Holy Sh*t I wasted time...
No Mikey or Lutner? Both to Denver! Nooooo
Makes me think the next two years better be great.
Incoming class is solid - 2025 class looks awesome - buttttttt;
Current 2026 class is... Katz and... Reid? Sh*t again.
Can we just get a Moe, West, Chmiel commit tomorrow and then cross our fingers on flipping a commit or a sweet portal add like Wood?
I might dislike Denver more than UND right now...
This is a major disaster. Not being able to retain any of the top Minnesota recruits in a top Minnesota recruiting class.
While it could be a one time thing, it signals some issues with Minnesota's recruiting brand and process in the modern times. THe Eisermann commitment flip might have been the first sign. But this is a more significant loss because it may force the Gophers to go beyond their traditional recruiting borders to a much greater extent.
If the top Minnesota kids aren't coming to Minnesota, then we need to go get more Canadien, Swede/Fins, and eastern players than we normally recruit. I think that will lessen the brand value which has been built by a team almost, but not totally, of MInnesota players. And while the impact will not happen this year (I think we have 2 non-MN skaters), in the future to achieve competitiveness it will. And then it brings into play other factors such as NIL money that I am not sure a Minnesota college sports program can compete.
Personally, I think it is a huge mistake for a person like Berchild to go out of state. The value of playing in your home state is significant, and not just as a hockey player. This isn't basketball or football, high stake affairs for the highest end recruits (we lose almost every top player in those sports). This is something Sid Hartman always brought up though. If you stay in your local area, you will always BE somebody your whole life.
Holy Sh*t I wasted time...
No Mikey or Lutner? Both to Denver! Nooooo
Makes me think the next two years better be great.
Incoming class is solid - 2025 class looks awesome - buttttttt;
Current 2026 class is... Katz and... Reid? Sh*t again.
Can we just get a Moe, West, Chmiel commit tomorrow and then cross our fingers on flipping a commit or a sweet portal add like Wood?
I might dislike Denver more than UND right now...
This is a major disaster. Not being able to retain any of the top Minnesota recruits in a top Minnesota recruiting class.
While it could be a one time thing, it signals some issues with Minnesota's recruiting brand and process in the modern times. THe Eisermann commitment flip might have been the first sign. But this is a more significant loss because it may force the Gophers to go beyond their traditional recruiting borders to a much greater extent.
If the top Minnesota kids aren't coming to Minnesota, then we need to go get more Canadien, Swede/Fins, and eastern players than we normally recruit. I think that will lessen the brand value which has been built by a team almost, but not totally, of MInnesota players. And while the impact will not happen this year (I think we have 2 non-MN skaters), in the future to achieve competitiveness it will. And then it brings into play other factors such as NIL money that I am not sure a Minnesota college sports program can compete.
Personally, I think it is a huge mistake for a person like Berchild to go out of state. The value of playing in your home state is significant, and not just as a hockey player. This isn't basketball or football, high stake affairs for the highest end recruits (we lose almost every top player in those sports). This is something Sid Hartman always brought up though. If you stay in your local area, you will always BE somebody your whole life.
It has been documented by Eiserman and others that his Dad has cancer and that he wanted to be closer to home. Can't pin that one on Bob and can't blame Eiserman for that decision.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
Any idea if gophs are sniffing around Noah Ohgren? Saw he’s with Fargo
I don't have any particular evidence other than the recent loss of Brink and Broz, but it seems to be a weird pull Denver has on Minnesota metro players. Maybe they ski there growing up, I don't know, but Minnesotans generally seem to like Colorado.
Denver and CC have few feeder programs to draw on. What are they selling to recruits, ski slopes and mountain views? They can't sell a rabid fan base. Who cheers for Denver growing up besides a comparative handful of local fans? (I went to the national title game last spring and Denver was underrepresented despite a mere 13-hour drive. For college fans, going to St. Paul for a chance at a national title should be a dream road trip.)
The decision has been made, and just like Brink before him, Berchild is dead to me now. Next! You can't mourn the loss of something you never had. I just hope this isn't a sign that Motzko is having a bad year on the recruiting trail because I don't want to return to the Ryan Flynn years.
