redwing77

This is a landmark admission by a rabid Wild fan. I'm proud of you Goon.

As I'm one of the first to jump in defending players, I'd like to say I agree with this. There are plenty of posters who say something critical of players that's tasteful and constructive and that's not the problem. However, whenever someone posts something like this about Joe, there are 4-10 replies to the post saying everything from "I like Joe but he should be benched" to "Joe sucks. I hope Washington signs him before the third period." I admit to not being the best at supporting the respectful criticisms, but I do not consider these people to be idiots. Only the responders who call for a player to leave. We actually did try against BC. However, teams that open it up tend to take more risks, especially around the perimeter and blue line. This opens up the possibility of odd man rushes the other way, something BC capitalized on several times. No, I'm not a parent. If I were a parent of a player, to be bluntly honest, I would NEVER read game threads on this board (not to mention any thread with my son's name in it). And I agree it gets childish at times, but are your reprimands to your sons akin to "Why don't you go play in traffic?" Or "Why do I call you son?" or "Why don't you sign on with the Peace Corps or some other agency that takes you far away so I don't have to deal with you again?" Is that really a legit reprimand? I don't like constant flaming of players, but I don't wish those posters would get run over by a passing train. I just think that the maturation process is more than just knowing when to keep your mouth shut or knowing what kind of criticism is or is not abusive in nature.

No, it's a champion/olympian/all-american world out there.

I know this is piling onto Minnesota, but I would not be surprised to see Fischer sign. Montreal was RAVING about him after his first prospect camp. As for McDonoagh, I think he'd be a better choice than Fischer just development wise. Maybe they'll sign both. Maybe they'll sign neither. Who knows.

I think Bickel made a very stupid decision. He isn't EJ. And the last defenseman to bolt after his freshman year for the pros? Why, that would be Jake Taylor to the NY Rangers. He's played, what... ZERO NHL games since bolting? I'm not even certain that he'll get resigned by NYR (if he hasn't already). Bickel now has to prove that he's ready for the pros far sooner than he would have had to had he even waited one or two more seasons. Talented, if a tad cheap at times, as he may be, I believe he put himself into a very high stakes position.

Depending upon the player, the bus' wheels go forward and reverse and forward again and reverse....

Ummm... no. Jeff Frazee anyone? Seriously, I only cared who was going to the WJC when the WJC was held at the REA. If they are off in Timbuktu, then who cares.

I'm not critical of Hakstol at all. There's only so much a coach can do. The players have to go out on the ice and execute it well otherwise divine intervention would be required for a positive outcome. To be honest, I only partially paid attention to the points when they were made. I was too stubborn (and still am) that this loss was a TEAM loss, not dependent upon a certain player or coach. Therefore, by assumption, then Hakstol falls as part of the problem. He did not coach well enough and the players didn't play well enough. Therefore, we lost. Likewise, Gerbe isn't THE Reason BC won. Muse seemed to play very well. Their defense did a pretty good job too. #1fan - You cited my post but I saw no added text. Did I miss something?

Well, this will sound silly, but I'll say it anyways: I don't feel like supporting Minneapolis' economy is in my best interests. I have no trouble driving 3+ hours one way if it is worthwhile or just happens to have to be in that locale (for example, UND has to play UMN in Minneapolis every now and then... it is where UMN's home is. That's a legit reason). However, if the teams involved happen to be from my alma mater (UND) against the team where I am from originally and currently reside (NDSU), then I should only have to drive 1 hour at most. And I'd be supporting (even if it is only "minimal" as posters here claim) the ND economy, if not the local economy. Yeah, there are less tickets at the Dome or the Alerus than at the Metroslum, but that's how it goes. I just don't feel like patronizing the Metrodome or the Metro Twin Cities area if at least ONE of the teams isn't from Minnesota.

