stoneySIOUX

If you decide to not allow my submission, I understand lol. Here's mine: BOS/FLA CAR/NYI TOR/TB NYR/NJ COL/WPG VGK/SEA MIN/DAL LAK/EDM

I'm not sure I agree Schmaltz has to be top 6 in terms of his skills, other than the need for a draw-winning center. 28 isn't a center, so I get what you're saying. I'm not saying Judd HAS to be top 6 by my initial comment. I'm saying he's got more offensive upside with who he is as a player than Sendo and Hain had this year.

Honestly, that could turn into the 23-24 version of the "Heavy Line" from 2016. I really like that combo a lot.

Once the team switched to their defensive mindset, he became a beast, IMO. He didn't pot a lot of goals down the stretch, but had some big ones. He played a man's game - net front greasy stuff, killer forecheck, massive PK, etc. I personally see Juddy with a top six MUCH, MUCH more than I saw Hain and Sendo down the stretch. Back to everyone's favorite "getter, setter, netter" convo, I think he provides him some versatility. I think he could play the getter role with OMac/Perron (setter) and Blake/Gaber (netter) big time. He could also form a shut down group with guys like Strinden, Portz, Kunz, Albrecht (if he stays).

Yep. Definitely a bummer. Seems like he was really being challenged to quickly improve defensively and he wasn't apparently responded quickly enough.

I feel ya. Definitely feels odd, but we're not in the arena for practice. Sounds like he just made no important progress.

You've been watching the past three days, right? We literally have ONE defensemen for next season and a really nice group of young forwards. Feels like we're going all in on offense lol.

Benoit, yes! I couldn't remember the other. Yeah, Ausmus hasn't had a great run of it the past year plus.

Ausmus is still a project. And frankly, was always going to be one. We all love legacy players, but sometimes they just don't work. Someone said it a bit ago, but this will be a very big season for him.

Not a new phenomenon. UND is nowhere near the only team that sees recruit peak early and not develop to their assumed potential.

Yes. I watched A LOT of stuff on him when I heard UND was looking at him.

At this point, Ausmus could very well not make it to campus. It'll be Livanavage, Strathmann, Wiebe, Komzak for sure.

I've asked multiple people several times and everyone swears it's an only on ice issue.

I think both can happen -- most like to complain, and they can have legit gripes. There's A LOT left to be desired from this season's team, but pinning a players progression, or regression for that matter, only on the coaching staff is just dumb. Feels like a lack of accountability pressed towards the player. Both sides needed to grow quicker. Overall, I'd say the staff was slow to adjust this season. They eventually took the steps to become a defensive team, but it was just too late.

I'd guess that is a major priority.

Fair enough. Farmer bummed me out. Kid was really, really good at UMass on the defensive side. C'est la vie, no?

Did it though? He started playing well his last handful of games, but he never showed enough defensively, IMO.

Oh, I agree with you. I was just saying that I think that could have been the defense of why it happened. Very happy they are likely to bring in a bunch of freshman. Gonna be a rough start to 23-24, but it'll do nothing but make things better down the line.

Again, can we drop this premise that Johnson would have some how magically progressed had he played more games? The decision not to play him was based on games and practice. If he was progressing in practice, he would have gotten ice.

Maybe it's a defense of the guys we did get from the portal in Farmer and Sidorski? Farmer was inconsistent, but Sidorski was our 3rd or 4th best defensemen for most of the season. Point still stands, I would have liked to have more than just Cooper Moore coming back for 23-24. Now, portal is a must.

He's implying that Kleven is gonna get sent down when his first year of his ELC is burned.

Never got the chance to meet him, but everyone I know that is connected to him at UND says he just a great kid and awesome to be around. Great leader.

Agreed. Someone taught this kid well, apparently.

Right. I'm confused at what you're saying. I know how it works.

On queue. Welp, that's real crappy for us, but very, very cool for him.