Rinzel and Thomas number switched make sense cause they’re both what they wore in high school but man it always sucks when you gotta retrain your brain to associate a new number with a player😂
Rinzel and Thomas number switched make sense cause they’re both what they wore in high school but man it always sucks when you gotta retrain your brain to associate a new number with a player😂
Wait until you're old and have to do that with every player every year. 🤣
Yeah I guess I am a get off my lawn too since I do NOT care for the skating goldie as a logo. Big M, gophers, the old tough looking gopher, just about anything else. I wouldn't buy it but not trying to rain on the parade of buyers. On a hockey note, now are we feeling about filling the big holes (size and leadership) of Nelson and Brodzinski? A dynamic duo for the past couple years and Nelson pretty much carried the team through the playoff run. Do we have that guy this year? Can Snuggy do that?
Yeah I guess I am a get off my lawn too since I do NOT care for the skating goldie as a logo. Big M, gophers, the old tough looking gopher, just about anything else. I wouldn't buy it but not trying to rain on the parade of buyers. On a hockey note, now are we feeling about filling the big holes (size and leadership) of Nelson and Brodzinski? A dynamic duo for the past couple years and Nelson pretty much carried the team through the playoff run. Do we have that guy this year? Can Snuggy do that?
I think the team will have success for different reasons than replacing Nelson, Brodz, Pitlick.
They will have more production from the bottom 6, and a better Power Play.
Yeah I guess I am a get off my lawn too since I do NOT care for the skating goldie as a logo. Big M, gophers, the old tough looking gopher, just about anything else. I wouldn't buy it but not trying to rain on the parade of buyers. On a hockey note, now are we feeling about filling the big holes (size and leadership) of Nelson and Brodzinski? A dynamic duo for the past couple years and Nelson pretty much carried the team through the playoff run. Do we have that guy this year? Can Snuggy do that?
I think the team will have success for different reasons than replacing Nelson, Brodz, Pitlick.
They will have more production from the bottom 6, and a better Power Play.
Id also add being better defensively (the whole d core is back) and a little more dynamic off the rush across multiple lines. Theres a reason Bob is high on this group
Agreed, I feel like gopher dmen are typically at their best in year 3.
Idk the center depth of the team because idk what positions the new guys play but assuming that’s not an issue the team should be fine. Didn’t realize wood was a winger but I’m sure he’ll be fine whatever position he plays. Curious to see if Moore improves in playmaking ability.
Telling his father was a bit more of a challenge, Gruba joked. Tony’s college arch-rivals wore that Gopher ‘M’ and Minnesota ended the elder Gruba’s college career in 1994, beating SCSU in overtime of the WCHA playoff title game in Milwaukee. Leo recalled, with a smile, that as a youth hockey player he was instructed to switch from number 4 to number 5, because Tony felt that yelling “Go Four!” sounded too much like “Gopher!”
While being buoyed about the teams potential is understandable…after two decades + one…NOBODY cares if they win 30 games…unless they win their last 4 games too. Being KINGS of the Regular Season…means Jack-Squat (at this juncture).
Meh, we all (not you lol) want to see them win that and can also acknowledge that the tourney has a stupid format that doesn’t exactly increase the likelihood of the best teams winning. Personally I’d like to see this team perform be more consistent in the regular season and be better in the big ten tourney, especially if they get another home game for the final. Ideally come playoff time they’re playing their best hockey and hopefully the chips fall in their favor.
The “win a national championship or bust!” expectation is for casual fans.
Forgive him. His team finally won some titles that are more recent than Minnesota's so he thinks he's in position to hockeysplain around here. Except this is what it feels like reading him:
Can’t speak for them but the D core being slightly more experienced, improvement in Snuggy’s game, and better forward depth aren’t unrealistic expectations that result in an improved team.
