2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

This "joke" of a team is 5 spots higher than UND in the PWR and 2 spots behind Denver. And, yes, the PWR doesn't mean anything until the end of the season, but it does mean that to this point the Badgers have been a more impressive team from the schedule of games that they played. They only have one bad loss at Minnesota St where McDonaugh and Smith lost their cool and committed penalties that cost them the game. I have no problem with the loss to Minnesota because they are the most talented team in the conference which goes to speak of how much they are underachieving.

If only the PWR meant something before all the games were played....

Minnesota is not the most talented team in the conference. I think Denver is.

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

If you go by NHL draftees in the top rounds, I believe Minny has Denver beat, but I could be wrong.

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

If you go by NHL draftees in the top rounds, I believe Minny has Denver beat, but I could be wrong.

That's not what I'm going by...

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Well I'm going by NHL scouting. They might know hockey talent better than you do.

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

You can't judge talent by NHL draft choices. The Gophers are the best example of that this year.

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Well I'm going by NHL scouting. They might know hockey talent better than you do.

They draft based on how they think they will play in the NHL...not how good they will be in college. Look at Jeff Frazee. He was terrible at Minnesota, but now is an AHL All-Star...

Not to mention how many of those (Patrick White anyone?) have been busts.

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Once again, I'm talking about talent. I'm not talking about how well a player will mesh with a college team. Talent doesn't always equal wins, but when Minnesota is right, they can beat anybody in the nation. They just aren't doing the little things to win games. I can use NHL scouting to measure talent because they are the best in the business at doing so. If you want to talk about best college players, that is a different story because nobody's like Genoway and Duncan enter the mix then.

Patrick White sure didn't look like a bust in the UW series. He lit us up for 2 goals and an assist. Exactly my point. Minnesota has guys like him who are just as good as anybody in the country and when they decide to do the dirty work to win games, they are among the best.

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

If you want to talk about best college players, that is a different story because nobody's like Genoway and Duncan enter the mix then.

Well, we're talking about a college team, so yes, we should be talking about college players...

[brianvf]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Well, we're talking about a college team, so yes, we should be talking about college players...

No, no, no, you're crazy.

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Talent is talent and it applies to all levels of play... even college hockey. I thought that was kind of obvious, but apparently it isn't to those northerners.

[The Rube]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

VW: first off, you are a moron. Secondly, WI is not a team on the same level as DU or UND. I place them as a 4th-6th place team, depending on many variables (including ones that don't involve talent).

MN, while having supposed individual talent, is not a team right now. I don't know if they will be. There is no gelling to this team yet, and I don't see it happening this year. It pains me to say this, but after tonight, I (of all people) am veering to Scoobydom. Maybe I'll wake up tomorrow and have some more Kool-Aid, I don't know.

But your statement of WI being able to play with anyone? Hah! Hilarious. A blind squirrel only finds a nut once in a while, maybe.

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

We'll let the next few months decide that.

[solovsfett]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Talent is talent and it applies to all levels of play... even college hockey. I thought that was kind of obvious, but apparently it isn't to those northerners.

VW - Talent on paper doesn't mean jack chit. I think our MN friend below was saying that. UW 1992 had all the talent in the world. In the end it didn't matter. Same with Michigan in like 97 or so w/Morrison, Botterill et al.

What matters is who wins, period.

As for NHL scouts. Are you serious? the same guys who passed on Brian Rafalski in college, and he had to go to Europe to get respect? Those guys?

The same dummies who drafted Rob Lurtsema (who IIRC didn't do jack **** for UW in two years on the team)?

NHL scouts put a premium on size first, skill second unless you're unbelievable like Crosby. After that, I mean c'mon. Why did it take so long for them to realize the talent rich NCAA players could kick *** up there?

I'd give *some* college recruiters as much or more cred that NHL scouts....yes, definitely.

[The Rube]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

VW - Talent on paper doesn't mean jack chit. I think our MN friend below was saying that. UW 1992 had all the talent in the world. In the end it didn't matter. Same with Michigan in like 97 or so w/Morrison, Botterill et al.

What matters is who wins, period.

As for NHL scouts. Are you serious? the same guys who passed on Brian Rafalski in college, and he had to go to Europe to get respect? Those guys?

The same dummies who drafted Rob Lurtsema (who IIRC didn't do jack **** for UW in two years on the team)?

NHL scouts put a premium on size first, skill second unless you're unbelievable like Crosby. After that, I mean c'mon. Why did it take so long for them to realize the talent rich NCAA players could kick *** up there?

I'd give *some* college recruiters as much or more cred that NHL scouts....yes, definitely.

To take it to the extreme:

Craig Patrick: You're missing some of the best players.
Herb Brooks: I'm not looking for the best players, Craig. I'm looking for the right ones.

[solovsfett]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

To take it to the extreme:

Craig Patrick: You're missing some of the best players.
Herb Brooks: I'm not looking for the best players, Craig. I'm looking for the right ones.

Well Herb was right and he proved it at the NCAA and Olympic level.