jk

In Miller's defense, he had serious shoulder surgery in the Spring of 2005, so he basically missed the offseason workout that preceded last season. We will get a much better read on him this season, after a typical offseason regimen. In addition, their USHL performances suggest Miller may be a more natural goalscorer than Vandevelde, as Miller scored pretty well on a horrible Green Bay team, while Vandevelde didn't light it up for Lincoln last year. And just to clarify, I'm not rooting against Vandevelde, just defending Miller. I'd like to see them both do well. Edit: Looks like THETRIOUXPER beat me to it.

I think Kariya left halfway through his sophomore season, and of course Calgary famously tried to woo Chucko last year. Did Pettinger leave DU mid-season a while ago? Not sure. Anyway, it is a brave new world, and I suppose Calgary's attempts last year could be a warning shot to all of college hockey that things are different now. Only time will tell. For the most part I expect that it will continue to be a rare event, as teams won't want to put their prospects in the uncomfortable position of abandoning their current teammates.

Honestly I think fans of every team, including UND, should still be nervous. In cases where both the player and the team have publicly said they are commited to college this season, such as Toews, Skille and EJ, I think the commitment is fairly certain. In any other situation, teams could still get bitten, as CC just did.

A little more info on Gregoire. He played in the U17 Challenge over the holidays last year, the same tournament (different year) where J. Toews led Team Western to the Gold and was the tournament's leading scorer. Typically the rosters for the Canadian teams are at least 80% current or future MJ players. Gregoire scored 3-1-4 in 4 games, good for second on his team behind a player with 0-5-5 in 5 games. Team Western did not do very well in the tournament, so these results were nowhere near the tournament's top scorers. For reference, Colin Wilson scored 6-2-8 in 6 games for Team USA. Also, Brad Malone had 4-1-5 in 5 games, Angelo Esposito 3-1-4 in 6 games and Kyle Turris 3-1-4 in 6 games. He was a fourth round pick of the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL. Here's a summary of Team Western's experience at the tournament (from a Hockey Manitoba newsletter that doesn't appear to be copyrighted). http://www.hockeymanitoba.mb.ca/hockey_mat...2_febmar_06.pdf -------------------- "It was just not to be for Team Western at this year's 2006 World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Regina. While the early buzz was a medal finish for the 22 Manitoba and Saskatchewan players that make up Team Western, a rash of injuries depleted the lineup starting with the exhibition game with Team Finland. A known pre-tournament strength, team defence, held true and the team played stingy defence throughout. Offensive chances, a premium at such a highly competitive tournament, were few and the team could not capitalize. A couple of missed opportunities, tough breaks, and goal posts prevented a better outcome and as the tournament progressed, our healthy players began to wear down. Brett Leffler, Team Western's Captain, Jason Gregoire, Assistant Captain and Josh Schappert all missed significant minutes due to various injuries. After a 3-2 win against Slovakia in the opening game of the tournament, the Western players faced Team Quebec and went down to a 3-2 defeat against the eventual gold medal champions. Team USA was next and after a hard fought 1-1 tie, Team Western was left with a 5 goal or more defeat of Team Ontario on the last evening of the round robin to advance to the medal round. After taking an early 2-0 lead, the Ontario team turned out to be a formidable opponent defeating West 7-2. The loss placed us 4th in our pool and a return engagement with Team Finland (the exhibition game opponent Western had played to a 2-2 tie with). Although our team was disappointed at not being able to play in the medal round, Jason Gregoire (who was back in the lineup) scored both goals, including the overtime winner to put Western in 7th place in the tournament. A big thank you should go out to the players and staff for a job well done and for representing Manitoba and Saskatchewan with pride." --------------------- He was a fourth round pick of the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL.

FWIW, Heisenberg now has Jason Gregoire listed as a 2007 recruit in the USHL section, playing for Lincoln, rather than the MJHL section, where he had previously been listed.

IRanger, I have considered the exact lines you posted. Not everyone on a scoring line needs to be flashy and swift. (Geez, looks like I just slammed Fabian.) I think nearly all of Fabian's goals in his Sioux career have been scored within three feet of the crease. Is there room on a scoring line for someone who will create space for his (perhaps) more talented linemates, who will occupy the goalie by camping out in front of him, and who has soft hands in front of the net?

Generally, I feel like people are selling Watkins short a bit. I agree that Oshie, Toews and Duncan are in the group of the top six forwards, and I also agree that Porter and Kozek are likely candidates to join that list. But Watkins is faster than some of those guys, and while he's not as flashy, he can see the ice. For example, two of Kaip's Spring goals came directly off Watkins' stick. I think he'll surprise people by being in the mix for a top six forward spot this year.

I have heard from many people what a genuinely nice guy Berry is, and how evident that becomes to recruits and their families. Berry has been a huge part of UND's success as the program transitioned from Blais to Hakstol. If true, and I imagine it is, this is indeed a tough one for UND. It's also exciting, for Berry as he moves on, and for the program, as it searches for and adds a new presence.

Bishop will be eligible this fall as a true freshman. Shea Hamilton (from UAA) will start as a junior in the fall of 2007.

