yzerman19

I'm with you JK. In a world of free agency, its players vs team to me in the NHL

obviously we all want to win, but the process is more important than an outcome that nobody can guarantee. I want to watch young talented guys put it on display. I don't want to watch older, transfer portal, grindaz teams. Its like the old Jacques Lemaire left wing lock...you can win, but it isn't fun to watch.

NTDP obviously is the exception in the USHL if you count them as such. The debate is raging on all of this, especially with the new AAA development league in the US. American players are going to risk all their standing with USA hockey if they cross the border to play...

I don't believe its that simple. We didn't win a chip with Parise, Toews, Oshie, Zajac, Stafford...but boy those teams were fun to watch, and I kept following those players as they all had great careers in the NHL. It is for this reason that I believe college hockey has something that the NHL does not...you get to watch stars grow from kids to men. I agree that you don't ignore pieces to the puzzle that happen to play in the CHL...No debate that there are many talented kids up there. I was just poking fun at the dub focus of late. Not discounting it, just having fun. Its such an entertaining debate...the top end US kids that are torn between NTDP and CHL...I think the US program won every kid they wanted this year, only exception might be Dozark.

The best of the best US kids ain't going CHL...they will still do NTDP. I'm actually scared that this board is going so hard WHL...yes, you can win a chip, but....

If we become a team that is all western canada kids coming from the dub...well, nothing against those guys, but it aint my fandom

yep. Fitzy is an unbelievable player and an unbelievable kid. high demand dude right there.

should we just start calling this the WHL thread lol

Hmmmm...I think the obvious answer here is that there are different target markets. I do think UND and DU will continue to have a leg up on small town western Canada recruiting. Denver has a direct flight and more recent success. UND has the facilities and amenities. Denver is a huge city. Grand Forks is a medium sized town.

I guarantee they got to spend the night and rip it up...some probably have yet to see their beds

Its out of the realm of realism for every school.

I also don't like apologists, but there also needs to be some realism. This season can not be thought of as a disappointment. Yes the game was disappointing, but to fully appreciate what UND has overcome since 2016 is remarkable. An expectation to win a national title every year is completely out of the realm of realism. An expectation to win a NCAA tournament game every year is a solid high bar. I personally want to be in the spot of the expectation being to get to the Frozen Four...fall a little short you are in the tourney...play great you win a title. From a recruiting perspective, we are having to build back the expectation that 1. You will get to the next level by playing here. 2. You will be on a winning team that has Frozen Four and Natty potential. 3. You will love the culture here and have a great off the ice experience by playing here. Getting all 3 of those back can't happen overnight. We also have to overcome that Grand Forks is what it is, and UND isn't Big10 or Hockey East locations or schools. We can, but it is going to take a little time...Does Toews come to UND if Parise doesn't? Probably not.

After sleeping it off, here is where I sit. This year's team completely exceeded expectations. One year ago we were a storied program on the decline. We were losing 2 chippaz to the portal. There was discord among the staff and players. We were 9 full seasons removed from the Frozen Four..from a recruiting perspective that might as well have been forever (think for the 2010's that can be offered in August they were in kindergarten or first grade the last time we were there). We injected Chyzyk and with him hope, Jax got going...we brought in a couple chippaz and got buy-in from the grindaz. We weren't high flying or ultra skilled, but we were good...all season we were good. I love what GFHockey brings to this board. He's been on for years. The one place I have disagreement is the Sandy and UMD title envy. Its one and done hockey, anything can happen. The best team doesn't always win the natty. If we can return to the team that is a virtual lock for the Frozen Four every year and Chyzyk brings in guys that we see grow from kids into NHL stars on the regular...and we play Sioux hockey (fast, skilled, tough, heavy) it is going to be a nice long stretch of fun. Lots to be optimistic about.

taco with ham and extra sauce...

actually says a ton about his character...every good man I know would do everything he could for his family

thompson has grand forks roots...

$50k-$100k is the going rate for studs

Call me old fashioned, but I'd pay more for Chris Pronger than for Cale Makar...I'll take forwards that score goals and defenders that like to inflict pain

hell yeah...paging Morgan Wallen

no disagreement, although if I remember correctly he had immediate family needs for money and so his signing bonus went straight to his mom. Sometimes the right decision isn't the smart decision.

agreed...although if he took home call it $5M and wasn't dumb, he should be set for life.

his career earnings are right around $11M

lotta Minny flavor to that USA roster...

NTDP roster announced for 2026-2027 U17 team https://www.usahockeyntdp.com/news_article/show/1358717

correct...most top agencies offer free advisory to assist the families of top players with the goal of helping them make it; and then only earning money once that player starts making money.