yzerman19

Considering the only line to do anything for the gophs had Schroeder on it... They are a one line team.

Stoa is good, but Schroeder is special. I think Fairchild didn't know what he was getting himself into messing with Chay. Manitoba, older brother, iron man, these all spell s&@t for little Cade.

What's wrong with AK? He just can't get it together this year. I'm starting to feel badly for the guy.

I think the high breakout is intended to take pressure off the defensemen by forcing the opponents to be honest on the forecheck. This high breakout assumes that a defensemen can shake a forechecker one on one, then open up a forward in the neutral zone as a second defender is forced to play the puck carrier. The high breakout might be more effective when the forwards are VERY fast. I think with the exception of Watkins and Frattin, our forwards are simply not fast enough to make the high breakout work. I can think of one time where Frattin scored in transition and many opportunities where Watkins has had good looks. THe high breakout against a 2-2-1 would also explain why Miller and Genoway are our leading scorers. They are carrying the puck up themselves, bringing up the rear of the play, while the forwards are stuck waiting at the offensive blue line because the 2-2-1 has clogged the passing lanes. Whatever happened to fundamentals? Wingers at the hash, Center between the dots, stay in your lanes, sticks on the ice, head on a swivel, hit the tape with your passes, go to the net, follow your shots... There aren't any shortcuts in this game.

I couldn't agree more with the bolded. This all stems from our ridiculous high breakout. I can't think of a team that's scored fewer goals on the fly. If we were breaking out well and scoring in transition we'd see a bunch of second assists coming from the d. It seems crystal clear to me that well-coached teams know exactly how to bring the forecheck to disrupt our breakout. The 2-1-2 seems to really give us fits as the dmen can't seem to beat a forechecker one on one, and the 2-2-1 clogs up the neutral zone and passing lanes by proxy. Opposing coaches can play either and give us fits.

YEah, I corrected myself on the other thread. Bobby Joyce was captain in 86-87.

My memory of Ian Kidd is that myself and a couple of my elementary school friends saw him at meet the Sioux and thought he was Jim Archibald. We were all sad when he signed "Ian Kidd" and not "Jim Archibald". The dark hair and mustache was enough to confuse a couple ten year olds. It's crazy to look at the young Pat Sweeney in that video! I also stand corrected from an earlier post as Bobby Joyce is clearly wearing the C, and there is no letter on Malcolm Parks.

Last time we didn't have a first round or future first round forward on the team was 01-02. We've been spoiled with NHL forward talent for the last 7 years. I couldn't find a season's final stats without at least one drafted player among our top four.

Didn't Malcolm Parks wear the C for us in 86-87? He was a solid two way player who scored clutch goals if memory serves me.

I do always get nervous when we change the style of play with a lead int he third. That is usually a recipe for disaster. As for the chemistry issue on the top line. I agree that it takes a few games to get great chemistry, but usually you can feel some chemistry right away. I didn't get that feeling tonight.

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