It’s all coach speak nonsense. I remember him trying to pump Pinonemi’s tires saying he was a totally different player his sophomore season.
yeah he kept putting Pino on the 2nd line with Nelson and Brodzinski, over Pitlick, until Pitlick kept scoring every single game. Idk if Pino notched a single goal that season; when he transferred to Omaha they also put him on their first line to start the year and then he finished the year as an intermittent scratch again. Guess he always was one of those look great in practice, freeze up in game situations players.
Bob’s never been able to effectively manage his favorites
I looked back at the box scores from 23-24 and Pino was on the 3rd line for a couple of games with Kurth and Huglen, but mostly on the 4th line with Clark, Mittelstadt and Strobel. I never found a chart with him on the 1st or 2nd lines. Pitlick was mostly with Nelson and Brodzinski, but Nevers and a couple of others played with them as well.
In his freshman year, he was mostly on the 4th line as well, as Nevers was with Nelson and Brodzinski.
I know Bob tried him on the 2nd PP unit a few times early in one of the seasons, I don't remember which one. I do remember Pino was certainly one of the players some fans did not care for and kept calling for Strobel to play more.
interesting, I must have misremembered. The games that stuck out in my mind were the UST series and @ OSU early that year. Strobel got his chances with Clark and Pitlick for a while, never produced quite enough though and I hope he’s done well at CC
He made it one semester at CC before quitting hockey
So with 3 games left I see the Gophers in Big Ten playoffs going to play 1st round going to play at the Badddgers
Aloha!
Luke Mitts joins a pretty good group of d-men.
https://twitter.com/GopherGameNotes/status/2027190657048068506
I actually give a @#$* about the Twins
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
The worst part about this season is the fact that neither of our freshman defensemen have developed at all. If we’re gonna be losing so many games, at least have it be at the expense of player development. If not then what the hell was the point. Rombach and McLaughlin don’t seem any further along than they were in November.
The worst part about this season is the fact that neither of our freshman defensemen have developed at all. If we’re gonna be losing so many games, at least have it be at the expense of player development. If not then what the hell was the point. Rombach and McLaughlin don’t seem any further along than they were in November.
I would argue that Gruba hasn’t gotten any better either in two years.
Yeah next year you basically have Whipple and that’s it. And as good as he’s been he shouldn’t exactly be leading a PP or expected to produce a ton of points like an offensive 1D.
Yeah next year you basically have Whipple and that’s it. And as good as he’s been he shouldn’t exactly be leading a PP or expected to produce a ton of points like an offensive 1D.
Harper is gonna take Mittelstadt’s spot on PP1 as he should. Problem is Whipple is our only guy capable of playing 2nd pair next season. Rombach, Gruba, Grimes, Harper, Phillips are all 3rd pair guys but only 3 of them can play it (one extra skater). We might have to delay Phillips? If that’s the case he probably finds a new home.
Yeah next year you basically have Whipple and that’s it. And as good as he’s been he shouldn’t exactly be leading a PP or expected to produce a ton of points like an offensive 1D.
Harper is gonna take Mittelstadt’s spot on PP1 as he should. Problem is Whipple is our only guy capable of playing 2nd pair next season. Rombach, Gruba, Grimes, Harper, Phillips are all 3rd pair guys but only 3 of them can play it (one extra skater). We might have to delay Phillips? If that’s the case he probably finds a new home.
i dunno who as a high end team looks at Phillips production and says yes he’s ready to play d1 higher next year and he’s not going to Mankato or something
Kind of nuts to look at it but gophers have wins vs
2, 3, 5, 6, 13, 21, and 23 this year
chance vs 1 next week
and yet they’re way off the bubble. tough year to have a middling at best team
Yeah next year you basically have Whipple and that’s it. And as good as he’s been he shouldn’t exactly be leading a PP or expected to produce a ton of points like an offensive 1D.
