as15

If MacMillan, N. Schmaltz, and LaDue are all out, I wouldn't be totally surprised to see Mattson or Thompson up front to add a little offense to all the grinders that will be out there this weekend.

Anyone have highlights from last night?

Solid road win after last night's embarassment. Zane, good as usual. Last night was not his fault. MacMillan and Parks need to wake up and start being the dominant Senior's that they should be. Jordan Schmaltz needs to find some consistency in his game, in the exhibition he looked like an All-American, in the two regular season games, he was invisible. He needs to be a factor each and every shift. Stecher was our best defenseman tonight, Ausmus not far behind. Chyzyk and St. Clair need to play every game, period.

One thing I have started to notice with this year's senior class, is how little the skill player's (MacMillan, Parks, O'Donnell, and Mattson) have progressed in four years. Let's take a look at their role's as freshman: MacMillan as a freshman: 2nd line LW, approximately 20 points, played PK and PP Parks as a freshman: 2nd line RW, approximately 20 points, played PP O'Donnell as a freshman: 3rd line LW, was on pace for 15 points Mattson: 2nd pairing dman, approximately 20 points, played PP and PK 4 years later, all of those player's are in basically the same roles as they were as freshman, and as of last year, put up very similar numbers.

Pretty pathetic, we all waited 6 months for that crap. Honestly, 21-16-15 should all sit tonight. I thought Parks' played the laziest game I have ever seen a UND player, play.

. On the broadcast, they mentioned that Chyzk looked like his fitness/energy level was a step up from last year. Bottom line, this team is very deep, with a number of weapons that have developed into better players now. Totally agree, he was flying out there. Hopefully he can develop a little more offense to go with his hard work/energy. He might force his way up in the lineup if he keeps improving.

My thoughts on tonight, a lot of which have already been addressed: Nick Schmaltz is as advertised. Schmaltz does what Grimaldi really struggled to do, make his linemates substantially better. If Jordan Schmaltz isn't an All-American this year, he will have underachieved. He will be in the conversation as the best player in the country. Murphy looks much improved, he could be a regular in the lineup this year. Poolman didn't look as polished as I thought he would be, I expected more, but he doesn't really need to play a big role on this time this year. Keaton Thompson, wow, totally different player. He might've leapfrogged LaDue as our second best defenseman, which is saying a lot. The senior forwards, besides O'Donnell (who would've thought that) were pretty invisible to me, slightly concerning. Zane, enough said. Johnson looked calm in his limited work. Here is my lineup for next week after what I saw tonight: Caggiula-Schmaltz-Johnson O'Donnell-MacMillan-Parks Pattyn-Gaarder-Murphy Chyzyk-St. Clair-Poganski Schmaltz-Thompson Mattson-LaDue Stecher-Ausmus McIntyre Johnson

Initial thoughts: MacMillan line is what everyone expected, as is the Johnson line. I'm guessing that Johnson and N. Schmaltz will both take shifts at center on that line. Remember, Johnson started out at center last year. Murphy on the third line. Hopefully he had a big summer. Most people have written him off, but if he comes in motivated and driven, he could easily develop into an impact player down the road. Surprised to not see Simonson or Olson in the lineup, and St. Clair as the extra forward instead of Sanderson. Surprised that Thompson is not in the Top-6. Getting in the lineup this year, as a defenseman, is going to be a battle each and every week. LaDue-Schmaltz, if they stay together, could be the best pairing in the country. Both All-American caliber players. I really doubt they stay together. No reason to comment on the goaltenders, only question is which goalie is going to play the handful of games this year that Zane doesn't?

I just figure that an underclassman (Caggiula, Johnson) is more likely to have a substantial increase in production than a senior that has already played in 100+ games, which historically has been the case. I think Caggiula, Johnson, MacMillan, and Parks will all be around 30-35 points, with MacMillan possibly closer to 40. Schmaltz's production, like all freshman, is the real wild-card. I could see him scoring anywhere from 20-40+ points this year. O'Donnell probably tops out at 25, max, unless he had a big summer.

