[Closed] Gophers 2023 off season

It seems weird to take this long if it’s an uncommitted player in a walk-on scenario. 

could we see a Sampo Ranta situation?

He said it was going to be a "graduated player" coming in for one final year of eligibility. So not a recruit flip and just a one year roster filler.  

Seems like Colin Schmidt fits that description 

Forwards in the Portal with 1 year of eligibility remaining. (UPDATED)

I believe Christian Sanda is the only Minnesotan and he just committed to UMass

I heard Bob on KFAN this morning Gophers have 23 Minnesota kids on this years lineup

@gopher6 

Every forward, every defenseman and one goalie

Vegoe, any insight to the roster situation?

https://twitter.com/gopherhockey/status/1696961884379861403?s=46&t=0KFTpzlvGvQO6weRJohPMg

I know absolutely nothing about him haha

Played briefly at Alabama-Huntsville before playing two years at St. John's. Definitely looks like a 14th forward.

Wins the natty for us in St Paul this year. Calling it now. 

Nicholas Michel
Forward
Born Mar 16 1999  -- Waconia, MN 
Height 5.10 -- Weight 180 -- Shoots L


                                            --- Regular Season ---  ---- Playoffs ----
Season   Team                        Lge    GP    G    A  Pts  PIM  GP   G   A Pts PIM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2017-18  Minnesota Wilderness        NAHL   52    6   17   23   24   3   0   1   1   2
2019-20  Janesville Jets             NAHL   32    7    7   14   50
2020-21  U. of Alabama-Huntsville    WCHA    4    0    0    0    2
2021-22  St. John's University (MN   MIAC   25   10    9   19   25
2022-23  St. John's University (MN   MIAC   24   15   11   26    8
2022-23  St. John's University (MN   MIAC   24   15   11   26    8

He's a body. With the moving of the Robert Morris series you hope you won't actually ever need to dress him. 

have on good authority, good kid and it’s probably an absolute dream for him to get on ice even if just for a couple games 

Anyone wanna take a stab at the pronunciation? Is it Michael, Michelle, Mitchell? Anything else?

Still not really sure how they handle the top line but I'll go with Pitlick up with Moore and Snuggerud. Would require breaking up Pitlick and Huglen but watching Pitlick and Moore buzz around with Snugs finishing would be fun. 

Rud or Fish pretty interchangeable as the 6th D, I would assume they'll both get a decent amount of PT. 

Pitlick-Moore-Snuggerud
Nevers-Nelson-Brodzinski
Kurth-Huglen-Lamb
Strobel-Mittelstadt-Clark

Pino, Michel

Koster-Chesley
Thomas-Rinzel
Rud-Mittelstadt

Fish, Begley

Close
Airey
Wiese

More info on Michel.  Btw, in the you tube highlights, his last name is pronounced Michael once and in another clip I saw they said Michelle once.. lol

https://twitter.com/FutureGophers/status/1696988277402747320

https://twitter.com/DaBeautyLeague/status/1686909737667854336

Roster with all of the players listed including their numbers.

https://gophersports.com/sports/mens-ice-hockey/roster

Posted by: @jaykay3

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Still not really sure how they handle the top line but I'll go with Pitlick up with Moore and Snuggerud. Would require breaking up Pitlick and Huglen but watching Pitlick and Moore buzz around with Snugs finishing would be fun. 

Rud or Fish pretty interchangeable as the 6th D, I would assume they'll both get a decent amount of PT. 

 

Pitlick-Moore-Snuggerud
Nevers-Nelson-Brodzinski
Kurth-Huglen-Lamb
Strobel-Mittelstadt-Clark

Pino, Michel

 

Koster-Chesley
Thomas-Rinzel
Rud-Mittelstadt

Fish, Begley

 

Close
Airey
Wiese

I think Fish is a lock for a top 6 role. He’s a good player that’s been stuck behind some incredibly talented personnel the last few years. He’s shown steady progression every season while playing in an extremely limited role. Makes you wonder what he’d look like with a full top 6 gig. 

I also think they play Clark at center since that’s where they see him playing long term, but that’s just a minor tweak. 

And before the inevitable question pops up.

Tom Younghans (St. Mary’s)

Mike Greeder (Gustavus)

Jim O’Neill (St. Thomas)

There might be more before my time. 

New player numbers:

Rinzel #5

Michel #9

Moore #11

Rud #15

Clark #23

Airey #29

Begley #33

Posted by: @maroon_and_gold

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Posted by: @jaykay3

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Still not really sure how they handle the top line but I'll go with Pitlick up with Moore and Snuggerud. Would require breaking up Pitlick and Huglen but watching Pitlick and Moore buzz around with Snugs finishing would be fun. 

Rud or Fish pretty interchangeable as the 6th D, I would assume they'll both get a decent amount of PT. 