Bob = Zimmer
Carle = KOC
In 2024 kids would rather play for which style of coach?
This is why Berchild is going to Denver and also why Lou Nanne shouldn’t be involved in picking our head coaches.
I don’t think Bob is even close to Zimmer lol. That’s a lazy take
Bob = Zimmer
Carle = KOC
In 2024 kids would rather play for which style of coach?
This is why Berchild is going to Denver and also why Lou Nanne shouldn’t be involved in picking our head coaches.
That's an interesting position to take given that "Zimmer" just took his team to an NC game in '23, recruited top-flight defensemen for 5 or six years running, and has turned around the program these past several years.
I could probably be correctly accused of being a bit of a pessimist, but some of these takes really have me rolling. Wow. 😂
My guess is money. DU has a fan base that is generally wealthy. When I went to Gopher games in Denver some fans said their students are generally rich kids who choose to go there to ski and smoke weed. This was before weed was legal.I don't have any particular evidence other than the recent loss of Brink and Broz, but it seems to be a weird pull Denver has on Minnesota metro players. Maybe they ski there growing up, I don't know, but Minnesotans generally seem to like Colorado.
Denver and CC have few feeder programs to draw on. What are they selling to recruits, ski slopes and mountain views? They can't sell a rabid fan base. Who cheers for Denver growing up besides a comparative handful of local fans? (I went to the national title game last spring and Denver was underrepresented despite a mere 13-hour drive. For college fans, going to St. Paul for a chance at a national title should be a dream road trip.)
The decision has been made, and just like Brink before him, Berchild is dead to me now. Next! You can't mourn the loss of something you never had. I just hope this isn't a sign that Motzko is having a bad year on the recruiting trail because I don't want to return to the Ryan Flynn years.
NIL
Bob = Zimmer
Carle = KOC
In 2024 kids would rather play for which style of coach?
This is why Berchild is going to Denver and also why Lou Nanne shouldn’t be involved in picking our head coaches.
Ah yes famously defensive coach Motzko
I don’t blame anyone for wanting out of this once great state!
Formerly known as davey j.
https://twitter.com/jessrmyers/status/1840392027436921286?s=46
Jess references a couple of Neal’s grandsons. I think Henry Meier may be one of these grandsons on the Shattuck Bantam team. The other may show up on the Hill Murray team this winter.
I'm 50% factual and 50% sarcastic. When you get to know me, you will know which is which.
From what I’ve heard he’s basically ours whenever we want him. He’s been all over the board. Straight up didn’t make national camp but then gets an invite with the NTDP. A little strange.
Watched HS Elite League vs. u17 team this weekend.
a couple uncommitted guys that looked good:
Bode Sampair - Hill Murray
Brent Solomon - Champlin kid that I bet many have never heard of.
Freddie Schneider - Edina
Lukas Zajic - u17
Wyatt Cullen - u17
sadly, Berchild looked very good.
Henri Ament to Cornell
Henry Chmiel will end up at either Arizona State or Nebraska-Omaha...I am leaning ASU. Bummer for the Gophers as that kid is an absolute unit...kid is built like a linebacker.
Watched HS Elite League vs. u17 team this weekend.
a couple uncommitted guys that looked good:
Bode Sampair - Hill Murray
Brent Solomon - Champlin kid that I bet many have never heard of.
Freddie Schneider - Edina
Lukas Zajic - u17
Wyatt Cullen - u17
sadly, Berchild looked very good.
Agree on Berchild. Disagree on Cullen. Zajic is one of the best pure scorers in 08 group...but you're playing 5 on 4 in your own D zone because he doesn't ever come below the top of the circles. Nelson had a PP goal but didn't do much else (we all know he's going to ND anyway). Carrithers struggled in net on Saturday, looked better on Sunday. The u17's are in trouble when they start their USHL schedule, they were outplayed for long stretches by the Elite League kids.
TJ Hale of North Dakota who plays at Shattuck on u16's is headed to Colorado College. Kinda crazy if you know the family ties to North Dakota.
