scpa0305

Agreed.

Read that he's coming back....that is not good news actually. A healthy Bjugstad is almost unstoppable in college hockey. I also don't think they will have too big of a goaltending issue. They got a couple of solid goaltenders. Sorry, just being honest. We should see some pretty intense games this season.

I would say yes he is coming back. I would think he would have signed by now as the Habs camp was a few weeks ago.

Yup. I was speaking on the NHL rule. I think the USHL says all players under 18 have to wear masks....I could be wrong though. That's how it was when I was younger. I don't think it will go through this year.

Yes, Gopher fans do say that....a lot! But that Mariucci guy didn't saying anything like that....that's all I was trying to say. You are correct, I could care less where the kids come from as long as they are good. I did here an interesting stat though, if you go by a city level there are more Grand Forks kids that have played for the Sioux (in the last 15 years) than any other one city. I thought that was pretty cool.

The reason for not allowing facemasks (for non-injured players) is that the facemask could injure players wearing half shields. I don't know if it's right or wrong but that is the reason.

Slightly out of left field....pretty sure he was talking about Zach....not Lou or JP. Sorry to stick up for the Goofs but I have heard many Sioux fans complain when Potulny and Irmen went to the Goofs (I was one of them ).

From what I heard Coyle had terrible grades and couldn't hack it in the classroom. Supposedly he would have been academically ineligible had he stayed. Probably a good thing he left....some kids simply aren't made for college. It still hurt BU a ton though.

Nice article, I like to hear from former players.

Great news...if the Wild didn't get this one done their bottom line would be terrible.

Hahah

Yeah, that was really not my main argument. FYI, he lived in Bloomington.

Yeah, I look for tells as well. Staal was never going to resign with Pitt however. He already has a Cup and they are big family guys so playing with his brother was probably something he was going to do anyways.

Then you have probably not followed this too closely. From what I read on NHL.com and ESPN and other Chicago news he was extremely close to signing yesterday around 2pm. However, he had some second thoughts (maybe Minny) and he wanted to sleep on it. I'm guessing something might have happened to push Chicago out but I will still go back and say it's between Chicago and Pitt. I would like him to go Minny but I really do not think he holds any allegience to MN. He skipped out on MN HS hockey which is, to the old timers, a true sin around here and he bounced for UND so I don't think the fact he lives here have anything to do with his decision. I think he is looking at who he wants to play with more....JToews or Sid. To be honest they are both my two favorite players so I could care less which direction he goes (although I am pulling a little towards Chicago). Should find out in a bit I'm guessing.

I figured this was probably going to happen. Pretty impossible these days to go to college when you could potentially play in the League this year. Red's going to lose it. So anyone that thinks this is not going to be an increasing theme going forward is in denial. I also believe we are going to start seeing other college players leaving after the year (or at Christmas) as they will feel they are behind the eight ball compared to other prospects. This isn't right, but it's reality. Now College Hockey, Inc. and the NCAA must go out and get something done regarding the decommits.

Hawks. End of thread.

Yes, he will always hover around even regarding +/- but he brings a ton of other skills to the game. Great offensive skill, awesome PP quarterback, etc. He is not a shut down defencemen by any means, but he brings other skills to the game. He will play in the NHL and he was not one of our worst defencemen, he was one of our best.

Ok now....he is not the best d man in his own zone but he was not one of the worst D here. Over exaggerate a bit?

Nice little rant....you say the same thing every time I question anything. I am first, and foremost a college hockey fan. I do pay attention to the CHL because I like to follow top NHL prospects. I also see flaws in both systems. In the early 2000's I enjoyed how college hockey started pulling in top prospects (Parise, Stafford, Toews, Van Reimsdyke, Kessel, Okposo, etc) however that is slightly changing. I just hope College Hockey Inc can start putting in effort to retain US kids.

Yeah, I would think he is a lock then.

I agreed with her post. Everything I mentioned after that were my own thoughts. You pretty much disagree with everything I say even when you do slightly agree with me. Go get more information on this topic...then post something. Or I might ask, why do you think more kids than ever are going to the CHL? Just to go to Canada? If you think some of these kids are simply being persuaded by only the CHL you are wrong....the NHL teams that draft them push for them to go to the CHL. If you are a kid with NHL aspirations you are going to listen to who took the time to draft you (most of the time).

I pretty much agree with everything you said. Don't hate the player....hate the game kind of thing. Because of NCAA regulation they simply can't compete (currently) with the CHL (or NHL actaully as the NHL pretty much funds the CHL leagues). Tough situation.

Their GMs can be leaches...but you are correct I really don't think they are the "bad guys". Also, they offer money under the table to players (which is against their rules but rarely enforced). They get a bad rep because of the players that leave college to play their at the instruction of the team which drafted them (a majority of the time).

I don't have any of the answers all I know is that something has to change because some of the current flaws are pretty obvious. You are correct with all those players you listed....there are probably some more but those are some of the ones I know of. I am trying to look at this as unbiasedly as possible, it is very easy to come on this message board and sound off on the CHL, but I think a better use of our time would be to look at the flaws. Also, I never said once it was college hockey fault, youre right it is the NHLPA and the NHLs fault. But there are former college players within the NHLPA and they should be speaking up on some of these issues to promote the developmental route they took. All I'm saying, is that from a business perspective, it is much more risky to draft a college bound player than a CHL bound player under the current rules. I guarantee that if you took a pole of all NHL gms a majority would say the same thing. I just think US Hockey/NCAA must work with the NHL to try and resolve some of these "exaggerated" flaws...as you call it. Because US kids are starting to jump ship more and more and I bet this trend just gets worse unless some sort of pack is established.

I bet he does...but I wouldn't say, at this point, he is a lock. I really think it depends on the player. If they are more relaxed and layed back and simply want to play hockey....they go with their gut on where they want to go. If they are uber dedicated and will do anything to get into the League....they will most likey do whatever the NHL gms want them to do...even back out of their prior commitments.