Kermit

Barring late defections, the Sioux will start the 2004-05 season with TEN seniors. At least 3 underclassmen are strong possibilities to leave early for the pro ranks. Implications: *2005-06 will be a rebuilding year for the program. *Hakstol and staff MUST have a big year THIS year. *The Sioux may be forced to bring in a huge freshman class for 05, setting up the possibility for another mass exodus four years down the road. Not a good cycle. Senior forwards: Bochenski Genoway McMahon Fylling Massen Canady 2 other forwards are first-round draft picks: Stafford Zajac Senior defensemen: Jones Schneider Fuher Greene will probably turn pro next year. Senior goaltender: Brandt Looking ahead to 2005-06: The goaltending should be in good hands with Parise and Lamoureaux. Experienced defensemen might include Smaby, Radke, Bina, and Marvin. Brian Lee and Taylor Chorney will probably be freshmen. Experienced forwards will probably include Murray, Porter, Prpich, Fabian, Spirko, and Kaip. Stafford and Zajac are possibilities. Ryan Duncan will be a freshman. Brad Miller, T.J. Oshie, and Chris Vandevelde may or may not be ready for the WCHA at that point.

The last thing any new head coach needs is an "heir apparent." I don't think too many assistant coaches would join a new head coach's staff for that reason. If the team is successful, the new head coach will probably be around for a good number of years. If the team fails, the whole staff will be in trouble. I agree with some previous posters about the program's needs for the coaching staff: *recruiting skill and energy *contacts with the USHL, MN HS hockey, etc. are essential *preferably an American, an all-Canadian staff could be a negative for some *on ice, expertise in coaching forwards *compatible personality/philosophy with the rest of the staff *familiarity with the WCHA *UND ties are a plus, but not essential (we've already got Hakstol and Berry) On paper, Steve Johnson is the ideal candidate. I am sure that there are others who would do a great job. There is certainly recent precedent for experienced USHL head coaches moving to NCAA assistant positions--Motzko and Osiecki come immediately to mind. How about adding a goaltending coach?

USHR.com has reported that Steve Johnson interviewed for the UND assistant vacancy earlier this week.

Thanks! I was hoping to hear something like this.

I don't know anything about Ryan Caldwell's attitude, but I have been extremely impressed with his play on the ice all year. He is a difference maker.

I'm not saying that Stafford is ready for the NHL. He isn't. He does have great tools. He may be perfectly willing to play in the AHL or major juniors. I have no idea. My concern is based on: 1. He (Stafford) is rated very highly by NHL scouts. 2. He is an under-age player who would have to opt-in to this year's draft. Because of the NCAA's incomprehensible rules, opting-in would make him ineligible. 3. This year's draft class is supposedly lacking in depth of top-end talent. Stafford could be drafted higher this year than he would next year--and there's no guarantee he would maintain his status with the scouts in another year. 4. The NHL CBA situation could work against the Sioux, if he is drafted and signed now he may receive a big bonus that he couldn't receive in the future (I'm fuzzy on this issue)?? 5. To my knowledge, Stafford has never said that he wouldn't opt-in. In fact, when interviewed on the radio earlier this season, he sounded like he was seriously considering the possibility.

I have a bad feeling (but no inside info) that Stafford will opt-in for the draft and be gone.. http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archiv.../optin_0225.htm

From a preview of this year's Slovakian World Junior Team: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=6539 Rastislav Spirko RW 06/21/84 5`9`` 175 R "Spirko hasn`t been drafted by any NHL team, probably because of his size. He is smallish forward with solid scoring touch. He is very creative player. Last year he was rookie of the year in Slovak Extraleague and now plays in Tri City Storm in USHL. Spirko leads the league with 20 goals in 26 games. He is the key offensive player of this team." And from a year earlier.. http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?sid=5492 "..He may be tiny, but he is a talented offensive forward with great skating and puckhandling ability..."

http://www.cjahl.com/e/media/2003-04/03-04-pr_22.html This is old, but interesting info on Travis Zajac. Sounds like he'll fit in nicely. "..Centre Travis Zajac, 18, of Salmon Arm is listed 20th by central scouting, among North American forwards and defencemen. He is the highest rated player in the Canadian Junior 'A' Hockey League. "Travis started in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League as a 16-year-old," said Davidson. "He came here as a 17-year-old (in 2002-03). "It's exciting to see his progress. He's certainly among the three or four best players in the league. "He's a terrific defensive player, too, and among the best in the league. He's very responsible and well rounded." The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Zajac is third in the league with 85 points in 45 games. He is fourth in the league with 39 goals."