 

Pitlick-Moore-Snuggerud
Nevers-Nelson-Brodzinski
Kurth-Huglen-Lamb
Strobel-Mittelstadt-Clark

Pino, Michel

 

Koster-Chesley
Thomas-Rinzel
Rud-Mittelstadt

Fish, Begley

 

Close
Airey
Wiese

I think Fish is a lock for a top 6 role. He’s a good player that’s been stuck behind some incredibly talented personnel the last few years. He’s shown steady progression every season while playing in an extremely limited role. Makes you wonder what he’d look like with a full top 6 gig. 

I also think they play Clark at center since that’s where they see him playing long term, but that’s just a minor tweak. 

 

Agree to disagree on the first point, I'm expecting Rud to get a lot of games and they'd all come at the expense of Fish. Not sure who else you could take out. But then again maybe there's an injury and they both play every game. 

Agree on Clark though, could see him playing a lot of center. 

We got the schedule and the roster in the same week, now can we get captains to complete the trifecta? I’m sticking with

Nelson C

Koster A

Nevers A

Brodzinski A

They never really go more than 4 but it’s really hard to leave Close off this list. 

Posted by: @jaykay3

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Posted by: @maroon_and_gold

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Posted by: @jaykay3

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Still not really sure how they handle the top line but I'll go with Pitlick up with Moore and Snuggerud. Would require breaking up Pitlick and Huglen but watching Pitlick and Moore buzz around with Snugs finishing would be fun. 

Rud or Fish pretty interchangeable as the 6th D, I would assume they'll both get a decent amount of PT. 

 

Pitlick-Moore-Snuggerud
Nevers-Nelson-Brodzinski
Kurth-Huglen-Lamb
Strobel-Mittelstadt-Clark

Pino, Michel

 

Koster-Chesley
Thomas-Rinzel
Rud-Mittelstadt

Fish, Begley

 

Close
Airey
Wiese

I think Fish is a lock for a top 6 role. He’s a good player that’s been stuck behind some incredibly talented personnel the last few years. He’s shown steady progression every season while playing in an extremely limited role. Makes you wonder what he’d look like with a full top 6 gig. 

I also think they play Clark at center since that’s where they see him playing long term, but that’s just a minor tweak. 

 

 

Agree to disagree on the first point, I'm expecting Rud to get a lot of games and they'd all come at the expense of Fish. Not sure who else you could take out. But then again maybe there's an injury and they both play every game. 

Agree on Clark though, could see him playing a lot of center. 

 

Rud is a very slept on player in this recruiting class. Both he and Fish will get plenty of minutes should they choose to dress 7 defensemen. 

Nelson has to be the C doesn't he. 

@jaykay3 

These top three lines are going to be so fun to watch. Cooley leaving actually could be kind of great for the development of Kurth and and Lamb so that one of them isn't stuck on the fourth line (especially if they stick around for a few years). I'll miss #92, but it shows how crazy deep this team is. Now we can whine about Clark debuting on the fourth line like we did with Kurth and Lamb last year.

Fourth line thoughts - Why Strobel over Pino? I'm not super high on either... but I do like Strobel's size there if he throws his body around and brings an edge that we lack up front. Although - with how little I saw him last year I don't really know if that is his game?

With the skill on the backend - dare we dress 7 D? I want Fish on the ice all year! Dudes earned it, improved, and seems like a class act/team first guy. Plus - he could add some size and physicality to a light D core. Outside of Chesley - I don't see much of a heavy checking presence. Rinzel, despite being high profile and bigger, plays a softer skill game.

is it October 8th yet?

Spot on with the defense part. If Rinzel doesn’t hit with that 6”4, 200 frame Steve Miller will make him!?

Kurth is for sure my X factor this year. The kid has it. 

Shot, hands, and vision. 

Lit it up at Gentry. Lit it up in the USHL. 

Best freshman numbers in a super limited role. 

Posted by: @futuregopherdad

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have on good authority, good kid and it’s probably an absolute dream for him to get on ice even if just for a couple games 

As a Johnnie myself and Gopher law, I really REALLY hope he starts and scores in a 10-0 drubbing of the Tommies.

Now that will be perfectly appropriate.

@jdpuck04 that makes sense and looks like a great way to start off…

the D pairings are gonna be fun to watch as they settle in.  Lots of opportunities for this group with no Faber, LaCombe and Johnson.  

I will take a swing at lines too.

Forwards

Snuggerud Moore Kurth

Nevers Nelson Brodzinski

Pitlick Huglen Lamb

Strobel Clark Middlestadt

I think the first line needs someone big on it. Knies did so much for that line last year even when not scoring. Going and winning the puck battles in the corner and pulling the D to the center for Snuggy and Cooley to snipe from the dots. I think Kurth can step in and do that role. As well as providing a spark when needed, love the way he plays.

