redwing77

B is easy. It's easy to figure out another reason besides Randy Moss. The two QBs vying to throw to him are Aaron Brooks and now Jeff George. Need I say more?

I think we are in agreement.

The Kariya hit was a bit shaky. But pardon my ignorance but I don't think the Lindros hit was cheap. Lindros had the puck, had his head down, and entered the zone. Stevens' arm did come up but the point of impact was the side of his shoulder (like wear a patch would be on the sleeve of a short sleeve shirt). With the exception of the Kariya hit, all of those were clean IMO. And even if you count the Kariya, Lindros, and maybe the Kozlov hit as cheap, 3 hits don't make a cheap player. Stevens' whole career made him an amazing defenseman, not a few hits here and there.

Likewise, I find myself a Scott Stevens fan who believes that there is NO WAY a defensive defenseman can go through an entire career and not commit a single dangerous check (aka cheap shot). I'm sure some of those checks were cheap. I am also sure that most of those "cheap" checks were unintentionally so. In any case, I'd rather root for a player like Scott Stevens than a player like Scott Parker or Donald Brashear or Tie Domi. At least Stevens was of value to his team in ways other than just going out there and trying to kill someone.

Not an argument that is worthwhile with some on this board. btw- I agree with you Eskimos. I liked Scott Stevens

Interesting...... wasn't Hakstol a head coach in the USHL? How sad is it that UND doesn't value the USHL enough when they only are represented at UND by the Head Coach (Hakstol). Diggler- It doesn't surprise me at all. I mean, ever since Phil Lamoreaux donned a Sioux jersey he has automatically been the better goaltender despite JPar's record. Why? Because what Phil did in the USHL (only because those guys can't justify it only by where Phil is from) and because he's a Grand Forks product. I like having local boys on the team. I think Steve would have made a fine assistant coach. However, I don't think your hometown has ANYTHING to do with ANYTHING in terms of a sport. Another example: Say you have a pro basketball team in Grand Forks, ND. You have a need for a Center that can score that will be the key to your hopes at a title. Now, who would you choose? A guy from Grand Forks who shows a little promise (boom or bust)? Or a Canadian or Minnesotan (or wherever) that has bona fide talent at the Center position (that seems to be as close to a sure thing as a recruit can be)? Tell you what, I bet half the rubes in Grand Forks would take the local boy. Me? I would take whichever one would best put the team in the position of success. Maybe it would be the Grand Forks kid, but maybe it wouldn't. Either way, the team comes first and the hometown plays the part of the "oh by the way" part of the roster card.

Captain -- Porter -- Fabian would be just as good in this role, but last year every interview that had a reference to Porter's role as an assistant captain (whether being spoken by a teammate or a coach) was positively glowing. From this fan's perspective, how can they rationalize not giving him the 'C' this season unless he declines? Assistant -- Fabian -- DUH. No need to explain this one. Assistant -- Bina -- Ok, this slot will be a wild card because there really is no other clear cut upperclassmen leaders on this team. Yeah, I like Kaip and Radke, but seriously, they need to concentrate more on their roles as players (even though Radke was Captain of his junior A squad). I don't think Hakstol would put a sophomore as a captain even though Toews could definitely handle it. Yeah, I know the team votes on it, but I don't recall the last time a sophomore wore a letter for the Sioux. So, I selected Bina because he has overcome adversity and brings a "feel good" story to the lockerroom. Yeah, his on ice play pre-injury wasn't exactly unworthy either. I like our leadership this season.

Nice. Re: Goehring's seizure, you'll have to ask Diggler on that one. I vaguely remember hearing about that but that's about it. I know nothing about it.

Thank you for saying this. All I could come up with was "prove it" or "give us a link where you found this information" Your post is far superior. Now back to deciding what is worse: Bison Dan and his idiotic rambling put downs or Sioux goo and his idiotic unfounded accusations. It's been quite some time since Buning was named AD. I think the sour grapes routine is a TAD old. Accept it and move on.