Sure, the upside is getting lazy Minneapolis alumni to come to a game. Really... how come the hard working people of ND can travel but Twin Cities residents can't? What made the Twin Cities alumni so underserved and so deserving of this? On this thread, we've heard "Wah wah, it's only 4 hours drive!" Well... wah wah, it's only 4 hours drive from the Twin Cities to Grand Forks! It's still a stupid idea. It's still retarded. It's still not truly in the best interests of the people who fund the schools (the State of North Dakota). However, if they are this retarded and decide to do it anyways, fine. I guess I can't make the game.

The flaw with talking about Genoway's role in all of this is that Genoway is a fan favorite. It is ALWAYS easier to blame a player you don't like rather than to own up and state that your favorite, or one of your favorite, players had a bad game. iramurphy is right. As a team we played awful hockey. Genoway had his worst game of the season. Yet after the game there were fingers pointed at two people mainly: Finley and Hakstol. There is some valid points made about questioning the preparation of Hak for this game, but there were zero valid points made about Finley. It is a crying shame that we live in a world where there are people who enjoy putting people down, putting the "hating" on, and generally being destructive towards people who really don't deserve it. You don't have to be excited that Finley is staying. You don't have to like Finley. But I really think the "Please Go" statements (and worse) needs to stop.

I didn't know Vishnovski was that good. At least on paper, I think the Kings made away like bandits on this one. Greene is solid, but unspectacular on the blue line and Stoll is a young up and comer.

Doesn't matter. Finley was in the picture, so it is Finley's fault. (P.S. You're 100% right, but still)

UND has a basketball team?

I guess I see this as truly an unfortunate event. I think Gwoz has done some dumb things in the past (defending Paukovich for example) but he's also done a lot of good things (DU's NC runs, the whole David Carle situation). Whenever a player opts out of DI for the MJ ranks, the MJ fans get even more cocky. They make the worst Gopher fans look like saints by comparison when it comes to elitism and arrogance. When things like this happens, it only adds to their bad attitudes.

Because it is the assumption that, because a player bolts early that: 1. The player's development warrants it. This assumes that the player wasn't the only one responsible for this, but the coaches and level of play as well. 2. The player who bolted was a blue chipper. This is so wrong (there are so many former college players who bolted early who learned to regret it) but now it is becoming, in my opinion, a sign of a blue chip recruit. It is now becoming apparent that only the programs who expect nothing from their hockey programs but "to go out and do their best" have rosters full of 4 year players. Graduation isn't important. It's a black or white position. There is no gray, which is too bad because that's what is needed. I'd love to have seen Toews, Parise, Smaby, Greene, Stafford, Zajac, etc. all graduate, but they didn't. I would have liked to have seen Bayda and Roche stay all four years but they didn't. I do not argue that it is becoming an unfortunate reality in DI hockey, nor do I argue that we should stop recruiting these types of players. I do argue that, when a player (regardless of who he is and when he was or wasn't drafted) decides to stick around for 4 years we take it as a good thing rather than assuming that his development hasn't fared well or a myriad of other reasons. I watched the NHL draft in which Finley was drafted. They said on air that he was a project and that Washington would more than likely allow him to stay all four years at UND before signing him. The fact that they've now spent two years trying to sign him is testimony enough that his development hasn't stalled nor has UND's program or the WCHA's level of play disappointed Washington. Add to this that their other first round selection, Cornell's Sasha Pokoluk (sp?) hasn't exactly fared well. I think Finley's just fine. I think it is time to allow the hating of Finley to die away.

Nope. My initial argument is my rationale for stopping this game. Who benefits from this location financially? At the gates, NDSU and UND would most undoubtedly split the take. Merchandise sales would probably dealt with according to school and third party arrangements. What about concessions? The thing about the boost to the local economy (the money spent in town by visitors including restaurants, hotels, etc.) is that it helps Farg... it helps Gra.... Oh wait. IT HELPS NEITHER FARGO OR GRAND FORKS FINANCIALLY AND THOSE TWO CITIES ARE MAJOR FUNDERS FOR THE G-DARN UNIVERSITIES!!!! So, yeah.... The game is in Grand Forks, look for GF to get a boost economically that weekend. In Fargo? Ditto for Fargo. In Minneapolis? Look for ZERO GOOSE EGG NADA economic boost for Fargo and GF. SO, yeah, that's my argument. Big rivalries are more than what sells at the gates. They help communities. This helps our Minnesota communities and the NDSU UND Minnesota campuses....oh wait. 60K is a very nice number for Minneapolis businesses. I'm sure they're very happy to hear this.

