yzerman19

1 SOG is misleading, there were a few opportunities where we missed the net or had a shot blocked. We did pull back the forecheck in order to play D, but we did put more pressure on them than the 1 SOG indicates. That being said, I'd feel a lot better about things had we hung a couple more on them.

Duncan Miller and Gregoire had no chemistry. I don't look for any to sit, but they do need to shuffle. VV Trupp and Frattin looked good. I'd actually like to keep those guys together building chemistry for next year. Malone actually played a decent game. Defensive breakdowns hung BE out to dry a couple times. I think you gotta get Toews in tomorrow.

If you asked God for a sweep, did he say he'd come back from Newark and wear Zajac's jersey I think it would take Him and JT to sweep next weekend

Is Andrew Kozek your brother or something? Andrew has an NHL shot and for some reason can't score goals...With his shot he should put up Bochenski type numbers, not a career goal scored number less than Bochenski had his sophomore year! I want the guys to play well, but they certainly should not be immune from honest and fair criticism regarding their on ice play

So Duncs is centering the top line, eh? I've never pontificated on his two-way play, so I hope Hak knows what he's doing. I do not believe this line will remain intact vs the Gophs next weekend. Too much firepower from the rodents. I am disappointed with no Toews. He has shown me a lot more in limited action than Brad Malone ever has. If we're moving DUncs to center, I would like to see: Gregoire Duncan and Frattin Trupp Toews and Miller Kozek VV and Hextall Watkins Zajac and Martens A Sioux loss tonight might equal the lowest point in program history since the last days of Gino. Come on Boys have some pride! Go SIoux

When a hot girl asks you for your phone number do you really care what her friends look like? That was the recruiting scenario...not that Blaiser is hot or a girl, but you get the metaphore

Dean Blais was an epic evaluator of talent. The recruits being mentioned: Oshie, Toews, Chorney, Lee were not needle ina hystack kind of finds from a recruiting perspective. They could've played basically anywhere. They signed with NoDak for Blais, facilities, exposure, development and program reputation. Hak was not part of the equation when they signed

edit: junior= under 18. be it midget, prep, international or junior A

Under Blaiser and Berry there ws an understanding among the elite junior players int he country that UND could develop you into a pro player. That is why we had so many top end draft picks come to the Sioux. These kids were committed to UND way before they were drafted, so they committed under Blais and Berry. We are still getting top players due to the program's reputation and facilities, but I bet we'd be hard pressed to land Parise with Hakstol. Never underestimate the MN hockey family either. Even though Blaiser was a Sioux coach, he was a Gopher player and very well respected and integrated into the machine that is MN youth hockey and also USA hockey. Hakstol does not have that in with MN hockey or USA hockey.

I was referring to recruits. Joe is counted among the first rounders in my earlier post.

Preseason polls are worth about as much as opinions on this board Of course they'd be highly touted in preseason after a F4 appearance. Nobody knew that Frattin would be our top goal scorer, and that opponents would fear Frattin, Gregoire and Hextall as much as they fear Duncan, VV and Kozek. This team's problem is the top returning scorers aren't doing jack.

I am stressing realistic expectations, not the expectations of the board. I could agree with the switch in expectations on Hak's first two teams. THe first year I wasn't overly excited, because while we were awesome from the blueline back, losing GOD and Bucks left a huge 50 goal hole in the lineup. Remember that no one expected Toews and Oshie to be the studs that they were. There are many NHL clubs that didn't have the draft picks that 05-06 team had. I am surprisd that noone has commented on the Andy Murray aspect. This is huge. Andy Murray advises his highly skilled son to go to Europe under the guise of the foreigner clause, but then Brady ends up right back in the AHL after the strike. Then Jordy goes to Madison...how many little brothers have we lost? That tells me that Andy believed in Blais, but not in Hakstol. Andy is an NHL insider, and can definitely influence NHL prospect behavior. This year's Sioux team has no upper echelon playmakers other than Genoway. Duncs: Finisher Kozek: Finisher VV: Grinder with some skill Watkins: Grinder with a little less skill Frattin: Finisher Trupp: Poor man's playmaker Malone: Grinder with no skill Hextall: Finsher with grit Gregoire: Finisher, but potential playmaker Toews: potential playmaker The list goes on and on. Love the team, program and guys. We just don't have the top end skill this year.