I'll try to explain this the best way I know how (plus a slight rant): They don't know how to do that. All they know is that NDSU rules and UND sucks. They can't fathom any other type of response. It's like a Democrat trying to admit that a Republican had a great idea (or vice versa). It just is impossible for that comprehension to dawn on them. Others, Sioux fans here since that is the main visiting poster here, have stated (and I'm among them) that they don't go to other sites and chat because they don't see that as being a worthwhile endeavour as they may not have anything nice to contribute to that particular board. I don't go to places like bisonville of GPL (UMN's message board) for just that reason. I have nothing to say to those board's posters. Why should a UND fan go to bisonville and say that NDSU sucks? Wouldn't that be redundant? So why should an NDSU fan come here and post that UND sucks? It's one thing to disagree with a fan or a fan base. It's one thing to disagree with the direction a team/school/league is going. However, it is an entirely different thing to come here and accuse that board's patrons of being just as mean spirited when they respond to a single or a group of fans from another team that come to their board and post demeaning or otherwise mean-spirited things to that board's patrons. My mother taught me one thing and sometimes even I forget it: "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it." Maybe NDSU posters need to think of that phrase before hitting "Add Reply" on this board. I will admit that there is somewhat unfair atmosphere in every message board setting. Insomuch that, varying upon the moderator's demeanor, the main patron's rights are broader than the visiting patron's rights. However, that is saying the same thing about bisonville or GPL or USCHO or wherever. I wouldn't expect bisonville to feature a bunch of NDSU fans who think UND is a bunch of "swell guys just out to carve their own niche in the NCAA sports scene." NDSU fans need to remember that they cannot expect us to think the same about NDSU. You post smack on this board, UND fans are going to respond to it. It's just as plain as day as that. If UND fans post smack on bisonville, do not tell me no one there would care because then you'd be lying. This board is the UND board, not the NDSU board. If you cannot respect UND or UND's posters, then leave. PERIOD. THE END.

So you endorse O'Sullivan for the slot instead? Sorry MM, but I think McMahon will make the Vikings. Tavaris Jackson will be thrown to the fire faster than he's truly ready to handle if Johnson gets injured, but McMahon will make the team.

So the question is, IowaBison, how should we take BisonDan's posts? I mean, sure, his post was about season tickets, but it was also smack. I don't recall a single BisonDan post that didn't involve putting UND down. So, where does that stand? Is it ok to come to SS.com with the sole purpose of smack talking UND fans provided that there is something in the post that connects the smack talk to the topic of the thread? I guess, to me, smack talk is only relevant if it is between fans of two teams who are, in the coming 1-2 weeks, about to face off in some sporting event. Not every topic needs smack talk. Sure, you've smack talked in the past, I have too, but I really think that if there is nothing constructive to add to a conversation, then perhaps it shouldn't be added?

I'm going to agree with brianvf, even with Erik Johnson. Erik is going to be a good one, but he's a defenseman. Unless he pulls a Matt Carle in his first year (amass an amazing amount of points), I think Okposo will be ROTY. And Goligoski is more acclimated, been around longer, to the college game so I think he'll score more goals than Lee. However, all around game-wise, I'd rather have Lee.

Took a sociology of sport class too from Prof White. I also had Intro to Sociology with him. He was a ton of fun. I took my sociology of sport class with Andy Kollar too. Sad thing is, I don't remember who I did my report on. All I remember was the TA in that class was a real jackass.

Well, I'm at least honored to be there. And Sic, for the record, I'll agree with your list.

Nov. 1 for me.

Even so, would you rather have JT O'Sullivan instead? (I wish I had a puking smilie to install here) Well, at least the Vikes didn't trade for McMahon or O'Sullivan.