Watched HS Elite League vs. u17 team this weekend.
a couple uncommitted guys that looked good:
Bode Sampair - Hill Murray
Brent Solomon - Champlin kid that I bet many have never heard of.
Freddie Schneider - Edina
Lukas Zajic - u17
Wyatt Cullen - u17
sadly, Berchild looked very good.
Agree on Berchild. Disagree on Cullen. Zajic is one of the best pure scorers in 08 group...but you're playing 5 on 4 in your own D zone because he doesn't ever come below the top of the circles. Nelson had a PP goal but didn't do much else (we all know he's going to ND anyway). Carrithers struggled in net on Saturday, looked better on Sunday. The u17's are in trouble when they start their USHL schedule, they were outplayed for long stretches by the Elite League kids.
agree to disagree on Max Cullen. I thought he made a lot of simple smart plays and he moved the puck around really well on the PP. I was impressed considering his jump straight from Bantams and his small stature at the moment. I’m assuming he follows in his dad’s footsteps to St. Cloud, but I think he’ll have lots of options.
I've watched a couple games and monitored the scoring leaders. Solomon's play was eye catching. I watched him pull off a Michigan goal and a couple absolute snipes. I'm curious what kind of attention he will get from showing out.
@westsidescout what is the connection to those schools? Definitely was hoping he'd have an M on his chest after Lutner went Denver.
Wisconsin may have the inside track on Zajic.
Great we’ll get him as a sophomore out of the portal after he hates his freshman year with Hastings
https://twitter.com/collegepucknxt/status/1843661615335633302?s=46
commitment official.
No Gopher commits and many of the big names off the board. Time for concern?
No Gopher commits and many of the big names off the board. Time for concern?
Depends on the definition of concern.
It is unlikely to be a top recruiting class. Missing on Berchild likely cemented it. Still good players on the board, and guys like Pahlsson, Gruba, Fallon, etc. were late adds/flips who profile as quality players. Add in the portal and my concern level is about two Bonins out of ten.
Depends on the definition of concern.
It is unlikely to be a top recruiting class. Missing on Berchild likely cemented it. Still good players on the board, and guys like Pahlsson, Gruba, Fallon, etc. were late adds/flips who profile as quality players. Add in the portal and my concern level is about two Bonins out of ten.
Might be the greatest scale description ever. So if this is/was bonin only two. 🤣
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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It certainly doesn’t look good so far but I refuse to let myself get concerned with recruiting when it comes to Motzko it’s always been a strength of his wherever he goes.
For all we know Adam Benak is about to commit or something. There was certainly panic last year and we landed Mooney, Rombach, Gruba, Pahlsson, Falloon and Reid in about a months span.
Last year there were still uncommitted players....It certainly doesn’t look good so far but I refuse to let myself get concerned with recruiting when it comes to Motzko it’s always been a strength of his wherever he goes.
For all we know Adam Benak is about to commit or something. There was certainly panic last year and we landed Mooney, Rombach, Gruba, Pahlsson, Falloon and Reid in about a months span.
Bob isn't a big portal guy. Sounds like Matthew Wood came to Bob this year and not the other way around. It's an odd situation to be in for Minnesota.No Gopher commits and many of the big names off the board. Time for concern?
Depends on the definition of concern.
It is unlikely to be a top recruiting class. Missing on Berchild likely cemented it. Still good players on the board, and guys like Pahlsson, Gruba, Fallon, etc. were late adds/flips who profile as quality players. Add in the portal and my concern level is about two Bonins out of ten.
The bigger question is, do you like our group of 10 committed players? Many will be part of that class. You could basically include Kvasnicka as an August commit we just heard a little early.
It's not fun to lose out on Berchild, Lutner, and the top available player, Bueker, who we don't appear to be in the mix for. I like that we targeted the guys we wanted and didn't just grab others who didn't fit the team's identity.
The silver lining is that some good players are still available, and it will be good to have flexibility as CHL players become eligible in the era of the transfer portal. If we have the year, we are capable of having players will want to come to MN
I’m a really big fan of Mooney, Kvasnicka, Phillips, Grimes and Townsend. I can see the appeal of Rombach, Moore and Nevers. Reid and Katz are still a ways away but whenever I’ve watched Katz at Shattuck he reminds me of that crafty Huglen type player which is exciting.
