stoneySIOUX

I mean, we've gone around ad nauseum about why Spicer decommitted. Could he turn out to bite us in the butt and be an All-American? Sure. This year, I highly doubt it. Quote me and write it down and I'll eat every bit of crow around if it happens. Rizzo feels like a miss by the team. I'm sure Bubs would agree. I'll gladly die on the hill of thinking not having Scott Morrow on our team is a good thing. Many others would disagree. Other than those two... who else are we really missing? Miller did what he did and that's a wholly unique situation. I don't think he'll ever play college hockey again. We can go down the list of decommits and figure out if this is such a massive problem, if you'd like.

Yeah, that'll sell them.

Tell me how that pitch goes from the coaches who are "using this against us" ... I'd love to know this insight on what you think is happening.

I never thought he was ready to come in at 18. Not many do come here at 18. So, I'm not sure how plugged up the pipeline is, I guess. Still would pick Senden and Hain over all of those guys to play their roles. I have very high hopes for this team this coming season and I don't think adding Spicer to this year's team would have made a difference. Do I still want him after this coming season? Absolutely, which is why today sucks. He's got loads of potential. Kid made his choice, though.

Seems like a good reason to stay one more year at a level and then step into the next

Still doesn't answer my question lol.

I should have said "chose the roster as currently constructed" over them choosing Hain/Senden. Could have been more succinct there.

Four players (potentially) are coming in this season that are being pegged as guys that can contribute offensively. We need scorers, no doubt, but we also need guys to do what Sendo and Hain do and they both play their roles at the best level possible.

This season. He would have been in a suit this season if he had come in. That's what I'm saying. If you disagree, I mean, I don't know what I can do to change your mind. He just decommitted.

This is all completely fair. I just think our current class is a little packed up. They knew the kid needed a scholarship and based on the players coming in, he didn't have one this season. UND made the decision of one more year of Hain/Sendo for a run at a title over Spicer, who COULD end up being good, or could end up being Ryder Donavan.

What if UND wins a natty this year? #SimpleQuestions

So, Spicer was going to be undrafted and play a third line role in his UND career? No. Sendo spent four years here enough to earn a chance to come back and was offered it. If you want to make that comp to someone else, that's fine, that one feels silly.

He would have been in a suit for his first season.

I'm on board with this, for sure.

Honestly? At 17? Alright, I'll take your word, but I don't think he's a kid who's ready for college hockey this year. I really don't like losing him, but he made his choice now that we told him we didn't want him this year. I'm not saying you are 100%, but comparing Sanderson/Terry's unmeasurables to Spicer's seems .... well, silly. I get your point, though. My measurement is from what I have seen and what I've read and I don't think Spicer is ready this season. So, we would have had to move someone else to bring him in and maybe get him for three more years? Idk... I think it's the right call to have him not play here next year. From there, Spicer made his decision.

From here on out, what would you prefer/like to see? Budy gone, bring in all four forwards?

THIS! The portal is making for some really tough choices, both for the players and the coaches. Coaches believed he wasn't ready. He believes he is, he's making his choice. Again, he'd be in a suit this year playing in the NCHC.

Yep. Open ended dates and it changes per development. He was likely told at 15 that "we think you'll be ready in 22-23", but then James moved ahead of him, is what I'm guessing. Looking forward to the end of this portal stuff, too.

So, this goes back to the same argument that we've been having with current players, James, Blake, Etc... There are roles. Spicer would be in a suit basically all year unless we are all ok with bottom 6. Never said he wasn't close to being good enough, but he's not better than 75% of our forwards, IMO. He's also not better than Blake, McLaughlin, and James, from what I've seen.

Oh, well that's a different thing than you said. Sorry. I don't disagree with that. I don't think he's better than 75% of our current forwards. Not even close, IMO.

Right now?? Or like, in two years? I'm sorry, but if it's right now, not a chance.

LOL -- Sendo and Hain don't have hockey IQ? Plenty of arguments to be made against keeping these two... this is not one of them.

C'mon, can we do this without belittling Hain and Sendo's roles? Both of those two are very important to the program and this year's team, IMO. This year feels like an "all-in" year. I never thought Spicer was coming this year. Did any of you? It really, really sucks he's leaving, but other than maybe Strinden, who likely isn't on scholly and changes the equation a bit, would any of you pick Spicer over Blake, McLaughlin or James?

He's 17, right? I feel like the kid is panicking a bit. I always thought he'd come in 23-24. Efff....

Since 2017-18: DU -- 1 and done, lost in the Frozen Four Semi, didn't make the tourney - 2-2 record, missed one season Mankato -- 1 and done, 1 and done, Lost in Frozen Four semi -- 2-3 record, made the tourney every year possible. So, Mankato actually had a little more.