Nothing else to say about N64, they were great last year- especially at the start. I think they all score more this year.

I LOVE Huglen and Pitlick together. Their chemistry together (see the goal against BU) makes it impossible for me to see them anywhere else, at least to start the season. And I think Lamb takes a big step and slots in perfectly to the line to provide another natural scorer.

Fourth line will take some tinkering for sure. I love Strobel's size and I liked how he used it in his limited role last year. I put Clark at center. He talked about Sammy Walker being his idol in peewee's and I think he follows a similar Gopher career. Middlestadt finishing out the line with a little extra speed and tenacity.

Defense

Koster Chesley

Thomas Middlestadt

Fish Rinzel

Rud

Koster and Chesley together to start off the year. However I think those are the top 2 defensive scorers, so maybe split them up later if we need it. They both play great defense too, so it all works out.

Following Koster and Chesley, Middlestadt is next on my defensive scoring so pairing him with the defensive defenseman Thomas makes perfect sense. 

I think Rinzel could easily rise, but starting off on the third line with Fish provides a BIG 3rd line of defense. Fish just seems to always be in the right spot and is very level headed. Let Rinzel play with him a little and see where things go. 

Rud as the 7th defenseman can go anywhere in there if needed I think. I am looking forward to seeing him develop.

Then the always steady Closer backing it all up.

While I am here, here are my captain guesses too. Nelson C, Huglen A, Brodzy A, Koster A. Hard to not put Close with a letter, but 4 is the norm.

Can't wait to be completely wrong on every front ? 

I like the add of Michel because it doesn't add any drama to the lines and he knows why he is coming in to fill a role on the fourth line.  Schmidt had moved on so bringing him back didn't seem likely. Bringing in someone like Bump would have been splashy but may have disrupted things in the top 6.  I believe Bob did a great job on the addition of Michel to fill out the roster.  

As far as the lines go, who knows and I really don't care until we get past the Bemidji exhibition game. 

Captains...Nelson and Brodz will wear something.  I've said it before right after the championship game, if Huglen doesn't get a letter it will be a crime because he acted like a true leader when he spoke after that game.  On and off the ice last season Huglen showed his character and is deserving of the honor of wearing a letter.  I hope his team mates agree with me on that.

Lots of good stuff here. You can tell Bob thinks very highly of Lamb and Kurth. Also has big expectations for Rinzel and Moore. 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/92noon-10am-hour-8-30-bob-motzko/id1253616150?i=1000626231626

Posted by: @skiumahlaw

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Posted by: @futuregopherdad

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have on good authority, good kid and it’s probably an absolute dream for him to get on ice even if just for a couple games 

As a Johnnie myself and Gopher law, I really REALLY hope he starts and scores in a 10-0 drubbing of the Tommies.

Now that will be perfectly appropriate.

 

I would also like to see Michel score in a 10-0 victory against St. Thomas. 

@boats 

Spot on with those lines IMO. Pitlick and Huglen need a natural sniper on their line and Lamb is that to a T. Moore and Snuggerud need a gritty hard nosed wing and Kurth is exactly that as well. Don’t touch N64. 

Posted by: @g-manpuck

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I like the add of Michel because it doesn't add any drama to the lines and he knows why he is coming in to fill a role on the fourth line.  Schmidt had moved on so bringing him back didn't seem likely. Bringing in someone like Bump would have been splashy but may have disrupted things in the top 6.  I believe Bob did a great job on the addition of Michel to fill out the roster.  

 

As far as the lines go, who knows and I really don't care until we get past the Bemidji exhibition game. 

 

Captains...Nelson and Brodz will wear something.  I've said it before right after the championship game, if Huglen doesn't get a letter it will be a crime because he acted like a true leader when he spoke after that game.  On and off the ice last season Huglen showed his character and is deserving of the honor of wearing a letter.  I hope his team mates agree with me on that.

That first sentence is everything to me. I was really hoping they wouldn’t grab some last second portal add to take a spot away from a program guy like Strobel or Pino. I’m glad they found someone who is pumped to be a Gopher and also understands what their role on the team is. 

As far as Huglen goes I agree that his leadership and steadiness is evident when he’s on the ice. I just think there’s too many guys older that are letter worthy too. Next year for sure though. I just don’t wanna become like Michigan or North Dakota where they give a letter to half the team. 

Posted by: @jdpuck04

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@jaykay3 

 

These top three lines are going to be so fun to watch. Cooley leaving actually could be kind of great for the development of Kurth and and Lamb so that one of them isn't stuck on the fourth line (especially if they stick around for a few years). I'll miss #92, but it shows how crazy deep this team is. Now we can whine about Clark debuting on the fourth line like we did with Kurth and Lamb last year.

