Blake Vanek goes 93rd
Dont get the obsession over him he’s just big. Using a 3rd round pick on him is legitimately insane like I’d understand a flyer in the 7th round but top 100???
Wouldnt be opposed to offering him but I just feel he projects to be a Jack Ramsey type. Nothing wrong with a good 4th liner but I don’t think he has the upside that some are claiming he has.
Think that’s a little harsh. He’s had about double the production of Ramsey at all levels. I’d be fine with offering him with how the pipeline is. If he develops he’ll be an outstanding 3-4 year guy and his floor is Ramsey imo
I would imagine he’s a lock here if offered so I understand waiting. I’m sure Bob has been pretty transparent with them and dad I’m sure understands Blake’s still figuring out how to use his size/frame
Assuming you’re referencing high school numbers (very little else to reference with Vanek so far) I wouldn’t place a ton of stock into that. AJ Michaelson out-produced Casey Mittelstadt in high school.
Again if he pops in juniors by all means go ahead and throw him an offer but I’m just going off what I’ve seen and what I’ve seen wouldn’t even be considered if his last name wasn’t Vanek.
i mean he was just drafted in the 3rd round and did score 4 times in the ushl. I know production can lie and is contingent on many things but I think he’s also getting judged because of how good his dad was here and he hasn’t been up to that level so he gets knocked down because of what we hoped he’d be
Putting Blake in the same category as Ramsey should be ludicrous comparison for anyone that watched both play in h.s. Now in Ramsey's defense I don't think he was as awful a Gopher as many say, but still Vanek is a better skater, has better hands and a better shot. I won't make predictions on where that gets him in the end but sorry that eye test doesn't add up.
I should add I HOPE I am wrong as I would love to watch another Vanek in maroon and gold. Just from what I have seen he isn’t quite there. I actually commend Bob and the coaching staff for not caving in to what probably is a ton of pressure from a variety of sources. I hope he pops in juniors so we can watch him at Mariucci one day!
Bob should make a call to Adam Benak, let the Wild watch him in their own backyard. Uncommitted and top 10 in pts in first USHL season.
Bob should make a call to Adam Benak, let the Wild watch him in their own backyard. Uncommitted and top 10 in pts in first USHL season.
The fact he hasn’t committed somewhere by now leads me to believe he might not be headed for college anyway. Maybe Czech pro league?
I agree completely. Vanek is just a good hs player with size. Nothing special at all.
Formerly known as davey j.
I agree completely. Vanek is just a good hs player with size. Nothing special at all.
I saw him in person only once and that was at the state tournament. Elite high school players are usually immediately noticeable against their competition but Vanek didn't survive that test for me. He's good and has good hands--nowhere near his pop's--but his skating is holding him back.
He could be one of those sleeper players after a couple of years in Juniors.
Power forwards can be a slow burn. Often takes time for tools to match with intangibles.
At the same time, I am absolutely content being patient to see how he fares in the WHL this fall. I do not see a need to rush anything, even with strong draft capital.
I don't think he's Gopher ready yet - only that I see more potential for him longer term than a few others have so far.
I don't think he's Gopher ready yet - only that I see more potential for him longer term than a few others have so far.
this is where I fall as well. Same as Stramel felt like a major reach from the wild prior and now that he's figuring it out it looks like he'll at least play in the NHL (his numbers all along the way were.. not great either). Flashes some things that are good but certainly may never develop. Think waiting and seeing is fine but also wouldn't be upset if Bob offered him now with the understanding he's 1-2 years out depending how things go
Blake Vanek has a long ways to go. I was stunned to see him drafted in the 3rd round.
Drafting Vanek in the third round was a huge reach, one NHL's team likely mistake doesn't change who he is as a player.
Gunnar Conboy is an ‘09 we need to be all over on August 1st. USA 16s national camp just rapped up, he was dominant. Probably the best player there from reports.
Drafting Vanek in the third round was a huge reach, one NHL's team likely mistake doesn't change who he is as a player.
It's possible he's being projected as a big man with hands. It does seem like he has a long road ahead to get there.
Gunnar Conboy is an ‘09 we need to be all over on August 1st. USA 16s national camp just rapped up, he was dominant. Probably the best player there from reports.
Named to the US U17 4 Nations team. Becker Wenkus and Ryland Rooney other names of note. I may be missing some other possible local recruits.
Gunnar Conboy is an ‘09 we need to be all over on August 1st. USA 16s national camp just rapped up, he was dominant. Probably the best player there from reports.
Named to the US U17 4 Nations team. Becker Wenkus and Ryland Rooney other names of note. I may be missing some other possible local recruits.
https://teamusa.usahockey.com/2025u17fournations-roster
He was just added to the Team USA roster for the U17 Four Nations Tournament. Hopefully his dad isn't filled with Gopher hate.Gunnar Conboy is an ‘09 we need to be all over on August 1st. USA 16s national camp just rapped up, he was dominant. Probably the best player there from reports.