Harper is gonna take Mittelstadt’s spot on PP1 as he should. Problem is Whipple is our only guy capable of playing 2nd pair next season. Rombach, Gruba, Grimes, Harper, Phillips are all 3rd pair guys but only 3 of them can play it (one extra skater). We might have to delay Phillips? If that’s the case he probably finds a new home.
i dunno who as a high end team looks at Phillips production and says yes he’s ready to play d1 higher next year and he’s not going to Mankato or something
The team that has his rights in Canada wished him a Happy Birthday this week. Strange for a team to do that unless they know something for next year?
https://twitter.com/pdxwinterhawks/status/2026729317846364345
I actually give a @#$* about the Twins
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
any team with an actual top 4 would jump at the chance to grab a kid with his upside.Yeah next year you basically have Whipple and that’s it. And as good as he’s been he shouldn’t exactly be leading a PP or expected to produce a ton of points like an offensive 1D.
Harper is gonna take Mittelstadt’s spot on PP1 as he should. Problem is Whipple is our only guy capable of playing 2nd pair next season. Rombach, Gruba, Grimes, Harper, Phillips are all 3rd pair guys but only 3 of them can play it (one extra skater). We might have to delay Phillips? If that’s the case he probably finds a new home.
i dunno who as a high end team looks at Phillips production and says yes he’s ready to play d1 higher next year and he’s not going to Mankato or something
Yeah next year you basically have Whipple and that’s it. And as good as he’s been he shouldn’t exactly be leading a PP or expected to produce a ton of points like an offensive 1D.
Harper is gonna take Mittelstadt’s spot on PP1 as he should. Problem is Whipple is our only guy capable of playing 2nd pair next season. Rombach, Gruba, Grimes, Harper, Phillips are all 3rd pair guys but only 3 of them can play it (one extra skater). We might have to delay Phillips? If that’s the case he probably finds a new home.
i dunno who as a high end team looks at Phillips production and says yes he’s ready to play d1 higher next year and he’s not going to Mankato or something
The team that has his rights in Canada wished him a Happy Birthday this week. Strange for a team to do that unless they know something for next year?
https://twitter.com/pdxwinterhawks/status/2026729317846364345
tbh this kind of thing I think would be really good for him Dev wise. Being a 7th dman/scratch is not what he needs. More open game up there which lets him work on all those things he needs to come in and be a really good college player
I think The commentary on Rombach is a little harsh at this point of his college career. He has shown some solid progress throughout the season with momentary lapses in games.
I liken his progress to LaCombe. I get that memories are short, especially in a down year, but LaCombe had essentially the same Freshman season that Rombach is experiencing. He needs to work on his puck control and positioning, and gain strength in his skating, but not all that unusual for a Freshman D jumping in to an overall depleted defense.
I think The commentary on Rombach is a little harsh at this point of his college career. He has shown some solid progress throughout the season with momentary lapses in games.
I liken his progress to LaCombe. I get that memories are short, especially in a down year, but LaCombe had essentially the same Freshman season that Rombach is experiencing. He needs to work on his puck control and positioning, and gain strength in his skating, but not all that unusual for a Freshman D jumping in to an overall depleted defense.
much different skillsets and ceilings, Rombach is more like Staudacher/Brinkman and needs a dynamic offensive partner
I think The commentary on Rombach is a little harsh at this point of his college career. He has shown some solid progress throughout the season with momentary lapses in games.
I liken his progress to LaCombe. I get that memories are short, especially in a down year, but LaCombe had essentially the same Freshman season that Rombach is experiencing. He needs to work on his puck control and positioning, and gain strength in his skating, but not all that unusual for a Freshman D jumping in to an overall depleted defense.
much different skillsets and ceilings, Rombach is more like Staudacher/Brinkman and needs a dynamic offensive partner
If Rombach doesn't pass the eye test for rube fans after one season, what is Nashville thinking?
The LaCombe comparison doesn't work because he came in with obvious skills and was a much better skater. Gold versus Pyrite.
I think The commentary on Rombach is a little harsh at this point of his college career. He has shown some solid progress throughout the season with momentary lapses in games.
I liken his progress to LaCombe. I get that memories are short, especially in a down year, but LaCombe had essentially the same Freshman season that Rombach is experiencing. He needs to work on his puck control and positioning, and gain strength in his skating, but not all that unusual for a Freshman D jumping in to an overall depleted defense.
much different skillsets and ceilings, Rombach is more like Staudacher/Brinkman and needs a dynamic offensive partner
If Rombach doesn't pass the eye test for rube fans after one season, what is Nashville thinking?
The LaCombe comparison doesn't work because he came in with obvious skills and was a much better skater. Gold versus Pyrite.
