Now that it’s been roughly two months and the dust has settled I’m curious what people’s thoughts are on this past season. In particular with how it ended. I was just watching some highlights from the team this year and there were so many games where they were hard on pucks, their passing was crisp, they were clinical and their talent shined through. Obviously we know that there were games when that absolutely didn’t happen. I’m just curious as what people think went so wrong the last month plus, really a decent amount of the back half, of the season and how/why a team that seemed like it was built top to bottom for college hockey got bounced in the first round.
I was very complimentary of the team during the season and felt they were very defendable up until the Notre Dame series. They lost all benefit of the doubt with that one. Sure they got screwed in the UMass game but at the end of the day it’s a results based business and you can’t help but say they underperformed when all was said and done.
That roster was a Frozen Four team plain and simple. Every year we get further and further from Quinnipiac.
I can’t help but feel the 2025-26 team will be a rebuilding year. I feel they will be fighting to make the tourney as a 3 or 4 seed. A TON of youth and inexperience in key positions in a league that looks to be in the best shape it’s ever been, paired with a juggernaut non-con schedule. Next years outlook makes me a lil nervous.
That being said, if they keep this group together, 26-27 and 27-28 could be very promising with a veteran team who’s played together for a while. I hope we keep Mooney for 3 years.
Now that it’s been roughly two months and the dust has settled I’m curious what people’s thoughts are on this past season. In particular with how it ended. I was just watching some highlights from the team this year and there were so many games where they were hard on pucks, their passing was crisp, they were clinical and their talent shined through. Obviously we know that there were games when that absolutely didn’t happen. I’m just curious as what people think went so wrong the last month plus, really a decent amount of the back half, of the season and how/why a team that seemed like it was built top to bottom for college hockey got bounced in the first round.
I was very complimentary of the team during the season and felt they were very defendable up until the Notre Dame series. They lost all benefit of the doubt with that one. Sure they got screwed in the UMass game but at the end of the day it’s a results based business and you can’t help but say they underperformed when all was said and done.
That roster was a Frozen Four team plain and simple. Every year we get further and further from Quinnipiac.
They started off like GangBusters! Appeared so DEEP and the freshmen got off to excellent starts. But I thought tBob had over-hyped the D core. Rinzel was EXCELLENT, but beyond that, not close to level of 22-23 blue line. Season seemed to turn after Howard & Spartans rallied to beat them. And in hindsight, some players may have had a foot out the door looking forward to Pro careers….it happens. Still a solid year and lots of regular season wins, shared Big Title with Spartans!
I can’t help but feel the 2025-26 team will be a rebuilding year. I feel they will be fighting to make the tourney as a 3 or 4 seed. A TON of youth and inexperience in key positions in a league that looks to be in the best shape it’s ever been, paired with a juggernaut non-con schedule. Next years outlook makes me a lil nervous.
That being said, if they keep this group together, 26-27 and 27-28 could be very promising with a veteran team who’s played together for a while. I hope we keep Mooney for 3 years.
While I agree with you on both points my maroon and gold tinted glasses are still on and part of me feels like this next season could be fun because they are going in with less expectations than the last few years. I don’t see them competing for a national championship but I think that after some growing pains in the first half that they could really come on strong down the stretch and potentially make some noise.
Also, with so much roster turnover it kind of feels like we’re entering a new phase of the Motzko tenure. I like a lot of the guys that left but maybe some fresh faces in the locker room will help in the long run. I will always look fondly at the Class of 2026, this year’s seniors, and there are quite a few who stuck around and will be impactful players this year. But unless they wildly outperform our expectations this year I feel like they’ll be looked back on with a of a “what could have been” viewpoint. Fairly or unfairly. Just with having many players pretty quickly have big roles on that 2022-2023 runner up team, having big names like Cooley and Snuggerud, and also other solid players up and down the lineup. But oh well, that’s sports. We’ll see what the guys that stuck around and the new guys can do this year.