For as quiet as recruiting as been lately, it sure does seem like we are lining up for a big August window. Lots of the top guys we appear to be in on.
For as quiet as recruiting as been lately, it sure does seem like we are lining up for a big August window. Lots of the top guys we appear to be in on.
Setting up as a great year for Minnesotans. The sheer number of high major recruits should set up for an interesting recruiting period. Most interested in Freddie Schneider, Gunnar Conboy, and Carson Scott early though plenty of talent beyond them.
I'll believe it when I see it. Motzko has been dropping the recruiting ball for years and this will be a bottom-half B1G team by next season. They'll be lucky to sniff an NCAA bid and no big time recruits want anything to do with the program any longer.
For as quiet as recruiting as been lately, it sure does seem like we are lining up for a big August window. Lots of the top guys we appear to be in on.
Where have i heard that before?
Oh yeah, that was the consensus last year right around this time as well
For as quiet as recruiting as been lately, it sure does seem like we are lining up for a big August window. Lots of the top guys we appear to be in on.
Where have i heard that before?
Oh yeah, that was the consensus last year right around this time as well
Correct! Which is why I’m opting to go the see it believe it route this time around.
the ability to do this is part of why I’m confused at some of these high end chl guys coming down when they could just sign their elc and stay up in canada
For quite a few reasons, especially if you join a B1G, NCHC, or HEA squad. Chartered flights, state of the art facilities, an education…
https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/2025/06/03_Big-Names-Coming-From-Major.php
Some sour grapes from the CHL commish. Love it. I know we are disappointed the U hasn’t landed a big CHL fish in this first cycle. But I am pleased and hope it goes well improving the NCAA’s reputation for NHL development.
For quite a few reasons, especially if you join a B1G, NCHC, or HEA squad. Chartered flights, state of the art facilities, an education…
first couple I can see. Few of these guys seem to care about the education side.
the facilities and stuff I suppose. You’re also playing less games and you get to burn a year off your elc (guess in theory you could do that post an ncaa year) with zero other obligations than playing hockey. Obviously some of the places are less nice, but some of the ohl rinks and stuff and much bigger than the ncaa rinks and are full quite often (Flints facilities are quite nice, Londons rink was as solid as many college rinks as well as better than many; just listing those as ones I’ve been to).
Just for the guys who are pretty clearly just going pro, think this angle makes a lot of sense (in terms of risk/reward; similar for a guy like Misa who can go try make the nhl roster and if he doesn’t, he just goes back to Canada and tries to get in this spring and next fall) and you hope the ncaa doesn’t ever make a thing ncaa guys can do as it again just skews everyone older over time.
obviously if a school throws 200k at you it feels different, but these top flight guys are going to make waaaaay more than that in short order (like McKenna for example who I’d imagine with how his development has looked will be ready to play pro in fall 2026)
That contract was for $325k per year and obviously a lot of NHL GMs still view the CHL as the superior development league which is fine by me. I said right after the rule.change was announced that the initial surge of CHL players moving over will eventually mellow out.
https://twitter.com/MikeMcMahonCHN/status/1942394238651535742
Penn State drops $700K on McKenna --- wow.
https://twitter.com/MikeMcMahonCHN/status/1942394238651535742
Penn State drops $700K on McKenna --- wow.
if 700k is a real price on McKenna, no that’s not a win for college hockey
“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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Sadly, this could be the start of the end of my interest in college hockey. I don't think I would be happy if the Gophers got Mckenna for $700k.
For context, the U revenue was 7.8mil on hockey with 6mil in expenditures and was the only P5 hockey team to be profitable.
Paying McKenna that money is over 10% of the U's entire expenditures on hockey and you'd be trying to argue that his generates 10% as much "revenue" with his likeness as the entirety of our income despite this including revenue from all ticket sales, media deals, etc. at one of the most prominent hockey schools in the country.
Again, if true that this is the $ number, you're absolutely signaling to rich donors that they can dump in whatever money they want and its not a problem. Think its going to be an interesting Pandora's box particularly given one of their largest donors is a pro franchise owner. What's stopping him from steering NIL to his draft picks and pushing out them signing pro deals (or any owner) in order to hold their rights in leagues like hockey, baseball, etc., where guys can go to college and maintain amateur status.
Tbh, I don't blame Pegula (or any billionaire) for doing it as he has more money than he could ever know what to do with and if they win, he can forever say he was the reason for it, the same as any pro sports owner takes credit for winning a title. There's no enforcement at this point so there's really no repercussion to him.
Going to be fascinating if teams who paid for young talent get bounced early in the tourney by a team of 23 year olds. How fast will they want the rules changed to benefit them?
