I’m usually not one to say “we need dominant high school player X”, but I agree on Wallin. He’s exactly what you want out of a bottom 6 forward at the D1 level. As tenacious as they come. Insane motor.
Bumping this.
I really think Wallin should be a target. He is a well rounded hockey player.
Tomorrow marks the start of recruiting for HS Sophomores. Some names to keep an eye on. Who else should be on this list?
-Mikey Berchild (Shattuck) - based on conversations at the rink, we have a strong interest in him. -Mason Moe (Eden Prairie) - I’ve heard he will be a gopher if we have any interest, which I’m assuming we will. I believe he has lots of family ties to the U of M. -Mason Minor (Benilde) - Big Gopher fan from what I’ve heard. -Cole Bumgarner (Rogers) - father has been discussed but can’t deny his talent. His father has stated on social media that the Gophers are tops on Cole’s list. I feel like Bob tries to steer clear of these players but we’ll see. He was at multiple Rogers games this weekend, but they also involved Tonka & Wayzata. -Mason West (Edina) - football star but has a ton of raw talent on the rink. -AJ Francisco (Hermantown) - father played at UMD so highly unlikely. -Brandon Mickelson (Moorhead) -Tyson Bergeron (Moorhead) -Cooper Siegert (Shakopee) -Carson Steinhoff (Shakopee) -Max Anderson (Cretin) -Nate Chorlton (Cretin) -Jonas Kohn (Stillwater) - Father played for the Gophers -Cole Cheeseman (Holy Angels) -Tate Hardacre (Southwest Christian) -Parker Trottier (Shattuck)
Solid list. I’d add Maple Grove dman Logan Lutner. Maybe it’s the fact that he wears 14 and plays for Maple Grove but he looks like a carbon copy of Brock Faber. Elite feet, elite stick. His steady defense leads to quick transition offense. Overall good offensive instincts.
Getting Parker Trottier would be fun not only because Parker himself is a phenomenal player, but also just to have that name associated with the program. Would be pretty cool at least.
Solid list. I’d add Maple Grove dman Logan Lutner. Maybe it’s the fact that he wears 14 and plays for Maple Grove but he looks like a carbon copy of Brock Faber. Elite feet, elite stick. His steady defense leads to quick transition offense. Overall good offensive instincts.
Getting Parker Trottier would be fun not only because Parker himself is a phenomenal player, but also just to have that name associated with the program. Would be pretty cool at least.
I knew I was forgetting someone. Logan Lutner definitely needs to be on the list.
A plethora of potential future Gophers just won gold at the 2024 youth Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea.
Mikey Berchild from Tonka and Shattuck absolutely dominated the tournament and proved he’s one of the best players in the world at his age.
Parker Trottier (yes that Trottier) from Edina and Shattuck wore the “C” and put up 5 points in 4 games on Berchild’s line.
Maple Grove’s Logan Lutner played really solid in a Brock Faber role when I was able to watch. Was always out there against the other teams top guys.
Minnesotan and another Shattuck guy Xavier Wendt was the best goalie of the tournament by far. Posted a shutout in the gold medal game. I wonder if Bob would consider changing his M.O. in terms of goalie recruiting by going for a young American instead of an old Canadian. Wendt seems to be the real deal and would project to make college hockey either Airey’s senior year or the year after, which is perfect.
AJ Fransisco is a Dman from Hermantown who put up some points as an offensive defenseman and a power play guy. Being that he’s from Hermantown I feel like I know where he’s headed though.
Lastly Cole Bumgarner had a goal in 4 games at the tournament and flashed some skill in open ice.
AJ Fransisco is a Dman from Hermantown who put up some points as an offensive defenseman and a power play guy. Being that he’s from Hermantown I feel like I know where he’s headed though.
One of the Atlantic Hockey conference teams (RIT, Sacred Heart, American Int'l) after all Hermantown prefers to play easier competition? 😉
After from what I can tell has been a bad year, if Charlie Stramel entered the transfer portal, would there be interest in bringing him to the Gophers? Bob doesn't seem to be big portal guy, but the upside seems significant.
You can assume there is an open forward spot (even though there probably isn't one presently), or would it be worth opening a spot for him?
I am more interested in thoughts about the fit / potential upside for him at Minny.