I kind of agree here with trix. The D core was actually pretty good last year and should be markedly better this year. I do still feel like there are some unknowns but NOT talent wise. Leadership and cool heads/experience at certain positions but I think we are in a better situation than most teams there also. Close, Nelson, and Brodz (admit not always a fan) gave some pretty solid " we got this" type leadership last year and even the year before. Snuggy needs to seriously step up and play with some intensity as a line LEADER not the feed me the puck guy he has been at times (not that we shouldn't feed him the puck of course:). There is a goalie question no doubt but feeling OK about that combo. The rest? So many top recruits there has to be some excitement I would hope
I am very bullish on this team. Feels it was put together with intention; complementary skillsets all over the ice with the high-end talent to steal wins on nights they do not deserve it.
Goaltending is a question mark, though I would guess the floor there is adequate play. This should be a contender...no reason why they cannot be one of the nation's elite.
I don't share the optimism why you like this team so much?
100% d core. You’re returning everyone, Koster is healthier a year and you had a green Rinzel as your major pick mover who now has his year under his belt. Usually that’s a big jump year for d men as is the soph-jun transition. Bobs best teams are built from the back and that is what it takes to win in April. Then you brought in scoring in Wood, have a veteran laden middle 6 and a ton of speed on the bottom 6 to keep pressure on. Biggest question is goaltending and we have seen Souilere be very good in the past for PSU if the lights are too bright for Airey (I don’t think this will be the case, but respect to Bob for bringing him in). Actually feels quite similar to the 21-22 to 22-23 years in that we unloaded a lot of vets up front (Walker, Meyers, McLaughlin, Sorensen, Broz, Cruikshank, Lucius) but brought back so much on the blue line. I am super optimistic about Moore’s game fitting well with Snuggerud and Wood if that is the combo we get and think it will feel very similar to Knies, Cooley, Snuggerud.
so in short, a dominant top line and a veteran d core with depth scoring available all over the lineup that also plays solid defense. They may not be as blue chip as BC but they’ll be older and more physical with some difference makers across the lineup. Reminds me a lot of DU last year
I hope so because it's there's not been a great record of transfers coming here and lighting it up. Although as soon as I type that surely I'm forgetting someone. 🤣
I hope so because it's there's not been a great record of transfers coming here and lighting it up. Although as soon as I type that surely I'm forgetting someone. 🤣
In fairness, they don't bring a ton of transfers. Cruikshank was disappointing a couple of years ago, then did well at Jan. Lafontaine was a phenomenal transfer who was able to help the program by coming and going, IMO. Going back pre-portal, first name that comes to mind is Jacob Cephis -- think he did decently.
Likewise, I'm sure I'm forgetting many or may not have realized someone was a transfer.
Looking forward to seeing Moore this year - think he really matured at World Jrs last year and was much better the second half. My expectations for him were skewed greatly by Cooley the year before - which was obviously unfair. Not sure if we'll see the Moore-Wood-Snuggy but if that's how it plays out, but certainly high ceiling there.
@maroon_and_gold Don't believe he played any games there, but he did go there to start...
Butsy Erickson in the Star Tribune in October of 1980: "I'd have come to Minnesota if they had asked me to walk on. But Herb Brooks offered me half a scholarship, right up until they signed Neal (Broten). As soon as Neal signed, I was told there was no more money left for me. I thought that was pretty weak and I felt like they were using me to get Neal. I thought I'd show 'em and I went to Cornell. I stayed there eight or nine weeks and it was a good experience. I was working out against 40 or 50 good players from Canada and I more than held my own. I got lots of confidence when I found out I could play without Neal and Aaron, but I also realized how much I wanted to be at Minnesota, so I transferred back."
