I would absolutely welcome Brodzinski back. Flawed - sure - but talent is now at a level where linemates are well-suited to complement his skill-set.
Cooley and Close are the only decisions I will be obsessing over. Welcome everyone else back; those are the two who change the calculus for next season.
I don’t see the rush with Brodzinski and Nelson. Both are 22. If Bob is offering a 5th year, which it sounds like he is, I don’t see why they shouldn’t both take him up on that offer.
Hope they're both back along with Huglen and Close (and of course 92). Wonder how much a potential Frozen Four at the X plays into it. If all those guys return it's going to be a fantastic season no matter who has departed.
@trixr4kids I'd like to see them both return. This board has always been hard on Brodz and called him one dimensional. I've tried to watch him critically but never noticed it -- he's not idle on the ice just waiting to use his awesome shot. He definitely earned his spot in among the Gopher's very stacked group of forwards this year. If we can get a 5th year from him, we shouldn't look that gift horse in the mouth.
BTW, I do think Bryce would like another year -- in the recent Athletic article about Knies and Faber, he is quoted as saying "I sure tell [Knies] I want him to come back." I think he'd phrase that advice differently if he didn't see himself as still being on the team next year.
@mnstate0fhockey I put this one tied with 81 but nothing has been or will ever be as hard as the 89 teams loss to Harvard.
I have them ranked as the 2nd best Gopher team of all time only behind the 78-79 national championship team. Just the fact that the game was right in our backyard makes it that much worse.
Yeah, that 1989 loss was rough. 4th straight Frozen Four and an absolutely stacked team. I was crushed.
Hard to say which one for me was harder. 1989 was my first in-person, and it was tough to take with the Skarda Pipe and then the OT goal. This one was tough because I sat there and saw the team change the way they played in the middle of the 2nd period to a version of the game they hadn't played all year. Didn't make sense and didn't seem to fit them against a team that had speed and could clog things up. I really wish I understood why the change was made, even though I am fully aware that Q stepped things up, so it certainly isn't one sided.
In the end, they were a great team to watch for my last season of in-person games at Mariucci (moving south in about 4 weeks). Rest assured, I will figure out a way to watch all games and still attend the Frozen Four as I have for 30 of the last 35 years.
BTN+ hockey only package worked great for me! Only $59/year and gets you most of all B10 men’s and women’s games.
There is a hockey only package? This is great to hear, I was given the impression I had to get the 'school' package (which I got) and ended up with lots of volleyball, Bball, wrestling, "classics", "specials"… none of which I watched. Thanks for sharing.
Yes, they had both a team and sport package. If we didn't get B1G in our satellite package, we'd look into this (may have to even though with the likely fold of Bally's eventually).
Really just depends on the needs for next year at forward, IDK how many available slots there are vs forwards for sure coming in next year etc. Not sure if Cooley decision affects anything either.
I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to Nelson returning, Brodzinski… not as excited about that idea.
You’re not excited about returning 19 goals?? And we are looking pretty thin up front numbers wise so it would be sweet to return the whole 2nd 3rd and 4th line.
If Motzko has him come back for a fifth year I won’t complain but I also don’t think replacing his production against bad/mediocre teams is as impossible as some make it out to be (to be fair the quality of opponents last year was high). Was glad to see him get a goal vs St. Cloud though that was huge and most of his goals did come at even strength which is more difficult to do. I think his time and space to get off his elite shot was mostly created by others as well as easier matchups this year but not many can shoot like he can admittedly.
Brodzinski could be a big part of the team next year.
I don't recall too many people thinking he "sucks." He just doesn't have much vertical speed and lost a lot of one-on-one battles (not this year). He's a scorer and seems like a good teammate, so hell yeah.
I suggest watching the Friday (??) presser with Brods and Cooley, very insightful look at Brods and his positive impact on Cools and young players.
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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I know Brodz has been an enigma to some with his streaky play. This is his production his 4 years-- 12, 14, 26 & 31 points. That is the kind of progression that I like to see. I would gladly take him back for year 5.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
It would definitely be cool in the sense that Bob felt the need to bring him in super young and this would be more like a typical Sr. Year for a guy who had a year of junior experience.
If we somehow do get Cooley back for 1 more season (come on kid 1 more kick at the can) and Close stays, with no surprise departures, plus a couple high end freshmen coming in I would think a Frozen Four appearance at the X isn't crazy talk. Easy right?
Brodzinski could be a big part of the team next year.
I don't recall too many people thinking he "sucks." He just doesn't have much vertical speed and lost a lot of one-on-one battles (not this year). He's a scorer and seems like a good teammate, so hell yeah.
Brodz has certainly earned the opportunity to come back for a 5th season And the fact is…he was brought in as a true freshman straight from HS, tBobs choice, when a full year of juniors would have benefited Brodz. Also the reconfiguration of Mari will only help Brodz in home games. Nelson & Close have also earned the opportunity to return (if they choose to).
