How can Christian Humphreys be in the transfer portal to the Gophers? Isn’t he still with the Wolverines?
he left Michigan last year early in the year and has played in Kitchener (OHL) since last year.
I assume he can enter whenever he wants because he isn’t on their roster?
seems like Miller may move on or retire.
Hopefully our PP continues to be lethal next season but with a half decent PK as well. Usually the special teams stats have been the other way around, at least while Snuggy was a Gopher
https://twitter.com/schlossmangf/status/2039356887250964661?s=46&t=Eng8voSPBd8fS83D7FvpsQ
Colgate’s #1 D will enter the portal. Doubt he cares to come to Minnesota, but maybe he’d be good here.
https://twitter.com/schlossmangf/status/2039356887250964661?s=46&t=Eng8voSPBd8fS83D7FvpsQ
Colgate’s #1 D will enter the portal. Doubt he cares to come to Minnesota, but maybe he’d be good here.
played for the force with Gruba
Any day now assistants
“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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A couple items about the transfer portal:
Other than Airey I haven't seen any Gophers enter the portal (good or bad) --- is this surprising?
Also, even though it doesn't open til after the frozen four, there is back channeling going on, correct?
Surprised at the lack of Gopher players in the portal tbh
A couple items about the transfer portal:
Other than Airey I haven't seen any Gophers enter the portal (good or bad) --- is this surprising?
Also, even though it doesn't open til after the frozen four, there is back channeling going on, correct?
tbh not at all surprised to not see much action. No real benefit to rush and Larson strikes me more as he wants to have more info and conversations prior to telling someone to move on (in addition to probably trying to figure out the slots he needs to fill .)
For the player, I guess they could get into the portal earlier to commit elsewhere, but the grad transfers also haven’t committed.
There’s a bunch of back channeling going on.
YHH unofficially “announces” the coaching staff and it’s all who we thought it would be.
YHH unofficially “announces” the coaching staff and it’s all who we thought it would be.
they have Gordon, laylin, Martin as full time and poderzay as goalie coach with Cullen as a part time guy.
that’s too many coaches no? Unless Poderzay and Cullen are both fully volunteers. And that doesn’t list a hockey ops person
My guess is Poderzay is just a volunteer now. Not sure how he feels about getting demoted from full time assistant to volunteer goalie coach
Put some cash in a hat for him.My guess is Poderzay is just a volunteer now. Not sure how he feels about getting demoted from full time assistant to volunteer goalie coach
Goalie coach is getting NIL.
I’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
I’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
If one of those pieces isn’t Tanner Henricks I will be shocked.
I’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
If one of those pieces isn’t Tanner Henricks I will be shocked.
Would he be top pair worthy?
My guess is Poderzay is just a volunteer now. Not sure how he feels about getting demoted from full time assistant to volunteer goalie coach
I thought the NCAA eliminated "volunteer" coaches as part of the lawsuit that was settled a couple of years ago. That is why a 3rd full time coach was added. Maybe they can get around that by giving him a different title, I don't know.
The NCAA eliminated the volunteer coach rule in July 2023, allowing all Division I programs to pay previously unpaid staff. This change was part of a broader effort to modernize compensation structures in college athletics.Elimination of the Volunteer Coach Rule
In July 2023, the NCAA made a significant change by eliminating the volunteer coach rule for Division I sports. This decision allows all Division I programs to pay previously unpaid staff, marking a shift in how college athletics compensates coaches.
Background of the Volunteer Coach Rule
- Previous Restrictions: Under the old rule, Division I programs could only have one volunteer coach per team who could not be paid or receive benefits. This rule was in place since 1992.
- Impact on Coaches: Many volunteer coaches worked full-time hours, often exceeding 30-40 hours per week, without any compensation. This led to claims of wage suppression and antitrust violations against the NCAA.
Legal Developments
The elimination of the volunteer coach rule followed a class-action lawsuit where approximately 7,700 former volunteer coaches alleged that the NCAA engaged in illegal wage-fixing. The lawsuit resulted in a $303 million settlement, which is set to compensate these coaches for their unpaid work.
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
I’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
If one of those pieces isn’t Tanner Henricks I will be shocked.
Would he be top pair worthy?
2nd pair on a 1-2 seed. 1st pair on a 3-4 seed
So, he would be Nick Lidstrom on the current roster?I’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
If one of those pieces isn’t Tanner Henricks I will be shocked.
Would he be top pair worthy?
2nd pair on a 1-2 seed. 1st pair on a 3-4 seed
I’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
If one of those pieces isn’t Tanner Henricks I will be shocked.
Agreed. Also….
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/658220/evan-murr
So...his gear is still hung up in the locker room as of Friday so take that FWIW. Coaches believe he is still looking for the right place to sign to play pro.
