redwing77

Actually, there's no reason to label ANYONE a bust while he still wears our jersey. People say that Trevor Hammer was a bust as a player with UND. Hammer didn't play every game. Kozek hasn't missed many games other than because of injury. Why would Hak play a player who is a bust? Probably another reason to fire Hak. Hak suits up players he believes give the team the best chance to win. And, by golly, Kozek suits up night in and night out. Yeah, I'm the world's biggest homer with blind loyalty to the coaching staff because: If Hakstol sees enough in any Sioux player to play him despite what the fans think, then I'll side with Hakstol 2,000,000% of the time.

There would probably have to be a respirator involved too.

That looks to be a rough October. Game shape right away really. Freshmen will have to hit it hard right away.

You still can in the dorms at UND last I checked. I know I did when I was last there in 2002.

I'd say he needs to shape things up. He should be fired after the first game UND loses this next season. With UND's tradition and 14 upperclassmen on the team, there's no excuse for not going undefeated. Oh, and the fact that he hasn't kicked Finley, Grieco, and Lee off the team isn't doing him very good either.

Not to mention that Vandevelde was winning faceoffs at such a rate only one player could out win Chris: Toews. Oshie can play center and the question is: With Toews gone, does Hak want two very good centers on the first line? Oshie is just as effective on the wing (maybe more son on the wing) as a center. Vandevelde has pretty much played center (there were a few exceptions) in the games he played as a freshman at UND. It makes no sense to move VV to the wing. The WORST case scenario for Chris is that he centers the second line with Watkins and I'd guess either Trupp or Kozek. However, if Hak wants Oshie as a center, I'd probably guess Trupp or Forney would be on the first line.

Maybe so, but it's hardly Toews' fault that the Hawks ownership are a bunch of losers/idiots and the Hawks are the proud doormats of the teams that are considered "the original six." I don't think even the Rangers have had it as bad as the Hawks in recent history. And until Montreal proves completely incapable of winning their 26th Stanley Cup, I can't buy their recent decline as anything more than some sort of temporary downtime.

I never said it wasn't a joke. The NHL is going downhill. It used to be a major sport. Now it's not even in the top 10. It's one of the reasons why the lockout was only half successful. They got Goodenow out of the game. If it was to be totally successful, Bettman should have gotten ousted as well.

skates- Alright, I can see your argument, but I don't buy that argument as to why Forney didn't play much. If he was disappointing as a freshman and that's why he didn't play, why did he have shoulder surgery in the offseason? Sorry, I'll reserve disappointment for Forney until after a season in which he is healthy. If he can't remain healthy, than that would be the reason to be disappointed in him. It's harsh to be hard on anyone who hasn't had a full season at 100% unless the disappointment is directed at health. I still think Kozek belongs on a scoring line. I think he'd do well on the 2nd line. No, I wouldn't put him with Oshie or Duncan (although that surely would help his scoring), but he's hardly a lost cause. Let him finish his four years.

Saw it on Broadway with Hank Azaria and David Hyde Pierce. Freaking hilarious. Hank even made the cast break up in laughs. It's coming to the Twin Cities this summer some time.

True, but I had to choose a side. Devils are my second favorite team and Detroit is obviously my favorite. Now, take the fact that the Devils played hard but weren't able to beat Ottawa and Detroit is and was better than Anaheim for most of the series yet couldn't finish the deal. Really, since my two favorite teams were beaten by the teams that are currently facing each other in the Finals I should be happy if either one won it all, but I am not pleased with Detroit. They weren't outplayed. Anaheim wasn't better than they were. Detroit simply pissed down their legs. Hence, I go with the team that truly beat every team they faced in Ottawa.

This is what I was talking about. Porter's sophomore year saw him placed on the third and sometimes even fourth line. He was used as mainly a checker or supposedly to bring some offense to the checking line (which I haven't seen successfully done yet regardless of who it is). Kozek last season filled a more physical presence and was pretty good defensively. For someone who is 30 lbs lighter and 2 inches shorter than Porter, Kozek could really hit! I still remember him absolutely CRUSHING John Scott his freshman year. Kozek hasn't been on a line with a playmaker long enough to develop consistency and chemistry. If he earns his way onto a 2nd line with a playmaker (Kozek is NOT a playmaker... I still think his potential screams finisher) he will explode into double digits in both goals and assists. As for Vandevelde- His freshman year was not a surprise at all to me. IIRC, he didn't start out "on fire" with Lincoln either. However, towards the end of the season in the USHL, VV was the go to guy. And, seriously, some of the passes he made last season in the second half rivaled Toews in terms of sheer beauty.

Grieco leaving would make ZERO sense. Why would he leave when he is the clear cut #2 this season and possibly the favorite for the #1 after Phil graduates? NO way. Hamilton leaving wouldn't surprise me, however. Other than moving closer to home, I don't understand why he wanted to come here in the first place. If he sticks it out, great, but he may have been dumb to transfer.

WHo would be out? We already have a huge logjam at forward without Frattin, Bruneteau, or Gregoire. Porter was a power forward who can score. Not flashy, but hard working. If we want a Porter-type guy to fill the role, then Malone is the freshman. I'd like to see Kozek on that line. Like him or hate him, he's got good speed, works hard, and has a FILTHY wrister if he can create enough space for it. Interestingly enough, in some ways, Kozek's UND career has mimicked Porter's.