I am very much looking forward to seeing Philips and Rombach together as 6'5" (or taller) defenseman. If they have skating ability, they could be very fun to watch.I’m a really big fan of Mooney, Kvasnicka, Phillips, Grimes and Townsend. I can see the appeal of Rombach, Moore and Nevers. Reid and Katz are still a ways away but whenever I’ve watched Katz at Shattuck he reminds me of that crafty Huglen type player which is exciting.
I am very much looking forward to seeing Philips and Rombach together as 6'5" (or taller) defenseman. If they have skating ability, they could be very fun to watch.I’m a really big fan of Mooney, Kvasnicka, Phillips, Grimes and Townsend. I can see the appeal of Rombach, Moore and Nevers. Reid and Katz are still a ways away but whenever I’ve watched Katz at Shattuck he reminds me of that crafty Huglen type player which is exciting.
Agreed. I’m not a fan of teams getting big for the sake of getting big but it seems like both can play.
Grandfather played at UND, is a big financial supporter / fundraiser for the school. Dad played at UND. Mom used to be the sideline reporter (whatever you call it for hockey) for UND. Uncle is Dave Hakstol.
Curious to hear more from the people on here who think this year’s recruiting cycle is a disaster or a cause for concern.
Are you judging Bob by how many top 10 guys he can land in a cycle? Do you think he and the staff have lost their touch? Think they’re being out spent NIL wise?
These players are 2-3 years out. In today’s college sports a million things can happen between now and then.
I think they absolutely whiffed on Berchild and Lutner but put it this way, a program like Minnesota doesn’t just stop recruiting. Like it would be one thing if we got a few commitments but they were subpar or mediocre or whatever, but ZERO commits leads me to believe they have something up their sleeve regarding CHL. Just makes too much sense to me.
Maybe I’m fully donning my tinfoil hat here but it seems like a crazy coincidence that we go quiet recruiting while the CHL stuff is getting approved in court.
@maroon_and_gold would more guess it’s take the right guys, not reach, especially now. If you have a year you need to be more active in the portal that’s fine. We have the resources for that. Don’t take commits just to take bodies.
@maroon_and_gold would more guess it’s take the right guys, not reach, especially now. If you have a year you need to be more active in the portal that’s fine. We have the resources for that. Don’t take commits just to take bodies.
Couldnt have said it better myself. I think some fans here and on the X machine get antsy when the Gophers miss on a few recruits and start clammering for players who really aren’t up to the standard that Motzko (and the coaches before him) have set for recruiting.
Both Brad Schlossman and Mike McMahon have hinted on two separate podcasts that college coaches are recruiting Canada and actually have been for months now.
Also both mentioned that they’ve heard that players have already committed to programs but are waiting to formally announce it until the results of the CHL lawsuit are set in stone.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Motzko and the entire coaching staff are among those getting a jump on the CHL before it becomes official. The silence during the recruiting window is too suspicious.
I just don't see that as Bob's style. It would be a MAJOR change for Minnesota, of all teams, to count on Canadian players over the top US/MN players.Both Brad Schlossman and Mike McMahon have hinted on two separate podcasts that college coaches are recruiting Canada and actually have been for months now.
Also both mentioned that they’ve heard that players have already committed to programs but are waiting to formally announce it until the results of the CHL lawsuit are set in stone.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Motzko and the entire coaching staff are among those getting a jump on the CHL before it becomes official. The silence during the recruiting window is too suspicious.
Bob's never been a big portal guy. I had a conversation with a very well informed parent a couple of years ago who inquired directly with Bob about a specific player in the portal at the time and Bob said he hadn't even looked at the portal to know who's available. This shocked the parent. But seeing our usage of the portal over the year, I believe the story. This parent was always very straightforward and often backed up his claims.