I think he still needs some more work to do before going to the next level so a transfer could be on the horizon but his interview with Bucci in Loveland Murr talked about players who stayed and made a difference when he first got to Mankato. That has some rubes here hopeful he will stay. There were times this season where you could tell he wasn't as engaged as he was last season. I know that the money is there for the taking in NIL for him in Mankato, he just has to grab it. His father has told multiple people that Mankato is the only place he will play college hockey...so, who knows.
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
He turned Motzko down last yearI’ve listened to Coach Larson a couple times now as Gopher coach. Every time he has emphasized “every coach will recruit.” Was this not happening before, if so seems insane?
Also on KFAN mentioned bringing in a couple pieces on D, color me intrigued.
If one of those pieces isn’t Tanner Henricks I will be shocked.
Agreed. Also….
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/658220/evan-murr
Scott Wheeler of the Athletic is doing his annual prospects list for each NHL team. Here are a couple Gophers that have been discussed so far.
Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, 18, Penticton (No. 202, 2025)
Scouts were down on the ’07 NTDP class last year, and Kvasnicka is a 5-foot-11 winger who wasn’t even one of the names with more than a little prominence. But I really enjoyed watching him play at the program, and he became a big part of that team, stirring the drink with his work ethic, competitiveness, determination and drive. And he has now carried that into a very successful season with a new WHL team in Penticton, leading them in scoring by double digits and finishing in the top 10 in the league.
He gets to pucks first, keeps plays alive and has enough skill to be opportunistic. He’s a good to very good skater (he was flying at the World Junior Summer Showcase in a group of top prospects). He takes pucks to the middle third whenever he can. He stays around the action. He knows exactly what he is. I ranked him 99th on my draft board last year and was really happy to see him get picked. He’ll be a good college player for Minnesota, and I expect him to climb the Golden Gophers’ lineup and become an important player for them as an upperclassman. He’s also an August birthday, and I think he has a path to keep getting better within his already-established hardworking identity as a player. Whether it’ll work at his size at the pro level is to be determined, but he’s worth following.
Brodie Ziemer, RW, 20, Minnesota No. 71, 2024)
Ziemer is, to use a tired cliche, a hockey player. He’s just good. Wherever he goes, whoever he plays with, he plays well.
He was the ’06 captain at the NTDP and head coach Nick Fohr’s everyman, an effective 18-year-old freshman at Minnesota and good for Team USA as an 18-year-old middle-sixer at the World Juniors. He was Team USA’s captain again at the World Juniors as a returnee this year and has now broken the 20-goal mark as a sophomore, which is typically an early indicator of pro progression. Ziemer is a competitor who seems to make his linemates better regardless of who he has played with. He’s committed to the details. He’ll block shots and sticks with the play. He’s opportunistic, and makes the right decision more often than the wrong one. He’s capable of opening up his hips to go heel-to-heel around the offensive zone to widen his plane of sight. He’s a good athlete who skates well and plays a strong 200-foot, three-zone game for a 5-11 winger. He just does a lot of positive things.
And he has some offense. I’ve seen him make plays from the wall and below the goal line, as well as off the rush. Those tools aren’t going to define him, but nobody will be surprised if he finds a way to become an NHL role player with some secondary offense. He’s by all accounts committed to getting better and will take his career as far as it will go. He’s not promised to be an NHLer, but if he makes it, it’ll be as a likable third-liner who plays honestly and the right way, and all of those other cliches. He finds ways to contribute at five-on-five, is better on the cycle and in the dirty areas than you expect for a player his size, and gets the most out of his game.
Mason Moe, C, 18, Minnesota (No. 90, 2025)
Moe was a top player in the Minnesota high school circuit, had a solid showing at the Hlinka, and then scored 25 goals and 52 points in 63 combined games split between the Madison Capitols’ regular season and playoffs and a half dozen games with the NTDP (including a hat trick in his debut) last year to get drafted in the third round. He has had a respectable freshman year at Minnesota, too. He started the year playing 10-12 minutes per game and is now regularly playing 16-17.
Moe is strong and sturdy, and he works hard, competes, has a good motor, finishes his checks, takes pucks to the net and uses his body well to protect pucks, stay over them and work to get into shooting positions, where he can fire it. He does need to improve in the faceoff circle, though.
Moe played most of last season on a line with the uber-talented Ryker Lee, and he played off him well, showing an ability to get open for him, get pucks for him and create some of his own looks. And while I do think he benefited from all of the plays Lee makes, I think it was mutual in certain respects as well. Moe should be a three- or four-year college player, but has some pro attributes to build around.
