redwing77

Sorry, but the end of the hockey season + beginning of the baseball season = Sportscenter watchable. Why? Because college basketball is wrapping up, NBA is wrapping up... a nd that means that ESPN goes from basketball nutjobs to noticing other sports. The later the NHL season ends as compared to the NBA postseason, the more airtime hockey gets on sportscenter.

I second this.

Yes he's signed...with Alaska Fairbanks

I can't really fault him. You never know what you'er going to get with a freshman #1 goaltender. It could be like Kieren Millan of BU this year or Bachman last year. It could also be a superflop. Eidsness did great as a freshman goaltender. However, that uncertainty can damper predictions. Anyways, I'd rather have us picked to finish 7th and finish better than that than have us picked #1 and have us finish...say...#6.

I may not be popular with this answer but... I'd rather have Rowney come in next year and have Mattson take a year of juniors rather than vice versa. Yeah, Mattson is the more talented, but I think Rowney is a better choice as a platoon player. I see Mattson as someone that will get lots of ice time when he comes in. I'd rather him season himself to a higher level of competition than HS hockey first.

Not saying he can't, but seriously... if the Islanders were any more pathetic, they'd turn into the Timberwolves.... although I think the Islanders are better coached.

Goon likes things Mr. Clean-like.

Which isn't saying much because the Islanders are the LA Clippers of the NHL.

I don't know about the "2 year" thing. It worked quite well for Quinn Fylling.

I like your lines yzerman, but let's say Forney decides to come back. How would you change your lines? Maybe Trupp, Toews, and Forney?

Heh.... short term costs would be HUGE for Canadian teams though. All those ex-MJ players on their rosters... their recruiting column on Heisenberg would dwarf UW and UAF.

If that's the case, then it would be RIDICULOUS to do that with MTU. It's simply too much trouble to get to Houghton unless we want to bother with chartering an airplane. This system would work well for BSU, SCSU, and maybe UMD, MSUM, or UMN (though I DOUBT either UMN or UND would be too happy splitting the revenue over a weekend. Only Mankato seems to be happy with that). There's only one team that a home-away as you describe is MORE difficult than MTU and that's UAA, which is pretty much impossible. UAA -impossible MTU - extremely difficult UW - difficult but might be doable That's my opinion anyways.

You're probably right. I like Thiessen. He definitely has upside. I'm curious about Chad Johnson though. UAF has basically him and Dion Knelson, who is, at best, a marginal pro prospect a lot like Kai Kantola was/is (talk about a disappearing act). By the way, Knelsen's scoresheet would place him tied for 8th with Ryan Martens in scoring if he were a Sioux. That's only relevant because Knelsen was UAF's leading scorer. Tied for 1st in Goals and Tied for 1st in Assists. I think that raises Johnson's stock. Thiessen, Curry, and Brown had better teams in front of them than Johnson did. As for Duncan, who knows. All I know is what I read. As for Bruess, it just has me scratching my head. He doesn't want to play in the ECHL? This reaks of a poor decision by Bruess and his family advisor. Mostly his advisor. Now Bruess faces the prospect of trying to latch onto some other AHL franchise (not likely) or playing overseas or finishing college on his own dime or just entering the work force.

I think both Miller and Martens have a good shot at landing jobs in the ECHL, CHL, or overseas. Heck, I even think Walski has a shot at the CHL. If Solei (UMN's third stringer) could get a pro contract, why can't Walski? And Walski has more game experience at the DI level than Solei.

Some random thoughts mostly on early departures. First off, I heard Bruess didn't stick with the Caps organization. Any truth to that? If so, then he truly was stupid. Second, Thiessen signed with the Pens. He might have been a Pen draft pick, but I can't recall and I'm too lazy to look it up. Talk about bad timing unless he is a senior (again, too lazy to look it up). They already have a ton of goaltending recruits including former ND goalie David Brown, former BU goalie John Curry, now former UAF goalie Chad Johnson, and whoever else is currently in system. If he bolted early, why take the money when, most likely, you'll be relegated to a backup goaltending role at, at best, the AHL level or more likely the ECHL or even perhaps the CHL/IHL/whatever is the "lowest tier." On the INCH site, there are several from smaller programs like WMU and Merrimack that have players that bolted to sign with AHL or even lower teams. That must mean something's up with their academics or with their college team right? Or are they really that stupid that an ECHL job is worth bolting school over when more than likely you could get into the ECHL after you graduate regardless? On not so early departure notes, WCH Blog reports the Blues haven't shown any interest in Duncan.

What pissed me off about that is that most of the time the WCHA clowns called Finley for elbowing! What do they expect Finley to do, skate hunched over or skate with his arms above his head? And, no I haven't seen the Facebook group, but I take FB with a grain of salt. FB is another avenue for the immature and idiotic to voice their stupid and worthless opinions. I freely admit that I use it, but I have never formed a group and don't belong to any group that spends any time ripping on anything. FB keeps me in contact with people that live elsewhere around the country. I do not do searches on UND players. I expect that sort of hate filled nonsense.

Glad I missed it. I think the Hawks are slumping at a bad time. And WOW is the defense exposed... with mediocre goaltending to start with.... not good for Hawks fans.

I agree, but something really bothers me: Why didn't he bolt earlier?

I respect what Miami has done since on the chopping block, but ESPN is smoking some bad pot if they think the Redhawks are one of "hockey's greatest teams" or one of the "top teams in college hockey." They've had TWO good years. TWO. They nearly had three but they wet themselves in the first round 3 years ago. Sure, Jonathon Quick was UMA's (or UML can't remember) goaltender but... seriously, can you name any other players on that UMass team? Surely we can name more players on Miami's team. In any case, they'll be ok. But they don't deserve all the hype they're getting...yet.

I don't remember what Zach was projected as far as which line, but I doubt it was as a grinding checker. I DO remember all the commentators being amazed at how far he slipped as they were convinced he was a top 10 pick for sure. I do remember Lou practically running to the podium to draft Parise. Much like he did when he drafted Zajac. It wasn't beating the clock... it was much like a kid running home after winning a contest at school eager to tell mom and dad. It was a solid draft. Only one bust (Jessiman) in the top 17. Well... who knows about him. But seriously, with the offensive woes the Rangers have been having, why didn't they bring Parise to Madison Square Garden? I'm sure PCM would have loved that.

I'm done not believing. Go Beavers. You could hear the deflation in the voices of the broadcasters in the last 3 minutes when they realized BSU, Cinderella story or not, was going to knock off a team from New England. ESPN is going "Oh CRAP! We have to find out more about these guys than what they listed on FaceBook!" CLASSIC.

I'm in agreement. If Sejna and Panzer couldn't make it, I don't see Duncan's game translating either.

Maybe BU isn't a lock. Still, I predict a BU/Cornell NC game. BU wins 2-1 in OT

UNH is actually playing well against BU.

The hit itself may not have been dirty, but it looked like charging to me. Oshie came cross wise from the blue line directly for Nash. He hesitated only once, pretty much to make sure Nash was going to touch the puck. It was a penalty... 2 minutes for charging, imo.