700k (that has to be for one year) as McKenna is the definition of a one & done. For PSU, where Peguila has deep pockets, I can see it. College sports are changing & there’s nothing fans can do about it, other than not attending games, which is cutting off your nose to spite your face IMO. Life goes on.. .For context, the U revenue was 7.8mil on hockey with 6mil in expenditures and was the only P5 hockey team to be profitable.
Paying McKenna that money is over 10% of the U's entire expenditures on hockey and you'd be trying to argue that his generates 10% as much "revenue" with his likeness as the entirety of our income despite this including revenue from all ticket sales, media deals, etc. at one of the most prominent hockey schools in the country.
Again, if true that this is the $ number, you're absolutely signaling to rich donors that they can dump in whatever money they want and its not a problem. Think its going to be an interesting Pandora's box particularly given one of their largest donors is a pro franchise owner. What's stopping him from steering NIL to his draft picks and pushing out them signing pro deals (or any owner) in order to hold their rights in leagues like hockey, baseball, etc., where guys can go to college and maintain amateur status.
Tbh, I don't blame Pegula (or any billionaire) for doing it as he has more money than he could ever know what to do with and if they win, he can forever say he was the reason for it, the same as any pro sports owner takes credit for winning a title. There's no enforcement at this point so there's really no repercussion to him.
The entire NIL "system" makes a lie to the claims that drove the NCAA to it. These players are not being paid for their name and likeness, the value of their INDIVIDUAL endorsements. Instead, it is just boosters dumping money into their programs i.e. the cheating that was done before is not "legal" and more competitive.
I have said this many times before: The NCAA is the most corrupt organization on the planet, and that is saying a lot. They focus on one issue: money. How do they decide which football teams go to a bowl game: money. How do they decide to enforce the rules: money. North Carolina basketball program got caught in a major cheating scandal a handful of years. But the Tar Heals were the national champs, the NCAA basketball tourney is a huge revenue producer, and NC and ACC basketball are major drivers to those revenues so the penalty was hardly a slap on the wrist.
Compare that to the penalties the Gophers basketball program received when they got caught in a much minor academic issue when Clem was the head coach. But then, the NCAA ignores academics because the reality would be most of the players in the major revenue producing sports would never qualify and would never be able to maintain any type of academic progress to a degree.
And once this Pandora's box has been opened where will it stop. One issue I am surprised hasn't been universally challenged it the 4 year eligibility limits for the athletes (some players have challenged it as individuals leading to 6+ college careers). If you are making $700,000 per year playing hockey at Penn St. and want to play a 5th or 6th or 7th year, how can a court deny you that right to work?
I can also see that some of these boosters might decide they "OWN" the team just like a professional sports franchise and the colleges deciding that is in their best interests. YOu are some rich Texas oil billionaire and shut out of the NFL franchise game (there are only 32 of these gold mines) so you just decided to buy the Texas A&M Aggie program for $2 billion and some profit share. What stops you? THE NCAA?? Now you own the SEC television rights, the local broadcasting rights, and the revenues generated by a stadium that seats 106,000 people.
A lot of people who love college sports do not see a lot of problems with this. But this one result has a chance of ruining college hockey in my opinion and it can have a major impact on the Minnesota Gopher hockey program. Minnesota is NOT a sports state. We do not have the big dollar boasters and the big dollar local revenues. Minnesota is by far the largest state with just a single D1 football and basketball program (Iowa, half the size has 2). We do not put the resources into competitive sports and that is why the football and basketball programs at the U of MN are backwaters.
The hockey program, for decades the sport at the University that was perennial contenders (with some ups and downs) for a national championship, is looking at the same fate as other colleges utilize their boasters to bring in the high end talent, especially with the Canadien pipeline being opened.
This is not Bob's fault, although I think he is an old school coach and recruiter who is not really the point guy to operate in this environment.
I have said this many times before: The NCAA is the most corrupt organization on the planet, and that is saying a lot.
FIFA and the IOC would like a word!
'29, '40, '74, '76, '79, '02, & '03
GPL's Resident Cabin Enthusiast & Cadets Hockey Fan
The NC$$ is closing the gap with the two true leaders in the field, but, they hold a comfortable lead.I have said this many times before: The NCAA is the most corrupt organization on the planet, and that is saying a lot.
FIFA and the IOC would like a word!
B1G refs... corrupt, or just incompetent?
I don't like the way college hockey is all going either. And I wonder if decades of mostly MN players plays a part in MN not being on the radar for many Canadian Juniors, as opposed to it being Bob's inability to recruit. Does anyone know that MN didn't make a pitch to McKenna?
