as15

I really like the LaDue and Stecher tandem coming in next year. It will be two 20+ year old freshman with three years of junior experience. They will be battle tested, and ready to contribute right away. Each one is arguably the best defenseman in his respective league.

I would guess he comes in this fall, nothing left to prove in Juniors. That being said, it makes me nervous that Forbort is leaving. I know it is too early to speculate, but it looks like the coaching staff is prepared for it. Or Thompson might not be accelerating and coming in next year, as has been speculated.

If true, a very big get. Ever since I have been following Tambellini and Murphy in the BCHL, I have noticed that Stecher is widely considered to be the best d-man in the BCHL. Two months ago, the U.S. Hockey Report also listed him as the second best un-committed player, behind Ian McCoshen.

I have liked Meirs Moore for a few years now. Two years in the USHL and he will be a very good NCAA player.

I would say that is foregone conclusion. Kristo, Knight, Grimaldi with big weekends. As usual.

I think that Forbort stays. The consistency isn't there, and with the depth at D that LA has, I can't see him playing in the NHL next year. You shouldn't leave early for the AHL, which I think he would be doing. He still looks a bit thin, stay one more season at UND, leave at abound 230 lbs and continue to improve your all-around game. If he stays, he is all but guaranteed to wear a letter next year. That last part is a very big deal for some players.

I agree that LaDue is going to step in and be a contributor immediately. He isn't your typical freshman, he will come in at 20 (21?) after progressing dramatically the past few seasons. He will probably win Defenseman of the Year in the USHL. If Simpson wouldn't have developed into such a good player, I would go as far as saying as LaDue could very well be our best defenseman next year as a freshman. His skating ability allows him to be very good defensively. Think a defensive style like Jake Marto, but I think LaDue is substantially better offensively than Marto was.

Right after the 09-10 season ended, people were saying the 10-11 season would be special. We had insane depth coming back, but really no one had numbers that popped out at you. We had three 30 point forwards returning, as well as three 20 point guys returning. For next year, we will have Rocco, who will have 30+ points this year, maybe more. He should put up close to 50 next year. Parks and MacMillan should be at least 30 point guys next year. After that, players need to step up. Hopefully Caggiula can take a Knight and Nelson like jump from a solid freshman year to a very good sophomore year. I am not expecting 40+ points from him, but 25+ would be nice. O'Donnell needs to turn into the player that we all know he can be. I think Murphy, Tambellini, and Johnson will all asked to contribute immediately. I think one of those guys will surprise us and put up 30+ points. I am not going to predict who, because all have the potential to do so as early as next year. Like someone else said, the strength of this team next year will be goaltending and defense. In terms of defense, it won't just be in the defensive zone. Schmaltz should take a huge jump offensively next year, Mattson should have a very good year, and Forbort and Simpson should be two of the best defensemen in the country next year if they both stay. All 4 of these guys should be able to contribute offensively. We very well could have 4, maybe 5 (if LaDue tears it up right away) defenseman that put up 20+ points. I think forward scoring will be down, but I really think our defensemen will pick up the offensive slack next year.

Good points. Like you said the real key is the forwards getting into the zone with speed. Another key is ringing the puck hard around so it gets to the other corner. It does no use to dump it to yourself if you can't be the first one to the puck.

A top-3 finish is our goal right now. I would much rather face BSU or MTU than UMD or CC in the first round of the playoffs. Sweep this weekend, and split at MSUM should hopefully do it as I believe we own the tie-breaker with UNO.

I don't think he was injured. He was a healthy scratch during the period in which he wasn't in the lineup.

I don't mind the switch, really. The 3rd and 4th lines haven't been consistently producing. Yes, they have been playing well, but if this team is able to develop a third scoring line with the MacMillans and O'Donnell, this team will be tough to beat. St. Clair and Rodwell are very similar players, with St. Clair being more skilled imo. I like the switch, but I would've taken Senkbeil out instead of Rodwell. I know that Gaarder and Panzarella are the extras on the trip. Rodwell didn't travel, so he may be banged up possibly? I do think this is O'Donnell's last chance to prove himself this year, but like I said, if he can get going this team will be tough to beat with its depth.

He played a regular shift for 3 of his 4 years here and didn't really produce. Really, the only changes could've been putting him with better linemates and putting him on the powerplay. Saying that, who would you replace in any of those spots over the years? He played from 08-12, getting regular time from 09-12. In 09-10, the top six was Gregoire, Hextall, VV, Trupp, Malone, Frattin. That list doesn't include Kristo, Knight, or Rowney. No way he breaks in there. No need to mention the 10-11 team, he couldn't crack the Top-9 let alone the top-6. Last year was his only possibility, he got the most playing time he ever has, just didn't produce. He showed nothing in his 4 years that showed he should've been used differently. His production in the ECHL really is shocking to me.

I honestly think it would be reversed, their first line guys would be third liners on this team. 60 points nowadays is like 100 back then, it happens very rarely. The game has evolved so much and the players are exponentially bigger, faster, and stronger. Not to mention the jump that goaltenders have taken since then, there is no way to compare the two time periods effectively, but I can say for certain, if you are on the first line in 2012, you sure would be on the first line in 1987.

I agree with what you are saying. Was the play on Rocco a penalty? Yes, absolutely. Did he embellish a little to make sure it was called? Yes, I think he did. He had the d-man beat, if he keeps driving to the net, he either gets a scoring chance or a penalty will be called. Whatever happened to playing hard and never stopping your feet to draw a penalty, not embellishing little ticky-tacky stuff in order to draw one.

I agree, Rodwell seems to be in phenomenal shape.

That 1996 group of forward recruits are really special. Hopefully the majority of them make it to campus, as that will be a fun group to watch. I agree, that group includes probably 4 of the top 6 American forwards for that year. Like you said, if they make it to campus, they could be very special.

I feel something is up with him. A high WHL pick commits to UND immediately after his rights get traded? I think this will be a classic case of him using UND as leverage to get traded to the team of his liking. I really hope I am wrong because he looks to be a pretty good recruit, but I have a bad feeling about this one. Initially, I thought Miller, Matteau, Lemieux, and Koules would all come here, Gardner I don't feel that way even now.

I assume you are referring to the graphic shown before the game on FSN? Well I saw that as well, and my first reaction was that it was incorrect so I double checked. Going into Saturday's game, Gothberg had an 89.7 save percentage, not 92.7 like it was shown.

Yep, and I think the Forbort-Schmaltz pairing was something like -4.

I agree, Danny made the right play, if he helps out Joe initially the trailer is wide open. He did glide a little bit at the end and maybe could've gotten a stick on Condon. Clarke normally stops that but like you said, heck of a shot by Condon, and great awareness to go right at the defenseman with no stick.

Good call.

Yeah, we have had several players that were 100% coming here back out on there commitments, if he is 50/50 right now, I would be surprised if he ever made it to campus. Time will tell though. And is there any way to change the thread title? 2010/2011 is a little outdated, not that it really matters just wondering.

Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL own his rights.

Thank you. Mariucci, is Haula expected to play this weekend and if so, what do you think your lines will look like. I haven't watched a Gopher game this year since Warning has been back so I am unfamiliar with their full-strength lineup. Do you expect a specific defensive pairing to match up with the Knight-Kristo line?