Obviously his two seasons with Wisconsin haven't gone well. A change of scenery might be good for him. After all anybody should want to get the hell out of Wisconsin. 😆
As far as the Gophers if Moore and Huglen come back with Clark that seems like a good set of top 3 centers so transferring here might not be a good fit unless he wants to move to wing or coach is looking to move one of three centers mentioned above to wing.
I believe he has played a little bit of right wing which if he wants to do more of that then it would seem to be a better fit especially if Snuggy leaves for the pros at the end of this season with Brodzinski's Gopher career about to come to a end.
The Wild drafted him when he was playing center so they might want him to continue playing center with the hopes that playing a position he is familiar with is best for his development unless something has happened this year to warrant wanting him to switch to wing.
IMO Mike Hastings is one of if not the best coaches in college hockey. Having said that, Stramel and the Wild need to be strongly considering moving on from Wisconsin after this season. It's clearly not working out. Not sure the Gophers would be a good idea though
I agree with J22. Stramel needs to play a top 6 role for his development, and I don't think that would happen here. He should transfer to a place where he could be in that role.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Monthly reminder that I predicted Kyle Kukkonen to the Gophers from the portal back in September. Now about a month til players start flooding the portal.
Monthly reminder that I predicted Kyle Kukkonen to the Gophers from the portal back in September. Now about a month til players start flooding the portal.
Where would he fit in, Top 9? Haven’t seen him play too much. Looks like he is having a down year compared to freshman season.
20 goals his freshman season. 1 this season. Sounds like a guy that needs a change of scenery. He would be top 9 on next years team. Very talented, Anaheim draft pick. Grew up with Cal Thomas and Brock Faber.
Is this just purely a guess or some sort of rumor out there?
I seem to remember that there was a family connection to Tech and ultimately why his brother and he chose there. Would he transfer out with his brother still there after committing together?
Is this just purely a guess or some sort of rumor out there?
I seem to remember that there was a family connection to Tech and ultimately why his brother and he chose there. Would he transfer out with his brother still there after committing together? That would surprise me a little.
Found it. Both parents went to Tech. Not saying it can’t happen but would be surprising with the family ties.
I’m only looking at Kyle Kukkonen personally because of his connections to current and former players and cause I think Bob would take him in a heartbeat. The reason my antenna is up at all with him is the fact that he scored 20 goals as a freshman and has 1 entire goal this year. Might be looking for a change of scenery. Or he might not. We’ll find out in a month.
Doubt Roed, Steeves or Fink hit the portal cause they’re killing it where they’re at.
Methinks D1 coaches are waiting to see how he performs in juniors before throwing him offers. Nothing against Louie but the schedule he played at Providence wasn’t elite competition.
Watching Edina vs Wayzata stream. Rhys Wallin needs to be a Gopher yesterday.
He is such a good all-around hockey player. Motzko and Gordon have seen him play many times this year. I’m sure he has offers but I wonder if he’s waiting for the big one.
Wallin is a great hockey player. I have made my opinion well known, the Gophers should be after him. Like stated above, I’m sure he has multiple offers already.
Another player that I don’t think has been mentioned before is Sam Peckham, sophomore, from Edina. Plays on the top pair and is so smooth and calm. He plays much older than his age. He impresses me more and more each game.
Another player that I don’t think has been mentioned before is Sam Peckham, sophomore, from Edina. Plays on the top pair and is so smooth and calm. He plays much older than his age. He impresses me more and more each game.
Edina has a few younger guys to keep an eye on. Mason West, Peckham, Vandertop and Freddie Schneider will likely all be D1 guys. Pittsley too potentially.
Was just thinking back on when Cooley decided to jump to the NHL and Alex Bump decommitted from Vermont around the same time. A lot of us (myself included) were thinking and hoping he'd end up here. He's had quite the year as a freshman at Western Michigan.
If they land Wallin, curious if they can convince him to play two years in juniors. 2025 looks fairly full with Mooney/Nevers/Moore/Kvasnicka/Townsend/Reid. Of course, needs always change so you could have flexibility with numbers.
If they land Wallin, curious if they can convince him to play two years in juniors. 2025 looks fairly full with Mooney/Nevers/Moore/Kvasnicka/Townsend/Reid. Of course, needs always change so you could have flexibility with numbers.
Nevers I’m convinced will be a 2 years of juniors guy, so will come in the next year imo. I also think the same about Moore but I know others don’t share the same opinion. Mooney and Kvasnicka are locked into that year, Townsend is likely, and idk about Reid.
