yzerman19

I don't even know what to say...I am thrashing about, moving from hazing is part of sports to frustration with the nanny state of everything. Anybody ever seen Youngblood? Being hazed is part of getting accepted by the team. The ritual aspect of it goes way back to some of the most ancient peoples and cultures' rights of passage of being accepted by the tribe. Whatever happened to dealing with things by yourself? I know that Hak and Faison have to act a certain way or risk lawyers getting involved...what is happening to the world that I grew up in and love??

Now let's not go overboard with the hyperbole. Only the very elite make the NHL as 19 year olds. Bjugstad and Ness were pimped for graduating early, HOWEVER, that was because they started school late. They both were 18 year old freshmen in the WCHA. Toews and Simpson were both 17 when the puck dropped their freshmen years.

I would guess that Hak is a very fair disciplinarian, but he also understands the importance of the image of the program. I'm sure he wanted to fully understand the circumstances before issuing a penalty. He also knows more about these young men's off-ice histories and tendencies. For example, there is a big difference between a guy who parties non-stop vs a guy who blows off some steam on occasion. It was also the first weekend after classes started, and official practices, etc have yet to begin. A minor during the first weekend of school- not a big deal. To me it doesn't even show a lack of character or responsibility, it just shows bad luck

yes, he is a 93 birth year- crazy isn't it??? Most guys are still playing junior hockey and he is a junior in college. Probably a wise move if you can get the scholarship- he will earn a free degree while most guys are earning a billet.

my thought on splitting Parks and MacMillan was due to someone's comment on Hak describing the chemistry between MacMillan and O'Donnell- who knows- as I said the other day, it is just fun prognosticating... It will be heavy competition to skate on that fourth line... If Gleason is playing "up" that takes away a spot too. I think the elder MacMillan, Sanderson, Pattyn, St. Clair and Gaarder will be battling. I think Rodwell will skate most nights.

would you make Mattson the QB of your PP2 then? I could support that

Simpson came in as an underager like Toewser...immediately you have high expectations. I agree his career has not been bad, and it is nowhere near over...he is the same birth year as Jordan Schmaltz... as for the O'Donnell MacMillan line combo- I guess you could do O'Donnell, MacMillan and Parks although I don't think any of them played center last year...you could do this: Knight with Kristo and Caggiula Grimaldi with O'Donnell and MacMIllan Rowney with Parks and Chyzyk St Clair with Rodwell and Pattyn That would also have some balanced scoring...assuming Caggiula has the tools that you expect of an 18 year old freshman and assuming Chyzyk's USHL performance translates to a Parks type player... I also think of making Gleason a forward...having he and Rodwell on the energy line would kill the opponents with their speed

Mattson- yes, Schmaltz- yes, but I thought Forbert and Simpson might be too, and they are not. Interestingly, Crowley had the best numbers in college and the shortest NHL career...

Ballard was great and a class act- same with Martin. It would be great to have blue liners like the Gophs had there for awhile...Before Leopold it was Crowley...I mean, they had GREAT PP dmen lined up deep

Lack of shared experiences will likely hurt home schooled students long term...I can't imagine them being successful in leadership positions in a corporation for instance. You have to relate to people to be successful, and a big key to relating is common experiences. The study- good for NoDak, but I don't know what it really says. It mentions 20-24 year olds...which eliminates a lot of higher ed students. It also doesn't address two other key indicators which is white collar jobs and starting salaries. Not a lot of consulting or PE entry level analyst roles in NoDak.

Knight is money on the draw which is huge, then he rolls in front of the net...Danny and Rocco can create and use their points with sick offensive defensemen...it would be nice to make a living on the PP...Gophs used to do that very well with Leopold then Martin then Ballard then Gologoski...

...BUT if he has legitimate pro potential (looks like it)...our program is better regarded for developing players in this era...remember the Herbie/Parise discussion.

roger that...we're on the same page

I agree with those being key roles, but I don't believe that your lines need to be built around specialists in each role. For example, it is best when players can play all of those roles or at least more than one. Depending on where the puck is on the ice, positional play will dictate your responsibility in terms of "getting" along the boards or positioning yourself in a soft spot to prepare to be a shooter, or seeing your teammates who might have a better look at the net. Every forward on a scoring line needs to be able to do all 3 roles reasonably well. If you are talking special teams, I can agree a little more with defined accountability once set up. On the forecheck, two forwards should almost always be collaboratively "getting" and "setting"

yeah, it could put up points if they aren't too pretty with it. I'd like for Danny to find "his spot" ala Duncs top of the circle. Danny has an NHL wrister, which is wasted from the point with someone on him. He needs to be the weakside shooter on the PP. Your pp2 could be Rowney with O'Donnell/MacMillan/Parks/Caggiula/Chyzyk and Forbert and Simpson on the points

