redwing77

The article is confusing. At the top it implies all 2003 prospects need to be signed. In the listings, they indicate which ones should be and which ones might not be signed. Confusing. Also, imagine the hurt that would happen to MSUM if Backes was signed like hockeysfuture suggests.

For the most part, I believe you are correct. This salary cap, for the short term, is not going to be very good for those high paid players that are out there, but it is going to be good for the minors players who want to make it to the NHL because, in many areas, the big playersp riced themselves off the team. Detroit is one example. They'll but cutting and, if possible, trading as much as they can to get rid of salary and replace it with young AHL and other talent. Other being that there is a good chance that Jimmy Howard (Maine) could jump right to third string goaltender for the wings). How will this affect Greene? Who knows. I do know that, as defensive prospects go, Greene is their #1 prospect (not counting goaltenders as defensive prospects). They've also tried to convince Greene to sign last year. WHo knows. And here's an article that is interesting. HOckeysfuture thinks wrote this article with 2003 draft picks. They've basically went down all thirty teams and, if you are a first or second round unsigned prospect (with one exception), they think they are all going to be signed. This means that BC will lose two, Michigan will lose one, we will lose one (Smaby), Denver could lose Carle, CC could lose Stuart and maybe Sterling, and the list goes on.

I read that today was the first day free agents and roster moves ( buyouts, trades, etc.) could be made. So far, nothing except Amonte and LeClair out on the street.

I like a lot of the new changes. The only one I don't like is the goaltender restriction on handling the puck. Not every goaltender is good with the puck so it's not like we have goal scoring goalies out there robbing the game of action. I would prefer that rule not to exist. But who knows, maybe that rule will have negligible effects on the game.

I believe he would be. I found noone on hockeydb.com that had a height anywhere closer than Smaby's 6'5" in UND's history.

Not knocking it, but it's interesting to see Vandie ahead of Niskanen. All other lists I've seen had it in reverse order. Good to see Vandie impressing people.

I see both posts equally. We are seriously loading up on talent, but dagies is right. We're going to get burned a few more times than we are used to. I expect some bad penalties at first and calming down towards the end of the year. Like I said, I want us to make the NCAAs. See where we go from there. Short term we're not going to look as stifling as we could be, but we should improve over time.

The first thing I'd teach Finley when he suits up is how to check. He's basically going to have to crouch down or he'll spend all game long in the box for high sticking or elbowing.

I don't expect us to blow anyone away next season. Especially early in the season. However, like last year proved, all we need to do is to qualify for the NCAAs and then work from there. Ok, that sounds like a Lucia-tactic, but it is really what we are going to have to do. Also, be prepared to have Phil and Jordy take a lot more shots than the last few years. This could worsen their GAA and save% a little bit. I still think we can compete. I'm not going to say we'll win it all next year, but we'll definitely be in the mix for the next several years. They are inexperienced now, but when they are experienced...wooooooooweee... Watch out.

:shrugs: Wheeler could prove me wrong. But until then, Gretzky's selecting him at #5 will go down as unbelievable. Anyways, here's seeing what happens with the draft.

The comparison isn't all that uncomplimentary. Vanek and Ballard were both first round draft picks (or Ballard at worst could be a second rounder). Parise was a first rounder and Bochenski a seventh rounder. If I were to look at the four with eyes towards fairness, I'd be stunned at Bochenski's contract. It is far higher, IMO, than a seventh rounder would normally get as a rookie. But that's my opinion and no where near as knowledgeable as many others here.

Still pretty skewed on the REA bit. However, overall, North Dakota seems to follow football. No, NDSU football isn't the best football in DII or DIAAAAAAA, but hockey has a bad image right now and that could very well affect the votes too. The Nickname thing is skewed to. 77 percent or so say it should be kept. This is a surprising number when you think about all the NDSU and Fargo people that must have voted up until this time. It kinda speaks as to just how many people actually put some thought into it instead of "Anything to screw UND is good for me" kind of thing.

Yes he was. However, no offense UMD fans, unless Gretzky selects him in the top 10, I don't expect him to be selected there. He'll be a first rounder, sure, but he's not the next Blake Wheeler.

Well, you wouldn't want to make us miss an opportunity to celebrate, would you?

Nope. Major Juniors. Everett Silvertips of the WHL (the same league that owns the rights to Jonathon Toews)

I like just about any play where Digger makes the play. He ALWAYS hits hard. Digger's hurdle of Delta State's QB was really cool. Glas' 52 yard field goal against SCSU to win it was unbelievable and I'm not big on field goals. I can't remember if that was a year or two years ago....

Well... It is Florida. My grandparents (well my lone living grandparent now) lives (lived) in Florida. That state seriously has their heads so far up their butt they probably think North Dakota is off somewhere neighboring Alaska or perhaps just off the coast of Russia. Well... Excluding Tommiejo and co.

It's not over until the ink touches the paper. I'll wait until it's official.

I agree with this list. Despite Watkins and Kozek having talent, I believe your reasoning (7 rounds and not 9) will mean that I'd expect those two to go undrafted. There is, albeit a small chance, that some in the Should Be drafted won't be. Those at risk: Oshie, Jones, and Chorney. Why? Size and probably junior leagues might hurt them. It seems silly to say such things, but Radke was supposed to be drafted in the 5th round last draft and went undrafted. It wouldn't surprise me at all that this year's draft will favor the big guys and squeeze out all of the smaller guys, even if you don't consider 5'10 or 5'11 to be small. On a seperate note: Why the shortening of the draft? the 8th and 9th rounds have never hurt any team. Most of them go unsigned anyways. What's the harm in holding those rounds? Or perhaps doing in the past and having a 4 or 5 round supplemental draft? Just rambling.

I would think that Smaby would be a bigger flight risk than Zajac despite Zajac's strong performance last season.

OH! I didn't think he meant that kind of proof. Now that you mention it, it does make sense....

None: Yes. In that order.