Brad E. Schlossman @SchlossmanGF Nick Schmaltz likely to center Drake Caggiula and Luke Johnson tomorrow, while Mark MacMillan centers Brendan O'Donnell and Michael Parks. Top 6 is what a lot of us predicted to start the year. The Schmaltz line will probably outscore MacMillan's, but I would guess the all-senior line will be tasked with playing against the top lines of the opposition.

I have the Top-9 forwards as the same, just arranged slightly different. O'Donnell-MacMillan-Parks: Veteran line, can play against the other team's top line and still put up points (30-35 points for Mac and Parks, 20-25 for O'D) Caggiula-Schmaltz-Johnson: Mostly talented line, the two best shooter's on the team, with an (supposed) elite playmaker in the middle (This line will probably outscore the first line) Pattyn-Gaarder-Poganski: All big, strong, and physical. No one will like playing against these guys. Could be an elite shutdown, grinding line. Solid production as well. Simonson-St. Clair-Olson: St. Clair is the anchor here, I think Chyzyk or Murphy (hoping he takes a big jump over the summer) could sneak in here. Either way, this will be a great energy line. Once again, defense will be the strong point of this team. Schmaltz-Thompson-Thompson takes a big jump over the summer, if Schmaltz isn't an All-American this season, he will have underachieved. Mattson-LaDue-Same second pairing as last year, if Mattson can limit his turnover's, this pairing could be one of the best two-way pairings in the country. Poolman-Stecher-Poolman comes in with accolades, hopefully Stecher can bring more offense this year. I don't think it is a stretch to say that Schmaltz and LaDue could be two of the top-10 defenseman in the country, Mattson is a point producing veteran. Poolman followed a very similar development path as LaDue, if he comes in and plays like Paul did last year, this D-Corps, along with Minnesota's, will be far and away the best in the country, IMO.

When he was drafted, many analysts thought if he were just 5'10", he would've been a Top-5 pick. That and many other reasons.

Not arguing, but he still disappeared when he played with Knight and Kristo two years ago. Point is, he has the ability to dominate every shift, instead he might dominate only a handful of shifts per game.

For a guy as skilled and dynamic as Rocco is, he disappeared for long stretches way too often. He needs to work out his consistency issues before he leaves, IMO.

I think a lot of players on Minnesota could leave and I wouldn't be surprised, but the only player's with more than a 50/50 shot of leaving are Skjei and Rau. BC has Gaudreau at 99.9% chance of leaving, Matheson 50/50, everyone else is either graduating or is an underclassman. Not really sure about Union, other than Gostisbehere probably leaving.

I know everyone is bashing the attendance at the B1G tourney, but the games not including UND, could possibly be the same ordeal.

I agree, UND, especially, needs to take this to heart. If we start playing before Thanksgiving, we are probably a 1 seed right now, instead of on the bubble.

Yep, I just did a simulation (quick I admit) and couldn't find a scenario where we don't make it if we win at least one game this weekend, no matter the opponent.

I can see offensive defenseman of the year going to LaLeggia, but overall better defenseman? yeah right. Simpson is better defensively, than offensively, and look at the numbers he puts up.

Yep, my friend was there, a gopher fan, said couldn't have been over 300 people there.

You would have to be in pretty solid shape to run 8 blocks in 5 minutes, let alone walk it.

I would guess Poolman and Bowen will for sure (no inside knowledge, just assuming). Tweten, NTDP perhaps?

Seriously, Tweten, Bowen, and Poolman shouldn't walk out of the Xcel without an offer from UND today.

Did anyone purchase the America One feed last night? How is the quality, worth getting?

I'll admit I haven't followed them very closely, but I'm trying to figure it out how injuries have hurt them this year. Yes, Coleman has missed 10 games this year, but who else has missed extended periods of time? Is it like a Mark MacMillan situation where they tried to play through those injuries, so not many games were missed? Their top guys are producing well. Czarnik, Barber, Kuraly, and Coleman are all on pace to shatter their career bests. It just shows how bad their goaltending and defense must be this year.