My position on the draft thing is that, usually, if you are drafted in the first round, that means you have an extremely good talent set. If you are drafted in the top 10 of the first round, you are among the best available. If you are top 5, you have stellar talent that rises above all others available in that draft year. So far, I haven't seen that from Wheeler. Kozek scored 7 goals on UND's fourth line (mainly) while Wheeler was on the 3rd line. Gopher fans help me out: Does your third line get a lot of ice time? UND's fourth line was very inconsistent in ice time. Some games they'd get a lot of ice time. Other times they'd get less. There were periods last season where the fourth line got almost no ice time. So, basically, Kozek did really good for a second rounder and Wheeler did really poorly for a top 5 pick. Wheeler was projected to be end of the first round talent. You know what? Those analysts that said that were dead on. Wheeler has great size and good mobility, but he's NOT top 10 talent. Cardinal- True, Alaska Fairbanks is hardly CC or UMN, but still, you are going out of your way to discount your coach in a not-so-good comparison with ours. I will agree it is a different scenario, but I also believe that Hakstol is a darn fine coach to go to back to back frozen fours in his first 2 years as head coach while dealing with adversity (Bina's tragedy), youth (last season), and flak about his hiring (initially anyways). Look, I don't buy into the argument that Hakstol is a better coach than Lucia. That doesn't cut it. Hakstol hasn't been around long enough. He hasn't won a National Championship yet. Yes, Lucia has some habits that drives many of us batty, but he is a top tier coach in DI and would be a great candidate for a coaching position at the NHL level (even if it isn't a head coaching slot). But really, how hard is it to give props to another coach other than your own?

First off, even with that number you cite, I'd still take Irman over Wheeler at this point. That guy has shown nothing so far, IMO. I know draft location really doesn't indicate much collegiately, but until he plays like a 5th overall pick, he'll be a bust. I mean, look at previous players drafted in that position: Vanek, Kessel.... I'd take both of THEM before I would take Wheeler. Sorry, Cardinal, but Wheeler is an ok player, but I wouldn't even say he's good at this point. Maybe this season will change things, but I'll believe that when I see it. As for the Lucia v Hakstol comparison, I don't understand it either. Lucia is on his 3rd team and has far more years in coaching than Hakstol. I really don't know what Lucia did in his first 3 years of coaching, but that's the only comparison that would probably fit. Blais v. Lucia worked. This comparison, IMO, doesn't. That being said, I don't care who it is or which team he's coaching, but going to two Frozen Fours in your first two years as a head coach (inherited players or not), that's pretty darn impressive. It is a coaching feat that many opposing fans still can't acknowledge really.

I'm going to go with: Toews -- Oshie, IMO, will score more goals, but I think Toews will have more points. Duncan -- This will be close. I like Kozek a lot, but I saw a lot of scoring touch from Duncan last year and I just think he'll end up with more points. Kozek, like Oshie, could very well end up with more goals. Forney -- Zajac is more of a grinder with a scoring upside. Forney is more of a scorer with a grinding upside. Radke -- Based solely upon role on the team and assists. Kaip is this season's Prpich. Score if possible, but that's not his main role. Radke's out there to add offense in the offensive zone blueline. Tie -- Probably not the option you intended, jk, but I think points wise, Porter and Lee will end up with the same or very close to the same amount of points. Porter will be goal-heavy while Lee will be assist-heavy. Miller vs. Bina -- I'm going to go off the board and say vandevelde will have more points than both of these two. Miller has to show that he can sustain his flashes of brilliance while staying on the puck and Bina just has to focus on getting back into the game after a traumatic injury. If I were to choose one of the two players selected, I'd choose Bina since Miller is the "best" option at this point for platoon duties.

They were saying over on USCHO that Hagemo's injury doesn't look to be healing properly. That being said, I agree with you jk. They finally seem to have a defense coming in that can play more than just on the offensive side of the rink. That being said, the Gopher's question mark isn't at forward or defense. It is at goaltending. Briggs just isn't a big game goaltender and Frazee hasn't shown that he can put his head into the game. Sure, Briggs has his share of victories, but he's no Hauser or Weber even. He is definitely beatable. The Gophers aren't going to be patsies this year. Leadership is a question mark, but I guess Vannelli is their captain.

To me, UW will be the #1 team in the preseason top 10 because they won the National Championship. I don't know how long they will hold on to the ranking, but when they drop the puck on opening night, I'd expect UW to be #1. Ogopogo? EDIT: Nevermind. Ogopogo is obviously Okposo.

Precisely. I won't believe that Cichy is college bound until he reports to campus and, even then, the Q has been notorious as of late in terms of swiping players even after they've suited up (like Pineault, Bourque, etc.)

I don't. I think the preseason top 4 will be: 1. UW 2. BC 3. UND 4. Maine The rest is a toss up. However, the preseason top 10 means nothing anyways so why not have Holy Cross as #1?