Neither Phillips or Kvasnicka taken in 1st round USHL phase 2 draft. Steve Miller gonna have his work cut out for him with D corp as it looks now.
Neither Phillips or Kvasnicka taken in 1st round USHL phase 2 draft. Steve Miller gonna have his work cut out for him with D corp as it looks now.
would’ve really liked to see Phillips take another year playing heavy minutes for seasoning at the ushl level. Kvas probably would’ve benefited there as well.
d core is going to have their work cut out with how the season starts. There are no kid gloves kicking off the schedule. Would suspect Moe is back in Madison
No inside info but imagine those guys would go to CHL over USHL. Already have done 2 years in USHL
@glenhogan21 kwasnicka was just picked in USHL draft. Does that mean he delays a year?
Mace'o Phillips was also selected today in the 7th round. Sometimes USHL teams know things, other times they are taking a flyer in case the player does spend a year in the USHL
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Worth noting Whipple was taken in the same draft last year. He ended up on campus. Likely much to work through yet.
So who does this bounce coming in next year?
Looking at locks (assuming no further departures):
Lamb
Ziemer
Clark
Hendrickson
Ludtke
Mooney
Moore
Mittelstaedt
Falloon
Pahlsson
Pritchard
Townsend
You are at 12. Kvasnicka and Moe the next obvious options. Kvasnicka has signed the NLI; Moe has a better frame. Perhaps Nevers if you are looking at a 13th forward and want the others to play big minutes in the USHL. Still room to add if you can net a good center.
Is Moe on track to graduate this year? I would have thought they'd have signed him already if he was.
Word was he was accelerating; possible he was not eligible during NLI period. Question marks there for sure.
Also NLIs are essentially not a thing anymore. The next “signing period” we see may be for actual money lol. Contracts essentially.
CHL is still very much in the cards for both Kvasnicka and Phillips.
I tend to lean Phillips comes in since he’s so physically mature. That’s isn’t to say he wouldn’t benefit from a year of juniors, I just think he comes in and plays the 7th D role like Whipple and Thomas in 2023.
Kwaz I think goes juniors. He COULD come in and play 4th line, but it would be much better for his development to go and play a top role for Fargo or a CHL team. He needs to get stronger if he wants to make an impact at the collegiate level. Plus Bob has been trying to stray away from 18 year old freshmen.
Didn't Maceo just turn 18?CHL is still very much in the cards for both Kvasnicka and Phillips.
I tend to lean Phillips comes in since he’s so physically mature. That’s isn’t to say he wouldn’t benefit from a year of juniors, I just think he comes in and plays the 7th D role like Whipple and Thomas in 2023.
Kwaz I think goes juniors. He COULD come in and play 4th line, but it would be much better for his development to go and play a top role for Fargo or a CHL team. He needs to get stronger if he wants to make an impact at the collegiate level. Plus Bob has been trying to stray away from 18 year old freshmen.
Didn't Maceo just turn 18?CHL is still very much in the cards for both Kvasnicka and Phillips.
I tend to lean Phillips comes in since he’s so physically mature. That’s isn’t to say he wouldn’t benefit from a year of juniors, I just think he comes in and plays the 7th D role like Whipple and Thomas in 2023.
Kwaz I think goes juniors. He COULD come in and play 4th line, but it would be much better for his development to go and play a top role for Fargo or a CHL team. He needs to get stronger if he wants to make an impact at the collegiate level. Plus Bob has been trying to stray away from 18 year old freshmen.
He turned 18 in late February.
If a USHL team “tenders” a guy so they won’t get a first round pick, what does that mean?
why would they lose a pick if they sign a guy?
If a USHL team “tenders” a guy so they won’t get a first round pick, what does that mean?
why would they lose a pick if they sign a guy?
The tender process is used in place of a draft pick. The vast majority of players who are drafted in Phase I do not make the USHL right away.
Didn't Maceo just turn 18?CHL is still very much in the cards for both Kvasnicka and Phillips.
I tend to lean Phillips comes in since he’s so physically mature. That’s isn’t to say he wouldn’t benefit from a year of juniors, I just think he comes in and plays the 7th D role like Whipple and Thomas in 2023.
