redwing77

I wonder if the Wild picks will pan out. Hey, anyone know enough of pro opinions to be able to explain why Haula went in the seventh round? I thought he'd crack the top 5 rounds for sure. I don't think he was first round or even second round material, but I thought perhaps he'd go in the 4th or 5th rounds. Another thing is that, if you make a big deal out of drafts as a measure of talent, then perhaps UND got a steal in Rodwell. Going from an unknown to a 5th round pick.

So the government has to step in? I don't understand that. In the private sector, the rules of captalism apply. If you price it too high, no one will buy and you will go under. If you price it too low, your overhead will be too high and you'll go out of business. Consumers run the industry. And yes, the industry isn't favorable to poor people. THAT is a problem, sure. However, when the government steps in, all is well? Are you sure? Who pays for these health care programs? The senators? Obama? Perhaps. Who decides what these programs cover and what they don't? Do you (which is the system that we're currently in)? Or does some bureaucrat (which is the system we're heading towards)? Universal health care seems like it is a great idea. And on paper, it is. So was socialism and communism. In reality, it doesn't work. Russia is still reeling from communism and its years since they've abandoned it. China is a giant slum that is just sanitized every time the World Community comes into town. See the Olympics. In ND, scores of Canadian citizens rather pay for their health care than wait an unknown amount of time to get it for free. We're not dealing in right or wrong here, folks. We're dealing in choice and with choice under attack, freedom is as well. Whether or not this is true, confresspeople enjoy the widest variety and most comprehensive health care package available. Are we going to get the same coverage they do? If so, who is going to pay for it? How is my spending money to pay for everyone's health care going to provide me with my own personal health care benefits? Why can't I simply spend that money on my own program and not pay it through taxation? If I can still have my own program why must I pay for the whole? Have any of you seen what government contracts are like? Since the cost to the government is deferred over millions of people, the corporations can charge a bankroll and still get it! There is a state run office in Fargo that provides great services to their constituents, but when it comes to maintaining their own facilities, get charged unbelievable amounts and the government pays it. For example, they buy toilet paper in bulk for the office restrooms. These boxes cost, on the retail market, something around the order of $40. They have something along the lines of 40 or 50 rolls in them... something like that. The office pays $150 for the same box! How do you think the healthcare systems are going to react when they have the government buying the health care? Are consumers going to act more responsible? Costs are going to skyrocket because they can and will. The taxpayer won't really notice a whole lot because it will be so dilluted by the sheer number of taxpayers that no one will complain. How does this fix that problem of costs being too high? Consumer responsibility will TANK because now that it is practically free, they'll go to the doctor for a minor cut, ache, pain, or whatever. This will inundate the system with patients causing backlogs. Since insurance and legal now requires extensive paperwork for each patient and every procedure (and all actions taken by medical staff leading up to the procedure even if it is just a verbal advice remedy), this produces an epic problem. Hospitals and clinics will find themselves unable to handle the traffic so there will be a shortage in doctors and medical staff. This will RAISE COSTS because of all the legal, insurance, training, and salary costs involved in the medical field. Meanwhile, facility space will not increase but rather become more prime real estate because of the capacity problems. So it will be a mess. What happens when messes like this occur? The likelihood of something being overlooked, rushed, or even improperly done becomes a LOT higher. Patient to Dr. time allotments become even less than what they are now, and things could go unnnoticed until too late. No, socialistic medicine isn't the answer. The answer is putting more money into the establishment of rural and free clinic (public health), reform in treatment in those fields to prevent misuse, and government mandated incentive programs pointing towards multiple methods of providing yourself with health care (HMO, PPO, Medical Savings Plans, etc.), and promotion of competition in the private sector. The more competition, the lower the prices because if you don't lower the price, your competitor may and you'll LOSE BUSINESS. My ideas aren't perfect but better that then going Canadian.

I don't know. It seems like if UAA were to try to go to the CCHA, the best replacement geographically (well, not really, but still) would end up being another cellar dwellar: NMU. PErsonally, keep UAA. Then put a WCHA taskforce together to figure out how in the WORLD UAF is outrecruiting UAA.