DId Archie really have 37 goals and 197 PIMs his senior year? I loved the guy as a kid, but those stats are sick. If a top line player gets about 20 minutes of ice per game, Archie spent ten games in the box and still scored 37 goals. That is awesome.

One more thing, the stupid cycle and high breakout is horrible to watch as compared to Blaiser's style of run and gun/

What to make of Dave Hakstol...I know that there were some very influential people associated with the Sioux program who were not happy with his being named head coach. I also know that he has lead the Sioux to Four Frozen Fours. Are the Frozen Four trips a result of Dave or are could any decent college hockey coach have brought those teams to the Frozen Four? 2003-2004: The Sioux lose all-world forward Zach Parise and all-WCHA sniper Brandon Bochenski following a heartbreaking loss to DU in the regionals. The Sioux then lose Dean Blais and Brad Berry. David Lundbohm and Ryan Hale graduate. The Sioux, Gophers and Bulldogs all play a very fast, up tempo style with incredibly skilled players this year. Maybe one of the most fun years to watch WCHA hockey. 2004-2005: The Sioux welcome in new coach Dave Hakstol with a team of veteran defensemen. The Sioux defensemen are all big and have a nice mix of strong puck movers and strong body movers(3 defensemen from this team have seen action in the NHL). At forward, four guys have seen action in the NHL since graduation including Travis Zajac, Drew Stafford, Brady Murray, and Chris Porter. The Sioux ride the defensemen, some timely scoring, and "do it for Robbie" all the way to the finals only to lose to DU. This team was built ,on veteran leadership, tough defense and some young skilled players. Realistic expectation: NCAA regionals. Actual result: NCAA runner up. Team Exceeded Expectations. 2005-2006: THe Sioux lose some of that veteran leadership from the Blue Line as well as a surprising early departure in Brady Murray, but bring in an extremely talented class. Maybe the most talented team in Sioux history. The team includes 6 first round draft picks and 3 second round draft picks. Plus a smattering of every other round, a future Hobey winner, a European pro and a veteran goalie. Realistic expectation: NCAA Champion. Actual result: Frozen Four. Team Did not meet Expectations. 2006-2007: THe Sioux lose Stafford, Zajac, Spirko and Smaby along with many key role players and fan favorites, but expectations are high. The DOT line becomes the most feared line in NCAA hockey, Duncs wins the Hobey. Sioux have an NHL line, but are essentially a one trick poney. Realistic Expectation: Frozen Four. Actual Result: Frozen Four 2007-2008: The Sioux lose some role players to graduation and Toews to the NHL, but the rest of the guns make "the pact". Partly based on this hype expectations are very high, but depth is still lacking. JPL becomes one of the best goalies in the nation. Realistic Expectation: Frozen Four. Actual Result: Frozen Four. 2008-2009: No real top-end recruits (first rounders or World Junior players). Duncan, VV, Kozek and Finley looked to to lead. Realistic Expectations are for a top 5 WCHA finish. Actual Result is unknown. Based on my mini-analysis above, you can see that when we take off the green glasses, stop thinking about the bad losses, and really evaluate the performance, Hak is averaging meeting realistic expectations given his players' ability. One year he overachieved, one year he underachieved, the other two were about right. So, based on his teams' on ice performance, Hak gets a B- from me. He didn't screw up, but he didn't do any spectacular coaching from my armchair vantage point. Add in a couple other factors: Blais was an exceptional hockey coach. Blais recruited the best talent in North America The Finger (unacceptable) Andy Murray advises son to leave UND and advises other son to play at Wisconsin??? I know the euro clause and all, but really? Some losses have looked like the guys didn't even come to play What do we have? A decent hockey coach who isn't the recruiter his predecessor was, who isn't a great ambassador of the school to the league or to the NHL, who doesn't get the boys fired up for the big game. This sounds more like mediocrity than the Fighting Sioux Hockey Program. GO ahead and blast me...I am ready

