Javon Moore #27
Jacob Rombach #5
Beckett Hendrickson from #14 to #7
So that's everyone except the three transfers with their numbers revealed.
I remember watching Bob coach up a lot of guys at St Cloud and make some deep runs without a pile of first rounders. I hope we are pleasantly surprised by the mix of age and grit. Does it suck that we lost out on a few high end players? Sure. But the ones we have landed recently haven't brought back a NCAA Championship. I have to believe Bob is looking for the right guys to fill his needs as he sees them.
Just watched WMU vs. BU. WMU dominated. Fewer draft picks, fewer teenagers.
I think the sting of not getting West and Berchild is fuel on the fire still burning from Tampa for the sky is falling camp. I have been in this group more that I would like to admit.
This years team has a ton of talent (draft picks or point per game USHL guys) and only 2 teenagers come playoff time. Competition is stiffer but some really exciting hockey this year. Fantastic year for season tickets as every BIG team will be strong, and BC coming.
Hey drop the puck.
Let’s talk expectations for the upcoming season. I think it’s clear that most if not all here expect it to be some form of a rebuild year. I feel a NCAA tournament birth constitutes a successful season. Lowest expectations I’ve had since pre-COVID.
expectation every year is that we will contend for the title while understanding in one and done most of the time that isn't going to happen where you actually get it done. On paper the team isn't one to stack up next to BU, MSU, PSU, or even UND, UM, BC and feel "good" about being better than them.
Fun part is last year WMU was picked to finish 6th (USCHO, media) in the NCHC. Not the country, in their conference.
To me, Bob doesn't really get the benefit of a "rebuild" year and I don't think he's looking at it that way. In reality I don't think this team sniffs winning the B10, but my expectation is they get into the tournament as a 3 seed or so and are going to be a rough first round team to play against that will be old and may actually be built better for postseason hockey. If they miss the tourney altogether, Bob may not be the coach unless he absolutely crushes recruiting this fall
Two things
1. Agreed as to the random nature of college hockey, especially when trying to make predictions in the offseason doldrums. Who else remembers how, going into 2022-23, the B1G coaches' poll had Notre Dame (lol) favored to win B1G?
Another example: UConn this year, after a terrible season last year and losing Wood + others during the offseason. Good read: [UConn Hockey Hub] How a program reset led to UConn's best season ever
2. I think bubble tourney team is the most realistic outlook for this year, but I don't think the U has Bob on that short of a leash.
For better or for worse, bringing the crowds back to Mariucci with several deep playoff runs, a B1G playoff title (2021) and 3 B1G regular season titles is the kind of resume that earns head coaches a lot of grace for the inevitable down year or two.
I believe this is an NCAA tournament team and anything less is a significant disappointment.
12 draft picks.
4 more undrafted with >0.7 points per game in their last USHL season.
Jmitts a 25 year old senior with significant big game experience. Also like Finn McLaughlin.
Goaltenders will be better than last year.
Also think the coaching staff had the objective of getting older and the following scenarios played out:
Moore stay/go = Ludtke
Kurth stay/go = Pritchard
Rinzel stay/go = McLaughlin
Although I see 2 of the 3 as a big drop off, feel we got a couple of talented 3-4 year guys with size in Pritchard and McLaughlin.
This should be an NCAA tournament team. No excuses.
Well there are 2 distinctly different camps of fans coming into this season.
Main issue is the tough OOC schedule to start the year with a lot of new guys. That might not be as big a deal if the B1G does well in OOC as a conference but that's the biggest hurdle I see for making the tourney. This team is probably borderline similar to Michigan last year.