Sioux Hockey 09/10

[The Sicatoka]

Dell for Walski; MacWilliam for Finley; Gleason for Jones. That's easy.

Now you need to replace: Duncan, Watkins, Martens, Kozek, Miller

I say that's easy to guess: Cichy, Kristo, Bruneteau, Forney, Knight (in that order)

The assumption in there is Forney coming back. If that's not the case, or if Vande Velde leaves, I'd guess Rowney in next.

(Only if Forney doesn't return and Vande Velde leaves do I expect to see Mattson.)

I suspect based on age, health, size, and/or experiences (like going into corners), that Dan Mattson and Mike Fink are Fall of 2010 guys (and spend 2009-10 in the USHL). I've noted one possible exception to that theory.

[Stack]

Ok. Let's see what we're losing and what we're gaining.

Walski being replaced by Dell: Since Walski rarely played I'd say this is an upgrade. Potentially a great upgrade sicne Dell is matching or breaking Eidesness's records in that league.

Finley being replaced by MacMillan. This is a downgrade since Big Joe was a steady influence. We'll need to see how MacMillan adjusts.

Jones being replaced by Gleason: Jones was steady but he was also a healthy scratch numerous times. I think we'll see Gleason have some problems but overall I'd say an upgrade.

Kozek replaced by Cichy: Kozek had his games but also disappeared a lot. By the end of the season hewas not on the PP or the PK. Potentially an upgrade.

Duncan replaced by Kristo: Obviously a downgrade and we'll hope that Kristo can show us some of Duncan in his play. Older forwards will need to step it up to replace Duncan overall.

Watkins replaced by Bruneteau: Watkins was great on the PK and could put a lot of pressure on. Brunteau is rather small so we'll have to see how this plays out. Downgrade for now.

Martens replaced by Forney: Martens was a healthy scratch most games his first two years but worked his way into the lineup and was a steady player the last two years. Forney is playing very well in the USHL and I'm hoping he's matured enough to be a factor. I'd say for now this is a wash unless Forney shows us more than he did the first two years he was at UND

Miller replaced by Knight/Rowney/Mattson: Even though Miller played defense most of this year he will be replaced by a forward. As a forward Miller was average and sat a lot. I'd say this is a slight downgrade at first but if Mattson is the guy it could be a big upgrade by the end of the year.

Now don't get me wrong. I really like Miller and Martens and the rest of the seniors but you have to remind yourself that Walski, Miller, Martens, and Jones didn't play a lot their first 2 years with Walski rarely playing. So if the freshmen can produce quickly we may have a better team this next year as long as we can get some leadership.

[DamStrait]

Zach Jones played in 168 games during his career at UND and was rock solid defensively.

Ok. Let's see what we're losing and what we're gaining.

Walski being replaced by Dell: Since Walski rarely played I'd say this is an upgrade. Potentially a great upgrade sicne Dell is matching or breaking Eidesness's records in that league.

Finley being replaced by MacMillan. This is a downgrade since Big Joe was a steady influence. We'll need to see how MacMillan adjusts.

Jones being replaced by Gleason: Jones was steady but he was also a healthy scratch numerous times. I think we'll see Gleason have some problems but overall I'd say an upgrade.

Kozek replaced by Cichy: Kozek had his games but also disappeared a lot. By the end of the season hewas not on the PP or the PK. Potentially an upgrade.

Duncan replaced by Kristo: Obviously a downgrade and we'll hope that Kristo can show us some of Duncan in his play. Older forwards will need to step it up to replace Duncan overall.

Watkins replaced by Bruneteau: Watkins was great on the PK and could put a lot of pressure on. Brunteau is rather small so we'll have to see how this plays out. Downgrade for now.

Martens replaced by Forney: Martens was a healthy scratch most games his first two years but worked his way into the lineup and was a steady player the last two years. Forney is playing very well in the USHL and I'm hoping he's matured enough to be a factor. I'd say for now this is a wash unless Forney shows us more than he did the first two years he was at UND

Miller replaced by Knight/Rowney/Mattson: Even though Miller played defense most of this year he will be replaced by a forward. As a forward Miller was average and sat a lot. I'd say this is a slight downgrade at first but if Mattson is the guy it could be a big upgrade by the end of the year.

Now don't get me wrong. I really like Miller and Martens and the rest of the seniors but you have to remind yourself that Walski, Miller, Martens, and Jones didn't play a lot their first 2 years with Walski rarely playing. So if the freshmen can produce quickly we may have a better team this next year as long as we can get some leadership.

[mikejm]

Zach Jones played in 168 games during his career at UND and was rock solid defensively.

Yeah, I was wondering about the "healthy scratch numerous times" thing. I sit in the Sioux d-zone two periods a game; replacing Jones is going to take a pretty special freshman. I didn't see too many opposing forwards wanting to go into the corner with Zach.