Kwaz I think goes juniors. He COULD come in and play 4th line, but it would be much better for his development to go and play a top role for Fargo or a CHL team. He needs to get stronger if he wants to make an impact at the collegiate level. Plus Bob has been trying to stray away from 18 year old freshmen.
You are correct. I just feel Phillips is so physically mature for his age he would be able to make the transition work. Not that I’d be opposed to him playing top pair for a USHL team, that would be beneficial for him as well.
I just don’t see how you bring in one of Rombach/Phillips and not the other.
This says he’ll play in Green Bat next year FWIW. I do think that’s the right decision for his development.
https://thehockeywriters.com/maceo-phillips-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/
I wonder if they are just connecting dots based on the fact the Gamblers recently drafted him, though it is possible. We may not find out officially for a few months given when rosters have been posted the last few years.
I wonder if they are just connecting dots based on the fact the Gamblers recently drafted him, though it is possible. We may not find out officially for a few months given when rosters have been posted the last few years.
think the only sure way to know until the season roster hits would be if we announced another commit out of say the chl
I wonder if they are just connecting dots based on the fact the Gamblers recently drafted him, though it is possible. We may not find out officially for a few months given when rosters have been posted the last few years.
think the only sure way to know until the season roster hits would be if we announced another commit out of say the chl
Is there any Minnesota born kids playing D in that league?
I wonder if they are just connecting dots based on the fact the Gamblers recently drafted him, though it is possible. We may not find out officially for a few months given when rosters have been posted the last few years.
think the only sure way to know until the season roster hits would be if we announced another commit out of say the chl
Is there any Minnesota born kids playing D in that league?
id have to dig. Scuttlebutt up north is there may be a good number of kids heading that way in the near future though well see if it actually comes to fruition
I wonder if they are just connecting dots based on the fact the Gamblers recently drafted him, though it is possible. We may not find out officially for a few months given when rosters have been posted the last few years.
think the only sure way to know until the season roster hits would be if we announced another commit out of say the chl
Is there any Minnesota born kids playing D in that league?
id have to dig. Scuttlebutt up north is there may be a good number of kids heading that way in the near future though well see if it actually comes to fruition
Perfect reason to start recruiting out of there yesterday.
I don't know of any MN playing CHL. Matthew Mania is a guy that caught my eye. American, right-shot D with some offense and is a bit older with a ton of experience.
This says he’ll play in Green Bat next year FWIW. I do think that’s the right decision for his development.
https://thehockeywriters.com/maceo-phillips-2025-nhl-draft-prospect-profile/
Respectfully they don’t know squat. Making assumptions cause he was drafted. Likely the decision hasn’t been made yet.
https://twitter.com/FutureGophers/status/1920899892098064638
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I wonder if they are just connecting dots based on the fact the Gamblers recently drafted him, though it is possible. We may not find out officially for a few months given when rosters have been posted the last few years.
think the only sure way to know until the season roster hits would be if we announced another commit out of say the chl
Is there any Minnesota born kids playing D in that league?
Christopherson from Two Rivers just signed with Portland.
Teddy Townsend playing in the Clark Cup finals tonight. You can watch for free on FloHockey’s YouTube page
Teddy already with 2 goals in the first.
Always felt he was one of our more underrated recruits. He’ll be a good 4 year player. Cut from the Jimmy Clark cloth.
And now he has a hatty lol. That’s a hatty in back to back playoff games but who’s counting.
And now he has a hatty lol. That’s a hatty in back to back playoff games but who’s counting.
I'm sure our buddy Bonin is not impressed
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Mason Moe signs his NLI.
https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/1924890888188141671
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With Moe signing his NLI, that puts the roster at 26 players ( 9 defensemen, 14 forwards, 3 goalies ). That is if every player who signed his NLI arrives on campus this year. As of now, the NCAA is trying to limit the rosters to 26, but it is still up in the air if the judge will sign off on that part of the settlement. I have a feeling there will be another roster move or 2.
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Just because he signed his NLI, doesn't mean he is 100% going to be on campus this fall.
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@maroon_and_gold Absolutely zero buzz on this, for the most part got back burnered in the conversation ---- did his time in juniors. I'm always optimistic and curious about guys like this.
Just get the feeling one of Moe/Kvasnicka plays juniors next season. In a perfect world, both.
