I don’t think we need a lot of “top end recruits” that’s how we end up like BU and Michigan who have done absolutely nothing in terms of postseason success with those high end nhl draft picks. 1 or 2 per recruiting class is fine but in my opinion you don’t want a class of just first rounders that dip after a year.
Cuz the tournament is a crapshoot does not make their strategy a bad one. Michigan is putting together what I believe will be the roster with the most first round picks ever. And reloading the year after that. At some point one of those teams will win four in a row. I expect them to win at least two of the next five regular season championships. I expect the Gophers to win at least one. And the other two could be those two teams or someone else.
Also, we have yet to see if ANY of the Michigan guys dip after just one year.
I'll take watching high-end skill each weekend throughout the year and take our chances in the tournament as opposed to loading up on 25-year-old role players from Moose Jaw, Canada built to win the NCAA Pageant.
I'll take watching high-end skill each weekend throughout the year and take our chances in the tournament as opposed to loading up on 25-year-old role players from Moose Jaw, Canada built to win the NCAA Pageant.
Agreed but obviously there’s an area in between that the gophers are at right now that seems to be working out.
Agreed but obviously there’s an area in between that the gophers are at right now that seems to be working out.
Use UMass as a blueprint. What was the secret to their overwhelming success?
Agreed but obviously there’s an area in between that the gophers are at right now that seems to be working out.
Use UMass as a blueprint. What was the secret to their overwhelming success?
It helped that they got two years out of the best college hockey player of the past like 15 years.
Agreed but obviously there’s an area in between that the gophers are at right now that seems to be working out.
Use UMass as a blueprint. What was the secret to their overwhelming success?
Sarcastically I was going to tell you their secret was their ability to beat teams from MN 
Formerly known as davey j.
Colorado College captain Grant Cruikshank transferring to Gophers
Colorado College hockey captain Grant Cruikshank, a Hobey Baker nominee this past season, is transferring to the Gophers. Colorado College hockey captain Grant Cruikshank, a Hobey Baker nominee this past season, is transferring to the Gophers.
— Colorado College athletics
18
By JOE CHRISTENSEN , STAR TRIBUNE
April 19, 2021 - 6:09 PM
Colorado College hockey captain Grant Cruikshank is transferring to the Gophers.
"Thanks to CC hockey for a memorable 3 years," Cruikshank wrote on Twitter on Monday. "I couldn't be more excited to announce I am transferring to Minnesota. I can't wait to get started!"
Cruikshank, a 5-11 forward from Delafield, Wis., is the son of Olympic speedskaters Bonnie Blair and David Cruikshank. Blair is among the most decorated Olympic athletes in U.S. history, winning five gold medals and a bronze.
Grant Cruikshank was a Hobey Baker nominee this past season. He led the Tigers with eight goals despite being limited to 16 games for a team that finished 4-17-2. He scored 11 goals in each of the two seasons before that and still has two years of eligibility remaining.
On April 3, when a report surfaced on Twitter that Cruikshank was heading to Boston College, Cruikshank tweeted, "Still undecided. Stay tuned."
It turns out his destination was Minnesota, where he'll be joining a squad that went 24-7 last season.
Formerly known as davey j.
Colorado College captain Grant Cruikshank transferring to Gophers
Colorado College hockey captain Grant Cruikshank, a Hobey Baker nominee this past season, is transferring to the Gophers. Colorado College hockey captain Grant Cruikshank, a Hobey Baker nominee this past season, is transferring to the Gophers.
— Colorado College athletics
18
By JOE CHRISTENSEN , STAR TRIBUNE
April 19, 2021 - 6:09 PM
Colorado College hockey captain Grant Cruikshank is transferring to the Gophers.
"Thanks to CC hockey for a memorable 3 years," Cruikshank wrote on Twitter on Monday. "I couldn't be more excited to announce I am transferring to Minnesota. I can't wait to get started!"
Cruikshank, a 5-11 forward from Delafield, Wis., is the son of Olympic speedskaters Bonnie Blair and David Cruikshank. Blair is among the most decorated Olympic athletes in U.S. history, winning five gold medals and a bronze.
Grant Cruikshank was a Hobey Baker nominee this past season. He led the Tigers with eight goals despite being limited to 16 games for a team that finished 4-17-2. He scored 11 goals in each of the two seasons before that and still has two years of eligibility remaining.
On April 3, when a report surfaced on Twitter that Cruikshank was heading to Boston College, Cruikshank tweeted, "Still undecided. Stay tuned."
It turns out his destination was Minnesota, where he'll be joining a squad that went 24-7 last season.