I've thrown a few combos out there...top 6 bottom 6 is more of an NHL approach to hockey- yeah, I've heard it used in other leagues, but it is definitively more relevant to the NHL. I would contend that we might have a top 9 and bottom 3 this year. If there isn't much of a drop-off in offensive creativity between the second and third lines, then you have a top 9. I also think that Rocco is creative enough to build a line around him- if in straight God-given hockey offensive ability if he is 2nd on the team after Kristo or maybe even first, then build a line around him. Put them on separate lines in order to make guys like O'Donnell and Rowney and Parks and MacMillan better. As for special teams, we've had Danny on point for the last 3 years- I really hope Bubba changes that. I'd like to see Knight, Rocco, Danny, Schmaltz and Mattson as our #1 PP

Was he a sophomore last year? Edina's program is stacked and ice is hard to come by as a soph. They also play a top schedule. Still, those are paltry numbers...he might be a late bloomer...

I have to believe that Cagguila is pretty special based on the fact that he is coming in as an 18 year old...that said, I wouldn't be surprised to see him on a line with Grimaldi or Kristo- maybe Grimaldi with the hopes of building chemistry for next season. I have liked O'Donnell on that top line a lot- I am sure he will see some looks up there. WIth Chyzyk- 20 goals in the USHL has generally translated to pretty good success in the WCHA

I think even Toewser started his UND career on the third line...also, we are talking 5x5 lines, there is no reason Rocco couldn't get big time special teams minutes and play 5x5 from the 3rd line to start the year. If you don't want Rocco on the third line, and Rocco will not play wing, and you don't want to split up the chemistry of Rowney, MacMillan and Parks, you could always go with something like this: Knight with Kristo and Chyzyk Rocco with O'Donnell and Caggiula Rowney with MacMillan and Parks St Clair with Rodwell and Pattyn Mac and Schmaltz Forbert and Mattson Simpson and Gleason

Who knows, maybe O'Donnell, Caggiula, and Chyzyk come in and look like rock stars, and the Rowney, Parks, MacMillan line becomes the absolute best 3rd line in the country... lots of fun speculating...

Thank you for helping me make my point...a lot of the folks who want to see Grimaldi on that first line, that would be like replacing Trupper with Gregoire two years ago. I guess the point is #1 on ice chemistry trumps every piece of paper or stat sheet #2 balanced scoring gets you a title- That Sioux team was the best team in the nation and beats Michigan 8 or 9 outta 10- and they (2010-2011 Sioux) had the best 1-2 line punch with balanced scoring #3 I don't care about stats- I care about wins #4 I don't care about Hobey Bakers- I care about national championships I am liking our team on paper this year...I can't wait to see them on the ice

We've arguably won the best top-line title in the country 3 times in the past decade, but never a national championship. Parise- Bochenski- Murray Toews- Oshie- Duncan Zajac- Stafford- Spirko

It is not an insult to not be on the so-called top line- You don't stack a line, unless that is your only primary offense. Balanced scoring wins titles. I disagree wholeheartedly with converting a highly talented center to wing so that they can "fill out" the top line

I think we can all agree: scoring 1: Knight with Kristo and someone scoring 2 (to start the year at least): Rowney with Parks and MacMIllan Scoring 3: Grimaldi with someone with enough skill to play with him and someone to protect him/them with a little experience Energy: The guys who earn ice in practice So, who is left and what do we know about them? O'Donnell- decent physically, solid offensively, scored some goals last year before getting hurt Rodwell- speedy, mucks it up, never done much offensively at the college level Pattyn- prototype Sioux energy line guy, put on 20 pounds in the gym this summer Gleason- can play forward or D, speedy, smart Gaarder- overachieving energy line guy Chyzyk- good offensive numbers in USHL (20 y/o) Caggiula- good offensive numbers in the OJHL (18 y/o)- fact he's coming in at 18 means he will play St Clair- early bloomer, sat out a year, modest numbers in USHL (20 y/o)

I just think that Rocco needs to be surrounded by better offensive players- no offense to Rodwell or Caggiula, but Rocco is as talented offensively as say a Kristo...