as15

Hopefully he will be in the lineup enough this year to use it.

I remember reading that he had almost hit 190 at the Montreal Prospect camp back in June/July, not sure how try it is but nonetheless surprising to see him listed at under 170.

Looks like Pattyn and Parks, among others, really hit the gym this summer. Hopefully Parks stayed just as fast, he could have a big year, possibly approaching 20 goals

I also read it as Dell doesn't feel he is "abandoning" his team because he has two more than capable goalies to replace him.

It did say that in the article, but I think USA hockey was implying that money must have been given somewhere because the facilities are obviously better at UND, and I'm not sure who they have coaching at Portland, but it is pretty hard to beat having your position be coached by an ex-NHL defenseman coach.

Even if JT would have played for the Sioux, and Rocco was healthy, I still think LaLeggia wins WCHA ROY. A 38 point year from a freshman defenseman is much more rare/impressive than a 45-50 point year from a freshman forward, which are the highest point totals you could've realistically expected from either player.

In other words, engineers.

I think the team's will be very even, if you compare the top few lines for each team I think the Sioux come out ahead. Grimaldi-Knight-Kristo vs. Rau-Bjugstad-Budish, I would say Bjugstad is the best of those 6 with the 3 Sioux player's followed closely after. MacMillan-Rowney-Parks vs. Warning-Haula-Condon Haula is without a doubt the best player here but I see big jumps from MacMillan and Parks and Rowney should hit around 40 points this year. I would take UND's second line as well. Schmaltz-Forbort vs. Schmidt-Alt, give the nod to the Gophers, but Forbort is the best of these 4 Mattson-MacWilliam vs. Marshall-Helgeson, I would take Mattson over Marshall and MacWilliam over Helgeson Gleason-Simpson vs. Skjei-Holl, Holl has underachieved so far, but Skjei has enormous potential at D. All in all I think the Sioux have more depth at forward while the Gopher's have more at D, it should be a very fun year with both teams being very good. I just hope they can avoid each other in the NCAA tournament until the Frozen Four, because I expect both will be good enough to be there.

Frattin is a very smooth, powerful skater, but he doesn't have the top end speed/acceleration or agility for me to classify him as an "excellent" skater. I would say he is about an average skater in the NHL, maybe slightly above.

Better skating, less physically dominant Matt Frattin?

McCoshen is the type of player you make room for, and just by glancing at Wisconsin's committed recruits page, he would easily be their biggest d-man recruit. McCoshen is from Wisconsin, and Wisconsin has been recruiting him heavily from the start but for whatever reason he doesn't want to go to school there. No offense to UMD or UNO, but we have to be the favorite in this recruiting battle, especially now since we have arguably the best college d-man coach out there.

I'm calling it right now, Caggiula is going to be drafted next year as an overager after a solid freshman year for UND.

Paul LaDue just picked by the LA Kings with the last pick in the 6th round. Drafted as an over-ager.

McDonald, Shattenkirk, Cole...I'm sure there are a few others.

I absolutely agree with that, I just don't know who comes out of that lineup in order for him to be inserted.

The better question is who would Rodwell replace? The only one I would say he is "better" than is Lamoureux, but he was a senior captain.

I would say the game-plan that day was extremely effective. The team just picked the most important game of the year to forget how to score a goal.

I think it is really odd that he is almost set on leaving UND even thought he hasn't had any offers. I wonder if he really does feel that Gothberg will beat him out next year, I really didn't think so but who knows what he has been told. Even though some people think that he isn't the greatest goalie, he is a former All-American and has had a very successful NCAA career, I would love for him to come back for his senior year and anchor an already very good team.

I don't think there is anyway he leaves for anything less than an AHL job.

I wouldn't think so. Going in I totally expected him to be one of the top players there, I'm sure Montreal's management did as well.

I don't think using seat belts as an example is a good comparison. Seat belts are proven to save lives and limit the amount of serious injuries that occur in car wrecks. That is why wearing them is the law. For the most part, the injuries that will occur from using a half-shield instead of wearing a full cage are going to be relatively minor for a hockey injury (cuts to the face, knocked out teeth etc). There will be circumstances where a player has a major eye injury, but those seem to be pretty rare in hockey (only several a year in the NHL). If someone can find me a stat or a study that shows wearing a half-shield over a full cage has a direct correlation with career-threatening injuries, then I am all for making them keep the full cage, if not I say let them choose, they all know the risks.

Sounds like Kristo put on quite the show at Montreal's prospect camp scrimmage today. He was named 1st star of the game, and by all accounts was far and away the best player in the game which included several prospects with extended NHL time.

I think no matter what, the proven guys, Kristo, Knight, Rowney, Parks, MacMillan, and Grimaldi start in the Top-6, everyone else tries to play their way into those spots. I realize Grimaldi isn't NCAA "proven", but he has proven himself at lower levels more than anyone else has, and I would be absolutely shocked if he didn't produce at this level.

Oh I realize that, my point is just trying to show how good a 60 goal season in the BCHL really is.

I hope so, I'm kind of wondering if Mitch was of misused at SCSU. He scored 61 goals and had 93 points his last year in the BCHL. That kind of goal scoring ability doesn't just disappear. I realize for some players their points don't translate to the NCAA, but going from 61 goals in a solid league to 4 goals in 2 years? That is a monumental drop off in production. I am being cautiously optimistic with Mitch MacMillan. If he doesn't work out it doesn't really matter, if it does we could have a very good player on our hands. Just to put things in perspective, Kyle Turris had 66 goals in the BCHL the year he was drafted 3rd overall.