yzerman19

I don't think half a point per game from Poolman is bad, considering he is a dman and is often out against other teams' top forward lines. I'd say Jones is where I'd expect him to be, maybe a little off. Guch is where I'd expect him to be this year. JBD is where I'd expect him to be. Agree on Kiersted, Smith and Senden outpacing expectations. Rest of the team is below expectations.

statistically you need at least 3 data points to infer a trend...

I was picking up what you were laying down

but 5-3 pk is different

Been thinking about lack of creativity and forward scoring problems. I'm starting to think it has more to do with the on-ice leadership than coaching. Our upperclassmen such as Gardner are really just north-south players. If the fixtures in your lineup naturally play a particular way, it's difficult for the underclassmen playing with them to play a different style.

In many states AAA is the norm, because there isn't much of a local system. These teams are mostly made up of "local" kids. I caveat local, because many are based in huge cities. I haven't seen a ton of true import players from other parts of the country. AAA is expensive, mostly due to travel.

I am expecting Mishmash to develop into a Pony or Dutchman type player...If he sticks around 4 years, he can get his best shot at the show.

There is nobody NHL ready. Poolman and Mismash would be AHL possibly even in the coast. I'd stay in college, that being the case.

Bottom line is this team is capable of beating anybody and losing to anybody. Play .500 hockey against 1 seeds. Go winless against Canisius and Bemidji on the topic of one bad weekend- thank God we came back in that anchorage game...they are dead last inbyhe PWR

Can't say for sure. I was holding on too tight before- hence the need for my sabbatical.

I too have a strange good feeling about this weekend. I don't know why, but I do.

Sweeping DU coupled with Bowling Green and Notre Dame losses should move us up to 15 heading into St Paul...catching Harvard will be harder...

Can't believe it, but I am actually rooting for the Gophers and former Gopher (Grant Potulny) this coming weekend...We want to see Bowling Green and the Golden Domers drop in RPI...

Im watching high school

still 2-2? im eatching highh svhool

Yep- range tends to favor Duluth...I hope the kid does well. He's got a ton of heart.

Lawson played Sioux hockey this weekend. Throw in that Herb Brooks award. Bubbs should pay the kid a visit.

Lotta good players from Minny- didn't debate that- hence the smiley face. Lotta good players outside of Minny too is my point. My hockey world was very Minnecentric until I moved around. I've been involved in USA hockey on the west coast and have seen some great players and teams. The Minnesota connection is there, however, as many of the best player's parents and/or coaches have some connection to Minny or other traditional hockey markets- New England, Michigan, Canada. LA Jr Kings PeeWee AAA team just won the prestigious Quebec tourney, beating SKA St Petersburg, Team Minnesota, and Team Czech on the way.

The 90's Moorhead team with Blake, Cullen, Kraft and Arnold should've won one, but they ran into that great Jefferson machine...The Broten, Broten, Erickson Roseau team fell short too...why I love this tourney...the Cloquet team with Langenbrunner, Petrov, Novak and Mrozik was sick too...again the Jefferson machine...

In places with better hockey players maybe In all honesty, I had no idea on level of skill and play outside the area until I left. Minnesota is probably the deepest in terms of above average players, but the top players in Minny are no better than the top players in many states that don't have robust high school programs...check out Elite or AAA players from all over the country...or just head north

I'm trying to think of the last Minnesota high school tourney to UND success transition...Oshie? Probably- and he was obviously very special

Right! Recall Brock Boeser didn't play his senior year at Burnsville- he was in the USHL in Waterloo. I will caveat the following with this: Minnesota prep is the last bastion where elite players can stay at a development path at home- albeit it must be supplemented with elite league or international. Its more rare these days for the best talent to play high school as seniors- it does still happen, but it is not the primary path, unless there is a family reason or a physical maturity need. North of the border, the best are most often off playing major junior at 16. Some college bound studs are playing junior A or at a hockey focused prep school at 16. Down here it's USNTDP or prep school or Elite AAA. Imagine Jack Hughes playing a high school schedule? not saying it's great for the kid as a whole, but if your an elite player, leaving is the default, staying is the exception.

It's now a two sided sword with this team. If you lose, you gotta oil up the hand and grab the perseco and OJ... they don't deserve the original treatment...

Remember, your RPI moves even after you are done playing games...

My guess is that JBD was trying to do too much himself, because nobody else can really create much. Bubs probably just wants him to simplify his game, give him and his head a rest knowing we need him at his very best to make a run at the NCHC playoff title.