Fourth line thoughts - Why Strobel over Pino? I'm not super high on either... but I do like Strobel's size there if he throws his body around and brings an edge that we lack up front. Although - with how little I saw him last year I don't really know if that is his game?

With the skill on the backend - dare we dress 7 D? I want Fish on the ice all year! Dudes earned it, improved, and seems like a class act/team first guy. Plus - he could add some size and physicality to a light D core. Outside of Chesley - I don't see much of a heavy checking presence. Rinzel, despite being high profile and bigger, plays a softer skill game.

is it October 8th yet?

I just don't really see it with Pino, I kind of thought he would move on to a different program this offseason. He's already 22 and probably won't develop much more; he plays like a scoring line player but isn't good enough to hold a spot there. Hope I'm wrong and he turns it around. 

I like Strobel a lot better on the 4th line personally. 

https://www.therinklive.com/mens-college/big-10/newest-gopher-nick-michel-making-the-jump-from-d-iii-for-his-final-season-of-college-hockey

Especially after having to watch the product put on the field on Thursday by Fleck and Company. Granted it was just one game so we’ll see how the rest of the season plays out. But boy, it only made me wish for the hockey season to get here faster. 

Jess reports that Michel has 2 years of eligibility left, so he may be an option if they  need a body for the 24-25 season. 

With classes starting today, that means they won’t hit the ice as a team (with coaches) til next week. I get why Bob does it (let’s the kids be students for their first week on campus) but that tradition mixed with the U’s relatively late start means way less practice before the season starts than most teams. A lot of teams have been practicing for weeks now. 

Does anyone know if they run some form of captains practice? Almost high school like?

Posted by: @maroon_and_gold

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With classes starting today, that means they won’t hit the ice as a team (with coaches) til next week. I get why Bob does it (let’s the kids be students for their first week on campus) but that tradition mixed with the U’s relatively late start means way less practice before the season starts than most teams. A lot of teams have been practicing for weeks now. 

Does anyone know if they run some form of captains practice? Almost high school like?

Posted by: @skiumahlaw

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Posted by: @futuregopherdad

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have on good authority, good kid and it’s probably an absolute dream for him to get on ice even if just for a couple games 

As a Johnnie myself and Gopher law, I really REALLY hope he starts and scores in a 10-0 drubbing of the Tommies.

Now that will be perfectly appropriate.

 

Also a Johnnie Undergrad and UM Grad.  Was thinking about the same thing.

However I disagree with person who said this was better than getting Bump because it wouldn't push any other players out.  More talent to push your current players is never a bad thing. Or to cover if there are a couple longer injuries.

Posted by: @koho

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However I disagree with person who said this was better than getting Bump because it wouldn't push any other players out.  More talent to push your current players is never a bad thing. Or to cover if there are a couple longer injuries.

That was me.  I can see your side but I just don't think he was a fit for what Bob has going on.  I think Bob has a great top 6+ that he can play with and now he can develop the fourth line over the season into what he needs it to be.  I am not sorry to see Bump go somewhere else. 

Posted by: @maroon_and_gold

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With classes starting today, that means they won’t hit the ice as a team (with coaches) til next week. I get why Bob does it (let’s the kids be students for their first week on campus) but that tradition mixed with the U’s relatively late start means way less practice before the season starts than most teams. A lot of teams have been practicing for weeks now. 

Does anyone know if they run some form of captains practice? Almost high school like?

They're on the ice and skating, but the program's focus in the off-season is generally the strength and conditioning aspect.

Bob often says that hockey is the longest season in college athletics and that he doesn't necessarily think extra pre-season practices have that big of an impact. His thinking is that they need game action to get a player's attention on team/systems things to work on in practice.

I think next Monday is the first official day one the ice.

I have zero worries about how this team preps for the season and to be honest it's pretty ludicrous to even bring it up. If we had seen Bob's Gophers teams come out flat regularly then it would be a fair question.  We have not.  Let the system go. 

Posted by: @koho

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Posted by: @skiumahlaw

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Posted by: @futuregopherdad

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have on good authority, good kid and it’s probably an absolute dream for him to get on ice even if just for a couple games 

As a Johnnie myself and Gopher law, I really REALLY hope he starts and scores in a 10-0 drubbing of the Tommies.

Now that will be perfectly appropriate.

 

 

Also a Johnnie Undergrad and UM Grad.  Was thinking about the same thing.

 

However I disagree with person who said this was better than getting Bump because it wouldn't push any other players out.  More talent to push your current players is never a bad thing. Or to cover if there are a couple longer injuries.

 

Nice to see the fellow Johnnies be as excited as I was to see this kid making the jump from SJU to the U. Plus an OT football victory to start off the year! 

So are the Gophers going with no captains this season? ?