jk

Except for five seconds, the mavs have looked great.

They're not danglers or PP guys, but each of Senden, Hain and Jammer ended up at 0.5 points per game, which is good for a shutdown line.

This is a heck of a game.

Jandric was so shaky in the first month, and I was wondering why he was here. But it turns out he was super rusty after not playing the year before, and I thought he got better and better all year. I don't disagree on the spear, but I will on the OT penalty. He did make a mistake, in fanning on the puck as it went by at the point. But he made the only play he could at that point, which was to interfere with the guy about to go on a breakaway. It was the smart play.

Now UND has to avoid falling into the trap of having most of the team back and failing to find the magic. It doesn't just happen because you're back, you have to make it happen. Look at SC this year. The whole "unfinished business" thing seems to often end with the business still not finished.

Wish he woulda won one more game with UMass before heading West.

Just my personal view, I'm fine with a fifth year guy. While they do lose a lot next year, they will have some well-seasoned recruits ready to come in, and there's always the portal next year too.

Many years it's hard to figure out how they'll address the roster issues, and I take comfort in the fact that while I don't know the plan, the coaches do. This year, maybe they don't even know it yet. There are a few moving parts, plus mysteries behind portal door number three. I do know this team was tough to play against at the end of the year, and if they bring back the fifth year guys plus everyone else older and stronger, they will be that and more. However, you also have to get the puck in the net, and in the playoffs you have to do it on the PP, like, in the last 90 seconds of regulation. With that in mind, guys like James and Spicer cannot come out of this game of musical chairs without a chair. If it's a seat the following year, that's fine, as long as the chair is in GF. The coaches are much smarter than I am, and I'm sure they know the squad needs to have slicker players, so it'll be interesting to see how they put it together.

If this came to pass, it would be great for the top 20 programs, but horrible for the sport. The bottom 30 programs or so would be feeders for the top. I understand you were exaggerating a bit, but you may not be far off.

Awesome numbers. Thanks for crunching them.

I think the point of the post I was responding to was that even years when UND failed to qualify, it was in the neighborhood. Finishing 20th means your last few weeks were relevant because you could still play your way up and in. Compare that to examples from this year of former glory: BC 28, WI 37, Miami 46, Maine 51. By UND's standards, 20th is very poor, the worst in two decades. But it's not an embarrassment as those others listed were.

I have to think UND would be tops by that measure. Really only one clunker, 2002, since Blais took over. Maybe Denver and BC are in the discussion. Most of today's top Eastern teams were PWR 40 types 15 years ago. It won't do much for the "natty" counters, but it has meant a consistently competitive, contending, entertaining program for a big chunk of the adult lives of its fans.

It also has a better chance of succeeding on the off chance UNO doesn't qualify. The NCAA wouldn't have to work too hard to get UND or any of a number of MN schools there.

I generally agree with SJHovey. Some of the recent recruiting battles are ominous indicators. The question is how to thrive in the new world. I think the answer is partly to focus on what UND has always been good at, Canadian kids who care more about hockey than they do the bigger sports world that dominates the U.S. Also the team will just have to be older, and pick up late bloomers. It'll be interesting to see how the tourney goes next week, to see if the future is now.

You may be right, I have no idea how they think. On the other hand, not only do they have Sanderson coming in, but they have two first rounders seasoning in the AHL (JBD is one.) Getting crowded maybe.

Regarding Spicer, these days, unless a guy is big time, I'd like him to be killing it in juniors in his D+1 year. However, if it turns out to be correct that he's coming in, it could be because the coaches realize they need some slick hands on the PP. That I'd be ok with.

To each their own.

I get that. Perhaps lost in my post was the idea that they are the odds on favorite for next year. Loaded roster and an ultra high end recruiting class.

If MN wins this year, it may be the first of a back to back. Still ok with it?

What is that a list of?

Hot take, but I think Pinto and Sanderson are going to help them make the playoffs next year.

Yes.

Just keep the local talent around and make most of them play a couple years of juniors.

Isn't Liv 17 yo? Is he even a senior in HS? The way the NCAA is now you have to be exceptional to play that young. Seems much better to let him play big minutes in juniors, develop, and get stronger.

Yeah, but he did stay in junior for the extra year. So he wasn't ready.