Right now I am judging based on the fact that a large portion of the perceived top recruits have been scooped up by other teams and the Gophers have yet to have a single recruit commit. At this point it seems we are hoping for them to be ahead of the game in the CHL ruling or waiting for some unknown recruit waiting in the weeds? Maybe we have a big Swede or Slovak kid booking his flights right now?Curious to hear more from the people on here who think this year’s recruiting cycle is a disaster or a cause for concern.
Are you judging Bob by how many top 10 guys he can land in a cycle? Do you think he and the staff have lost their touch? Think they’re being out spent NIL wise?
These players are 2-3 years out. In today’s college sports a million things can happen between now and then.
Do I expect every recruit to be 1st round NHL draft picks? No. Do I expect for them to land some of the higher end recruits? Most definitely. How many of those remain?
Both Brad Schlossman and Mike McMahon have hinted on two separate podcasts that college coaches are recruiting Canada and actually have been for months now.
Also both mentioned that they’ve heard that players have already committed to programs but are waiting to formally announce it until the results of the CHL lawsuit are set in stone.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Motzko and the entire coaching staff are among those getting a jump on the CHL before it becomes official. The silence during the recruiting window is too suspicious.
At NCHC Media Day Kris Mayotte said, "I know that there are schools out there that are secretly committing CHL players and keeping them on a black list somewhere, but we are not one of them. I think people are doing prework in case it happens. I'm a part of a committee that is having those discussions, and so that if it does happen, I'm trying to make sure that we're put in the best spot we can possibly be in and putting us in a spot to be successful with that change if it comes. It hasn't changed our recruiting board at all. Hasn't changed our conversations at all. We kind of like what we've been able to find here recently, and we're going to stick with that [plan.]"
That's an interesting decision by the CC head coach considering the program has been bad for a long time.Both Brad Schlossman and Mike McMahon have hinted on two separate podcasts that college coaches are recruiting Canada and actually have been for months now.
Also both mentioned that they’ve heard that players have already committed to programs but are waiting to formally announce it until the results of the CHL lawsuit are set in stone.
Wouldn’t surprise me if Motzko and the entire coaching staff are among those getting a jump on the CHL before it becomes official. The silence during the recruiting window is too suspicious.
At NCHC Media Day Kris Mayotte said, "I know that there are schools out there that are secretly committing CHL players and keeping them on a black list somewhere, but we are not one of them. I think people are doing prework in case it happens. I'm a part of a committee that is having those discussions, and so that if it does happen, I'm trying to make sure that we're put in the best spot we can possibly be in and putting us in a spot to be successful with that change if it comes. It hasn't changed our recruiting board at all. Hasn't changed our conversations at all. We kind of like what we've been able to find here recently, and we're going to stick with that [plan.]"
Curious to hear more from the people on here who think this year’s recruiting cycle is a disaster or a cause for concern.
Are you judging Bob by how many top 10 guys he can land in a cycle? Do you think he and the staff have lost their touch? Think they’re being out spent NIL wise?
These players are 2-3 years out. In today’s college sports a million things can happen between now and then.
It has to be a cause for concern. It isn't a NUMBER thing though. It is that we failed to land the top Minnesota players in this recruiting cycle. This age group was a solid Minnesota class from Berchild to Trottier on down. And of the top Minnesota guys, so far we have completely struck out.
What concerns me isn't Bob, but that the Minnesota Golden Gopher hockey brand could potentially have lost some of the luster it once had, and that D1 hockey will continue down the path of the sports revenue schools that other collegiate sports have. Michigan, Notre Dame, BU, BC. Add in the schools like Denver, a small college atmosphere, the high end academic colleges like Harvard, and the in-state and midwestern rivals like UMD, NoDak, and Wisconsin there is a lot of competition for MN talent.
We have lost players to Denver, Notre Dame, NoDak, and Sconnie before. We have even lost players to Harvard and other eastern schools. But I don't ever recall such a clean sweep from competitors for Minnesota hockey talent.
This might be an aberration. But the D1 hockey world has changed significantly. There is a lot more talent outside of this state so the other schools are that much better. If it is a trend, it could very well impact how the Gophers pursue recruiting and make even more attempts at non-Minnesota players.