2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal

[brianvf]

18 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

Is UND a program where player development is barely on the radar anymore?

Blake seemed to do alright in his development the last couple years.   

5 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Do we risk having a liability on the ice hoping he will develop, or do we cut our losses on the Wade Murphys and Harrison Blaisdells of the world? Roster management is very different than it was a few years ago, clearing room for proven commodities is part of the game.

Agreed.  Benoit wasn't to the level of the other players.  No knock on him, he could have stuck with it and attempted to improve or go elsewhere.  Look at Komzak...he barely played but he's sticking with it (from the current looks of things), and hopefully he develops into a good upperclassmen for us.

People are forgetting how much of a liability Moore was last season...it was pretty brutal at times.  And then this year I only watched two QU games (NCAA tourney), and he had a horrible turnover in the defensive zone...passed it directly to a UW player for a goal.  So it appears even the great Pecknold didn't magically turned him around.

I would rather Berry put the lineup on the ice that has the best chance of success (both in that game and for the season development).  I agree that he missed the mark two seasons ago playing Hain and Senden so much.  And that might have directly led to Costantini leaving, which I feel was a decent size loss.  But I didn't see anything this year in Benoit or Emerson that would warrant keeping them on the ice in place of other older/5th year/portal players.

[cberkas]

 

[Oxbow6]

5 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Blake seemed to do alright in his development the last couple years.   

Agreed.  Benoit wasn't to the level of the other players.  No knock on him, he could have stuck with it and attempted to improve or go elsewhere.  Look at Komzak...he barely played but he's sticking with it (from the current looks of things), and hopefully he develops into a good upperclassmen for us.

People are forgetting how much of a liability Moore was last season...it was pretty brutal at times.  And then this year I only watched two QU games (NCAA tourney), and he had a horrible turnover in the defensive zone...passed it directly to a UW player for a goal.  So it appears even the great Pecknold didn't magically turned him around.

I would rather Berry put the lineup on the ice that has the best chance of success (both in that game and for the season development).  I agree that he missed the mark two seasons ago playing Hain and Senden so much.  And that might have directly led to Costantini leaving, which I feel was a decent size loss.  But I didn't see anything this year in Benoit or Emerson that would warrant keeping them on the ice in place of other older/5th year/portal players.

Both Moore and Constantini had bad seasons in 2022-2023. Both had good seasons this past one. Schmaltz grossly underachieved this like Constantini did. One is coming back. One was told to get lost.

[Wilbur]

Should we be surprised Schloss didn't say much about Ludvig signing an ECHL deal?

Maybe Berry could chime in on his situation?  

Hah, see what I did there. 

 

[fightingsioux4life]

50 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Do we risk having a liability on the ice hoping he will develop, or do we cut our losses on the Wade Murphys and Harrison Blaisdells of the world? Roster management is very different than it was a few years ago, clearing room for proven commodities is part of the game.

So we should focus on the portal more? I think we should focus more on getting the best talent we can and letting them learn on the job. Obviously some of those players won't work out, but if you hit on more than you miss, you'll be in the hunt at the end of the year.

The coaches did a great job last off-season finding portal guys that fit in, but sometimes I think the coaches choose the short-term certainty of 5th and 6th year guys over the long-term potential of talented freshmen and sophomores.

[.357]

52 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Agreed.  Benoit wasn't to the level of the other players.  

Wasn't to the level of the other transfer portal D players who had 4 or more years of college hockey experience compared to Benoit; so obviously he wasn't going to be to their level ..yet, anyway. I don't think that's a fair comparison to players who have substantially more game experience than him. Not all players acclimate like Livanage, some need some patience to get up-to-speed. How did Benoit look in the regional against MI? Did he make glaring mistakes resulting in goals or opportunities for MI, or did he hold his own even though he saw limited time this year? I guess only time will tell if him leaving for QU was unfortunate for UND.

I appreciate the feedback here, it helps me to learn more about the players.

[fightingsioux4life]

Once the extra Covid years have been exhausted, you won't have as many portal guys to choose from.

[jk]

Does Costantini bear any responsibility for the course of events?  He was given plenty of opportunities, up the lineup and on the PP, and had nothing.  If he had contributed regularly on the scoresheet, he would have spent all year on the top lines.  I don't know how the coaches are at fault for trimming the ice time of an unproductive player.

Good for him that he turned it around, but he had a terrible year.  

[brianvf]

8 minutes ago, .357 said:

Wasn't to the level of the other transfer portal D players who had 4 or more years of college hockey experience compared to Benoit; so obviously he wasn't going to be to their level ..yet, anyway. I don't think that's a fair comparison to players who have substantially more game experience than him.

How did Benoit look in the regional against MI?

He wasn't to their level yet, for sure.  And definitely a big part of that was because they all had substantially more NCAA playing time compared to him.

It's a difficult path either way.  If you play Benoit over a portal player, and he keeps making mistakes...does he become the scapegoat on here like so many before him?  Remember Moore last year?  Or Johnson the year before?  I know these young players will make mistakes, it's part of the process...heck, even the experienced guys still made mistakes, especially down the stretch this year.  But if a guy keeps repeatedly getting burned, at some point you have to get someone on the ice that isn't making (as many) mistakes.  Like what happened with Johnson the second half of his year.  For these decisions, ya have to trust the coaches.  They know a heck of a lot more than all of us, and see these players every practice and every game to know which players to put on the ice to maximize our chances of winning.

4 minutes ago, fightingsioux4life said:

Once the extra Covid years have been exhausted, you won't have as many portal guys to choose from.

For sure.  Schloss said that 40% of the 300+ players in the portal this year were 5th year COVID guys.
Portal numbers should go down drastically in upcoming off-seasons.