Javon Moore, LW, 20, Minnesota (No. 112, 2024)
Moore is a pro-sized (6-4, 210 pounds) winger who can skate, which allowed him to attack off the rush and circle the offensive zone fairly frequently at Minnesota’s high school level in his draft year. Last year, his post-draft season in the USHL was fine, but it wasn’t a noticeable step forward (but you can live with that for a player who took a high school path, which comes with some learning up levels). He has progressed nicely as his freshman year at Minnesota has gone on this year, though, playing his best hockey of late.
Moore is also a player I kept getting told had some real offense to his game, and while I didn’t see it for a while, we’re starting to now. He doesn’t score off high-skill plays, and I find his actual impact on games a little more muted than his production and tools at times, but he’s learning how to more consistently get to good spots. I don’t think he reads the game naturally, and the skill level looks more average than above it to me still, but he has the tools of a go-getter for skill players and he just needs to continue to hone his identity.
L.J. Mooney, C/RW, 19, Minnesota (No. 113, 2025)
Mooney is — and will be — a fascinating case study. He’s one of the most talented and complete players in the ’07 U.S. age group, the cousin of Utah’s Logan Cooley, and has been talked about for years for his skill, skating, minor hockey performance and as the player who played really well as an underager with the 2006s as a tiny 16-year-old because he was also extremely competitive.
The size makes him a real test to project, though. At the start of last season, NHL Central Scouting gave him a “B Rating” which “indicates a 2nd/3rd round candidate,” on the back of his excellent second half and strong showing at his first of two U18 worlds, where he stuck at center despite his size and more than held his own as an underager. Last year, though, his draft year was affected by injury and he struggled at times after returning to have the same impact and score, though he also moved between center and the wing. He came on late in the year, though, and really sold me again with an outstanding showing at his second U18 worlds, where he dominated games with his skating and maneuverability but also played physical, had the puck all the time and once again showed himself to be a true competitor. NHL Central Scouting slotted him 208th on their midterm list and 206th on the final list, but that came out pre-U18 worlds, and his mid-round selection was as earned as anyone’s.
This year, he finished second on a weak Minnesota team in scoring as a freshman, registering 30 points in 34 games after impressing at Canadiens development camp. And though he struggled to break through at his first World Juniors, his skating and creativity flashed at times there as well, though there were also signals of some of the challenges he may face driving play up levels. He has always been a top player in his age group; if you put him in an All-Star game of this draft class right now, he might stand out and make his linemates better. But can he be what he is against pros someday, especially if he doesn’t get an inch or two and struggles to add weight to a skinny frame?
I love the player. He has lightning-quick hands in traffic/one-on-one, quick feet, a quick release, a quick processing of the game and an ability to make plays. That combination of skating ability — he has natural acceleration and tremendous edges, and can put defenders on their heels from a standstill and spin off them with ease — and skill is complemented by a willing work ethic and attention to detail defensively. He supports play well, positions himself well off the puck and doesn’t cheat for offense. He plays with determination and takes a ton of pucks to the guts of the offensive zone and even the front of the net, with a desire to get to the middle consistently. He’s crafty and knows how to play to his strengths and put pucks into space for others. He’ll flash skill off the rush and inside the offensive zone with his maneuverability. There are times when he’s deferential (in part because of his size), but his quickness helps him manage his deficiencies to be a very well-rounded player. He can also flat-out make guys miss and can put them in the spin cycle, he wins his fair share of battles and I’ve seen him bowl over bigger players.
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
Wheeler has long been a Mooney proponent so not surprising to see the ongoing love. Really want him to grow an inch or two and put on 20# as his compete and edge is so damn fun to watch. Very much the same style player as his cousin, just 3 inches smaller and 20# lighter
Kvasnicka write up sounds like a guy we’ll love in a Gopher uniform, which seems very corroborated by his year with Penticton (which was likely very mutually beneficial).
I like a lot of these young guys, the question is how do the older vets look next year. Need big rebound years from Clark and Ludtke.
I like a lot of these young guys, the question is how do the older vets look next year. Need big rebound years from Clark and Ludtke.
some of that depends on if they’re on the team or not. Would expect that attrition is coming and those 2 certainly could be candidates for it especially depending on the style Larson wants to implement.
Can’t say either of them really scream grit out there
Mooney is a fun player to watch, a jitterbug with good hands & a good playmaker, hopefully he sticks around for 3 or 4 years. But with that being said…he’s NOTHING like his cousin, who was literally a generational Gopher player. PS: It’s very unlikely he gets any taller., cud add some muscle though.Wheeler has long been a Mooney proponent so not surprising to see the ongoing love. Really want him to grow an inch or two and put on 20# as his compete and edge is so damn fun to watch. Very much the same style player as his cousin, just 3 inches smaller and 20#
He cud turn out to be a great college player. But he’s got a huge hill to climb beyond that, despite what Wheeler espouses.
Coincidence? Perhaps not...