Guys who are 6’6” and can skate don’t exactly grow on trees.
think the fan base has been way too harsh on a guy who was very obviously going to be a longer runway kid because of where he was drafted. The problem was hoping he’d look like he could play first pair by next year. He’s far from a bust less than 1 full year in, especially when he projects as a guy who on a typical gopher team would be bottom pair as a freshman. He’s 18 (soon to be 19).
agree with the takes that he isn’t Lacombe. Never was going to be his game. Think you’re much more going with say a Colin Ralph to give another guy drafted in the same spot
Rombach doesn't even look as good as previous gopher Dmen who didn't make it to the NHL much less a guy who made the Olympic team. Can hope he's a longer project who becomes a steady college Dman.
Pats selections for best Gopher teams all time
78-79 national champs
80-81 national runner up
01-02 national champs
75-76 national champs
73-74 national champs
discuss
Pats selections for best Gopher teams all time
78-79 national champs
80-81 national runner up
01-02 national champs
75-76 national champs
73-74 national champs
discuss
I admittedly wasn’t around in the 70’s but the 1974 team’s record doesn’t blow you away. I feel like the obvious answer is the 5 national championship teams. Maybe a better question would be the best Gopher teams to not win a championship.
1981, 1989 and 2023 lead the way in that regard, closely followed by 2014, 2007, 2006, 1996, 1992, 1988, 1983.
Gun to my head the top 5 teams of all time are:
1979
1981
2002
1989
2003
Not having the Vanek team on there makes zero sense but whatever.Pats selections for best Gopher teams all time
78-79 national champs
80-81 national runner up
01-02 national champs
75-76 national champs
73-74 national champs
discuss
Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
I've always heard that 1953-1954 was Mariucci's best team and that no one could understand how they lost to RPI in the championship game.
The Yale year was unfortunate but that 14-15 team was the one you knew for sure was going to do that. They looked like they weren't gonna make the NCAA's losing some really bad games like Merrimack, got owned at the X by 2 local teams, somehow managed to split against bad OSU and MSU teams, lost in OT to a really bad PSU team, tied 55th ranked Wisconsin at home etc. (all 2nd half of the season). Then they won the B1G tourney when the B1G was still bad to get in only to get smoked by Duluth the first round. That team still had some talent but the inability to beat good teams or even sweep bad ones made it east to predict a short postseason.Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
The team you mention had some good star power but lacked depth and lost on a bad bounce to the eventual champion, that year it just seemed like fate wasn't on our side.
I've always heard that 1953-1954 was Mariucci's best team and that no one could understand how they lost to RPI in the championship game.
Went back and looked at the box score from that game. Minnesota outshot RPI 44-25 and lost in OT. If that isn’t the most Gopher hockey thing of all time idk what is
The Yale year was unfortunate but that 14-15 team was the one you knew for sure was going to do that. They looked like they weren't gonna make the NCAA's losing some really bad games like Merrimack, got owned at the X by 2 local teams, somehow managed to split against bad OSU and MSU teams, lost in OT to a really bad PSU team, tied 55th ranked Wisconsin at home etc. (all 2nd half of the season). Then they won the B1G tourney when the B1G was still bad to get in only to get smoked by Duluth the first round. That team still had some talent but the inability to beat good teams or even sweep bad ones made it east to predict a short postseason.Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
The team you mention had some good star power but lacked depth and lost on a bad bounce to the eventual champion, that year it just seemed like fate wasn't on our side.
2012-13 was so good I feel like they get forgotten about because of the early exit. I’m grateful Yale went and won it all or else we’d have a second Holy Cross on our hands lmao.
The 1975 team was loaded for bear, but for whatever reason looked like they were skating in cement in the title game.
1974-75-76 Gophers versus Mich Tech National champ games, how the NCAA allowed both teams from same conference to meet in the finals?
Aloha!
There's never been any rule/guideline that would prevent teams from the same conference from meeting after the first round.
In the 70s, the NCAA tournament was only a 4 team affair, and there were only two conferences (WCHA and ECAC). Each conference sent two teams. First round was East 1 v West 2, and East 2 v West 1. Losers played the 3rd place game, winners played for the championship.
Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
Another team that has to be in that mix is the 1991-92 team. They were 30-8-5 heading into the WCHA FF Final and lost that game. Were the #1 seed in the West and got hammered by LSSU 8-3 in the quarters.
Perhaps the most NHL-player loaded team in Gopher History:
- Darby Hendrickson
- Chris MacAlpine
- Doug Zmolek
- Trent Klatt
- Craig Johnson
- Travis Richards
- Jeff Nielsen
All of those players saw significant NHL ice time. Larry Olimb was a Hobey finalist that year and even Joe Dziedzic saw some NHL time with the Pens and "Yotes.
Incredible team and a heartbreaking loss to LSSU.
When you tell somebody somethin', it depends on what part of the United States you're standin' in... as to just how dumb you are.
Keep: Ziemer, Mooney, Moore, Whipple, LDP, Hendrickson
Fine either way: Rombach and Moe
Turn over the rest of this roster. The list of players to keep seems to get smaller every game I watch.
The 2014 team had the fewest number of losses in Gophers history in the modern era.
In 2005-06 they went 15-1-1 after Jan 1 before falling apart in the WCHA tournament and Holy Cross finishing with 9 losses.
The 2020-21 team was 11-4 vs ranked teams before going out with a whimper vs. Mankato.
95/96 that lost to the Michigan goal was 30-10-2 Bonin, Crowley, Kraft, Hankinson, Checco, Trebel, Lafleur, the Godbouts, Debus, Berg, Rasmussen, Hendrickson(Dan) Wyatt Smith.🍻
“Good pace, a lot of north and south, or it could be east and west, I’m not sure but either way…” Wooger
Pohlad baseball ⚾️ it’s not arrogance, we really are “that good” #”Hey Siri, play “faithfully” by Journey max volume”
On the bright side, the U FINALLY updated the Olympic banners from 2022 and 2026.
I actually give a @#$* about the Twins
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Last night was an all-time low for me. The first 4:45 was very nice but from the moment LMitts fumbled the puck on the exit and then put the biscuit right on the MSU players stick it was all downhill.
From watching our own players check themselves to watching all 3 forwards leave the O zone while we had possession of the puck (our D dumped it in), the entire night was unwatchable. I simply do not understand the complete incompetence of nearly every player in the D zone. They cannot make a breakout pass and when they do the player cannot receive it cleanly. Yet, in the the offensive zone the same players can do something magical (at times). It's as if there is an invisible force field that prevents their brains from connecting to the rest of their body.
This may not be the most talented group in Gopher Hockey history but every one of these kids has played very good hockey at one point in their lives. Should they be Conference Champs? Absolutely not. But, should they be one of the worst teams to take the ice in the history of the program. I don't feel like that should be true either.
I have no answers, only frustration. I watched the down fall of both the Woog and Lucia eras and for some reason (likely recency bias) this feels so much worse.
Thanks to GPL and the lurkers here for letting me vent. I have loved going to Gopher games for over 35 years but I'd skip tonight if it weren't senior night. I feel like I should at least go and show respect to those kids that have showed up for the past 4 years.
As awful as I feel I cannot imagine how tough it is on the players. This cannot be fun for any of them.
Yeah it’s one thing to put together a roster this bad, it’s another to not even get the most out of a bad roster. Just a failure on all accounts by the coaching staff which has the fanbase reasonably ticked off.
Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
Another team that has to be in that mix is the 1991-92 team. They were 30-8-5 heading into the WCHA FF Final and lost that game. Were the #1 seed in the West and got hammered by LSSU 8-3 in the quarters.
Perhaps the most NHL-player loaded team in Gopher History:
- Darby Hendrickson
- Chris MacAlpine
- Doug Zmolek
- Trent Klatt
- Craig Johnson
- Travis Richards
- Jeff Nielsen
All of those players saw significant NHL ice time. Larry Olimb was a Hobey finalist that year and even Joe Dziedzic saw some NHL time with the Pens and "Yotes.
Incredible team and a heartbreaking loss to LSSU.
That was a really fun team. The 2nd season of my Gopher hockey fandom. That team was both talented and gritty.
Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
Another team that has to be in that mix is the 1991-92 team. They were 30-8-5 heading into the WCHA FF Final and lost that game. Were the #1 seed in the West and got hammered by LSSU 8-3 in the quarters.
