redwing77

I am unsure you understood the gist of my question. I am not asking if we should be concerned because we brought in a boat load of scorers. I am asking if we should be concerned because the makeup of the team has changed so much that there doesn't appear to be any clearly defined 2nd checking line. Instead, there are 3 scoring lines and 1 checking line. Most teams have 2 of each.

Yeah, I'm a rube. Late first, Oct 8th. Jonathon Toews from Porter and Kozek) However, this may not necessarily be the first collegiate point for the freshmen of the Sioux. And one other note: Finley will record the first penalty for a freshman in a Sioux jersey.

Fascinating link! Welcome to this board, Puck Swami.

That's fair enough. When I saw Toews play, he was 15 or 16. I saw him against the Team Minnesota (or some sort of hodgepodge all star team) high school team at the Ralph He played really well, but I don't recall him scoring (Duncan scored, that much I know). However, he seemed extremely good in all of the other facets of the game when I watched him. He was fast, sure skated, solid on his skates, he forechecked, backchecked, had good physical presence. However, that was only one tourney and not an entire season. It would be hard to say how I would feel if Kessel was a Sioux recruit. I am not the kind of fan who enjoys only the offensive side of the game, so maybe my opinion would still be the same. I don't know.

I'd be interested as well. I do know that the current makeup of the WCHA is different than what it used to be (Northn Michigan and Michigan used to be WCHA members), but it would be interesting to know more about current DI teams that came up from DII or DIII and what their records were as a sub division team. Was UND ever a DII or DIII hockey team or did they go straight from club to DI?

There is also huge scuttlebutt going around that San Jose may try to sign Carle. In any case, sagard, what you say makes sense. However, jk, I do have this question for you: If Shattuck is viewed as a point of obscurity, then how come Stafford, Smaby, Parise, Thelen and even the pre-Rimouski Crosby had so much hype to them? Sure, Kessel and Parise were members of the WJC team, but Toews has had his share of international competition. I don't think Toews is as unknown as you think. He just didn't go to a marquis program like the NTDP. Does Canada even have something like that outside of major juniors (meaning, something that does wipe out college eligibilty?)

I don't know what the thread was suppposed to mean or if we should care if Spirko went hom to visit this summer, but I will say that of all the freshmen, none impressed me more than Spirko last season. I knew Zajac was going to be good or even great, and he lived up to the hype. But Spirko was supposed to be a stick handling winger that was just going to come in and play. I never thought he'd have the impact that he did. Put him on a line with Toews and those two will drive any defense to collpase.

I hate to say this, but I don't think it's ever looked this good for anyone to leave early. I don't think even Hale had this kind of offer from New Jersey. Let's face it: If Greene were to jump now, there is a VERY good chance he could start the year in the NHL. That's a better deal than even Zach got, despite the fact that Matt may not get as much money as Zach did. I don't want Greene to leave, but he's got to look out for himself, and, if I were Matt, the situation's never looked better for him at the enxt level.

Maybe this wasn't spotted earlier, maybe it was, but Lee Goren was signed by the Vancouver Canucks recently. Terms not disclosed.

I find your response laughable. I do not recall many people here questioning Kessel's offensive abilities. Most here, as you will notice, believe that Kessel will outscore Toews (the point of this thread). What people are questioning is his defensive ability. His backchecking and physical play. Is he going to be a Zach Parise type player or a Vanek type player? Zach could score and forecheck. Vanek could just score. Is Kessel going to be like Zach and not get taken down for the life of himl, or is he going to be like Robbie Earl, where a strong breeze will send him sprawling? How is Kessel in the corners? In his own zone? What if he doesn't get space to skate? Does he grind his way through or does he shut down/break out the cheap play? These are all questions that loom over Kessel to me as he enters Minnesota this season. And, yes, I have seen both Toews and Kessel play. Toews is a center. I would think that that would make him better at faceoffs than Kessel. He also has a reputation for being able to set other players up just as well as he can score himself. He is great in the corners and great in his own zone. Hakstol values forwards who can forecheck. I would not put it past Toews to be decent at that too. But like I said, this thread was about offensive ability and no one questioned Kessel on that.

FYI the other day David Hale was made a qualifying offer by NJ.

I agree with this post. Also, something to consider, is that Lucia is all about cherry picking ala Vanek. I would not put it past Lucia to have him out on the pk unit as well, sitting out near the blue line looking for an outlet pass. Hakstol's style demands that every player play hard at both ends of the ice. Lucia's style is offense first, defense after that. So I would expect Kessel to have more points.

From what I've read, Lee, Oshie, and Kozek went higher than expectations. Chorney, Finley, and Watkins are the players who went about where the scouts said they would. Vandevelde went later than expected. If scouts were 100 percent right, I believe this would have been the breakdown from what I've read: 1st Round: 2 (Lee and Finley) 2nd Round: 2 (Oshie and Chorney) 3rd Round: 2 (Kozek and Vandevelde) 5th Round: 1 (Watkins) 6th/7th Round: 1 (Jones) I included Jones because, from all accounts, everywhere I read, thought he'd be a sure fire late round pick.

You're damn right they should have! Do you think the Rangers or the Panthers would be as crappy as they are if they would have given me a call before they made their decisions? Ok, well, with the Rangers, I suppose they'd have to call PCM on those matters, but still! I'm NEARLY as good as Conte (NJ) at scouting! I'm the top armchair scout in my apartment community!

It's a bummer for Zach.

Some interesting stuff on it. Most want him signed. Others call him the next Derian Hatcher thug-type. It's fun to read.

Apparently neither Edmonton nor NJ have 7th round picks. Down to the last three: TB, Bufalo, and LA

I hope so. I didn't think Zach was as highly regarded as his older brother, but I thought he'd be worth at least a 6th round draft slot. Well, here's hoping.

We're part way through the 7th round and no word on Zach Jones... He went from a 4th or 5th rounder to MAYBE at 7th rounder or (getting more likely) UFA?

4th Round over. UND leading all DI schools with 6 selections in the NHL draft. UMD is second with 5

Well, he was chosen by Edmonton, which is nice.

Nope. Vandie may fall out of the 3rd round