redwing77

Ah, unless Versus picks up a game here and there and/or the Blackhawks make the playoffs, we won't be watching him play. The owner of the Blackhawks won't televise the games because he believes that it adversely affects attendance. Too bad he doesn't realize that his team sucks, which is why no one goes.

What do you know? You come here so often we often wonder if you aren't a Sioux fan but simply are holding yourself back out of some sort of "hangup." The least we can do for such an oft visiting Gopher fan such as yourself is to save you the trip to GPL for your Gopher-related news.

Word to the wise: If the hotel the players stay at says "Free Continental breakfast" go to Denny's or Embers or Perkins etc.

Call me an optimist, but I think if he is going to leave early, this off season will be it. If he stays, Duncan will be a four year player and more than likely break all sorts of UND records for forwards.... That's the optimist in me speaking.

I know you are right about Hextall coming in next year, but part of me wishes he waits until 2008. You did forget the transfer: Shea Hamilton, who will most likely (at least initially) get playing time over one of these mentioned recruits (most likely, unfortunately, Hextall). I'm betting Blood, Frattin, and Bruneteau come in 2008 along with Cichy, Gleason, and Eidsness. We have such a logjam at forward it isn't even funny. To make matters better (or worse if you are a defensive recruit) there doesn't appear to be much room for Marto as a regular player this year. It will be better in 2008 because we look to lose a bunch of players to graduation and early departure (Phil, Kaip, Radke, and Bina to graduation and surely Oshie, Lee, Chorney, and maybe Finley to early departures) but next year will be interesting. I think we have a ton of talent and not enough games to give them all good playing time (at least the freshmen anyways). I expect the biggest "losers" in the equation next year to be Martens, Marto, and maybe Radke.

I think somewhere along the line you got confused for others who have allegedly contacted potential recruits. I don't think there was anything wrong with your asking for clarification on the rules. Along with Chuck, though, I get a bit nervous to read posts on how some SS.com poster plans or (or did) contact a player about the possibility of attending UND. In my opinion, it's best not to do anything of that sort and know that you did not violate even the oddest or nonsensical NCAA rule than contact them and unknowingly violate the rules. In other words, better safe than sorry.

I don't think it has anything to do with this board. It has everything to do with the idea that a fan or booster contacting a potential recruit with the intent to recruit this player towards a specific institution. I don't know the rules about that, but something tells me that it's not looked too kindly upon by the NCAA. Nobody on this board wants to lose a recruit or to see UND getting in trouble because some overly excited and hopeful fan or booster knowingly or unknowingly violated NCAA recruiting policies.

Thanks PCM. That's what I was trying (and failing) to say in my first response to Cardinal.

I agree. Vanek's offensive capabilities are very very strong. He's proven that at every level (yes, even at Minnesota). With Stafford on his line, he gets a young power forward who can pass, augment Vanek's offensive capabilities, and back up for him if he has a defensive breakdown. Even when Stafford was still at UND I thought it would be a VERY good deal to have Vanek and Stafford on the same line in the pros.

I rank them all number one. I don't really like ranking in that fashion because it belittles what those who aren't #1 or #2 bring to the team. I think Lee is valuable the same as I feel about Chorney, Radke, Finley, or even Marto. Yes, I said Marto not even having seen him play a single game other than in high school. Each player is a gear in a machine. Sometimes they miss a cog or two but they catch again and keep the machine turning. Throw out a gear and the machine doesn't run as well, or even at all. So, Lives to play, I don't need to subject any sort of ranking. I like them all. Period. I don't need to have a "worst" anybody on my team. I don't look for reasons to dislike. It makes my life happier. Keep on hatin', Lives to play. Nothing you say will change my unfaltering support of Hakstol and Co., Lee, Finley, (soon) LaPoint, and Malone.