I think with the team needing centers and Moe signing this late in the year and being a potential 3rd round pick he’s most likely coming in. Kvasnicka is going to be buried behind a lot of wingers and hopefully plays junior this year.
Rombach thanked his USHL team for 2 incredible years, so that may confirm that he is coming in this fall. Also here is an interview he did the other day.
https://www.youthhockeyhub.com/news_article/show/1339377
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My guess is Rombach goes in Round 2. Feel he is a lock to be on campus this year.
Tate Pritchard signed his NLI
https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/1925220117710877117
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https://twitter.com/GopherGameNotes/status/1925193573877637518
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My guess is Rombach goes in Round 2. Feel he is a lock to be on campus this year.
He’s the type of player who’ll rise on draft day and go unreasonably high. Like early 2nd round. NHL loves big rangy dmen.
I’m hoping the Wild draft him in the 2nd - the need a LHD with size gor the future!
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Scott Wheeler's final draft rankings are out:
Mooney: 38th
Rombach: 67th
Moe: 83rd
Kvasnicka: 99th
Writeup on Mooney pretty much matches previous reports shared here.
On Rombach:
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. A Minnesota commit, Rombach ate tough minutes at five-on-five and on the penalty kill this season and played to positive results.
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. 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’s got a chance to develop into a nice depth NHL D.
On Moe:
Moe was a top player in the Minnesota high school circuit, had a solid showing at the Hlinka last summer, 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).
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 played most of this 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’s a Minnesota commit who should be a three- or four-year college player but has some pro attributes to build around.
On Kvasnicka:
Scouts are down on the ’07 NTDP class, 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 this year and he became a big part of that team, stirring the drink with his work ethic, competitiveness, determination and drive. He gets to pucks first, keeps plays alive, and has enough skill to be opportunistic. He’s a good skater. He takes pucks to the middle third whenever he can. He stays around the action. He knows exactly what he is. I’m not even sure he gets picked, but I think he’ll be a very good bottom-six college player for Minnesota to start and I expect him to climb the Golden Gophers’ lineup and become an important player for them as an upperclassman and I wanted to include him here. He's also one of the younger players in the draft and I think he's got a path to keep getting better within his already-established identity as a player.
Scott Wheeler's final draft rankings are out:
Mooney: 38th
Rombach: 67th
Moe: 83rd
Kvasnicka: 99th
Writeup on Mooney pretty much matches previous reports shared here.
On Rombach:
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. A Minnesota commit, Rombach ate tough minutes at five-on-five and on the penalty kill this season and played to positive results.
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. 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’s got a chance to develop into a nice depth NHL D.
On Moe:
Moe was a top player in the Minnesota high school circuit, had a solid showing at the Hlinka last summer, 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).
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 played most of this 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’s a Minnesota commit who should be a three- or four-year college player but has some pro attributes to build around.
On Kvasnicka:
Scouts are down on the ’07 NTDP class, 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 this year and he became a big part of that team, stirring the drink with his work ethic, competitiveness, determination and drive. He gets to pucks first, keeps plays alive, and has enough skill to be opportunistic. He’s a good skater. He takes pucks to the middle third whenever he can. He stays around the action. He knows exactly what he is. I’m not even sure he gets picked, but I think he’ll be a very good bottom-six college player for Minnesota to start and I expect him to climb the Golden Gophers’ lineup and become an important player for them as an upperclassman and I wanted to include him here. He's also one of the younger players in the draft and I think he's got a path to keep getting better within his already-established identity as a player.
ptesume this is the NA skaters one. He’s really liked Mooney for a long time
@upnorthkid It includes Europeans. He is consistent about sticking to his guns for players he likes, even if he expects them to be drafted much later.
@upnorthkid It includes Europeans. He is consistent about sticking to his guns for players he likes, even if he expects them to be drafted much later.
Very interesting. mean a second, couple thirds and a fourth which would be a very solid recruiting class
appreciate you sharing and usually wheeler is a pretty damn good eye for talent. Lot more sandpaper in last couple years of players comparatively even if missing some top shelf guys
Just 1 guys opinion..
https://twitter.com/NathanGraviteh/status/1929959390972391923
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Mace’o Phillips will play a year of juniors next season. Really like this move.
https://twitter.com/mariucci_guy/status/1930005103265841396?s=46&t=AvtsG2WfNuGRyXzbYJqB7g
