I am also very optimistic about next years team and believe there is no one, excluding seniors, that should leave. If Rocco was ready to leave he would be putting up well over a pt/gm. Also, there is no way he is big (muscle wise) to play in the NHL. I honestly think he needs two more years of hitting the weights extremely hard to even have a chance of playing in the Show... otherwise its a few years in the AHL and off to Europe.
Just from my observation, if you think this is their year you may be beating yourself up a bit. This team will need a little more than puck luck to pull that off.
14 draft choices... when have you seen this team not take time off? This still surprises you? After watching last weekend I am simply happy they won the game and pumped in 5 goals. That was a must win game. When they shite the bed tonight then you'll see me p'd.
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2014/01/10_fresh_starts_for_north_dakota.php
Complete level...this is what I've been saying for a couple years now. Our team is very good, believe that (not that I have to tell too many of you this). However this team tends to loaf around like they're in a rec league sometimes. In certain games I say to myself wow, could this be the year given they are so young, they have to only get better. Than the next weekend it's like watching an NA game. Pretty frustrating but adds to the drama I guess. Go Sioux!
Even if they sweep (which they have to almost) it won't do much our pairwise ranking. It's odd, we have the same record as Miami, split with Miami (away), and have a better winnning percentage within the NCHC and yet we are way behind them in the pairwise. I'm guessing no one could have called that before the start of the season. I'm still shocked how bad the NCHC's non-conference record is. That tie against Vermont and BU series hurt us pretty bad.
I doubt there are a ton of kids that leave the CHL that go backward to the USHL, BCHL, AJHL, etc....pretty sure they simply go the CIS route (if they are done with hockey for the most part) or go to the ECHL, CHL, FHL, Europe, etc.