Mooney is a fun player to watch, a jitterbug with good hands & a good playmaker, hopefully he sticks around for 3 or 4 years. But with that being said…he’s NOTHING like his cousin, who was literally a generational Gopher player. PS: It’s very unlikely he gets any taller., cud add some muscle though.Wheeler has long been a Mooney proponent so not surprising to see the ongoing love. Really want him to grow an inch or two and put on 20# as his compete and edge is so damn fun to watch. Very much the same style player as his cousin, just 3 inches smaller and 20#
He cud turn out to be a great college player. But he’s got a huge hill to climb beyond that, despite what Wheeler espouses.
I think he’s closer to his cousin than you’re giving him credit for. Put Mooney on that 2022-23 team in between Knies and Snuggerud and how many points does he put up? I gotta think at least 50.
Coincidence? Perhaps not...
Former teammates with Kvas too.
Mooney is a fun player to watch, a jitterbug with good hands & a good playmaker, hopefully he sticks around for 3 or 4 years. But with that being said…he’s NOTHING like his cousin, who was literally a generational Gopher player. PS: It’s very unlikely he gets any taller., cud add some muscle though.Wheeler has long been a Mooney proponent so not surprising to see the ongoing love. Really want him to grow an inch or two and put on 20# as his compete and edge is so damn fun to watch. Very much the same style player as his cousin, just 3 inches smaller and 20#
He cud turn out to be a great college player. But he’s got a huge hill to climb beyond that, despite what Wheeler espouses.
attitude and drive is what I’m referring to, as is wheeler. Kid competes and hits and at frequently is a pot stirrer. Some guys are like that, others are much more bystanders who avoid the mix and scrums
Coincidence? Perhaps not...
Former teammates with Kvas too.
have never seen him play. would we be at all excited about this?
@maroon_and_gold One guy was the 3rd overall pick. The other guy was drafted 113th. There’s a REASON. They are VERY different players. One has explosive straight ahead speed & is a goal scorer. The list goes on & on. Doesn’t mean LJ can’t be a great COLLEGE player though. 🏒
@upnorthkid Agree LJ is a agitator type. But when he hits you, do you actually feel much? He’s a water bug skater. Cooley was a Cheetah (in comparison) lol
@maroon_and_gold One guy was the 3rd overall pick. The other guy was drafted 113th. There’s a REASON. They are VERY different players. One has explosive straight ahead speed & is a goal scorer. The list goes on & on. Doesn’t mean LJ can’t be a great COLLEGE player though. 🏒
Cooley is better than Mooney and also projected better because he was 3in taller and 20 pounds heavier. LJs speed is one the biggest consensus things across his draft profiles. Theres a reason he was listed as a first round talent, he’s just small
good lord all of this by talking about style of player referring to his attitude he plays with despite being ridiculously talented (which particularly stands out when the Gophers have had so many guys who play soft)
Coincidence? Perhaps not...
Former teammates with Kvas too.
have never seen him play. would we be at all excited about this?
I could see him being a solid 4 year guy but don’t think he would move the needle much next year.
What Wheeler thinks of Rombach.
Jacob Rombach, LHD, 19, Minnesota (No. 35, 2025)
Rombach is a big, strong left-shot D who played for Team USA at the Hlinka (where he was good) and the World Junior A Challenge (where he was OK) and had a solid season for Lincoln that finished with him playing 22 minutes per game for them in the playoffs, eating tough minutes at five-on-five and on the PK to positive results. As a freshman at Minnesota this year, Rombach played just 14:39 per game but was fine on a poor team.
He’s a decent backwards skater who has a good stick, manages and closes gaps effectively and makes good, smart decisions with the puck, which is all you can really ask of a player his size. He’ll occasionally draw in pressure and step past with the puck, and can go back and get pucks as well, though his puck play is quite ordinary on the whole. He’ll give away the odd puck and has some limitations when he doesn’t have time to survey, but he does a good job shoulder-checking and picking up on what his next play should be and has obvious defensive upside. He has a chance to develop into a depth NHL D, though I felt 35th was a little high.
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
4-6-2002
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
Boy do I hope Larson can get us another gold banner. It’s been far too long.
I know it is just sports and this probably should not be the case but that day is in my top ten days of my life. It still makes me happy.
4-6-2002
You couldn't even use the GPL version of this GPL video?
E on me... I knew this was the one you made, I just posted the 1st one that popped up on YouTube. It does credit you in the comments... LOL
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
The original is only at 480 resolution, this literal rip-off is only at 240, too.
Yeah... 480 is all I had back in the day.
Do not like how this board is run?
Get your own board!
♃
Yeah... 480 is all I had back in the day.
I found your original and replaced the other one...
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
Know it's super early, but work mandates I have to plan vacations way the hell out.
Did it ever get announced when the return to MTU is or the date with UND for next year? need some Gopher hockey to look forward to before my hate watching trip to LV in a few days