[brianvf]

16 minutes ago, .357 said:

How did Benoit look in the regional against MI?

Forgot to answer this question.
I think it was said that he played like 3-4 minutes in the game against MI, so even with Pyke out injured, he wasn't on the ice much at all.

[nodakgirl93]

1 hour ago, Oxbow6 said:

Both Moore and Constantini had bad seasons in 2022-2023. Both had good seasons this past one. Schmaltz grossly underachieved this like Constantini did. One is coming back. One was told to get lost.

Where has it been said Constantini was showed the door? Seemed like he left for lack of playing time? 

[fsioux]

12 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Forgot to answer this question.
I think it was said that he played like 3-4 minutes in the game against MI, so even with Pyke out injured, he wasn't on the ice much at all.

The coaches see these guys in practice too.  There are a number of factors, including attitude.  Some players take coaching to heart, others think they know better than their coaches.  It is like that in everyday life.  We don't know, for the most part, what went on behind the scenes.

[Oxbow6]

35 minutes ago, jk said:

Does Costantini bear any responsibility for the course of events?  He was given plenty of opportunities, up the lineup and on the PP, and had nothing.  If he had contributed regularly on the scoresheet, he would have spent all year on the top lines.  I don't know how the coaches are at fault for trimming the ice time of an unproductive player.

Good for him that he turned it around, but he had a terrible year.  

To answer your question....yes.

To the bolded part......Schmaltz says "Hold my beer". Again what's the difference? Schmaltz had ONE goal all season yet was on the ice plenty down the stretch vs MI when the team needed a goal to tie it up. Not bashing Schmaltz but......I'm obviously missing something between Constantini and him.

[Oxbow6]

15 minutes ago, nodakgirl93 said:

Where has it been said Constantini was showed the door? Seemed like he left for lack of playing time? 

Yes to both?? 

[farce poobah]

12 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

To answer your question....yes.

To the bolded part......Schmaltz says "Hold my beer". Again what's the difference? Schmaltz had ONE goal all season yet was on the ice plenty down the stretch vs MI when the team needed a goal to tie it up. Not bashing Schmaltz but......I'm obviously missing something between Constantini and him.

In the 2022-2023 season, which is what the coaches were making decisions on,  Schmaltz outscored Costantini, no contest.

Schmaltz went 5-7-12 points, Costantini just 2-1-3 points in 25 games.   

Based on that ... 

[Oxbow6]

7 minutes ago, farce poobah said:

In the 2022-2023 season, which is what the coaches were making decisions on,  Schmaltz outscored Costantini, no contest.

Schmaltz went 5-7-12 points, Costantini just 2-1-3 points in 25 games.   

Based on that ... 

Does reading comprehension elude you? Where did I make the comparison between the two for the 22-23 season. Constantini was bad that season. That's been acknowledged. Hopefully Schmaltz can double his point total from this season next season.....which would still not have him reach his Fr point total. You see what I did there??

[scpa0305]

32 minutes ago, farce poobah said:

In the 2022-2023 season, which is what the coaches were making decisions on,  Schmaltz outscored Costantini, no contest.

Schmaltz went 5-7-12 points, Costantini just 2-1-3 points in 25 games.   

Based on that ... 

both those seasons were terrible compared with 21-22. If my memory serves right schmaltz continued to play in a top 6/more advantageous role while Matteo was buried buried. The fact schmaltz had 12 in 25 while playing top 6 and seeing pp time is actually worse if you ask me.

[iluvdebbies]

https://denverpioneers.com/news/2024/4/19/du-pioneers-hockey-sean-behrens-signs-with-colorado-avalanche.aspx

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

3 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

At least Schmaltz had more goals than you this past season.

......and you've followed Albrecht's career?

Long leash is obviously better than a short one at UND.

As a rule I try not to put down players currently on the roster on this site. I've slipped before but won't say anything negative now.

If Benoit wasn't drafted with a throwaway pick we wouldn't be having this conversation.

2 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

So we should focus on the portal more? I think we should focus more on getting the best talent we can and letting them learn on the job. Obviously some of those players won't work out, but if you hit on more than you miss, you'll be in the hunt at the end of the year.

The coaches did a great job last off-season finding portal guys that fit in, but sometimes I think the coaches choose the short-term certainty of 5th and 6th year guys over the long-term potential of talented freshmen and sophomores.

There is a whole new recruiting landscape. We may or may not have recruited a player saying if he proved himself elsewhere he could come here afterwards. Less risk all around, but keeps the have nots from keeping those diamonds in the rough.

[Oxbow6]

2021-2022 season two Fr. were in top six in total points on the team. One was gone, off the roster after his So. season. One combining his So. and Jr. season point totals didn't equal his Fr. point total. Seems hard to blame everything on either players for how their productivity at UND evolved. So again I'll ask.....where's the pursuit of development?

[Wilbur]

2 hours ago, SiouxFanSince1990 said:

So Ludvig was pushed out then?

He informed the team he would not be returning for another season.

Bring on portal goalie #4.  

[The Sicatoka]

109 of 308 on the Portal list are "Sr", meaning guys with a Covid year to burn. That's the last group with the extra (Covid) year. 

[Wilbur]

1 hour ago, The Sicatoka said:

109 of 308 on the Portal list are "Sr", meaning guys with a Covid year to burn. That's the last group with the extra (Covid) year. 

Finally.....finally.....however I've put in a request to play out my Covid season as the team needs a 4th or 5th practice goaltender. 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Broz signed.

[Goon]

14 hours ago, SiouxFanSince1990 said:

So Ludvig was pushed out then?

He informed the coaching staff that he was going to sign a professional contract.