yzerman19

I couldn't bite my tongue anymore...here's the deal, if you are playing anything other than tier 1 junior hockey (CHL, USHL, NTDP) at 17, you are not a chipper. If you are playing "up" into junior age eligible hockey, you are probably good, but your stats don't count (this includes the spendy prep schools)...you are a tier 1 junior player prospect racking up points vs kids who might be older but they weren't good enough to move on to junior hockey.

nope, nothing guarantees that

So...I agree with you. However, the fan base loves the elite players making plays even if they fall short of the big trophy. Our issue is we aren't doing either...we aren't winning, and we aren't losing in the Natty's with an exciting team full of future NHLers

people don't just want wins, they want to see excitement on the ice...amazing goals, great saves, big hits...I don't even know what to say. I don't have the expertise to endorse firing a coach, but I know I used to love Sioux hockey, I know kids used to see UND as a great place to play and develop...we have slipped

brother that makes me even more sad...they are losing us...

here's the biggest, saddest issue...some of you like me, some of you dont...I've been on this forum since 2003...I watched and bled Sioux hockey...until bubs...I still have my NCHC TV link, but I watched 80% of games between 2003 and 2017...I now watch 2 or 3 per year...

Hockey has always been a humble, blue collar sport....it isn't anymore...the elite of the elite have families paying $70k+ for their kids...that's not blue collar anymore, that's elitist !@#$

NIL and modern approach to dev to the NHL

None of the elite 2008 and younger class puts UND at the top of their list...this is a huge problem! None of the classes Parise or Toews are thinking UND is the place anymore...

and before someone answers tough, I'm not talking about the kids when they were born. I mean that 10 years ago the top kids who are 15, 16, 17 had UND right at the top

I'm around a lot of the top kids in the 08-10 birth years....we got work to do...10 years ago we were at the top of all of their lists, we aren't anymore

I don't want to be looking for diamonds in the rough...Parise and Toews were no questions asked absolute blue chippers...Sanderson too

for sure, and the fact they signed means off limits, and they are very good.

Right now the 2009 elite class is having initial conversations....we want: Pelosi, Scuderri, Schneider, Fitzhenry...we need one of those 4....

I know Bubs is a great dude, program first, but is the fact he is a former defenseman (as is Sandy in Duluth) a problem....where top end prospect forwards don't want to play for a head coach who is a dman...

We can't be happy with hard working dudes who want to be part of the program. We need not worry about 19/20 year olds who are "good" hockey players...they are a dime a dozen. We need to be landing the guys that are special...Parise, Toews, Oshie, Boeser, Schmaltz, Sanderson....truly elite talent...I am terrified we are becoming St Cloud, Mankato, Duluth....BU, BC, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Denver....seem to be leaving us in the dust

I do not have an opinion whatsoever on the hiring/firing of coaches. I do have an opinion however as to the product we are seeing on the ice, and the changes that are happening in college hockey. Let's pivot away from Brad for a second and think about our other distinguished alumni coach over in Duluth. Look at Isaac Howard. Kid goes to Duluth a first rounder from the program. Absolute Blue Chipper. He has a less than average season playing for Sandy. Then he transfers to Michigan State and is crushing college hockey on the #1 team in the country. I am really thinking that whomever posted it was onto something...its a new era of coaching style that will be successful.

on the pp, every zone on the ice is an odd-man just waiting to happen. All you gotta do for a good entry is beat one guy...then you curl back and set it up.

Gavin McKenna is the other. It is extremely difficult to enter the NHL as an 18 year old and have success. Many, many, many players including first round NHL picks in the CHL like the idea of being on a college campus for one year, maybe two, then turning pro in order to be impactful as rookies. Regarding the money, the only "real" money that is guaranteed is your signing bonus of ~$300k (which will still be there if you play a year of NCAA hockey) so the compensation you are needing to match is $80k in the AHL roughly? But you then also have to pay for an apartment and incidentals and be a full on adult if you are in the AHL. CHL money (non-endorsement) is beer and gas money. It isn't anything to compete with. I agree with the fact that hockey is not football or basketball, but the NIL is starting to enter. The hottest blue chip players are weighing the big 4 of: 1. Will they develop me for the NHL 2. How much is my total package (scholarship plus NIL) 3. Is this a place I want to spend time walking around and be a part of the campus community 4. Do I like the boys/coach/program/facilities and can we win a chip Based on those 4 things, I believe that coaching and recruiting is changing. One might say we don't want pima donna recruits that think like that, but Gen Z is coming whether we like it or not. It used to be #4 drove the bus...

gotta think Dupont is looking to play in an NIL sweepstakes...

he's a 2009. If he is a sophomore in high school this year he can have recruiting conversations now as of January 1. He can also do unofficial campus visits. August 1st this summer there can be official campus visits and verbal offers for him.

Honestly, we can't target local boys...hockey is better in the top tier 1 programs...thats the SSM route that magnified us

37 in 29 at Sioux Falls Power....Im sure the kid is good...we need chippas

no way, not you

I was going to write the worst note ever seen- bottom line is we can't compete without top dogs