What's going on? Did Bob get Wood today?
Sounds like it. None of the sites have updated yet, but it is Sunday.
I have a feeling that Monday will be a day filled with news around the program....
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Schlossman confirming. He’s the one I trust most, as dirty as that may feel. 😂
Bonin going to be in shambles over on gopherhole with Bob landing someone from the portal.
I have a feeling that Monday will be a day filled with news around the program....
Expand? Early departures?
I love how he gave Nodak a glimmer of hope just to come hear. Props to him Cooley and Mooney.
This isn’t really an attempt to project lines, just listing forwards based on production, and assuming Nevers returns. Talk about a depth upgrade from last year.
Pitlick-Moore-Snuggerud
Lamb-Huglen-Wood
Kurth-Clark-Nevers
Hendrickson-Pahlsson-Ziemer
Falloon-Mittelstadt
I love how he gave Nodak a glimmer of hope just to come hear. Props to him Cooley and Mooney.
This alone should get his jersey in the rafters.
I wonder if Nashville wants him developed as a center or a wing
Here is Wheeler's full article in the Athletic about Wood from a year or so ago.
https://twitter.com/scottcwheeler/status/1652289818380967940
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From Gopher Game Notes on X.
Notes on Matthew Wood: • Led Connecticut in scoring each of the past two seasons and was the highest-drafted player in program history • As the youngest player in college hockey, was one of three unanimous Hockey East All-Rookie Team selections in 2022-23 alongside Boston College’s Cutter Gauthier and Boston University’s Lane Hutson; helped UConn climb to No. 6 in the national rankings, the school’s highest-ever poll position • Scored or assisted on 10 of UConn’s 19 goals in the final month of the 2023-24 season (8g-2a) and notched a hat trick at Northeastern in a 4-3 victory on March 1 • Would be first Gopher to have played for Canada at the World Junior Championships; the Gophers have previously been represented on the American, Finnish, Swedish, and Austrian teams at the event; Wood tied for third on the Canadian team with four points (2g-2a) in the 2023-24 tournament • Comes to the Gophers with 62 points (27g-35a) in 70 collegiate games; the last player to transfer to the Gophers with more points under his belt than Wood was Mike Szmatula, who notched 68 points (28g-40a) in 73 games at Northeastern before debuting with Minnesota in 2016 • Wood’s father, Jamie, was assistant coach for Gopher women’s hockey team under Brad Frost from 2008-10; the Gophers were 58-14-8 (.775) and reached back-to-back Frozen Fours with Wood behind the bench • Would be the sixth Nashville Predators draft pick to play at Minnesota, joining Zach Budish, Ryan Flynn, Matt Koalska, Tommy Novak, and Rem Pitlick; Pitlick and Novak went on to play for Nashville, as did former Gophers Erik Haula and Wyatt Smith • The return of Jimmy Snuggerud, Sam Rinzel, and Oliver Moore, along with the addition of Wood, would give the Gophers a roster with four-or-more first-round draft picks for the fourth time (first time in 15 seasons)
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Wood-Moore-Snuggerud
Pitlick-Huglen-Kurth
Pahlsson-Clark-Lamb
Nevers-Hendrickson-Ziemer
Falloon, Mittelstadt
Really strong forward group, would be the best 4th line we've had in 20ish years?
Obviously Wood is now the best player in history 😉 A man of skill and taste 🤣 😜
Wood-Moore-Snuggerud
Pitlick-Huglen-Kurth
Pahlsson-Clark-Lamb
Nevers-Hendrickson-Ziemer
Falloon, Mittelstadt
Really strong forward group, would be the best 4th line we've had in 20ish years?
We had Cruikshank-Nelson-Sorenson a couple years ago lol
I wouldn’t be so quick to assume Wood-Moore-Snuggerud will be the top line. For starters Wood played a lot of center at UConn. Idk where Nashville wants him to develop but it may be up the middle. Second, putting Wood and Snuggerud on the same line almost feels redundant. What if for the top 6 they went something like:
Ziemer-Moore-Snuggerud
Pitlick-Clark-Wood
Loading up the top line with Wood, Moore and Snuggerud certainly isn’t a bad idea either. A lot of different combos could be used. Will be a particularly fun jigsaw puzzle for Bob and co. to put together next year.