[808287]

Yeah, I was wondering about the "healthy scratch numerous times" thing. I sit in the Sioux d-zone two periods a game; replacing Jones is going to take a pretty special freshman. I didn't see too many opposing forwards wanting to go into the corner with Zach.

Right on. Jones will be missed. His skates might not be as large as Finley's, but it'll take a real man to fill 'em.

Blackouts optional.

[redwing77]

Dell for Walski; MacWilliam for Finley; Gleason for Jones. That's easy.

Now you need to replace: Duncan, Watkins, Martens, Kozek, Miller

I say that's easy to guess: Cichy, Kristo, Bruneteau, Forney, Knight (in that order)

The assumption in there is Forney coming back. If that's not the case, or if Vande Velde leaves, I'd guess Rowney in next.

(Only if Forney doesn't return and Vande Velde leaves do I expect to see Mattson.)

I suspect based on age, health, size, and/or experiences (like going into corners), that Dan Mattson and Mike Fink are Fall of 2010 guys (and spend 2009-10 in the USHL). I've noted one possible exception to that theory.

I second this.

[yzerman19]

I have to believe that Finehage will skate in Jonesy's spot. I think we'll see a mix of McWilliam and Gleason early on that third d pairing.

I'm not sure about Rowney and Knight for next year, as they just signed this year. Draft status will play a role, but I think the idea is to have them lined up to fill Zajac and VV's spots for 2010.

The coaches will be looking to fill specific roles as well as developing talent. We have to have a grinding line to accompany two established scoring lines and a developing scoring line.

You can't roll 4 scoring lines and expect to win in this league. Especially with what will be a very young team.

[The Sicatoka]

How I think things align ...

Walski/Dell: It's a goalie thing.

Finley/MacWilliam: It's a defenseman thing.

Jones/Gleason: It's another defenseman thing.

Duncan/Cichy: Smaller shooter/scorers who nearly led their junior league in scoring.

Watkins/Kristo: Speedsters, PK specialists, who scored well in juniors (Kristo is talent upgrade, sorry Matt).

Martens/Bruneteau: Solid players, but guys you don't notice until what they bring is missing from the line-up.

Kozek/Forney: Talented guys, but with some visible weaknesses to their game.

Miller/Knight: Fundamentally skilled and talented guys who flew under the radar until they showed up committing to UND.

PS - One more as a bonus:

Vande Velde/Rowney: Power. Forward.

A year from now the "replace list" could well be:

Genoway/N Mattson

Vande Velde/Rowney - power forward

Zajac/Fink - not flashy but effective

Gregoire/D Mattson - talent guy

Malone/Matt White - power forward

Frattin/Rodwell - shooter/scorer

That would set up 2011 to be (partially) ...

Forbort: a HS junior today with no USHL experience

Parks: a 1992 DOB playing for the St. Louis (Midget) selects today

O'Donnell: a 1992 DOB playing for the Winnipeg Wild (midget) today

Gee, I think I have everyone who's verballed (per Heisenberg's list) accounted for.

[yzerman19]

How I think things align ...

Duncan/Cichy: Smaller shooter/scorers who nearly led their junior league in scoring.

Watkins/Kristo: Speedsters, PK specialists, who scored well in juniors (Kristo is talent upgrade, sorry Matt).

Martens/Bruneteau: Solid players, but guys you don't notice until what they bring is missing from the line-up.

Kozek/Forney: Talented guys, but with some visible weaknesses to their game.

Miller/Knight: Fundamentally skilled and talented guys who flew under the radar until they showed up committing to UND.

PS - One more as a bonus:

Vande Velde/Rowney: Power. Forward.

A year from now the "replace list" could well be:

Genoway/N Mattson

Vande Velde/Rowney - power forward

Zajac/Fink - not flashy but effective

Gregoire/D Mattson - talent guy

Malone/Matt White - power forward

Frattin/Rodwell - shooter/scorer

That would set up 2011 to be (partially) ...

Forbort: a HS junior today with no USHL experience

Parks: a 1992 DOB playing for the St. Louis (Midget) selects today

O'Donnell: a 1992 DOB playing for the Winnipeg Wild (midget) today

Gee, I think I have everyone who's verballed (per Heisenberg's list) accounted for.

well done. I wonder if we can keep all of that talent happy sitting in the stable...you want to see intense practices...

[redwing77]

How's Fink "effective?"

I still don't know much about the guy, but he's not had the most fortunate of USHL careers with injuries and healthy scratches...

I'm not sure how effective he'll be if we have next to nothing to go by when he's coming in.

[Big A HG]

How's Fink "effective?"

I still don't know much about the guy, but he's not had the most fortunate of USHL careers with injuries and healthy scratches...

I'm not sure how effective he'll be if we have next to nothing to go by when he's coming in.