Perhaps the most NHL-player loaded team in Gopher History:
- Darby Hendrickson
- Chris MacAlpine
- Doug Zmolek
- Trent Klatt
- Craig Johnson
- Travis Richards
- Jeff Nielsen
All of those players saw significant NHL ice time. Larry Olimb was a Hobey finalist that year and even Joe Dziedzic saw some NHL time with the Pens and "Yotes.
Incredible team and a heartbreaking loss to LSSU.
That was a really fun team. The 2nd season of my Gopher hockey fandom. That team was both talented and gritty.
Woog had several teams that you never left your seat or couch when the Gophers were on the PP.
Yeah, it boggles the mind that none of those great teams won a Natty.Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
Another team that has to be in that mix is the 1991-92 team. They were 30-8-5 heading into the WCHA FF Final and lost that game. Were the #1 seed in the West and got hammered by LSSU 8-3 in the quarters.
Perhaps the most NHL-player loaded team in Gopher History:
- Darby Hendrickson
- Chris MacAlpine
- Doug Zmolek
- Trent Klatt
- Craig Johnson
- Travis Richards
- Jeff Nielsen
All of those players saw significant NHL ice time. Larry Olimb was a Hobey finalist that year and even Joe Dziedzic saw some NHL time with the Pens and "Yotes.
Incredible team and a heartbreaking loss to LSSU.
That was a really fun team. The 2nd season of my Gopher hockey fandom. That team was both talented and gritty.
Woog had several teams that you never left your seat or couch when the Gophers were on the PP.
The roster from that 88-89 team that lost to Harvard in OT is like the who’s who of Gopher hockey: Snuggerud, Chorske, Stauber, Richards, Olimb, Bischoff, Pitlick, Hankinson(s), Gernander, Laylin, Skarda, Williamson, Cullen Potter’s dad Rob Potter; coached by Bill Butters and Doug Woog. Cates, Broten and Nanne graduated a year prior.
What I wouldn’t give to have Skarda’s shot 3 more inches to the left.
Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
Another team that has to be in that mix is the 1991-92 team. They were 30-8-5 heading into the WCHA FF Final and lost that game. Were the #1 seed in the West and got hammered by LSSU 8-3 in the quarters.
Perhaps the most NHL-player loaded team in Gopher History:
- Darby Hendrickson
- Chris MacAlpine
- Doug Zmolek
- Trent Klatt
- Craig Johnson
- Travis Richards
- Jeff Nielsen
All of those players saw significant NHL ice time. Larry Olimb was a Hobey finalist that year and even Joe Dziedzic saw some NHL time with the Pens and "Yotes.
Incredible team and a heartbreaking loss to LSSU.
That was a really fun team. The 2nd season of my Gopher hockey fandom. That team was both talented and gritty.
Woog had several teams that you never left your seat or couch when the Gophers were on the PP.
For those of us that don't have scars from '89, the 95-96 team leaves me with the most PTSD.
I loved Mike Crowley and then you add in Bonin, Kraft (with is 46-37-46-37 point history), some Hankinson, a little Rasmussen, Brink...that was a fun year for me.
And thank you to everyone talking about all the great teams. Brings me up from the doldrums of this season. Nice to reminisce a little.
@neely I really liked that Bonin team, too, but that year Michigan was better. Sometimes the lesser team pulls it off but not that night. CC was about as good as Michigan but also lost in the final.
As for the loss against LSSU, Woog recruited true freshmen and Minnesota's team had a talented younger class. If I remember right, the LSSU lineup was on average 2 years older than Minnesota. As we've seen time and again, that makes a significant difference. They physically manhandled the Gophers.
Best Gopher teams who didn’t win a championship is a far more interesting question IMO. 2023, 1989, 1981, 2006 all come to mind, but there’s another tier of those teams I think. Ones that just kinda fizzled out or stepped on a rake right away in the tourney. 2012-13 would be one of my picks for that list.
Another team that has to be in that mix is the 1991-92 team. They were 30-8-5 heading into the WCHA FF Final and lost that game. Were the #1 seed in the West and got hammered by LSSU 8-3 in the quarters.