My beef with the Defense isn't their ability to play defense, but their inability to transition the puck. I still blame Hakstol for this because of the high breakout. Short crisp passes up the ice, 5-10 footers, not 30-40 footers. I blame the inability of the defensemen (exception Genoway) to beat a forechecker one on one, and the overall inability to adjust the breakout depending on the oponents forecheck. We play our system, we do not adapt based on what's available. This is a recipe for disaster against well coached teams. Well coached teams will simply adopt a style that will give our system fits and hope for us to make a couple mistakes that they can score goals off of. I also blame the forwards for not coming down to help out. I blame the telegraphing of passes and the overall inability to create offense. The only forwards I have been at all impressed with this year are Frattin, Hextall, Gregoire and Martens. Lammy is also a pleasant surprise. Where is Vandy? Was Duncan a product of Oshie and Toews? It's really starting to look like it. How about Kozek's big year? Looks like he benefitted from playing with Oshie too. I bet the Thrashers are glad they didn't sign him after last season, unless they want a checker. He is doing a very good job hitting out there. Watkins, Trupp, Malone? nowhere, disappointment, and cut if I'm coach respectively. It is virtually guaranteed now that we must win the FInal Five to make the NCAAs.

Even with a strong surge starting in 2009, we're in trouble in the PWR. Just stating the obvious. I'm looking forward to 2009...and the start of the 2009-2010 hockey season. Teams have found ways to beat us by playing defense first, playing physical and clogging up the passing and shooting lanes. We do not make adjustments against these teams, but continue to play the "system". Sometimes you gotta mix it up when the plan doesn't work. Do you start playing all of the freshmen to get them experience? I might think of focusing on next year instead of this year.

Last night in the NHL, the following former WCHA players scored goals: Parise (15, OT GWG) Kessel (16) Wheeler (9) Backes (6) Stafford (4) Vanek (19) Toews (6 and 7) Turris (3)

found it

SO Sioux sports isn't carrying the webcast? Do we have to pay

I disagree. Both Vanek and Parise are GREAT NHL players and are the offensive leaders of their respective teams. I am proud of both of them. I agree with the comments that Vanek is no longer a defensive liability. He most certainly is not. He is among the elite players in the NHL. Hated him wearing maroon and gold, with the green glasses off he is an excellent, excellent player. A side note is that Phil Kessel is scoring goals like a wild man too. Vanek, Parise, Kessel, Toews, Ballard, Martin, Greene, Commodore, Blake, Goligoski, Zajac, Stastny, Pavelski, Niskanen: Doing the WCHA proud!

I'll give Marto the benefit of the doubt, as the kid is an awesome skater. Marto and Genoway both can move their feet. The other dmen aren't where they need to be with their skating. Jones isn't a great skater, but I will give him that he is ridiculously strong on his skates and just punishes guys along the end boards. I continue to believe that our shortcomings at D are driving our shortcomings on the season. The Sioux have always put together a team that is explosive in transition. In order to do that effectively the dmen have to make the right passes. Thus far they seem to be playing hot potato with the puck and not getting it on the tape to a forward who can do something with it. I don't care if you're Sidney Crosby, if the passes are in your skates or behind you or you've either had to slow down or are just getting going, you aren't going to be able to make things happen like you otherwise could. Additonally our pp and offensive zone play also lacks due to the play of the d. As a forward you are always taught to use your points for help in the offensive zone. They should be a safety valve. If you're working the boards down low and you get doubled, someone is open, and more often than not the "helper" that is doubling you is the opponent's winger coming down. That should mean an open point man. If the d can't hold the zone, that help is lost. There is plenty of blame to go around, waiting too long, not finding shooting lanes, etc. However, if the defensemen were able to hold the zone and move the puck it would certainly help. All that being said, there have been some glimmers of really great play on this team. Getting Frattin going is huge. Gregoire has been very good as expected, and Hextall is looking better than expected. Duncan is Duncan too. We need Kozek to get going, and we need better play out of Watkins and VV (not that they've been terrible). Trupper wasn't doing much prior to the Cornell game before he got hurt, and Malone has yet to impress me whatsoever.

Cornell figured out that we can't win a defensive contest. We also looked a step slow all night.

Last couple Sioux teams have had a lot of trouble beating teams that play defense first. We can run and gun with anyone, its the clog the slot, slow it down, block shots style that kills us.

It also doesn't help to pair up Lapoint and Genoway. The absence of Joe figures into this heavily. You need to match up a physical, defensive minded dman with a smooth skating offensive dman. Genoway and Marto are both gifted skaters and should be paired with Finley and Jones respectively. No Finley forces Lapoint to play with Genoway, because the two freshmen simply aren't ready for that much responsibility yet.