed to. Our juniors in 18-19 didn't score and likely won't as seniors. What isn't right is that we are expecting monster results from underclassmen every season. It just doesn't happen all the time.

Are you suggesting that this kid is just stating his desire to play for UND? Hahaha. In that case... "I'm super excited to announce my intentions to play for UND. Thank you to all who have supported me along the way. #SiouxHockey" Did that work? Do I make the team? I don't think that's how this works.

Define "worried" What I've heard, only departures would be older guys without spots. Take that whatever way you want.

Jost was definitely a surprise from what I was told. Boeser sounded like he was two and done, though. I also think Gersich was expected to be a four year player.

Great point. I think we have a couple guys coming in who are gonna be like this. Adams is a guy that needs a playmaker and I think he'll make a good jump up if he plays with Guchi next year.

Lots of good stuff in here. I agree with a lot of it. Much more constructive conversation, in my eyes, than fire this, fire that, you know? Honestly, I'm fine with Shaw being let go because it's been a very specific pain point. But, I also think it's heavily due to lack of quality scoring forwards. We have some, but not nearly consistent enough. I'd be willing to give him some time to bring it back up with some new blood. Our PP was fine (well, it was ok) when we had high end forwards, IMO. I think it's going to be really hard to have a team that's having trouble scoring to learn 3 or 4 different PP systems. I like the idea, but I'd think we should work on one and stick with it. I've seen teams like St. Cloud have consistently good PPs over the last handful of years and they do the same thing week in and week out. I'm fine with more Bast and JBD on the top PP. Both can make great plays. However, Pooly is also a bit better defensively and there needs to be at least some responsibility there. Peski is going to have a tough time cracking the lineup, next season. Kid can hit it hard, but I'm not sure he's a PP guy, for me. Honestly, I feel like we did a lot of criss-cross one timers this year. I'll definitely agree about getting shots through. Bast struggled with that this year, IMO. We had a dedicated net front guy because a lack of scoring forward, IMO. Our PP was set to give our d-men, our most talented players, space and try to pick corners. That's why a guy like Casey Johnson was in that spot. He's a big body and is trying to get in the way. That's literally it for him. Why would we offer him anyone's scholarship? We have that available. Feels like we'd be getting rid of a guy just for the sake of getting rid of him. Because we don't like him. However, on the ice play is only one part. Michaud is, and will, get a full push from UND. He'd be a HUGE get for this team as I'm not sure Rizzo is coming in, this year. Guys like Reiger and Peski may see the writing on the wall, IMO. We'll see with that. Yon and Johnson have roles on this team and their role is only exacerbated by our lack of forward scoring. If that improves, we won't need those guys in Top 9 spots. They can play their fourth line energy spot as both can provide this team in that role. Adams was a huge pain point for me, too. But, he's partly doing it to himself. Kid needs to get bigger and stronger on his skates. He's getting there. Having him in a Top 6 role is a must and will happen this year unless he doesn't produce. He's showed flashes these past two years and if he takes a step, it'll be huge for this team, IMO. I think we let teams behind us a lot in chips because this team was really freakin' good on the walls. That's my take with that. Good stuff.