* check the transfer portal or Gopher off season thread for Cruikshank updates as well 
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
I always wonder what’s going through the heads of the coaching staff in scouting players like Charlie Stramel for example. Obviously a high end player doing well at the ntdp, but with the backlog of forward recruits coming in when he would be slated to come in, does Bob and co. just not even make an attempt at the kid? I mean if you give him your pitch and he wants to be a gopher but there’s just no room, what then? Obviously there’s some kids you make room for but I’m not sure coaches want to gain the reputation that they just revoke your commitment once they find a shinier toy.
Where I’m going with this is do coaches at top tier programs like the U extend offers to all high end recruits knowing that they won’t be able to roster all of them?
Just thinking out loud.
Unless he accelerates, Stramel is a 2023 recruit - I believe - which helps given only Lamb is part of the class in what figures to be a small forward group. But your larger point still remains. They'll need to sort out the makeup/longevity of these classes. I would guess he is a clear take if this is where he wants to be, but it is understandably more complex than just adding any good player.
The backlog of forwards is really just a glut (7) of 2001 born players. Huglen and Pitlick coming in this year mean we have 5 that we have to make a decision on next year as they all run out of junior eligibility. We have three '02's, and '03's and two '04's. I imagine Stramel is most schools' top target now, the way he's improved this year.
My guess is Warner, Braccini won't make it to campus. Pino I think will, has the highest ceiling of the 3, has improved a lot, and was recruited by Motzko.
I think one Mittelstadt isn't really Gopher material and it'll be interesting to see what happens there.
I think one Mittelstadt isn't really Gopher material and it'll be interesting to see what happens there.
I am assuming he was a recruited walk-on, he’s done okay as a 4th liner in USHL. The next Cullen Munson.
I think one Mittelstadt isn't really Gopher material and it'll be interesting to see what happens there.
I am assuming he was a recruited walk-on, he’s done okay as a 4th liner in USHL. The next Cullen Munson.
If he plays like Munson I’m all for it, but if he tries to play like casey on the 4th line he’ll get benched.
I think one Mittelstadt isn't really Gopher material and it'll be interesting to see what happens there.
I am assuming he was a recruited walk-on, he’s done okay as a 4th liner in USHL. The next Cullen Munson.
I think it was pretty a package deal so we could get Luke, That is fine by me. We can always use 4 year depth guys.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
The backlog of forwards is really just a glut (7) of 2001 born players. Huglen and Pitlick coming in this year mean we have 5 that we have to make a decision on next year as they all run out of junior eligibility. We have three '02's, and '03's and two '04's. I imagine Stramel is most schools' top target now, the way he's improved this year.
My guess is Warner, Braccini won't make it to campus. Pino I think will, has the highest ceiling of the 3, has improved a lot, and was recruited by Motzko.
Anyone know what is going on with Warner? I was pretty surprised to see only 2 points in 15 NAHL games when I looked at his stats recently.
I think only playing 15 games is the most concerning, assuming injuries again. He’s had a tough run of it.
“Youth Hockey Hub” bantam player of the year - Teddy Townsend of Eden Prairie.
So admittedly I only watched the highlights of the U18 USA vs Finland game but Strammel looked like he was involved on the majority of the goals for the US, including getting one himself. I feel like he’s a guy you go for if there is even the slightest room in our long list of recruited forwards
Stramel is very Intriguing, imagine our top target.
Interesting that in last 6 NCAA championships teams I think only 3 total NTDP alums: Joey Anderson, Shane Gersich, Will Butcher. Michigan has historically recruited program best since in their backyard. Only championship team was 1998, which I think was mostly Canadian and not yet heavy on NTDP. Maybe loading up on those kids isn’t a good idea, as tempting as they are.
I wouldn't read into that too much. They are almost always decent contributors at the college level as a floor.
Faber/Lindgren/Skjei are probably two of the top five D we've had since the Skjei/Reilly era. Let's not talk about the pain that was watching Collins/Glover their first few years.
Right, but to win you need better than decent contributions to win championship. NTDP hasn’t translated to that. Maybe one day it will. It’s probably cause the top guys from program move on quick, and the bottom guys aren’t as good as advertised.
Also interesting no NTDP player has ever won NCHC rookie of year. Plenty of true freshman have.
Faber/Lindgren/Fasching/Skjei/Boyd - Good to great Gophers (and made/will make NHL)
Reedy - Decent to "good" (I wasn't a big fan)
Collins/Glover - Sucked
I'll take those odds...
I'll take skjei, faber, Lindgren every time. Reedy was solid his last year and a half. Collins would have had a solid senior year.
The gophers haven't won a title in 20 years, and I can't attribute that futility to NTDP.
The top handful of NTDP guys will likely be worth it. But once you get past them, getting the types of players who get plenty of ice time in prime spots on a junior team is probably a better investment.
I never said NTDP didn't have good players come thru it. It's often looked at as a sign of who is recruiting well. I was a bit surprised that not many NTDP alums are National Champions. Greg Carvel said he doesn't even look at NTDP kids, could burn him, but looking at the last 10 years he could be right. The teams that have a lot of NTDP kids have often been the ones that have dissapointed.