@greyeagle There is some behind the scene stuff that happened before the 1981 title game that I know for a fact that happened that explains why they played so poorly as I know several guys that were on that team. The entire locker room knew that Neal was going pro after the game but Neal's agent was the same agent that represented Aaron. He got Aaron to agree to sign with Colorado before the game and that just crushed the locker room because Aaron really did not want to leave but got serious pressure to do so. Everyone expected him to come back. If that incident never happens we destroy Bucky by at least 4 goals in that game. Every single Gopher player that played in that game would tell you the same thing except for probably Kevin Hartzell because he won't ever talk about it.
@neverforget89 Ouch, that would be deflating. Thanks for the insight.
I loved that team, they were amazing to watch.....
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Maybe, I think he had a really good year but also liked what I saw out of Barto in his limited sample. I think they should be in good hands on that front either way.
I do remember when people thought we were doomed when LaFontaine left and it was quite the opposite fortunately ?
@streakygopher The Wooger era of college hockey was a little different. One difference back in the 80's especially the 89 team had 2 returning Olympic players in Dave Snuggerud and Tom Chorske.
We did have some players that played junior hockey but most of our players were straight out of high school and from Minnesota and this would cause the Wooger's downfall a few years later.
Our team was did not have all of the defections like they have today because the $ was not as good back then on the NHL entry level contract like they have today. After the 89 season we lost Snuggy, Skarda, Stauber and Chorske as they all had remaining another year.
The only thing I am going to say further about a current coaching change. Remember Doug Woog replaced a coach in Brad Beutow who won 32 games and came within 1 game of going to his 3rd final(frozen) four in 6 years.
The Gophers have a generational talent in Cole Eiserman committed to Minnesota under Motzko. Changing coaches may make him reconsider that commitment. That alone, let alone the myriad of other logical reasons, makes a coaching change an absolute non-starter for me. I am honestly surprised it is even being discussed.
And if we did make a change, Potulny wouldn’t be someone I would even consider right now.
I love Grant but he is not ready for what he will deal with here. NMU has no pressure compared to what he will see at the U. I mean the parents alone...
Maybe a little off subject here but when bob first took over he opened the doors to come skate with players, tour the locker rooms and hang out in the players lounge. I took my 11 year old son and my 79 year old dad and drove up to mariucci for the day. That access wasn’t allowed before from what know of anyway and we had the best time. My son met his favorite player Sammy walker. When my dad had to use the bathroom he just decided to go in the players bathroom and I thought oh no?. Just to urinate so I was more relieved than probably he was. A great memory for life! Dad passed away a year ago now and I’m really grateful to bob motzko for being the reason for that day and hope to thank him in person sometime. Just a classy thing on his part so I hope he stays with the U and keeps doing what he’s doing. We watched the last game of the season, I’ll take that anytime!
@greyeagle There is some behind the scene stuff that happened before the 1981 title game that I know for a fact that happened that explains why they played so poorly as I know several guys that were on that team. The entire locker room knew that Neal was going pro after the game but Neal's agent was the same agent that represented Aaron. He got Aaron to agree to sign with Colorado before the game and that just crushed the locker room because Aaron really did not want to leave but got serious pressure to do so. Everyone expected him to come back. If that incident never happens we destroy Bucky by at least 4 goals in that game. Every single Gopher player that played in that game would tell you the same thing except for probably Kevin Hartzell because he won't ever talk about it.
Uhg. What a gut punch that would be to morale. Explains a lot. Thanks for sharing!
@greyeagle There is some behind the scene stuff that happened before the 1981 title game that I know for a fact that happened that explains why they played so poorly as I know several guys that were on that team. The entire locker room knew that Neal was going pro after the game but Neal's agent was the same agent that represented Aaron. He got Aaron to agree to sign with Colorado before the game and that just crushed the locker room because Aaron really did not want to leave but got serious pressure to do so. Everyone expected him to come back. If that incident never happens we destroy Bucky by at least 4 goals in that game. Every single Gopher player that played in that game would tell you the same thing except for probably Kevin Hartzell because he won't ever talk about it.
Uhg. What a gut punch that would be to morale. Explains a lot. Thanks for sharing!
Kind of reminds me of Parise his sophomore year. Before the Final Five Championship (which of course he lost 😉 ) everyone knew he had already signed and was done after the last game. I sat in the UND section and the fans were deflated about it and it sounds like the team was as well.
I think this is my 2nd post this season. The first was on Friday or Saturday. I have freed up a bunch of time this winter!
Saturday‘s game still hurts. I don’t want to think about it. My Dad called me today and asked if I put money on it (I never bet on sports) then he proceeded to give me his point of view about the game and I just stopped him and said I didn’t want to talk about it. He told me he was worried about me… ? ?
