fsioux

Thanks for the update

Any update on Jones?

I would suspect that once again there will be a few teams in the NCHC that will be very good next year and that have a legitimate shot at a Natty with a few breaks. When it comes down to one and done, there are always upsets on the way and the best team does not always win it all. Long ways to go before next April and there will be alot of development of players during that period of time. UND has a number of candidates capable of taking that next step and I have no doubt we will be "In the Hunt" as usual next year.

I would suspect that maybe Chartrand is not coming back. His playing time has been non-existent.

City council doesn't know it yet, but name has been changed to Hawks Falls!

So things have changed a little bit with Borgstrom. A couple of weeks ago the hockey pundits made it sound like he was very likely to come back. If Montgomery does decide to leave, that will be a significant factor in some of these players decisions. You just won a Natty, new coach coming in with a new personality and possible philosophical differences. Life probably does not get better at DU than it was this past year. I have no doubt they will continue to field a strong team, however they are losing a significant number of players and talent even without early departures.

I suppose the NCAA will require Sioux Falls to change their name to something like "Hawk Falls"?

Have to believe there will be a number of other early departures from both DU and UMD in the next few weeks.

Smith really came on at the end of the year. His length and physicality was effective at the end of the season.

My thoughts entirely. At times I joke that we should decline the penalty.

I agree, Jones had a pretty good year and also has some college experience at Ohio State.

Agreed that legacy for 1 year and not winning a Natty, will be minimal. Hopefully his decision to go now works out the best for him in the long run. That being said, if he had returned, would most likely have furthered his leadership abilities and that could be a big benefit of his success at the NHL level.

Looks to me like depth will be a big asset next year. N. Jones should see significant minutes along with C. Adams.

Just take C. Sanderson off last year's team.

I wouldn't give up on Wilkie just yet. We have had a number of players over the years that all of a sudden blossomed in their last year or 2. Everybody was all over O'Donnell his first couple of years and he was a pretty important part of the team at the end. There are others. I would not be surprised to see Wilkie become a solid contributor. I also think that Januatuinen and Hoff have very nice careers at UND.

Off a decade

This is not the first time we have lost great players and won't be the last. Have to believe that a lot of the younger players from this years team will continue to develop as they showed during the season and next year's crop looks promising. Had to figure some of the forwards were going to leave early with guys like Mismash, Jones, Adams and Kawaguchi lined up to come in this fall. The Natty team was hit hard particularly with the loss of Ladue and Stecher and we paid for the inexperience early in the year but at the end of the year the Freshmen improved significantly and should be solid from the get go this fall. The sky is not falling.

I think another factor here is also getting thrown into the fire too soon. You see it alot in baseball where I team rushes a young hitter or pitcher to the majors before they are quite ready and it really sets that player's development back or he never realizes his potential. Absolutely a coach or GM wants as much help as quickly as possible to potentially save their own jobs. It isn't necessarily for the best interests of the player.

You have to be kidding me. Having the young Freshmen and rest of the team watch and practice against a pro like Boeser is invaluable to the overall team. Easy to Monday morning QB because we didn't win a Natty but a break hear or there and we would all be in Chicago right now.

That's probably the point. Off last years team, Drake, Nick, Brock, LaDue, and Stecher have already played in the NHL. Most probably think they can do the same. I am pretty sure that some of the 7 BC players that left early will never make it to the NHL. It is good to have confidence, but in the NHL everybody is good.

Every situation is different and some even if they stay all 4 years will still not make the NHL. There are others however who I believe have greatly enhanced their opportunity to make it in the NHL. Take Drake for example, have to believe that senior season propelled his visibility immensely.

I am afraid you are right. I believe that partly what happens to these guys is that the team that drafts them is scared that if they go into their senior year and the player does well, the player has a better bargaining position as the team that originally drafted him only has 30 days from the time they leave college to sign the prospect. Player could then potentially become a free agent. It is a tough decision for these guys of when to make that move and they get alot of pressure from all sides of what to do. Many parents overestimate the readiness of their son thinking they are ready when they are not. Got to believe that Coach Berry is honest with his players in helping them to make a decision. Unfortunately many of them spend their entire pro careers at the lower levels.

What make Toews such a special player is that he is one of the best 2 way players in the game. If you look a Nick Schmaltz's second year from his first, the big change was the improvement in his defensive game. I think Jost definitely improved in this area as the season went on and after another year of development who knows how big of star he can be in the NHL. Although Boeser's scoring progress was disappointing to some, it appeared to me his 2 way game also took a big step forward during his second year.

I don't think Gersich and Rhett will leave yet. Gersich stepped up this year but needs to get stronger. Rhett could also use another year of development. Wolanin has to improve his defensive game if he wants a lasting career in the NHL. The NHL players would make him pay dearly for the turnovers, even more so than at the college level. Too many guys have left early only to find themselves having careers in the minors.

I think you are dead wrong on Boeser not being motivated this year. The wrist injury definitely played into his performance but I always saw great effort. He did not have the same caliber of talent with Caggiula and Nick both leaving. Schmaltz was a sophomore and his game improved dramatically from his Freshman year. Jost was a Freshman and had to go through the learning curve. I always thought Boeser was a class act and represented UND in proud form. Congratulations to his debut today and here is hoping he has a great NHL career.