You have to take these types of posts with a grain of salt. I don't pay much attention to them because 1) No one knows for sure about how they'll perform here, 2) many people think they know but really are clueless

This isn't a knock on anyone in particular, but I have differing opinions a lot of time myself.

[yababy8]

I don't know the extent of Truppers injury woes, but I did not see improvement in his game. In fact, I felt he was a non factor after the MN series. If I were evan, I'd be worried about icetime next year.

Trupp was playing an impressive brand of hockey until he re-injured his shoulder in Alaska. Before he got hurt in that series, he was making play after play. I remember thinking he was not getting good bounces and that with the plays he was making he should have had 3 or four points in the Friday game.

Then he got hurt. I think he has problems with shoulder dislocations??

If he stays healthy he could be something very special I think...

The biggest mystery to me is Toews?? Regardless of his family ties, This kid scored bucket loads of points at Shattucks. I did not get the feeling that his lack of play was an injury thing. But i have no idea about that...

Frattin, Malone and VV would be a line that I would like to see some more.

I think Zajac will have an excellent senior year. But the big challenge is going to be getting guys like he, Gregoire and Hextall on lines that work well together. I thought the 08-09 team was a diffucult one to figure line combos and I see the same challenge for Hak next year.

on D: I see blood having a break out year. And Genoway COULD have a spectacular year. He is so dynamic. His only problem is that pure defensive maturity.

[nodak hockey fanatic]

I don't know the extent of Truppers injury woes, but I did not see improvement in his game. In fact, I felt he was a non factor after the MN series. If I were evan, I'd be worried about icetime next year.

i agree that trupp had a slow second half, but unless he has another unfortunate injury, he will not miss a game next year.

[DAR]

Zach Jones played in 168 games during his career at UND and was rock solid defensively.

Jones as a "healthy scratch" many times?? You must not watch much Sioux hockey....I think he was a healthy scratch once or twice the whole year only to get Blood acclimated. Jones was a very steady dman and will be tough to replace

[dagies]

How I think things align ...

Duncan/Cichy: Smaller shooter/scorers who nearly led their junior league in scoring.

Cichy is 5'11 195 according to the USHL website. He's a monster compared to Duncan.

[The Sicatoka]

How's Fink "effective?"

I've seen Fink play in the USHL.

He can be reasonably effective. (Note the words "shooter", "scorer", "flashy", "power", etc. aren't here.)

How much he can be is up to how much he wants to develop.

[redwing77]

I know that looks like a knock on Fink, but it really isn't.

He's been so unlucky in his tenure in the USHL with injuries and finding a way into the lineup. I have only really sensed things changing when he was traded.

Zajac had a more effective junior career by comparison to Fink.

Big A Hg, you're right on. Maybe Fink will be an Erik Fabian type. Maybe he'll be a Martens. Or a Lee Marvin. Or maybe it will take until his senior year for his role on the team to really shine like Canady and Massen. Hard to say.

[tho0505]

For whatever reason I can't get to the article. But VV is 75% sure he's staying at UND!

[brianvf]

For whatever reason I can't get to the article. But VV is 75% sure he's staying at UND!

What website was the article on?

[UND92,96]

What website was the article on?

It was in yesterday's Herald.

[mikejm]

Vande 75/25 to return

[brianvf]

Vande 75/25 to return

Thanks!

[UND85]

Do you think having a few players from the past couple of years that decided to stay an extra year or two helped some of our current guys make a decision to stay longer? It would be great to see VV #29 suited up again for the Sioux another year!

[andrea6977]

That would be great if he stays but if he goes i will be very happy for him!

[yzerman19]

It seems to me that the UND coaches have done an excellent job at talking through the prospective professionals on what they need to do to make it to the next level.

If I recall the quote prior to "the pact" the coaches had very direct conversations with the players letting them know where they thought they had room for opportunity to improve their game and how staying at UND could help or if I am remembering correctly, in the case of Jonathan Toews they told him that he was "ready". Which clearly he was.

I think Vandevelde is realistic. He is not NHL ready yet, and he knows it. He is a good player who has a legitimate shot at playing in the NHL. I don't see him as a big time goal scorer at the next level, so he does need to improve all the little aspects of his game to make sure he can find a niche.

The guys I've known who have made it all say the same things. Even your fourth line guys who are healthy scatches 10-20 games per year were big time scorers at the junior or collegiate level. They find out pretty quickly once they are "up" who the ALex Os are.

If Edmonton is not ready to commit a big signing bonus to VV, his best bet is certainly to play at UND next year and sign after the season. A nice 20 goal 40 point season would be good leverage. He can develop the little things that Edmonton will like and do it under less pressure. As a power forward, it will also be important for VV to get stronger and keep ont he weight. This can be hard to do playing 82 games.

IMO, the only thinkg that keeps VV out of a green and white (or black) uniform next year is if Edmonton commits a big time signing bonus and the organization thinks his potential can be better reached by playing in the AHL.