Unlike some, I am rooting for the Sens BECAUSE they knocked off the Devils. I believe that, with the way Brodeur seems to step up in big games and the way Zach and crew were playing up until that series, that they would be tough to beat. Ottawa dispatched them cleanly (and I mean cleanly...no cheap shots... no underhandedness). They flat out outplayed the Devils. To that effect, I could make some of the same arguments with Anaheim. They certainly didn't have the easiest trek (other than the first round...sorry Wild fans) and they aren't exactly the cleanest team in the playoffs (however, they did clean things up somewhat...but it took Pronger's suspension to do it). But Detroit was better than them and (with Lilja's help) they passed everyone by. This isn't going to be the most "ideal" Stanley Cup finals for TV ratings (I think it would have to be all New England teams for it to be...maybe Rangers, Bruins, Pittsburgh or eastern Canadian teams like PERHAPS Toronto or Montreal for it to be decent). But I think this will be a very good series. Ottawa outskates, outspeeds, and outshoots Anaheim. Anaheim outhits and outgrits Ottawa. Ottawa in 6.

Yeah, the Dorr situation really got ugly on Chris Dilks' blog (comment section. Chris himself had nothing to say other than what was available through normal channels). I was under the impression that Dorr wanted UMN all along but the opportunity didn't present itself as early as Dorr would have liked so he took the first offer that would have been the "second best" choice in tUMD. I'd like to say that Dorr was using UMD to his advantage but I'm not sure that could truly be the case without painting every situation like that with the same brush. If I did, then what's to say Gregoire didn't pull the same thing on DU? Like or hate DU and benefit or not by these events, it would not make me feel good to have this kind of game going on.

Not all that surprising considering the outcome of game 5. Detroit simply gave up after they got scored on with 48 seconds left in the game. This was a winable series. Too bad they didn't know it. Go Sens.

Gregoire's stats HockeysFuture's Message Board has some more information.

Comon! We have to have a better conspiracy theory than that! Before every game Toews played in, Tallon, the Blackhawks, and Team Canada (administration and teammembers), got together and pooled their money and paid off their opponents to make Toews look good on the ice (not TOO good, but good enough) so that Tallon could make some progress. Mix in a little of Ultra liberal pandering and Religious right bible thumping and voila! It's George W. Bush's fault Jonathan Toews signed!

When you operate on appearances only, then it is much easier to jump to conclusions. So, yes, I expect Hakstol and Co. to recieve plenty of flak over this regardless of how this came about. That being said, this isn't the first time this summer this has happened. Michael Dorr did this to UMD. He committed to UMD, then withdrew and went to UMN. I agree with whomever it was (dggoddard?) who speculated that the reason why Gregoire did this was because he only committed to DU in the first place because they said he would come in 2007 whereas I believe (unsubstantiatedly to be sure) that UND only offerred him a 2008 slot. Since DU asked Gregoire to stay until 2008, I'm thinking Jason decided to take the closer school to home with the same options. I'm happy to have Jason, but I also hope everything is kosher with this. Now to get Toews and we'll be set through the 2009-2010 recruiting class, I think.

Obviously the Wild disagree (but I agree with you).

Hey.... do some research on Bochenski and let me know what you find out. IIRC, didn't he say he was staying until late in the summer when he changed his mind? But then again, even if I'm wrong, far be it from me to take away from your vastly superior insight as to what is and what is not a dumb thread.

Well there ya go. Detroit and Anaheim were even through 1 then Detroit took over for period 2 and 18 minutes of Period 3. Then Anaheim scores with 45 seconds left and I said "Anaheim wins this game." Sure enough, Lilja whiffs and Selanne scores the easiest non-empty netter of the playoffs. Anaheim is going to win this series. Go Ottawa.

Doesn't matter. Buffalo didn't play this series very well at all. I was amazed at how reluctant they were to shoot the puck. Well, I hope they resign Drury. It would be nice if they could sign Briere and trade him so that the Sabres could get something for him (perhaps a nice first round draft pick or a few draft picks). I'm really not sure what the Sabres will do this offseason. Unlike the Wild, it's not obvious to me what the Sabres need. EDIT: Saw the highlights of the game now. ALfredsson beats Miller coming in 1 on 3. Great goal but seriously, he was one on three! SHouldn't someone have taken the body on the guy? It was a beautiful goal nonetheless that there was nothing Ryan Miller could do about it. I'll say it again: Miller was by far the best Sabre in this series. Drury and Briere had their moments, but only Miller can say that he did well this playoff series.

Stafford didn't do too badly tonight though he did nearly score a wrap around goal that would have ended the game in regulation. My only explanation as to why he missed is that an Ottawa player must have gotten a stick on Stafford's stick because the net was WIDE open and the puck slid harmlessly across the upper crease to Emery. I didn't get to watch OT but Buffalo looked a little better tonight. At the time of this post I have not seen the final score, but I'm assuming Ottawa won it. Next year will be better. As for Briere and Drury moving on and so on, I think Buffalo will keep one of these two. If I were the Sabres GM, I'd probably take Drury. Both are fantastic players.