This season was AWESOME! I think I watched every game for the first time since 02-03. They were fun to watch, grow and gel. I truly thought Saturday would not be close. I had the swagger back. Wanted to shut up UND fans too. I think that’s what hurts more than anything.
Happy for Brock, Matthew and Jackson. Cautiously optimistic that Colley sticks around. I really enjoyed our 2nd line down the stretch too. Just the whole team felt close, like 01-02.
At the end of the day, it’s just a game played with young men and I don’t let losses, even this one, affect me like I did 20 years ago. I think the best part of it all is 20 years ago there was 1 Gopher fan in my house, now we have 6. Wish I could post the fashion show my 7 and 3 year old put on for me before puck drop where they put on all of their different Gopher outfits and accessories and paraded through the living room. Gopher fandom is cemented for the next generation!
I totally got the Brodzinski criticism his Freshman through junior years. But this year he really came into his own playing with Nelson, Nevers and Brodzinski. It’s a great fit. Getting that whole line back would be huge.
The way Nelson was producing in the first half I thought he would for sure sign as a free agent. He still might, but I think it’s clear another year would be beneficial for him and up his contract offers both in quantity and quality.
Excited for the new blood for next season. Really looking forward to seeing Rinzel in the fall. Should contribute instantly. Fully expect L. Middlestadt to make a huge jump for next season. They will be just fine on defense next season. Not like the studs this year could handle a decent forecheck anyways.
Would gladly welcome back Nelson and Brodzinski for the pure experience alone. Brodzinski is what he is, but he can score. Obviously having Cooley come back would be huge. Moore will slot in nicely and replace Knies numbers. Snuggy shouldn’t go anywhere. Plenty of things in his game to improve on. Lamb and Kurth should both take steps next year also.
I’m fine with anyone in goal really. Not only are they still a frozen four team for next season, they are a championship contender.
@handyman Grant is totally ready for this job man! The more I look at it I think I give Bob 1 more chance.
You realize just because you say that doesn't make it true right? This is not Gopher Basketball if and when Bob is done the cream of the crop will be calling about the job. No one would want Grant if he wasn't a Gopher All-Timer as a player his resume is not commensurate with the job.
Look at Lucia's resume when he got the job. Look at Motzko's. That is the type of guy the U will hire. Not some former Gopher who has been solid at a middling program. If Grant wants this job he is going to need to prove way more on a much larger stage. That is just how it is.
Only with Gopher Hockey do we have people talking about moving on from the Coach of the Year recognized by college hockey and his conference because of one bad period, moving on from a 19 goal scoring player that could take advantage of an extra year to play college hockey when Minnesota is usually one of the youngest rosters in college hockey and thinking one of the team's top centers should just go play minor league hockey since he's not good enough to be an NHL anyway because the fans would like new blood at one of the most difficult positions to acclimate in the Big Ten.
One heck of a year... a dissapointing 20 minutes and 10 seconds.
We need to get older and bigger especially now that we are playing on a NHL sheet full time.
Quinnipiac was a whole 1 year and 2 months older on average than us. SCCC was older than them and we beat them. Canisius was one of the oldest teams in the country and we beat them. Boston University was older than us and we beat them too. Ohio State was older than Quinnipiac and Quinnipiac beat them. Look at the oldest teams in the nation how many of them made the tourney? Of the 20 oldest teams in the nation 4 made the tournament. (Canisius, Mankato, Ohio State and Michigan Tech) 3 of the 4 lost in the first round. Ohio State lost in the second round to the eventual champ who was younger than them. Of the 20 youngest teams in the nation 5 made the tournament. (Minnesota, Michigan, Harvard, Boston University and Denver) 3 made it out of the first round and those 3 all made the Frozen Four with of course 1 playing for the title.
Age is a convenient excuse and it is lazy. Minnesota and Michigan were the two youngest teams in the nation and they both made the Frozen Four. (just like last year) They didn't lose because of age, they lost because of a lot of different factors not the least of which was Quinnipiac was a lot better than most of us gave them credit for. Hell everyone seemed to fear a game with Michigan for the title and they were friggin younger than us!
Only with Gopher Hockey do we have people talking about moving on from the Coach of the Year recognized by college hockey and his conference because of one bad period, moving on from a 19 goal scoring player that could take advantage of an extra year to play college hockey when Minnesota is usually one of the youngest rosters in college hockey and thinking one of the team's top centers should just go play minor league hockey since he's not good enough to be an NHL anyway because the fans would like new blood at one of the most difficult positions to acclimate in the Big Ten.
One heck of a year... a dissapointing 20 minutes and 10 seconds.
Your point?