Obviously Wood is now the best player in history 😉 A man of skill and taste 🤣 😜
He better backcheck, even if he pumps in 30 goals.
People on Twitter probably. 🤣
“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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'29, '40, '74, '76, '79, '02, & '03
GPL's Resident Cabin Enthusiast & Cadets Hockey Fan
I wouldn’t be so quick to assume Wood-Moore-Snuggerud will be the top line. For starters Wood played a lot of center at UConn. Idk where Nashville wants him to develop but it may be up the middle. Second, putting Wood and Snuggerud on the same line almost feels redundant. What if for the top 6 they went something like:
Ziemer-Moore-Snuggerud
Pitlick-Clark-Wood
Loading up the top line with Wood, Moore and Snuggerud certainly isn’t a bad idea either. A lot of different combos could be used. Will be a particularly fun jigsaw puzzle for Bob and co. to put together next year.
My first thought is to split Snuggerud and Wood up also. Potential for 2 potent lines. Exciting
https://twitter.com/mikemcmahonchn/status/1777039291417338161?s=46
i guess it got figured out! BOOM!!!
I saw the news in my Facebook feed this afternoon, and couldn't wait to get to my laptop to see what everyone was saying in here.
I wouldn’t be so quick to assume Wood-Moore-Snuggerud will be the top line. For starters Wood played a lot of center at UConn. Idk where Nashville wants him to develop but it may be up the middle. Second, putting Wood and Snuggerud on the same line almost feels redundant. What if for the top 6 they went something like:
Ziemer-Moore-Snuggerud
Pitlick-Clark-Wood
Loading up the top line with Wood, Moore and Snuggerud certainly isn’t a bad idea either. A lot of different combos could be used. Will be a particularly fun jigsaw puzzle for Bob and co. to put together next year.
Bob gonna re-create a fancy-pants line?
Solid looking roster mix, alot of depth, potentially a solid NCAA player is sitting if everyone is healthy. 7 Juniors who were freshman last year are the biggest class. How quick they grow up.
| Year | # |
| Freshman | 5 |
| Sophomore | 6 |
| Junior | 7 |
| Senior (+) | 4 |
| 22 |
*I am sure the actual lines wont have an all freshman bottom line but I like putting the Freshmen at the bottom to start.
“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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IMO if Nevers, Huglen, and Pitlick are back, Ziemer should go to the USHL for a year
IMO if Nevers, Huglen, and Pitlick are back, Ziemer should go to the USHL for a year
I get the inclination, but may be a tough sell for a player who has been productive with the program and should be relatively highly drafted. I would rather lose Nevers than risk a decommit from Ziemer (if it was his thought process).
Wow! Good news! Getting Wood injected into your line up. For some, happens but once in a lifetime!
But, he was following 7 UND players. How can this be?
I wouldn’t be so quick to assume Wood-Moore-Snuggerud will be the top line. For starters Wood played a lot of center at UConn. Idk where Nashville wants him to develop but it may be up the middle. Second, putting Wood and Snuggerud on the same line almost feels redundant. What if for the top 6 they went something like:
Ziemer-Moore-Snuggerud
Pitlick-Clark-Wood
Loading up the top line with Wood, Moore and Snuggerud certainly isn’t a bad idea either. A lot of different combos could be used. Will be a particularly fun jigsaw puzzle for Bob and co. to put together next year.
He had the 7th most draws at UConn going 37-62, 37.4%. I don't think Center is in his future.
Next year's lineup is looking pretty good. Should be a title contender.
@mikeeruzione11 I didn't think da beauty league would be a recruiting pitch lol, we'll take it!
Everytime my eyes see the name Wood, my brain reads Woog.
