SJHovey

So, eight eligible recruits. 3 in the first. One each in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th, and two in the 5th. That works.

I like a recruit who feels like the world slighted him, and he has something to prove. 🙂

Interesting change for a program that has had just five first round draft picks play for them in their entire history?

I was actually listening to a podcast and they were talking about the draft and each person’s guess for who goes highest of those players passed over in prior drafts. I don’t recall if it was one of The Athletic podcasts, or Chris Peter’s’ or what, but one of the guys picked MacKenzie and said that he had talked to some teams looking at him for the bottom of the first round. I don’t see it, but that would be crazy if it happened. Four first round blueliners on the same team? There are probably NHL teams that don’t have that.

My personal preference is when we have the puck, offsides and icing are interpreted liberally, sort of the old baseball rule at second base (in the area). But, when the other team has the puck, strict enforcement.

Drury is a college guy. Chance to see what Carels can do against a step up in competition, for free. I could see the staff pairing him with Emery, which would be fun for the Rangers.

A lot of chatter about the Rangers taking Carels. I would think that would be good for us.

Our only games against WMU this season? Finish with them last year, start with them this year, and it's the only time we see them in either season?

Pretty thin on D, at this point, and that’s even assuming the Rangers don’t sign E.J. I know the popular take is this must mean we’re going to see a bunch of CHL studs come in. But this looks to me like we’re going fishing in the portal again, which to me is a net loss. I’d rather have J.J. and Strathman over anything we might snag in the portal to replace them.

Yeah, patterns are fun: siouxsports 2003: “there is no reason we shouldn’t have the same success as Minnesota.” 2005: “there is no reason we shouldn’t have the same success as Denver.” 2012: “there is no reason we shouldn’t have the same success as BC.” 2019: “there is no reason we shouldn’t have the same success as Duluth.” 2026: “there is no reason we shouldn’t have the same success as Denver.”

I would not sleep on this Wisconsin team. DU should absolutely win, and it could be a 5-1 snoozer. But Wisconsin is on a free roll. They shouldn’t be here. Everyone “knows” they are going to lose.

Carle coached his team to two shutout NCAA wins in his first season, before losing a one goal game in the semi’s.

The Tom’s pregame event is already an epic fail. No one bothered to tell them that if the event starts at 10:30 that we’ll be there at 8:00. Place is locked up tighter than a drum. It’s a Vegas bar?

Not only did Minnesota lose in the semi’s, they lost the 3rd place game to Providence (back when they still played it). During the championship game, Wisconsin fans carried a bedsheet around the walkway that read, “Hail Mary, full of grace, Minnesota’s in 4th place.” My first Frozen Four.

My wife and I will be there as well. My 13th Frozen Four.