Minnesota Gophers 2022-23

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Obviously some people outside the fanbase are expecting big things to come from the tunnels this year. What does the fanbase think?

Wouldn't it be the tunnelers...Or maybe better yet, burrowers?

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/kind-r...den-94065.html

Regardless it seems like much of the fanbase has buried their heads in the sand. The only thing I have seen posted is that they will score but probably can't play defense for 60 minutes.

They should consider trading some of their forward depth for a couple of good defensemen or a goalie.

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Obviously some people outside the fanbase are expecting big things to come from the tunnels this year. What does the fanbase think?

This tiny percentage of the fan base thinks the Gophers have extravagantly talented forwards, some top end defenders but maybe not enough of them and promising but unproven goaltending.

They could be very good.

They could also be in a tight competition for third place in the conference.

[Steamboat]

Wouldn't it be the tunnelers...Or maybe better yet, burrowers?

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/kind-r...den-94065.html

Once again the fan forum proves to be an encyclopedia of information that may or may not prove to be vital to our future survival.

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Once again the fan forum proves to be an encyclopedia of information that may or may not prove to be vital to our future survival.

In the context of home gardening and potential food shortages...Maybe. I did like the phrase "soil reorganization". Maybe Tim could run with that.

[Timothy A]

Wouldn't it be the tunnelers...Or maybe better yet, burrowers?

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/kind-r...den-94065.html

Regardless it seems like much of the fanbase has buried their heads in the sand. The only thing I have seen posted is that they will score but probably can't play defense for 60 minutes.

They should consider trading some of their forward depth for a couple of good defensemen or a goalie.

WI has equal talent at F, superior talent at D and better coaching. Goaltending a push until we have data? WI > Tunnellers.

You use the tunnel to get to the burrow.

[ARM]

Goaltending a push until we have data?

Until we have data? At least UM has goalies who have played before. As for coaching, it isn't like you have Muzzy. Speaking from experience, Johnson is too busy sorting through Medicare options to spend any time figuring out how to fix a powerplay.

[Steamboat]

Until we have data? At least UM has goalies who have played before. As for coaching, it isn't like you have Muzzy. Speaking from experience, Johnson is too busy sorting through Medicare options to spend any time figuring out how to fix a powerplay.

Ouch! Is this pile on Timothy week? What next? Nadine Muzerall demonstrating illegal stick tactics on a Timothy A. voodoo dummy? What about it Timothy? How does the head feel?

[Timothy A]

speaking from experience, Johnson is too busy sorting through Medicare options to spend any time figuring out how to fix a powerplay.

Excellent post.

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Here is some pre-season ranking of goalie, defensemen, and forwards of (my) top 4 teams in the WCHA. Those 4 Teams in alphabetiacal order are Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.

Goalie:
1. OSU
2. UMD
3. UM
4. UW

Defensmen:
1. UW
2. OSU
3. UM
4. UMD

Forwards
1. UM
2. UW
3. OSU
4. UMD

Minnesota has 15 forwards and 2 swing players in Dunne and Franco. I honestly am at a loss as to how to set up lines (fortunately I don't have to figure that out). Do you keep last years first line intact with Heise, Skaja, and Boreen? That was a very dynamic line or do you put Heise with better finishers like Zumwinkle and/or Murphy. Is Peyton Hemp or Ella Huber your second line center and do the freshmen Bouveng and Kaiser have a shot at top 6 playing time? What kind of improvement, if any, might we see in Emma Conner and Sadie Lindsay?

So many questions that will be interesting to see how they get answered.

[ARM]

Here is some pre-season ranking of goalie, defensemen, and forwards of (my) top 4 teams in the WCHA. Those 4 Teams in alphabetiacal order are Minnesota, Minnesota-Duluth, Ohio State, and Wisconsin.

These teams are deep. When you start looking at teams that you have 3rd or 4th for D & F, UMD gets Bell and Flaherty back on the blue line. OSU adds Maltais and Webster to forwards that won the title and gets a lot of the key contributors back. Not saying that any of your rankings are wrong, but they are competitive rosters.

Is Murphy a better finisher than Boreen at this point? More sizzle, for sure, but I'm not sure she has demonstrated an edge at burying pucks. The key at UM for F will be how does Frost react when somebody who should be producing doesn't early on. Does he blow up combinations that click to try to jumpstart a big gun who is struggling? It's like trying to solve one of those slide puzzles when much of it is right but the last row is all backwards.

Even more important for the Gophs will be how he handles the goalies. Personally, I would rotate the top two until the NCAA Tournament or it becomes impossible to do so based on results. Let them determine who the starter is and stay out of the way. He's had teams in the past where the early goalie decisions didn't work out, like making the choice too soon, and poor goaltending ultimately contributed to the season ending.

[D2D]

Super excited for the season to start. Hope the players have worked hard during the off-season to build strength and endurance. They certainly have the talent to make this season a very memorable one. One that someday the players will fondly look back on, with great pride.

Can't wait! Drop the puck!

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

These teams are deep. When you start looking at teams that you have 3rd or 4th for D & F, UMD gets Bell and Flaherty back on the blue line. OSU adds Maltais and Webster to forwards that won the title and gets a lot of the key contributors back. Not saying that any of your rankings are wrong, but they are competitive rosters.

The top of the WCHA for this year is even better than last year so yes, very competitive rosters. Not much difference between 1 and 4.

Is Murphy a better finisher than Boreen at this point?

Yes. But maybe she is not the right fit with Heise. She played with Huber at Chicago Mission so could that be a possibility?

Even more important for the Gophs will be how he handles the goalies. Personally, I would rotate the top two until the NCAA Tournament or it becomes impossible to do so based on results. Let them determine who the starter is and stay out of the way. He's had teams in the past where the early goalie decisions didn't work out, like making the choice too soon, and poor goaltending ultimately contributed to the season ending.

I would guess that is how he handles them.

[ARM]

For the forwards, it seems like one of the key decisions will be whether or not Heise and Zumwinkle are reunited. If they are, then maybe Boreen completes that line. Personally, I'd be tempted to leave Heise's line from last year together, and see if Zum can find chemistry with other linemates like she did with Wente and Schammel. That's the best chance of creating 4 lines that can do damage, like what they had for most of 2018-19. Deep as they are, they're a little thin at center, in terms of whom was playing there most recently. If someone from Huber, Hemp, Murphy, or Bouveng can play in the middle, that gives them more options. AWeth seems like a versatile kid who can do anything that you ask her to do, but that would seem to be more of a checking line. Heise, Oden, and a bunch of question marks. Boreen used to play center, but that was a long time ago.

[D2D]

Gophers get underway this Friday with an exhibition game against Manitoba. Looking at their exhibition results [ https://gobisons.ca/sports/womens-ic...hedule/2022-23 ] so far this year I don't expect the home team to have any trouble putting the puck in the net. We'll know more as to what to expect after they take on the Mavs in Mankato the night before.

[OldDave]

If someone from Huber, Hemp, Murphy, or Bouveng can play in the middle, that gives them more options.

Bouveng was listed as a C in the Olympics and certainly took enough faceoffs to justify the listing. You could have the PKaz line (Heise, Skaja and Boreen) and the Olympian line (Bouveng, Zumwinkle and Murphy) to start, with nine more forwards to fill out the last two lines.