My apologies if this has been discussed previously.
out of curiosity, why was Wood in the transfer portal? If he was the leading scorer on the team I can’t imagine he’s frustrated with his playing time.
or is this a by product of the transfer portal - you might be the best player on the team but know your team will never make the frozen four, so you hope your talent will get you some hardware elsewhere?
tbh I didn’t even realize at first UConn was D1, if that supports my point. 🤦♀️
But hey, maybe the student section can get more creative now….we’ve got wood, yes we do. We’ve got wood, how bout you? 😂
My bet is that he felt North Dakota, Michigan, or Minnesota would better prepare him for the next level.
Heck, maybe Nashville had the idea. I don’t necessarily think so, but it is possible.
Similar to what @karlsson said I suspect he wants to play for a higher ranked team. As a 1st round draft pick one could ask why he went to U Conn? Although, he did start college a year before being drafted. He started college early at 17 years old so that might have played into him going to U Conn.
At 19 years old with two good college seasons under his belt in a tough conference (Hockey East) he is a REALLY good get.
He will likely get a chance to play with Moore/Snuggy and if they end staying together they will be a fun line to watch.
He is listed at 6'3" 190 lbs. Pitlick is listed at 5'10" 165 lbs.
This size difference could be a really asset playing with Moore/Snuggy. He has a really good shot too.
As an 18 year old he played for Canada in the World Junior (under 20 team) tournament. The team is usually stacked with 19 year olds so playing as an 18 year old is a great accomplishment.
This season U Conn played 5 games in March Wood had 8 goals and 2 assists (10 points). This included a hat trick in a 4-3 win at Northeastern which included the game winner with 5 minutes left in regulation.
In a single elimination Hockey East quarter final game at #1 ranked Boston College U Conn was trailing 4-1 going to the 3rd period before scoring 3 times in the first 6 minutes of the 3rd period. Wood scored two of the three goals including an unassisted goal that tie it at 4. BC ended up winning 5-4 to end U Conn's season.
Here are a couple of videos that focus on his freshmen season at UConn (2022/23) and his skill set leading up to last year's NHL draft. He was drafted in the 1st round (15th overall).
My apologies if this has been discussed previously.
out of curiosity, why was Wood in the transfer portal? If he was the leading scorer on the team I can’t imagine he’s frustrated with his playing time.
or is this a by product of the transfer portal - you might be the best player on the team but know your team will never make the frozen four, so you hope your talent will get you some hardware elsewhere?
tbh I didn’t even realize at first UConn was D1, if that supports my point. 🤦♀️But hey, maybe the student section can get more creative now….we’ve got wood, yes we do. We’ve got wood, how bout you? 😂
I guess if my daughter is walking around on campus wearing a shirt that says “got wood?” I’m not sure how to feel about that.😂
Quick interview from Jess
I have been harsh on Jess at times, but bravo for getting this interview.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
I would be inclined to put Snuggy and Wood on the same line. It’s too easy for the other team to emphasize them. Snuggy had no space out there, I imagine this frustrated Wood while at UCONN.
Chemistry will dictate the combos.
Regardless a PP1 of Snuggy, Wood, Moore, Pitlick, Rinzel sounds dangerous.
For goalies, going to be a tough sell for an elite goalie if we only get 1 year with Airey here. Especially if the staff likes Airey.
Wouldn’t mind picking up Liam Souliere in the portal. Had a bad year but was terrific the year prior. Also has a lot of experience and would probably settle for shared duties on a contender.
Also wonder about this goalie from Northern Michigan- Beni Halasz. Has good stats and could trust what Potulny tells you if you are Motzko.
For goalies, going to be a tough sell for an elite goalie if we only get 1 year with Airey here. Especially if the staff likes Airey.
Wouldn’t mind picking up Liam Souliere in the portal. Had a bad year but was terrific the year prior. Also has a lot of experience and would probably settle for shared duties on a contender.
Yeah I’ll pass on Souliere lol
But, he was following 7 UND players. How can this be?
Just to torture them.
I wonder if it was a negotiation tactic to help secure NIL or other demands from MN.
Or maybe he just connected with those guys during a campus visit or other recruiting activities and didn't know/care that the GPL board, desperate for any news during the off-season, would read too much into the Insta follows.