Better that then the delusions Cubs fans go through. Every year "could be the year."

I don't know which site you refer to, but if it is in fact the REA, then no. It would simply be just another version of the argument against the XCel.

Relax people! Breathe deeply adopt a yoga pose and then go hug a tree. Global warming, truth or fiction, has only done one thing: Contributed to extremism in America. That is what's wrong with us. We don't fight for the middle ground. We fight for polar positions. It's not good right now to be a conservative republican. It's not good to be pro-choice. It's not good to insist on non-governmental interference in personal lives. It's not good to be overtly capitalistic. It's not good to disagree with others, especially vocal minorities. Debate is now verbal combat that leads to accusations of verbal attacks and negative campaigning. Bah. We get what we vote for.

I don't know. I don't think there is a viable fix to this problem. Obama's plan has some very glaring problems. If McCain had been elected, I'm sure his system would be just as faulty. I really don't know what is the solution. I have my opinions on what shouldn't be done (and for the sake of not going political, I'll keep them to myself), but say what not to do doesn't resolve much.

Maybe. But Cichy was drafted this year after being passed over in his first year of eligibility. So was Brian Salcido. So it's not over and done with by any means. Also, as per Brad's blog: The last time the Sioux did not have a first round draft pick on their team was 1999-2000. The results? Think about it.

Milwaukee- No. UW is from Madison. Milwaukee may be in Wisconsin but that's about it. Denver - This city does more to favor your side of the argument. Omaha - The answer to this would be easy if you could put the Final Five during the Husker football season. It would then be neutral territory as all of Omaha would be in Lincoln. The announcer argument is personal preference. I could list for you the announcers I've heard that are absolutely awful but it also would stand to reason that someone familiar with the teams they announce for would like him. Personal preference. My opinion is simply this: The Final Five should rotate between the XCel, Milwaukee, and CHICAGO. XCel still favors UMN, but it's too nice of a venue to pass up. Milwaukee and Chi-town are neutral sites, even if they are somewhat out of the way.

Sorry for the (assumedly) double post, but I'm going to prove my point. I went to hockeydb.com and looked at the first round and only the first round from 1993-2004 (I'm going to assume that 2005-Present isn't long enough being drafted to have much known as to the impact in the NHL). The following years are listed below. Beside each year is the number of first rounders that have played 10 or less games in the NHL. The second number denotes played no games in the NHL to date. 1993: 4/2 1994: 3/3 1995: 4/1 1996: 5/2 1997: 5/3 1998: 2/1 1999: 4/1* 2000: 4/1 2001: 3/3 2002: 6/4 2003: 2/1* * these years have exceptions. 1999 goaltending prospect Brent Krahn is still held in high regard. 2003's two are Shawn Belle and Hugh Jessiman... Belle might still be viable. I haven't seen anything to denote that Jessiman is anything more than a minor league lifer. These stats aren't the end all say all, and it is true that first rounders in the NHL have a better chance of panning out than first rounders in other major sports, but I guess I don't put that much weight on it. It's all about player development at our level. A first rounder who flames out after 3-5 seasons vs an 7th rounder who takes a while to get to the NHL level and then puts together a yeoman-like 10-13 year NHL career.... which would you take?

Not unless we're jumping to the pros. We build DI teams, not NHL teams. Unless you're a staunch anti-Hakstol person. Then, yes. Also, draft position doesn't mean squat. A couple of examples: Jesse Wallin (DET) was drafted in the first round in 1993. He managed to play 8 years in the pros and did NOTHING. Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg (DET), Luc Robitaille and Brett Hull (now HOF members) were drafted no earlier than the 6th or 7th rounds. I believe Robitaille was a 9th rounder. Draft position is a lot like a dart board toss. Sometimes it is a bullseye. Other times, you hit some shmoe at the bar in the ass.

UNO and MSUM already have somewhat of a rivalry, IIRC. The only nonconference rivalries that I can think of that are more notable with WCHA teams are UAA vs UAF and MTU vs. NMU. On a selfish note: I can now watch Sioux hockey live! YAY!!!!!!! Well in the 2010 season anyways.