I thought we had to stick to the 70s? Anyways: Heart - Barricuda http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpkitLUbeEg Incredible Bongo Band - Apache (hostile and abusive, to be sure, but simply the best instrumental I've heard): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2SKM81jXmc

Why do you have to ask? Aren't there enough threads dedicated to hatin' on Joe? The haters have spoken their peace over and over again. Same old tired arguments and meaningless drivel. Let it pass.

The neat thing about this is that it gives the alumni the pick of the stadium. Talk about almost ZERO student presence. Not many UND students are able to get down there for the UMN vs. UND hockey series, so what makes you think they'd be able to do it for this ONE game! Well, at least it will truly be a family atmosphere. Not many students at all. Simply mind-blowing how retarded this idea is. Why do we hold these games? If it is just for the alumni, then why not advertise it as such? Eliminate the student sections completely, give no student discount either. Then students will have to pay for it just like everyone else and therefore, be just as important as everyone else? Once again, $$$ talks, reasonable thought walks.

I think Trupp could put up 10 goals in a season. He could put up 15 or maybe more. I forgot about Trupp. The fact that Trupp was being shuffled around at times and injured probably affected last season's totals. Did it mention somewhere that he was a freshman? Hmmm.... In any case, I don't know where I'd put Trupp. He's not afraid to grind it out. He has a definite offensive upside. The problem is, he might not have a spot in the first two lines because there may not be room for him there. It would be interesting to see a 3rd scoring line of Toews, Trupp, and Frattin. I don't envy Hak right now. Line combos are going to be tricky next season.

The "problem" I see is where to put them? Frattin would do better, imo, on a scoring line. Watkins could go back to a checking line but he's spent a good deal of time on the 2nd line. Gregoire and Toews are 1st or 2nd line players. Kozek needs to be on a scoring line. Duncan and VV are locks for 1st and 2nd line. So.. The two slots that seem the most fluid are Watkins and Frattin. If you do take Frattin out, where do you put him? He's not a checker really. He's a scoring forward. We also have a "problem" at grinder/checker. Zajac is a lock. I would also argue that Malone, if he shows ANY improvement at all, will be a lock as well. Hextall is a project, but he's got skills otherwise he wouldn't have gotten drafted at all. Mario has skills too and he has leadership abilities (He wore a letter in juniors). Playing time is going to be at a premium. We are deep at forward even if we may not be deep in blue chippers at forward.

I'm guessing I'll win the lottery 5 times straight before Davidson plays over Gregoire (unless, of course, Gregoire is injured/benched by Hak/suspended/off at the WJC/etc.). Playing a recruited walk on over a scholarshipped player that has accolades up the ying yang is one thing if the schollie'd player isn't performing. Doing so when he's done nothing to warrant it is downright retarded. Gregoire plays. Period. Davidson may play if Miller or Martens doesn't perform up to snuff. I think of the aforementioned list, Miller and Davidson will sit with Lamoureaux and Hextall platooning for the slot Miller vacates and Gregoire takes the spot Davidson vacates. Miller has the most to lose right now as far as playing time is concerned. Martens would normally be the first to be sat, but last season's performance cannot be ignored. Right now, unless Martens takes a step back and Miller takes a step forward, Miller's playing time is in jeopardy.

Thanks!

Really, if they changed their name to Oyate, then they'd lose all of their leverage in the UND nickname issue. It would also destroy, or at least harm severely, the victim status attributed to being a "Sioux." Changing one's name is a sure representation of freedom, something that isn't allowed when you are not free.