Forgot to post this after the fargo game, after being the first to report on the reffing change after I heard from the direct source. Maybe he jinxed us against Quinnipiac lol
@rau4skiumah2-0 this seasons Gopher team will be more coachable and disciplined. Lots of talent coming in that will step up right away. Just because other schools are getting CHL guys means nothing. CHL players will need to adjust to college hockey. Different style game. Bob is loyal to his recruits and there loyal to him. We will be fine this season
@rau4skiumah2-0 this seasons Gopher team will be more coachable and disciplined. Lots of talent coming in that will step up right away. Just because other schools are getting CHL guys means nothing. CHL players will need to adjust to college hockey. Different style game. Bob is loyal to his recruits and there loyal to him. We will be fine this season
Oh, I absolutely agree. Rewatched the season finale of GPL last night and Vegoe is right. There’s too much pessimism going around this roster. We’ll be competitive and maybe initially we’ll even slightly fly under the radar. There might be some growing pains at first but I think we’ll be fine in the long run.
@rau4skiumah2-0 this seasons Gopher team will be more coachable and disciplined. Lots of talent coming in that will step up right away. Just because other schools are getting CHL guys means nothing. CHL players will need to adjust to college hockey. Different style game. Bob is loyal to his recruits and there loyal to him. We will be fine this season
That's like saying BC's, BU's, and Denver's top recruits mean nothing. Their rosters have been stacked with talent and it's meant a lot. They also had to make adjustments to the college game...all the way to the Frozen Four.
I'd have to go back to the Herb Brooks' years to come up with a Gophers team that won on grit, discipline, and coaching. (The 2002 NC team also had some of those attributes under Lucia and the '03 team did, too, but also had Vanek.)
Minnesota will have to become a skating defense-first team and I'm not persuaded Motzko is the right coach for that.
It is a balance for sure. You never turn down a Cooley, Fantilli, etc. Those types can be engines for elite teams.
It obviously also takes more than just a few high-end players to click as a team. I am cautiously optimistic this year's team will come together in a different manner than we have been accustomed to, though it is also possible it hovers in the 15-20 range of the PWR without making much of a dent. I do think the long-term prospects of this roster are strong, however.
It is a balance for sure. You never turn down a Cooley, Fantilli, etc. Those types can be engines for elite teams.
It obviously also takes more than just a few high-end players to click as a team. I am cautiously optimistic this year's team will come together in a different manner than we have been accustomed to, though it is also possible it hovers in the 15-20 range of the PWR without making much of a dent. I do think the long-term prospects of this roster are strong, however.
Yeah the latter is about my expectations for next year, probably somewhere in that range for the PWR and then middle of the pack in the B1G depending on how much other teams improve. That said I'd like to see guys improve as the year goes on and hopefully the year after there's more of a splash in terms of recruiting that builds on the existing talent. Streaky is probably right about the coaching too, Motzko wasn't exactly brought in to build a roster that plays like the Cows and most people weren't exactly in favor of bringing in Hastings for that reason.
Just because a team has all of these high end 1st round picks or prospects does not guarantee success. Michigan, BU and BC are teams that come to mind. I trust Bob and until his record says otherwise, and not just after 1 year. If anyone thinks he doesn't want to win, that is crazy talk. I've said it before, lets see how the season plays out before we all get worked up and lets go into the season with an open mind instead of being a Bonin and expecting the worse.
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
To me there is a difference between Bonin level negativity and reasonable concern about the direction of the program. Outside a couple of posters I haven’t seen much of what I would consider Bonin like bashing. I’m a Bob guy, wanted him hired and think he is a good coach. But I’d be lying if I said I feel like the program is trending in the right direction. Not bailing and as always hoping for the best. But I have concerns.
Forgot to post this after the fargo game, after being the first to report on the reffing change after I heard from the direct source. Maybe he jinxed us against Quinnipiac lol
Ha! I am in this picture (Not the guy in the cursed jersey)
To me there is a difference between Bonin level negativity and reasonable concern about the direction of the program. Outside a couple of posters I haven’t seen much of what I would consider Bonin like bashing.
Agree to disagree that most of the commentary stops at "concern". I think we can all recognize that the program needs to sign some players that they've missed. But more than a few fans are acting like this program has had no recent success in the NCAAs and that Bob has completely ignored the portal - neither of which are true, I'm still in wait and see mose to judge how he'll handle the CHL.
btw I wonder if some programs go too heavy with the CHL if that will turn off some other potential recruits.
