Prospective Recruits

[yzerman19]

Call me old fashioned, but I'd pay more for Chris Pronger than for Cale Makar...I'll take forwards that score goals and defenders that like to inflict pain

[stoneySIOUX]

2 hours ago, ChadR said:

No chance he was making over a million.

I mean, I guess he could be lying to me, but direct from the horses mouth lol.

[stoneySIOUX]

2 hours ago, Fratt Mattin said:

If the number is actually 7 figures, then I would guess we are comfortably out of the running

Call me crazy, I'd NOT be upset if that's the case. Not sure I want a player who needs a seven-figure college contract to play at our school lol. Hard to knock the kid, but that is insane.

[I Ranger]

17 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Call me crazy, I'd NOT be upset if that's the case. Not sure I want a player who needs a seven-figure college contract to play at our school lol. Hard to knock the kid, but that is insane.

100% with you and Jax has even said as much that we aren't going to chase players looking for the highest bidder. If the rumored number is true, this screams Michigan and Penn St as really the only two options to me. 

[yzerman19]

$50k-$100k is the going rate for studs

[cberkas]

Roberts Naudins to Michigan  

[farce poobah]

46 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

100% with you and Jax has even said as much that we aren't going to chase players looking for the highest bidder. If the rumored number is true, this screams Michigan and Penn St as really the only two options to me. 

BC, BU, and a few others out east have enough money.

[tnt]

44 minutes ago, I Ranger said:

100% with you and Jax has even said as much that we aren't going to chase players looking for the highest bidder. If the rumored number is true, this screams Michigan and Penn St as really the only two options to me. 

…and Penn State needs to be winners in the portal if they hope to be in the conversation getting into the tournament next year, as they lost a good deal of their experience.  Would think DuPont would be looking to develop the part of his game that needs improvement before reaching the NHL, and that isn’t part of the Penn State development model.

[burd]

Ohio State will be well funded sooner or later. 

[brianvf]

1 hour ago, tnt said:

…and Penn State needs to be winners in the portal if they hope to be in the conversation getting into the tournament next year, as they lost a good deal of their experience.  Would think DuPont would be looking to develop the part of his game that needs improvement before reaching the NHL, and that isn’t part of the Penn State development model.

That was the confusing thing with McKenna going to PSU (other than the $$).
Sure, he had to adapt at playing against older, more physical players...but he could have done that by going to LSSU.
His goal should have been to become a better, more complete player.  And judging by that video of him just standing there as Notre Dame scored an OT GWG...I'm not sure he improved much on that area during his time at PSU.

[Username Taken]

2 hours ago, brianvf said:

That was the confusing thing with McKenna going to PSU (other than the $$).
Sure, he had to adapt at playing against older, more physical players...but he could have done that by going to LSSU.
His goal should have been to become a better, more complete player.  And judging by that video of him just standing there as Notre Dame scored an OT GWG...I'm not sure he improved much on that area during his time at PSU.

I think that’s a perfect example of why the NCHC has been so successful. Not putting the effort in on both sides of the rink isn’t going to be tolerated. He was allowed to do that all year long. That was one example of many of him floating around in the dzone. 

[atxsioux]

45 minutes ago, Username Taken said:

I think that’s a perfect example of why the NCHC has been so successful. Not putting the effort in on both sides of the rink isn’t going to be tolerated. He was allowed to do that all year long. That was one example of many of him floating around in the dzone. 

Can’t imagine any of the top coaches in the NCHC allowing that

[ChadR]

5 hours ago, stoneySIOUX said:

I mean, I guess he could be lying to me, but direct from the horses mouth lol.

I’ll be seeing him tomorrow, so will ask him if he told you that. 

[cberkas]

Why does the WHL and the WHL media just sound like whinners all the time. 

[Sioux90]

8 hours ago, cberkas said:

Why does the WHL and the WHL media just sound like whinners all the time. 

Losing great players will do that.

[Brett0909]

2 hours ago, Sioux90 said:

Losing great players will do that.

Exactly - just refer to all the “so and so never should have left / they’ll regret it if they leave!” posts around here instead of celebrating their advancement. 

It’s a tough pill to swallow or see things objectively when it’s your team. Great news is with Bryn and the CHL, we’re one of the teams that will benefit from constant reloading - so hopefully less sour grapes from the fans every time a player here earns a chance to go pro and makes that decision for themselves. Plus it’s likely freeing up cash to land the next man up. 

[Kevin G]

10 hours ago, cberkas said:

Why does the WHL and the WHL media just sound like whinners all the time. 

It’s fascinating to watch these guys try to come to terms with the drastic and unwelcome change that’s befallen an institution they love.

[cberkas]

2 hours ago, Sioux90 said:

Losing great players will do that.

You don’t hear the OHL and QMJHL complain as much if at all. I see players committing out of the Q all the time.

[tnt]

33 minutes ago, Kevin G said:

It’s fascinating to watch these guys try to come to terms with the drastic and unwelcome change that’s befallen an institution they love.

It really is no different than the reality that college hockey has more guys staying for shorter periods as well.  The CHL is getting more talent that would have opted not to lose their college eligibility in the past, so much like college hockey they should just adjust and be thankful they get to watch NHL talent in the early stages of their career.  

I will miss seeing talent like Reschny and Verhoeff when they are gone, but sure am thankful for the opportunity to watch them. How many guys in the CHL would be playing in the USHL right now under the old rules to preserve eligibility.   If anything, the USHL should be the most upset, because they will miss out watching some high end talent.

 

[tnt]

20 hours ago, yzerman19 said:

Call me old fashioned, but I'd pay more for Chris Pronger than for Cale Makar...I'll take forwards that score goals and defenders that like to inflict pain

I would take that as well if every hit wasn’t scrutinized and overly punished in the college game like Kleven had to deal with. Hopefully if we do get Carels, he can use the physical side of his game without as much retribution for clean hits.

[Sioux90]

39 minutes ago, cberkas said:

You don’t hear the OHL and QMJHL complain as much if at all. I see players committing out of the Q all the time.

Maybe it’s culture? Western Canada is very different than the rest of the British colony.

[yzerman19]

thompson has grand forks roots...

[Fratt Mattin]

3 minutes ago, yzerman19 said:

thompson has grand forks roots...

He has also said he tries to model his game after Jonathan Toews. Let’s hope that includes going to the same school

[crb1]

On 4/3/2026 at 1:44 PM, yzerman19 said:

no disagreement, although if I remember correctly he had immediate family needs for money and so his signing bonus went straight to his mom.  Sometimes the right decision isn't the smart decision.

I believe that is correct. I think his mother was a single parent and he was shown a bag and he took it so he could immediately help his mom. Can’t fault him for that. 

[yzerman19]

19 minutes ago, crb1 said:

I believe that is correct. I think his mother was a single parent and he was shown a bag and he took it so he could immediately help his mom. Can’t fault him for that. 

actually says a ton about his character...every good man I know would do everything he could for his family