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Only with Gopher Hockey do we have people talking about moving on from the Coach of the Year recognized by college hockey and his conference because of one bad period, moving on from a 19 goal scoring player that could take advantage of an extra year to play college hockey when Minnesota is usually one of the youngest rosters in college hockey and thinking one of the team's top centers should just go play minor league hockey since he's not good enough to be an NHL anyway because the fans would like new blood at one of the most difficult positions to acclimate in the Big Ten.
One heck of a year... a dissapointing 20 minutes and 10 seconds.
Yeah it is funny to see that both "we need to get older" and "time for the old guys to move on and get fresh blood in here". Must be the offseason 😉
At least when the "Fire Lucia" stuff started the team was trending downwards. This team has taken a step up every year. It is ludicrous.
Personally, I blame Snuggy. First his dad was on the '89 team and now he was on this team! Coincidence? THE CURSE OF SNUGGY IS REAL!!!!
Only with Gopher Hockey do we have people talking about moving on from the Coach of the Year recognized by college hockey and his conference because of one bad period, moving on from a 19 goal scoring player that could take advantage of an extra year to play college hockey when Minnesota is usually one of the youngest rosters in college hockey and thinking one of the team's top centers should just go play minor league hockey since he's not good enough to be an NHL anyway because the fans would like new blood at one of the most difficult positions to acclimate in the Big Ten.
One heck of a year... a dissapointing 20 minutes and 10 seconds.
NMU has no pressure compared to what he will see at the U. I mean the parents alone...
Are you serious? Didn't Lucia famously once say, "Hey, I don't deal with parents".
There was a clip posted a few months ago where he alluded to a part of the job he hated was hockey parents. Plenty of stories out there from his time of parents who were PITA.
That makes him sound like a Bantam coach. I'm just surprised (and you would know better than me) that these D1 coaches would have any contact with a parent once their kid is on campus.
Personally, I blame Snuggy. First his dad was on the '89 team and now he was on this team! Coincidence? THE CURSE OF SNUGGY IS REAL!!!!
(No not really!)
Ahem......the Pitlick's do not get a pass on the '89 curse.
(also kidding)
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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NMU has no pressure compared to what he will see at the U. I mean the parents alone...
Are you serious? Didn't Lucia famously once say, "Hey, I don't deal with parents".
There was a clip posted a few months ago where he alluded to a part of the job he hated was hockey parents. Plenty of stories out there from his time of parents who were PITA.
I did get a laugh from Bob earlier in the year if it was time for Parent-Teacher conferences for the Gophers since I had just got done with mine for my kids.
NMU has no pressure compared to what he will see at the U. I mean the parents alone...
Are you serious? Didn't Lucia famously once say, "Hey, I don't deal with parents".
There was a clip posted a few months ago where he alluded to a part of the job he hated was hockey parents. Plenty of stories out there from his time of parents who were PITA.
wasn’t it something like the only job better than his would be running an orphanage - because there are no parents?! I’m sure someone can find the clip. ?
@handyman Grant is totally ready for this job man! The more I look at it I think I give Bob 1 more chance.
You realize just because you say that doesn't make it true right? This is not Gopher Basketball if and when Bob is done the cream of the crop will be calling about the job. No one would want Grant if he wasn't a Gopher All-Timer as a player his resume is not commensurate with the job.
Look at Lucia's resume when he got the job. Look at Motzko's. That is the type of guy the U will hire. Not some former Gopher who has been solid at a middling program. If Grant wants this job he is going to need to prove way more on a much larger stage. That is just how it is.
We need to get older and bigger especially now that we are playing on a NHL sheet full time.
Quinnipiac was a whole 1 year and 2 months older on average than us. SCCC was older than them and we beat them. Canisius was one of the oldest teams in the country and we beat them. Boston University was older than us and we beat them too. Ohio State was older than Quinnipiac and Quinnipiac beat them. Look at the oldest teams in the nation how many of them made the tourney? Of the 20 oldest teams in the nation 4 made the tournament. (Canisius, Mankato, Ohio State and Michigan Tech) 3 of the 4 lost in the first round. Ohio State lost in the second round to the eventual champ who was younger than them. Of the 20 youngest teams in the nation 5 made the tournament. (Minnesota, Michigan, Harvard, Boston University and Denver) 3 made it out of the first round and those 3 all made the Frozen Four with of course 1 playing for the title.
Age is a convenient excuse and it is lazy. Minnesota and Michigan were the two youngest teams in the nation and they both made the Frozen Four. (just like last year) They didn't lose because of age, they lost because of a lot of different factors not the least of which was Quinnipiac was a lot better than most of us gave them credit for. Hell everyone seemed to fear a game with Michigan for the title and they were friggin younger than us!
tl;dr: facts disprove your hypothesis.
Who went and changed the rules about bringing facts?
