redwing77

If it is true, then I wish Berry the best. I wish he would stay but it seems like everyone wants a piece of the Sioux right now. In any case, I hope the Sioux go after Steve Johnson as a replacement.

I gained 20 pounds my freshman year. I only wish it were muscle that I gained, though.

Could it be a server-based vendetta against you, Sioux-cia? After all, you have had your run ins with various posters/entities here.

Rebringing this up but: Rumor has it Todd Alexander transferred to a DIII college or in some other way left the team. Is this unsubstatiated or is there actually a source that confirms this rumor?

The only thing I agree with is the multiple injuries bit putting a ? behind Forney's position. Other than that, we had only slightly less expectations of Oshie's performance when he came to UND. Experience wise, Forney and Oshie are similar. Both played in the same high school division. Both had similar amount of USHL games. The only difference is that I don't know how many international competitions Oshie competed in before suiting up for the Sioux. I know Forney has been in a few.

Maybe so, but why leave the country to do something that could be done just as easily in Minnesota? What does Europe have that Minnesota doesn't?

There is truth to that, but nevertheless, the Devils would be foolish to rush things along. I bet Zajac starts the year in Lowell and makes his NHL debut (barring an injury call up) in January

Agreed. Even though Genoway is a 1 for 1 replacement for Lee Marvin (Genoway can play both Forward and Defense, with the added bonus of being able to play center), if we see Genoway at all, it will more than likely be as a defenseman.

That doesn't make sense. Playing in Europe? I thought European juniors for those over 21 years of age are similar to pro leagues or major juniors? I don't know where to look to find out this information. Hockeydb doesn't list anything regarding that. I know he played in the Pond Hockey classic earlier this year... Sioux-cia- You cite the same reasons why I question Hirsch's return will have much of an impact on the Gophers. He'll be a welcome returnee for the Gophers, but I doubt he'll be making anyone jump up and down for joy.

I'll take a stab (please note that if I put a Winger as a Center, forgive me): Kozek-Toews-Duncan (these first two lines have wingers that are interchangable in my opinion) Forney-Oshie-Porter Watkins/Zajac-Kaip-Fabian Vandevelde-Zajac(*)/Bishop-Miller/Genoway * - Zajac, imo, will split time between the 3rd and 4th lines. I'd expect Watkins to start out on the 3rd line because he's been on the first checking line last season. Key Spot/Role players (players who will only see limited, yet important ice time): Bishop, Miller, Martens, Genoway Non-factors: Foyt, Walski, Alexander (although rumor has it that he left UND) Defense: Lee-Chorney Radke-Jones Finley-Bina Backup defenseman: Genoway Goaltending: Phillippe and Anthony will split times with Phillippe getting the nod in pivotal games. ** Does anyone have anything on this Grieco kid? I have his stats, but I really know nothing other than that. Leadership: Fabian "C", Bina (A), Porter (A) (this is a VERY tough decision because Toews and Oshie could easily wear a letter this year. The thing is that everything stated in interviews and such state that Porter's leadership was really displayed off the ice last season while Fabian was a leader on and off the ice. Bina gets a letter as more of an inspirational/motivational thing. Leaders overcome adversity and I don't think you can face more adversity than Bina has) Strengths: Defense, Powerplay (In theory) Weaknesses: scoring depth, depth in general Unknowns: Goaltending/goaltending depth, PK, Powerplay (goes as both a strength and an unknown as, on paper, we should be really good on special teams but in the past, we've only been average at best) NOTE: Before everyone jumps all over me about my criticism on goaltending I must clarify that I do not think that Lamoureaux is a poor goaltender. I'm saying that we don't know how he'll perform over the stretch of a season and I know nothing of Grieco.

Is that a little harsh? cavedurtis may be a Gopher fan and he was pointing out a missing Gopher in the comparison a few posts back, but that's all he was doing. I'm all for jumping a Gopher poster who is disrespecting our team, but simply suggesting that we may have overlooked an opposing player in a valid comparison is rather childish. We forgot to include Hirsch. Just shrug and let it go. cave- Just for the record, I don't know how well Hirsch is going to do at all. I don't think anyone knows. He's taken a year off of school where he's only been on the ice a smattering of times here and there. If anything, I'd question his conditioning. And mental issues, in all seriousness, aren't very easy to overcome if they are serious enough. And if you miss a year because of it, then it has to be serious. Hirsch has the POTENTIAL to be a scoring threat for the Gophers, but we can't rely on numbers 2 years in the past. As for my take on Toews, I agree with those that say they should be on seperate lines. I think Toews should be on the first line with Duncan and Kozek. Oshie should be on the second line with Porter and perhaps Forney. I do expect scoring to be down a little this year, but defensively, we should be VERY solid. I like our checking line and even our fourth line. I don't know where this will take us, but on paper, I think we'll be ok.

Huh. I thought he was one of those "invited to walk on" type players. Oh well. Thanks for the clarification.

No. The articles I read stated that GM Tallon would like Toews to sign as the contract offer has been on the table since prospect camp.

Here's an interesting historical note: Ryan Miller (MSU goaltender who took the Hobey away from Panzer) was a product of Soo of the NAHL.

Related to Erik Fabian but not related to his progress in healing: Can anyone remember any walk on being named Captain? I think Erik has a real good chance of being named Captain.

At least we will go into this season with the POSSIBILITY rather than the PROBABILITY of our goaltender choking. But hey, at least for Minnesota fans pointing at us Red Wing fans, you have to MAKE the postseason in order to choke it away

I think Okposo's rookie year will be comparable to either Oshie (which will get Kyle the rookie of the year) or Cogliano (which will open all sorts of threads on how overrated he is) of UMich. If he has a rookie season like Wheeler, then we can start talking about potential busts.

RE: Belfour signing: And that whoosh of air you heard was the collective fan base of the Red Wings releasing a huge sigh of relief.

Because, to the Wild, "offensive defensemen" are simply defensive defensemen who shoot the puck a lot.

I MIGHT have Jordan's card somewhere. I'll look for it and if I find it, it's yours.

hockey_09: Please take a moment to read PCM's post (quoted here). Insulting other posters, even if they are doing just as much insulting of other posters doesn't make things "better." I have a feeling that this thread will be closed. I'll give it 7 days tops. It's getting insane here.

Nah, that's the MO around here. If you don't like a certain team/division/player/situation and dare post it, you get flamed. I could offer commentary as to why I believe this occurs on this thread, but I'm already going to get flamed because this agrees with a "johnny come lately" in PCM.

While we are talking unsubstantiated rumor, I heard UND kindof overdid it in their DI move. Rumor has it that Bunning actually has us going DI-A in all sports. If you believe that, then you can believe Lennon is going somewhere too. They both have equal probability.

No doubt. All this is now is another worthless UMN vs UND pissing contest.