I never said NTDP didn't have good players come thru it. It's often looked at as a sign of who is recruiting well. I was a bit surprised that not many NTDP alums are National Champions. Greg Carvel said he doesn't even look at NTDP kids, could burn him, but looking at the last 10 years he could be right. The teams that have a lot of NTDP kids have often been the ones that have dissapointed.
To be fair I don’t think NTDP kids were looking at him either until the last 2-3 years.
Potential next Eichel leads Shattuck U14 to natty with 5 goal game.
Potential next Eichel leads Shattuck U14 to natty with 5 goal game.
https://twitter.com/PuckPreps/status/1389261179244093444br >
If this were 2017 he would’ve been committed two years ago?
I never said NTDP didn't have good players come thru it. It's often looked at as a sign of who is recruiting well. I was a bit surprised that not many NTDP alums are National Champions. Greg Carvel said he doesn't even look at NTDP kids, could burn him, but looking at the last 10 years he could be right. The teams that have a lot of NTDP kids have often been the ones that have dissapointed.
To be fair I don’t think NTDP kids were looking at him either until the last 2-3 years.
Fair, but he found a way to land Makar, and Ferarro….
Makar was already committed when he got the job
Chris Peters is very impressed by Stramel:
"He’s this massive human, but he can skate and has great soft-touch skills including a killer release. Then he’s impossible to move off the puck. The only time I’ve seen a player truly plant him was with a trip. There was one play where a German player attempted to hit him and bounced right off of Stramel, who barely moved. The Minnesota native still hasn’t picked his NCAA destination, but this guy is one of the most unique prospects I have seen come through the NTDP."
Worth watch HockeyTV this month to get a glimpse.
So yes, you go for him no matter who you have lined up.
Interesting that in last 6 NCAA championships teams I think only 3 total NTDP alums: Joey Anderson, Shane Gersich, Will Butcher. Michigan has historically recruited program best since in their backyard. Only championship team was 1998, which I think was mostly Canadian and not yet heavy on NTDP. Maybe loading up on those kids isn’t a good idea, as tempting as they are.
This assumes:
1. The best team is the one that wins the national championship
2. The issue with those teams is the relatively small percentage of NTDP players they have and not the majority of players that make up the rest of the roster.
I'd say both of those assumptions are rarely true.
Yea, the NTDP is putting 25 or so players into the D-1 ranks versus far greater numbers from the big feeder systems. Bit of a misnomer to to just list the raw number without further scrutiny.
I remember hearing someone say that Stramel would come in fall 2023. Does that mean he can’t commit until August 1st? How old is he?
I remember hearing someone say that Stramel would come in fall 2023. Does that mean he can’t commit until August 1st? How old is he?
DOB 10/15/04
I remember hearing someone say that Stramel would come in fall 2023. Does that mean he can’t commit until August 1st? How old is he?
To answer the question yes, unless he accelerates to be a senior in the fall before then.
The super quick release on this goal from Stramel a couple of days back really stood out to me:
https://twitter.com/eliteprospects/status/1388675733321510915
This is also an impressive group to be a member of:
https://twitter.com/coreypronman/status/1386418557718712320
I really hope that we land him.
I remember hearing someone say that Stramel would come in fall 2023. Does that mean he can’t commit until August 1st? How old is he?
To answer the question yes, unless he accelerates to be a senior in the fall before then.
Ah, so he hasn’t received any offers yet then..............wink.
Kids gonna have a full voicemail on August 1st that’s for sure.
[media] https://twitter.com/evegoe/status/1390699336296648712 [/media]
Pretty good group of Minnesota forwards in this year's group of invites.
Sounds like Zam Plante has an invite to join the 04 group if he wants to make the move.
Plante got the invite over Clark?
Carsen Musser (G) and Cameron Briere (apparently played at least mites for Stillwater) also marked as Minnesotans on the list.
Get the Hendrickson kid, Bob!!
Get the best players, Bob
Carsen Musser (G) and Cameron Briere (apparently played at least mites for Stillwater) also marked as Minnesotans on the list.
Musser played at Fairmont through his freshman season, then moved to play AAA.
Plante got the invite over Clark?
Clark got to play some USNTDP games at the end of the year -- I don't have any steam on it, but you'd think he'd have a spot waiting if he wanted one.
Plante got the invite over Clark?
Clark got to play some USNTDP games at the end of the year -- I don't have any steam on it, but you'd think he'd have a spot waiting if he wanted one.
Can you share where you are reading the news about Plante's invite? I'm not finding that info anywhere. I'm also now wondering how many times it has happened where someone joins the U18 team after not even receiving an invite to the U17 evaluation camp with their birth year.