I've seen Lee play in person several times this season. He is an outstanding prospect. I would compare his style (if not his skills--yet) to former Sioux greats James Patrick and Travis Roche. He is a great skater and superb outlet passer. He positions himself well in his own zone, but he will need to improve his strength and physical play. He was outstanding last night, but actually made a couple of errors in his own zone (probably due in part to fatigue) that are uncharacteristic. I definitely like him more than his teammate, Jon Ammerman, who is also a very good prospect. Another Spud I really like is junior forward Matt Becker.

If my memory is correct, Olson verbally committed to play for the Sioux at one time. In the end, he went the major junior route instead. I think he was going to be in the same class with Derick Byfuglien..

I thought Mario Lamoreaux was a 9th grader this year??

On Roanoke.com: Express defenseman Tim O'Connell's friend, Dru Sjodin, is missing in North Dakota. http://www1.roanoke.com/sports/hockey/10894.html "At 6-foot-4, 210-pounds, Roanoke Express defenseman Tim O'Connell can handle being body-checked into the boards. Losing a friend, though, is much harder. ..O'Connell met Sjodin through mutual friends from the University of North Dakota. They later worked together at a local watering hole, O'Connell as a bartender and Sjodin as a waitress."

Wisconsin has a very talented freshman class with several young guys that haven't been drafted yet. None of the Badgers in this draft class would seem to be likely candidates to turn pro any time soon. Ryan Suter on the other hand, could be a one-year Badger.

This is disconcerting. Stafford is under-age for this year's draft which is why he would have to "opt-in." Under-age players who opt-in to the draft after enrolling in college lose their remaining eligibility. Bizzarely, players can opt-in before enrolling without losing eligibility. Only the NCAA could come up with that.

Hmm..what follows are just my guesses. Scholarship money available for next year is probably quite limited (unless/until people give up eligibility to turn pro). The Sioux already have Lammy, Radke, Beaverson, Zajac, and Kaip coming in next year. We've heard that the Sioux are recruiting Duncan and that his father would love to see him at UND. A ton of scholarship money will open up within another year. Among the possibilities are that the Sioux: a) think he needs a year of juniors; b) would like him to come next year, but can't offer much money the first year; c) are waiting to hear from another player(s) first before making a final decision on an offer; d) Duncan is mulling over other offers. The Herald has reported that the Sioux are also recruiting Kris Chucko, Zajac's linemate at Salmon Arm. Chucko is younger and was compared to Perry Berezan (highly skilled, went on to the NHL). Chucko is being recruited by the big guns in Hockey East. A UNH fan with the handle "NCAA Watcher" posted on USCHO that the Sioux are interested in Evan Rankin of the Lincoln Stars. Rankin was justed listed as an "A" prospect by NHL Central Scouting. Rick has mentioned that the Sioux are in the running for a skilled European. I wonder if this could be Slavakian forward Rastislav Spirko who is playing with Tri-City in the USHL via . According to POI, Spirko just made a visit to Minnesota. There are a couple of '87 forwards in western Canada who are apparently wanted by everyone: Dan Bertram and Brock Bradford. Anybody have any more names? Should be interesting to follow.

Right! My bad. Didn't Maxwell wear #7 too? If so, we've got: #7: Maxwell, Murray, Hrkac (freshman), S. Johnson, Bochenski #11: Taylor, Parks, Ward, Parise

Yes.

Troy Murray was also #7. He scored 78 points as a freshman in 80-81, which I think is a Sioux record. He also had a year in the NHL when he scored 45 goals and 99 points.

Prpich is a throwback. I think he would've fit right in on those early 80's Sioux teams. He has some skill too. Remember, he was MVP of his division in the BCHL.

My apologies to all for my newbie mistake in the tone of my last post. I certainly didn't intend to criticize DMT for starting the thread, nor did I mean to stifle discussion. I DID mean to say that I don't think these particular rankings appear to worth much. I'd love to see an actual poll of pro scouts. I bet the Sioux would still come out looking pretty good.

These "rankings" are a waste of time. Somebody counted NHL draftees and looked at how many "points per game per prospect" they have produced this year. There's no indication that the rater has even seen any of the teams/players.

The 81-82 Fighting Sioux had twelve future NHL players, including all six of the freshman class. Troy Murray and James Patrick were two of the greatest Sioux players ever. Murray had only 51 points in 81-82, but he scored 78 the previous year as a freshman. He was a great 2-way center, strong as a bull, and great hands. Patrick--what can you say? The guy is STILL in the NHL. Phil Sykes was a great goal scorer with jets. Cary Eades was an immovable object in front of the net on the powerplay (think Grant Potulny with a mean streak). Dave Tippett played in the Olympics for Canada TWICE, and now coaches the Dallas Stars. Craig Ludwig was similar to David Hale. I could go on and on...