LaPoint is an 07, and move Genoway down from the forwards to the defense and you have it.

How's that Toews, Oshie, Duncan with Lee and Chorney PP sounding?

I know there is a thread on Toews but this seems official enough to announce it in its own thread. Combined with reports that Toews himself said it in an interview, looks like we get another year. Now we can start arguing about whether JT and TJ should each anchor a line, or team up on a number ONE line. http://tsn.ca/nhl/feature/?fid=10460&hubname= "The Blackhawks have confirmed that first-round draft pick Jonathan Toews will return to the University of North Dakota this season rather than sign with Chicago. - TSN"

A few notes from a TB blog about Smaby at their prospects camp: Smaby - His first camp may be a rough one. There'll be a lot for him to take him. He had the broadest shoulders on the ice. He skated well, covered a lot of ice. Tried to make an impression by hitting at evry chance. Really destroyed one of the tryout guys at center ice who had his head down. Didn't notice him much offensively, the positive being he didn't mishandle the puck much. Maybe a mid/late year call-up from springy. I think going from college to the NHL, he'll get spun around to much without a little professional seasoning. Smaby - I had a more favorable impression than yeaterday. Showed a nice shot from the blue line, closed very well to take away a couple of odd man rushes. Generally was solid. I still think he'll get spun around a bit by NHL skaters, but he's not as far away as I thought yesterday. Smaby looked ok. I wasn't real impressed with him as he made some mistakes. Got in to a fight with one of the tryout guys and landed two big punches to end it. Had a nice slap shot. I'd have to see more of him to get a better impression.

I could see the SCSU angle, but they graduated a big class last year, I think. UMD in a year or two as their big class matures. A team like FSU from a few years ago (hack city, USA). By the end of the year, I might still take my chances with the team with the two best forwards in college hockey (knocking on wood). edit: I checked on SCSU. They return their top scorer, but scorers 2-5 were all senior forwards. So they need to rebuild their scoring lines. On the plus side (for them), it looks like most of their defense returns intact. Over the next few years, UND will probably become one of the more experienced teams. The current sophomore class will still have 5 or 6 players left when they're seniors, and the current freshman class looks like it may still be pretty intact then too.

Couple more camps of interest: Canada's National Junior Evaluation Camp runs from July 23-28, with scrimmages the last three days. Despite being a WJC veteran, Toews is still younger than all but eight of the forty or so other campers. Also, Canada's Under-18 camp runs from July 28 - August 2. Recruiting target Brad Malone will attend. (I don't know if he is a serious recruiting target or if UND is in the mix, but he's been mentioned here.) The US National Junior Camp runs from August 7-12. Lee, Chorney, Jones and Forney have been invited.

If they advance to St. Louis, I doubt they'd even let him board the plane back to Grand Forks.

I heard a prior commitment to work a hockey camp.

I wouldn't invest too heavily in any reports right now, positive or negative. Last week, two newspapers reported that PK would return next year, then a few days later a Boston paper indicated that it wasn't yet decided. At about the same time, a Wisconsin paper said that Skille was expected to return for his sophomore year, then the next day another newspaper said it was still unclear. This latest note on Toews is encouraging, but it could change with the next day's news. Also, Hockeys Future isn't necessarily the most reliable source. Their source for the Toews comment may well have been INCH's story about Toews.

You don't remember his press conference? (I'm really sorry to have brought that into this.)

Thirty points would be fantastic. If so, then maybe the only guy who can slow Vandy down is Steve Johnson.

With all due respect to Vandevelde, Bayda was considered one of the top forward recruits in the country his freshman year, and many expected a big year from him. The aforementioned 10-12-22 rookie year would probably be the top end of my expectations for Vandevelde this year. The standard caution, that I'd be more than happy to be proven wrong, applies here.

Colin Wilson, who played some youth hockey in Winnipeg, apparently committed to BU. This is from an ROI e-mail: "Boston University aside, word is Colorado College and North Dakota were also heavily in the mix for Wilson, who in the end found Boston to the be the object of his D-I desires. "

http://www.chicagoblackhawks.com/news/news.asp?story_id=3358 "Norfolk head coach Mike Haviland: I really liked [Chris] Porter. I thought he had a good camp. I thought [Jack] Skille had a good camp. Jake Dowell had a good camp ... that whole line was really good with [Adam] Burish and [Nathan] Davis. I really like the future of the Blackhawks with Bolland, Barker, Toews and the other guys who had to leave early. Norfolk assistant coach Ted Dent: Porter was a guy who impressed me. He was tenacious, finished checks. Obviously the guys who left early -- they were impressive at various times throughout the week as well." ------------------ Plus plenty of other mentions of Porter and Toews.

Thrashers Day 5: Kaip

I know I'm a homer and everything, but I don't even accept the premise that UND will be worse in the upcoming year. Sure they lose three of their top six forwards (assuming Toews returns), but what college team doesn't routinely have that turnover? No disrespect to Stafford, Zajac, Spirko, Prpich, Smaby and Parise, who have meant a ton to the program, but college programs march on with a different team every year. I'll take my chances with the group in the Sioux jerseys again this year.