I want to see teams with mostly Minnesotans as well, but a few guys like this can always help. And while teams of superstar young players haven't won it all very often, there usually aren't more than one or two in the the tourney of 16, so odds aren't in their favor. (And some of the BU teams I recall, for example, lacked depth, falling off in talent quite a bit after the super-frosh players.) So I while I do believe the maturity of older players can mitigate talent of younger players, I think it is far from an absolute that a team with a number of first-rounder freshmen can't win it all as a few seem to imply. Having a few players like that, who can turn the momentum on an individual play will often be the difference between victory or defeat.
And I thought early on when discussing CHL players coming in it was stated that they would not be able to be compensated on the type of Visa's they would need to attend colleges here? Or does that not apply to NIL and only has to do with getting paid by the school itself?
Overall, I am not that optimistic about the future of this sport I love.
August 1st is in three weeks, it’s no secret to anyone here that we’re pretty thin as far as recruits go. The staff can afford to be aggressive this year.
F Nolan Fitzhenry (Shattuck)
F Freddie Schneider (Edina)
F Wyatt Cullen (NTDP)
F Gunnar Conboy (Lakeville North)
F Luca Jarvis (Stillwater)
D Ben Geiger (Northfield)
D Easton Johnson (Luverne)
D Carson Scott (Hill-Murray)
F Ryland Rooney (Gentry)
F Brooks DeMars (WBL)
F Zac Zimmerman (Moorhead)
F Caden Zasada (Hill-Murray)
All of these are high priority players imo
I thought all of the Cullens were going to Sparty since they signed 1 of them already.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
I'm sure you're being sarcastic, but I'd say it happens more often than not. Mittlestadt's, Reilly's, Nelson's, Janicke's, Hughs', Pohl's, Poltulny's, etc
I'm sure you're being sarcastic, but I'd say it happens more often than not. Mittlestadt's, Reilly's, Nelson's, Janicke's, Hughs', Pohl's, Poltulny's, etc
I'm actually not. I agree that all of the Cullens will probably go to school together and that most likely will be at MSU since 1 is already committed there.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
Joey the 9th Grader (last season) is clearly the most dynamic of the 3 bros! I’ve seen him play (in person) once & he’s incredibly shifty & skilled!I'm sure you're being sarcastic, but I'd say it happens more often than not. Mittlestadt's, Reilly's, Nelson's, Janicke's, Hughs', Pohl's, Poltulny's, etc
I'm actually not. I agree that all of the Cullens will probably go to school together and that most likely will be at MSU since 1 is already committed there.
I don't like the way college hockey is all going either. And I wonder if decades of mostly MN players plays a part in MN not being on the radar for many Canadian Juniors, as opposed to it being Bob's inability to recruit. Does anyone know that MN didn't make a pitch to McKenna?
I want to see teams with mostly Minnesotans as well, but a few guys like this can always help. And while teams of superstar young players haven't won it all very often, there usually aren't more than one or two in the the tourney of 16, so odds aren't in their favor. (And some of the BU teams I recall, for example, lacked depth, falling off in talent quite a bit after the super-frosh players.) So I while I do believe the maturity of older players can mitigate talent of younger players, I think it is far from an absolute that a team with a number of first-rounder freshmen can't win it all as a few seem to imply. Having a few players like that, who can turn the momentum on an individual play will often be the difference between victory or defeat.
And I thought early on when discussing CHL players coming in it was stated that they would not be able to be compensated on the type of Visa's they would need to attend colleges here? Or does that not apply to NIL and only has to do with getting paid by the school itself?
Overall, I am not that optimistic about the future of this sport I love.
You can go with the Minnesota model, the model that built the brand that made me such a huge fan of the program, IF and ONLY IF, you can dominate the recruiting of the top Minnesota hockey talent. The problem with continuing that model is that for the past several recruiting cycles (couple years past and couple years forward) the Gophers simply have not done that.
And it is alarming and is not just "business as usual" as some people have made it out to be.
If there are 3 elite Minnesota recruits in a class, the Gophers need to get 2 out of the 3. Then add a Vanek or Poltuly or Logan Cooley here and there. Then to supplement that top of the class they need the solid recruits like Javon Moore and Brodie Ziemer that will develop over a 3 year college career.
I think they need to move on from Bob soon because I think he is out of touch with what it takes to get that talent in this recruiting marketplace. Bring in a guy who can get those recruits. Then they can maintain the Gopher hockey brand and stay competitive for the national championship.
The other alternative is to go the Mankato St. route and bring in older, mercenary players. That can be effective if you are patient. But that is not the Gopher model, and frankly, would not be that much interest to me.
@mlhouse tBob turned 64 in March & has been the HC for 8 years (so far). I’d say he has 2 more years left in the tank, but after that, it’s imperative Gophers move forward with a new HC. Hopefully tBob is wise enough to realize this too!