Perhaps the most NHL-player loaded team in Gopher History:
- Darby Hendrickson
- Chris MacAlpine
- Doug Zmolek
- Trent Klatt
- Craig Johnson
- Travis Richards
- Jeff Nielsen
All of those players saw significant NHL ice time. Larry Olimb was a Hobey finalist that year and even Joe Dziedzic saw some NHL time with the Pens and "Yotes.
Incredible team and a heartbreaking loss to LSSU.
That was a really fun team. The 2nd season of my Gopher hockey fandom. That team was both talented and gritty.
Woog had several teams that you never left your seat or couch when the Gophers were on the PP.
For those of us that don't have scars from '89, the 95-96 team leaves me with the most PTSD.
I loved Mike Crowley and then you add in Bonin, Kraft (with is 46-37-46-37 point history), some Hankinson, a little Rasmussen, Brink...that was a fun year for me.
And thank you to everyone talking about all the great teams. Brings me up from the doldrums of this season. Nice to reminisce a little.
If there was ever a year to reminisce about the past…
Moe was given an elevated role and really shone last night.
How’s this for a forward group next season?
Kvasnicka-Mooney-Ziemer
Hendrickson-Moe-Cullen
Moore-Clark-Ludtke
Katz-Townsend-Pritchard
Personally wouldn’t play Pahlsson over any of these 12 but that’s just me. IMO this forward group is solid given they have a d core that can get them the puck which is a big if.
Moe was given an elevated role and really shone last night.
How’s this for a forward group next season?
Kvasnicka-Mooney-Ziemer
Hendrickson-Moe-Cullen
Moore-Clark-Ludtke
Katz-Townsend-Pritchard
Personally wouldn’t play Pahlsson over any of these 12 but that’s just me. IMO this forward group is solid given they have a d core that can get them the puck which is a big if.
I agree. Solid forward group going into next year. If they could bring in another scoring threat in the portal or from the CHL then that would be great but the priority has to be that D corps. Whipple, Rombach, and Gruba will start next year. I know people are unimpressed with Gruba’s play but it feels like he’s a lock to be in the lineup. McLaughlin will probably be the seventh or a healthy scratch. That leaves three openings. Rud and Begley are not sufficient to be in those roles. I also don’t know if it’s fair to anyone to expect Philips, Grimes, and Harper to just walk in and turn the D corps around next year. They’ll be heavy with underclassmen again so a solid portal pick up or two would be ideal. Rud and Begley are the two seniors in our D corps next year…. Some serious moves need to be made in the offseason or it’ll be another lost year.
Max Burkholder (CC) and or Tanner Henricks (SCSU) are the dream portal dmen. Burkholder is a Chaska guy who played with the Gopher cohort of Koster, Pitlick, Snuggerud, Rinzel. Henricks played at Shattuck with Whipple and Ziemer and was Rombach’s partner in Lincoln.
Max Burkholder (CC) and or Tanner Henricks (SCSU) are the dream portal dmen. Burkholder is a Chaska guy who played with the Gopher cohort of Koster, Pitlick, Snuggerud, Rinzel. Henricks played at Shattuck with Whipple and Ziemer and was Rombach’s partner in Lincoln.
it’s and. Definitely and and not or. They need 2 experienced guys. It is not ok to keep putting rud or begley on the ice and McLaughlin a healthy scratch at his best right now (I’d be real ok with telling to go back to jr as he looks scared of making mistakes right now)
not saying those are the guys, but you need 2
Moe was given an elevated role and really shone last night.
How’s this for a forward group next season?
Kvasnicka-Mooney-Ziemer
Hendrickson-Moe-Cullen
Moore-Clark-Ludtke
Katz-Townsend-Pritchard
Personally wouldn’t play Pahlsson over any of these 12 but that’s just me. IMO this forward group is solid given they have a d core that can get them the puck which is a big if.
That group needs scoring help and is really young without much physicality. Lot of potential in that lineup for the future, but missing some of the now.
I also don’t love Mooney as a center, especially on that small of a line. That’s asking a lot at his size to have to dig and grind pucks out of corners and in front of the net. No knock on him as a player, but size wise that’s tough
Pahlsson hasn't given the team much. He's a good skater but not much more.
Speaking of which, Clark has some vertical speed, but he's undersized, loses puck battles, and can't score. These are the kind of holes in a lineup that equate to losses.