Forgot to post this after the fargo game, after being the first to report on the reffing change after I heard from the direct source. Maybe he jinxed us against Quinnipiac lol
Ha! I am in this picture (Not the guy in the cursed jersey)
What a terrible night it ended up being, started off bad with the late start. Still can't believe the refs ran off as fast as they did before Bob could get to center ice
To me there is a difference between Bonin level negativity and reasonable concern about the direction of the program. Outside a couple of posters I haven’t seen much of what I would consider Bonin like bashing. I’m a Bob guy, wanted him hired and think he is a good coach. But I’d be lying if I said I feel like the program is trending in the right direction. Not bailing and as always hoping for the best. But I have concerns.
This is a super reasonable take imo. I wholeheartedly trust Bob to run this program and have enjoyed his tenure so far (minus 3 minutes in Tampa) but you can’t ignore certain trends that have poked their heads recently. How serious of a problem is it? Well that remains to be seen.
I trust Bob can continue to carry the program in the right direction, but I also see things for how they are at the moment. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive.
Paulsson, Hendrickson, and Ziemer should be pretty good this season. They'll have to be.
I don't get too worked up about missing one-year players. Though they are fun to watch, they leave about the time they start figuring things out. I just don't want to miss players who would stay 2 or three years or miss out on a top transfer or two.
So much of next year’s team hinges on the sophomore class taking a jump. Whipple, Gruba, Hendrickson and Pahlsson all need to take the next step. Not worried about Ziemer he’ll be great.
That is 23 players ( If all of the expected freshman hit campus).
Need 1 or 2 more defenseman ( McLaughlin or Grimes ) ?
Need 1 or 2 forwards ??? Misa and McKenna ( kidding )
Make it three m's with Misa/McKenna/Martone.
If not McLaughlin, would not be surprised if a different defenseman is added. Room for a top center if you can land one. Adequate center depth if you consider Moe playing there but no clear top line talent.
@frozen4champs that is the current roster as we have had it for a few weeks now. As of now, we are still assuming that the roster limit will be 26. But I guess that is still not set in stone yet.
That is 23 players ( If all of the expected freshman hit campus).
Need 1 or 2 more defenseman ( McLaughlin or Grimes ) ?
Need 1 or 2 forwards ??? Misa and McKenna ( kidding )
Not a very inspiring roster thus far. I’ll reserve judgment until after the draft though since teams are rumored to be saving sports for those players. I’ll believe it when I see it with the Gophers.
Really need at least 1 more serviceable defensemen, the thought of Rud or Begely getting any meaningful ice time is not idea. And 1 high end forward would go a long ways.
We need to play Begley and Rud enough to see if they can each get a point. I am fascinated that they played 20 games for Rud and 30 games for Begley without even getting an assist. I am not sure how they have avoided even a second assist on such a high scoring team.
@ddillon22 I don't think Rud has actually played 20 games. Sometimes a sloppy stats crew will mark every roster player as having played in a game, even if they didn't dress that night.
That is 23 players ( If all of the expected freshman hit campus).
Need 1 or 2 more defenseman ( McLaughlin or Grimes ) ?
Need 1 or 2 forwards ??? Misa and McKenna ( kidding )
Make it three m's with Misa/McKenna/Martone.
If not McLaughlin, would not be surprised if a different defenseman is added. Room for a top center if you can land one. Adequate center depth if you consider Moe playing there but no clear top line talent.
Wonder if Motzko slots Lamb in at center full-time this year. Think he's certainly capable, but on the other hand I would also hope the increased positional responsibility doesn't hinder Lamb's scoring- which has certainly been streaky the last 2 years.
Can't win a shootout-- He personally has not scored a shootout goal
Yep, total failure....
The spoiled child in me comes out at season’s end as if I asked for a national championship for Christmas but didn’t get what I asked for. Pretty much a day after the frozen four I realize we have it pretty dang good being a part of this gopher hockey fan base. I believe my dedication and most other fans’ doesn’t even clip the tip of the iceberg compared to the people in their locker room or around the world their living. Our time is coming the luck it takes will change.