I'm going to take the optimist approach. NHL teams laid off of him this year shying away due to size and level of competition. Mattson has an opportunity to light it up in the USHL next year and he's still eligible for the 2010 draft. So if he lights up the USHL... he could go high in the 2010 draft. Anyone know of a player that was passed up in his first year or eligibility and then went high in the following year's draft? I know that Brian Salcido was passed over his first year of draft eligibility and then was drafted in the 5th or 6th round the following year...

Oooooh badger1, if you are going to generalize about us, can we start generalizing about badger fans? We'd have so much fun! Heck, the Gopher fans and Gopher trolls would probably join in! Nah.... not worth the time. Go troll somewhere else. Jim, although it is uncanny how I have the knack for getting it done, I think it's time. Bring on the red x

I'm surprised Mattson wasn't drafted, but he will be drafted next year as he is still eligible. Rodwell was drafted and that was nice. I also noticed that Minnesota took a fair deal of wingers in this draft. Other than Hamburg and Haula, anyone know anything about the other guys?

I, for one, would not be opposed to having the Final Five rotate between XCel and Qwest. It wouldn't be a matter of home ice advantage as already Minnesota enjoys that at the XCel (thanks to long drawn out arguments here and elsewhere). Qwest is a fabulous facility and Minnesota could use the frequent flyer miles.

I agree, but MSUM was in a different position than UNO, wasn't they? Who had the leverage when MSUM was going through the motions, the WCHA or MSUM? UNO has the leverage here.... as much as a school can hold it. There still is the possibility that the WCHA says no dice and BSU loses out hardcore.

I think this just proves that JimDahl has to somehow code threads in this forum to automatically close after 1 year of inactivity.

Reading between the lines on Brad's blog, it looks like the results weren't favorable for Omaha. I think there was some heavy resistance regarding entrance fees and post season revenues. I think McLeod screwed the pooch, but I have no proof on this. McLeod needs to right the fire or we'll be courting Alaska Fairbanks and trust me.... HELL NO (though it would be better than UAH).

AZSioux is right. And I don't care if they bolt early either but both situations I refer to are unique. Why? Because Garth Snow (with Okposo) and Calgary (with Chucko) tried to convince their respective players to BOLT DURING THE SEASON. Remember, Chucko was contacted during Christmas break. Seriously.... I don't give a damn if they stay for 2 years, 3 years, or whatever. I just don't want them going to a team that harbors no respect for where their drafted players develop.

How do you even find a thread that has been buried for 4 years anyways? Seriously? I wonder if I could go back to the first thread ever posted on this site and drag it up again. Nah. Instead, I'll start a "Robbie Earl is a worthless diver" thread... No.... I got it. I'm going to start a FIRE RUBE BJORKMAN!!!! Thread.

I think UND will honor their committment to Fink. Fink may transfer after a year. Maybe to BSU or somewhere else though. I don't see Fink being anything but a bit player with the Sioux. He's been injury prone and barely existant in his USHL stint.

You know, I don't care where the UND players are drafted provided none of them are drafted by Calgary or the Islanders.

Here's my thoughts: Knight: Late 2nd/early-mid 3rd at latest Mattson: 3rd Round Cichy: mid to late 4th round -- This might be high. I've seen him ranked as a 5th or 6th rounder but his performance this year in the playoffs and internationally... Rodwell: 7th round... may not be drafted at all. I don't see any others drafted. Then again, I'm way off for sure. I didn't see Bruneteau getting drafted either.

Ah. I guess I saw it as an exclamation point. Before he went to jail, he couldn't afford anything. He mooched off anyone who would lend him a vehicle, usually his folks. He was always blowing his money on drugs and alcohol. He didn't hold any gainful employment. I'm not even sure he graduated high school. Since he's been to jail, he obviously has stopped spending money on drugs. He now has steady employment and doesn't drink that much anymore. So, he now has money, which I tried to reflect by citing two of his three prides and joy (his 2 cars and his daughter are the three, and not in order of importance).