Some transfers (definitely missing some and some didn't play any games for their first school) in order of points scored with the Gophers... Butsy Erickson (Cornell), Bart Larson (Western Michigan), Mike Knoke (Colorado College), Tom Younghans (St. Mary's), Tony Bianchi (St. Cloud State), Jacob Cepis (Bowling Green), Bob Johnson (North Dakota), Dean Williamson (Denver), Mike Szmatula (Northeastern), Donald Bodin (Minnesota Duluth), Tyler Nanne (Ohio State), Brian Thoresen (St. Louis), Bob Nyhus (Minnesota Duluth), Jerrid Reinholz (Minnesota Duluth), Mike Greeder (Gustavus Adolphus), Jay Moser (St. Cloud State), Mike Harrer (Minnesota Duluth), Mike Reilly Sr. (Colorado College), Jake McCoy (St. John's), John Amatuzio (Minnesota Duluth), Grant Cruikshank (Colorado College), Paul Lundeen (Wisconsin), Nick Seeler (Omaha), Tom Mogush (North Dakota), Brad Timmons (Northern Michigan), Bill King (Northern Michigan), Sean Regan (Notre Dame), Colin Schmidt (Union), Clint Johnson (Minnesota Duluth), Glen Letourneau (Western Michigan), Mike Phippen (Alaska Methodist Pacific), Mitch Rogge (Sacred Heart), Chris Student (Northeastern)
Goaltenders: Jon Brekken (Michigan State), Doug Hastings (Michigan), Jack LaFontaine (Michigan), Mat Robson (Clarkson), Mike Shibrowski (Colorado College), Larry Thayer (Wisconsin), Mike Vacanti (Colorado College)
@alabamagopher thanks for the fantastic research. Bart Larson was a really nice little defenseman. I believe his father was a long time Edina assistant coach under Ikola. But Bart played his high school hockey for the long forgotten Bloomington Lincoln.
Yeah I guess I am a get off my lawn too since I do NOT care for the skating goldie as a logo. Big M, gophers, the old tough looking gopher, just about anything else. I wouldn't buy it but not trying to rain on the parade of buyers. On a hockey note, now are we feeling about filling the big holes (size and leadership) of Nelson and Brodzinski? A dynamic duo for the past couple years and Nelson pretty much carried the team through the playoff run. Do we have that guy this year? Can Snuggy do that?
I think the team will have success for different reasons than replacing Nelson, Brodz, Pitlick.
They will have more production from the bottom 6, and a better Power Play.
Brodz & Nelson will be missed, let’s not forget who was doing the clutch scoring last year in the postseason. And so will Closer. The D core will be better, but tBob implying they might be better than in 22-23 is a real stretch. Woods will make an impact & 11 will be improve, although only his skating comes close to matching Cooleys skill set (at this point). And my misinterpreted point in an earlier post, is to not obsess about how many regular season games you win, but instead focus on gradual improvement & peaking during February - April…that’s what postseason title contending teams strive for (universally).
Nelson is still probably the biggest loss. He’s taken every big draw for the past 2 seasons. They need to emphasize faceoffs in these early season practices in my opinion.
Nelson is still probably the biggest loss. He’s taken every big draw for the past 2 seasons. They need to emphasize faceoffs in these early season practices in my opinion.
Agreed. I’m not sure what story advanced stats would tell you but we never seem to win important draws. Late in the game or on a power play or penalty kill, that kind of thing. I’m sure having relatively young centers is a factor in that.
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@norm thanks for the clip. Scary to think that scanning Sid’s columns first thing every morning was the best hope to find any recruiting nuggets. What a different time it was. I’m still pissed John Donnelly wound up at Dartmouth. I’ve got to learn to let things go 🤪
preseason prediction is out and All Big Ten teams. Does this mean we can officially start the season thread?!
Yes! We need people to start focusing on this year’s team and stop worrying about the apparent impending failure of our future teams because the brand names didn’t commit here. 😂😬
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?!
preseason prediction is out and All Big Ten teams. Does this mean we can officially start the season thread?!
Yes! We need people to start focusing on this year’s team and stop worrying about the apparent impending failure of our future teams because the brand names didn’t commit here. 😂😬
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?!
Two weeks from tomorrow, I'll be there. Of course, the team will be several days behind me.
preseason prediction is out and All Big Ten teams. Does this mean we can officially start the season thread?!
Yes! We need people to start focusing on this year’s team and stop worrying about the apparent impending failure of our future teams because the brand names didn’t commit here. 😂😬
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?!
Yes! As a wise man once said, don’t worry about teams 3 years from now when this years team is a wagon! Don’t know who said that but I agree😄