“Good pace, a lot of north and south, or it could be east and west, I’m not sure but either way…” Wooger
Apparently Mason west is down to MSU and BC. It’s unfortunate that he won’t be a gopher. It makes me wonder a bit though, what’s the big attraction of playing for MSU as a kid from MN (Cullen for example)? They have been awful until the last 2 years. Is it just nightingale?
Either way, I think this team will be a serious contender again in 26-27.
Apparently Mason west is down to MSU and BC. It’s unfortunate that he won’t be a gopher. It makes me wonder a bit though, what’s the big attraction of playing for MSU as a kid from MN (Cullen for example)? They have been awful until the last 2 years. Is it just nightingale?
Either way, I think this team will be a serious contender again in 26-27.
I’ve wondered the same. That’s not a shot at MSU. Obviously it has some great attractions as a B1G school I’m not really sure what they have over Minnesota. As far as programs that’s the real head scratcher. I mean they’re a decent B1G program and they have some history but they’re certainly not the Gophers. I think the main draw has to be Nightingale. At the end of the day we all toured colleges and picked where we wanted to go for different reasons. That could be part of it. Maybe he just really liked MSU and BC.
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t starting to get a little concerned. It honestly has very little to do with not jumping on the CHL bandwagon. More with missing out on some big names right from our back yard. We can’t have them all but missing out on West, Berchild, Potter, Trottier, Sephar…? Not ideal.
I’m not saying that Bob is a bad coach or that he needs to go. I’m all onboard but that’s more than just one or two big players that we’ve missed out on this recruiting cycle and last. Bob’s supposed to be a solid recruiter and has a track record of developing guys and getting them to the NHL. Combine that with a Minnesota kid, especially one from the Metro, having the chance to wear the M has me kind of confused. Anyone have any actual, level headed insight?
Potter has been a bit of a journeyman and spent older years playing hockey in Wisconsin. Trottier looks like a pedestrian recruit. Spehar had baggage (not his own) which seems as though it made him look elsewhere. I think everyone agrees Berchild is one we would love to have; same with West.
This is not to absolve the staff. They need to close on some of these. I have been consistent in only raising the alarms if this upcoming class - which looks deep with high-end talent - proves underwhelming. We have good talent coming in.
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t starting to get a little concerned. It honestly has very little to do with not jumping on the CHL bandwagon. More with missing out on some big names right from our back yard. We can’t have them all but missing out on West, Berchild, Potter, Trottier, Sephar…? Not ideal.
I’m not saying that Bob is a bad coach or that he needs to go. I’m all onboard but that’s more than just one or two big players that we’ve missed out on this recruiting cycle and last. Bob’s supposed to be a solid recruiter and has a track record of developing guys and getting them to the NHL. Combine that with a Minnesota kid, especially one from the Metro, having the chance to wear the M has me kind of confused. Anyone have any actual, level headed insight?
There is a long list of high end Minnesota kids that did not choose the Gophers that never panned out, but nobody ever credits the staff on passing on those kids. We don't know how these kids will develop and if they will end up as misses. Potter committed to Sparty and they wanted him to wait a year to come in and his family had other ideas, so he went to ASU. So, that may not be a loss because of the family involved. Some coaches can look the other way or feel they can control a family's influence, and maybe Bob doesn't feel like it is worth it. Trottier did not exactly light it up this year. West and Berchild may turn out to be misses, but who really knows at this point.
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective
But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t starting to get a little concerned. It honestly has very little to do with not jumping on the CHL bandwagon. More with missing out on some big names right from our back yard. We can’t have them all but missing out on West, Berchild, Potter, Trottier, Sephar…? Not ideal.
I’m not saying that Bob is a bad coach or that he needs to go. I’m all onboard but that’s more than just one or two big players that we’ve missed out on this recruiting cycle and last. Bob’s supposed to be a solid recruiter and has a track record of developing guys and getting them to the NHL. Combine that with a Minnesota kid, especially one from the Metro, having the chance to wear the M has me kind of confused. Anyone have any actual, level headed insight?
There is a long list of high end Minnesota kids that did not choose the Gophers that never panned out, but nobody ever credits the staff on passing on those kids.
Yea, I stopped fretting over losing one recruit after the Michael Forney battle. The list of good Minnesotans who go elsewhere is always a mile long. I just think there is not enough focus on players in the pipeline currently.
