College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

College Hockey Weekly has weighed in on their "Top 13 for 2012-2013"...

http://www.collegehockeyweekly.com/2...13-Top-13.html

For full disclosure, here was my ballot...
1. BC
2. Western Michigan
3. Minnesota
4. North Dakota
5. Cornell
6. SCSU
7. Notre Dame
8. Michigan
9. Union
10. Lowell
11. Wisconsin
12. Ferris State
13. Miami

[vizoroo]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

1. Cornell
2. Notre Dame
3. Pittsburgh Penguins' goalie coach
4. UMass-Amherst
5. Mel Kiper's hair

Donald Trump will be jealous.

[SCSU Euro]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

Minnesota is too damm high.

I thought you guys got rid of Birkholz. And to be fair, they're too high until Friday, then they're about right.

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

Might as well chip in with my top 5 for next year...

1. Boston College - They are loaded throughout their lineup. They should have no problems scoring, and have a strong defense and arguably the best goalie in the country heading into next season means that the Eagles will be favored to win it all to start the season.
2. Western Michigan - The Broncos return nearly all of their scoring from a very strong squad this past season. Add to that arguably the best blueline in the country and a Super soph in Slubowski, and I think Western makes their first Frozen Four appearance in 2012-2013.
3. Minnesota - The Gophers have a ton of scoring coming back, and their defense should be quite strong. The biggest question mark is in net, and if Minnesota can get that figured out, they could find themselves back at the Frozen Four.
4. North Dakota - North Dakota surprised many of their own fans with how they overcame adversity in 2011-2012. The Sioux should have plenty of scoring and may have the best blueline in the country next season. Once again, look for North Dakota to play their best hockey in the second half of the season.
5. Cornell - The Big Red return the majority of their scoring, and have a great goaltender in Andy Iles. I do think the ECAC will be stronger next season, but I think that will only help Cornell. They could very well put together a great winning %, and get a #1 seed. I wouldn't be surprised if the Big Red were skating in Pittsburgh next April.

On the cusp: (no particular order)
Union, SCSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Lowell

Minnesota is too damm high.

[A Shot and a Goal]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

1. Cornell
2. Notre Dame
3. Pittsburgh Penguins' goalie coach
4. UMass-Amherst
5. Mel Kiper's hair

[SteveF]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

So you think Milner will have a .926 save %, 1.95 GAA, and 81.7 Win %?

Those are his career averages, which is what you said he would "regress" to.

there is nothing like supporting your small sample size argument with an even smaller sample size

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

Might as well chip in with my top 5 for next year...

1. Boston College - They are loaded throughout their lineup. They should have no problems scoring, and have a strong defense and arguably the best goalie in the country heading into next season means that the Eagles will be favored to win it all to start the season.
2. Western Michigan - The Broncos return nearly all of their scoring from a very strong squad this past season. Add to that arguably the best blueline in the country and a Super soph in Slubowski, and I think Western makes their first Frozen Four appearance in 2012-2013.
3. Minnesota - The Gophers have a ton of scoring coming back, and their defense should be quite strong. The biggest question mark is in net, and if Minnesota can get that figured out, they could find themselves back at the Frozen Four.
4. North Dakota - North Dakota surprised many of their own fans with how they overcame adversity in 2011-2012. The Sioux should have plenty of scoring and may have the best blueline in the country next season. Once again, look for North Dakota to play their best hockey in the second half of the season.
5. Cornell - The Big Red return the majority of their scoring, and have a great goaltender in Andy Iles. I do think the ECAC will be stronger next season, but I think that will only help Cornell. They could very well put together a great winning %, and get a #1 seed. I wouldn't be surprised if the Big Red were skating in Pittsburgh next April.

On the cusp: (no particular order)
Union, SCSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Lowell

[JDUBBS1280]

So the "anamoly" is the full season as a starter as a junior, but his underclassman years as a backup are his true self? You realize he played in 12 more games this year than the first two combined right? Face it... The guy went a full season in Hockey East with a 1.66 GAA... That's not an anomoly. If that's the case then Kent Patterson's "true" numbers were when he backed up Kangas. This year was just one big fluke.

Yes, that is my opinion. You're entitled to your own. I guess we'll see who's right next season.

[JDUBBS1280]

What type of numbers do you expect from Minnesota's goalies next season?

Good question. I don't really know what to expect for sure. But from what I have seen and heard, I think we'll see numbers pretty consistent with Patterson's. Minus the shutouts. I wasn't a huge Patterson fan. Like Milner, I think he benefited from those playing in front of him. Except early in the season. Patterson was hot early and carried the defense for the first month.

Gophers are going to have a deep, veteran defense. I think that helps whomever starts get settled. Without a doubt the biggest question coming into this season though.

[SCSU Euro]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

So the "anamoly" is the full season as a starter as a junior, but his underclassman years as a backup are his true self? You realize he played in 12 more games this year than the first two combined right? Face it... The guy went a full season in Hockey East with a 1.66 GAA... That's not an anomoly. If that's the case then Kent Patterson's "true" numbers were when he backed up Kangas. This year was just one big fluke.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

I disagree. I think this season was largely a product of the outstanding defense in front of him, and an insanely hot streak at the end of the season. They were actually talking about a goalie change at one point this season.

I think this season is the anomoly, and I think his #'s regress to the mean before this season. Maybe a little better. Not much. That is my prediction.

What type of numbers do you expect from Minnesota's goalies next season?

[JDUBBS1280]

So you concede that his "mean stats" are .926 save %, 1.95 GAA, and 81.7 win%, correct?

This was his first full season in nets. If anything was an anomaly it was his sophomore year where he only got into 8 games (and coincidentally had his "worst" season).

I disagree. I think this season was largely a product of the outstanding defense in front of him, and an insanely hot streak at the end of the season. They were actually talking about a goalie change at one point this season.

I think this season is the anomoly, and I think his #'s regress to the mean before this season. Maybe a little better. Not much. That is my prediction.

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

No, I think he'll go back to his average before this season.

This season was an anomoly.

I expect to see something like 2.45 GAA and .910 sv%

So you concede that his "mean stats" are .926 save %, 1.95 GAA, and 81.7 win%, correct?

This was his first full season in nets. If anything was an anomaly it was his sophomore year where he only got into 8 games (and coincidentally had his "worst" season).

[JDUBBS1280]

So you think Milner will have a .926 save %, 1.95 GAA, and 81.7 Win %?

Those are his career averages, which is what you said he would "regress" to.

No, I think he'll go back to his average before this season.

This season was an anomoly.

I expect to see something like 2.45 GAA and .910 sv%

[Fighting Sioux 23]

Re: College Hockey Blog's "Extremely Early Preaseason Top 5"

Not really. The stats support my thesis.

So you think Milner will have a .926 save %, 1.95 GAA, and 81.7 Win %?

Those are his career averages, which is what you said he would "regress" to.