Don't respond to Lives to play. He's a Lee "Hater" and there's really no rationalizing with him. I agree with you though, Lee leaving would be a huge blow to the team. He's never been worse than 3rd in the team in scoring by defenseman. As for not giving Marto a chance, well, apart from the "haters" piping in, who would you bench for Marto? For Marto's freshman year, I don't see him getting much ice time because there is simply too much talent already in the lineup and experienced talent as well. I doubt he'll be a 4 year bench warmer, but he's not going to jump into the game right away either. I expect not to see much of Marto his freshman year.

I think it's "dumb" that he thinks that the Blackhawks are the ideal team for him. But then again, I'd think it would be "dumb" if any half talented hockey player said that.

First off, I could see the "haters" rejoicing if Lee goes citing what AZSioux already said "Have fun in Canada blah blah blah" (No, I know you were being sarcastic AZ). He was thrown under a bus and Siouxnami: I LOVE that proposed conversation between LaPoint and Lee only there's one misnomer: LaPoint's presence isn't going to stop the "haters" from "hating" on Lee. It's just going to give them a "trifecta" with Lee, Finley, and now LaPoint. Second, I agree with AZ. If Lee leaves because some of the Sioux fans are arseholes, then he really does need to get over himself. I don't think he deserved half of the crap he has gotten in his first two years as a Sioux and I don't think he'll deserve half of the crap he is yet to receive from some of the "crew" here. And the word "half" is an exaggeration. However, that's a problem of bad fans and not a reflection on UND, its program, or his priorities. I hope he stays and I will be GENUINELY disappointed if he goes. Oh, and he's not thrown under the bus. He was thrown under the bus, run over by said bus, bus stops and backs over Lee, and then runs over Lee again. Say what you will for players in the past, but I don't remember a single player drawing so much crap from the fanbase that Lee has gotten.

I call this a tie. There's no realistic way either one could happen!

Oh yeah? Well I lead the Chicago Cubs to 3 straight World Series titles on MLB 2K4

Maybe so, but I believe that members of the same fanbase as the commenter are more likely to pass off comments made by the commenter and give him the benefit of the doubt than people outside of the fanbase. To me, a comment like that doesnt really say how good Toews is (or now was) but rather that Toews deserved the Hobey more than Duncan, which isn't true. DI hockey doesn't have a player award for a college career. They only have awards for individual accomplishments on a per season basis (ok, maybe the humanitarian award can cumulate). The argument we see isn't a Toews vs Duncan talent comparison. It's a Hobey worthiness comparison and that's rather sad to have Gopher fans take away from the accomplishments that any player outside of their program has done. If that were the case, maybe I should look into why Bonin won the Hobey. He's a small player, his stats add up to deserving...why should i look any further into that?

Toews was an insanely good passer, but you know what? Vandevelde and Oshie aren't exactly crap. VV made some very impressive passes over the season. Some of them were shot and went in, most, though, weren't able to be finished. I can't imagine some of those great passes VV makes going unfinished if he is placed on that line. That's why he's my favorite to take Toews' spot. Oshie-VV-Duncan Unfortunately, that makes it the D-VO line

Doesn't matter. Sucks to see Stafford not get a shot even though he probably deserves one, but for what? Buffalo's gone after 5 games anyways.

Please! You're just describing my first three holes!

I don't think Okposo is ready. I DO think Goligoski is ready, but I'm not sure how well he'd do defensively. I do think he'll be a valuable pro though.

Consider me shocked. Buffalo prolonged the series one more game. I didn't think they had it in them. Can they make it two in a row? Can I find someone who is will to bet me yes? Ottawa takes it in Game 5. Score? 4-2 (empty netter).

Not a new concept. I know that Brett Bruneteau said the same thing. I can't help but think Smaby said something similar but I can't be sure.

Did Toews sign? ()

I have a knock off of that driver. It's really big and not very good looking for a club. However, it does move the ball quite well (when I hit it and as long as I don't care where it's going to land).

I laughed my ass off! The person I was golfing with was momentarily shocked. The case of my Nike driver is an odd one because I didn't buy it from a golf retailer. For some reason Sam's Club had Nike drivers and I bought one. For all I know it wasn't a "real" Nike driver. It just had the swoosh on it and said "Nike" on the grip.