Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Could have used him this year...but will be a good patch as this year's crop matures and until the Wait, Middlestadt, Reedy group gets on the ice.

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Wait will be in next year.

[Happy]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Suggestion for your new AD.

it would be better than your new nickname.

[Slap Shot]

it would be better than your new nickname.

Awwwww snap!

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

I guess we can stop worrying if Austin Matthews will play for a rival, or secretly wishing he will have an epiphany that leading the Gophers to an NC is his destiny.

So has a projected number one pick from North America ever chosen Europe before?

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Nope

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

As many points as Kloos in less games. Sounds good to me. Not a big guy but should be a big contributor. Nice to get a guy who has proven he can play at this level versus the crap shoot of getting a guy who might have trouble adjusting.

He has a year to adjust and retrofit into Lucia's non-aggressive, puck possession offense which is different from Madigan's NU systems of physicality and an unrelenting backcheck. We'll see if that adjustment works for him and doesn't clip his wings. Most of his goals were typically deep inside the circles and he's relentless in storming the net. With Lucia's systems, IMO we don't storm often enough.

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

https://twitter.com/GopherHole/statu...44714136014848

Duluth News Tribune: Family ties: Grand Rapids' McLaughlin commits to Minnesota #Gophers hockey #PrideOnIce http://ow.ly/R4Kiv

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

https://twitter.com/GopherHole/statu...44714136014848

Duluth News Tribune: Family ties: Grand Rapids' McLaughlin commits to Minnesota #Gophers hockey #PrideOnIce http://ow.ly/R4Kiv

It was mentioned in this morning's Star Tribune...says he played Bantams last season? He must have a lot of promise!

[joecct]

It was mentioned in this morning's Star Tribune...says he played Bantams last season? He must have a lot of promise!

Isn't it rare for a Minnesota kid to commit this early? IIRC most wait until their junior year in HS.

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Not really anymore. Mittelstadt hadn't played a HS shift when he committed last year.

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Not really anymore, as in most are committing by the age 16?

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

I guess it was a combination of the two. It's not rare for someone to commit before the end of his junior year.

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

I guess it was a combination of the two. It's not rare for someone to commit before the end of his junior year.

Some might have argued that he was the third best player on that Bantam team. (Although by the end of the year, a lot of people were talking about him.)

Gavin Hain was named Bantam of the year last year. http://www.youthhockeyhub.com/news_a...rer_id=1008936

Zach Stejskal, in 2014, won a goalie of the year award from MN Hockey which apparently is for all goalies below the high school level. http://www.youthhockeyhub.com/news_a...rrer_id=967184

With the sophomores above playing varsity this year, with seniors Mitch Mattson (UND), Adams and Bischoff (both D1 potential), and potential Junior D1'ers in Stampohar and Miller, this should be a team to watch this year. Oh yeah, and the new head coach is Trent Klatt. I have a feeling we'll be seeing a recruiting visit or two from the Gophs and others this year.

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Gophers Off Season Thread 2015

Isn't it rare for a Minnesota kid to commit this early? IIRC most wait until their junior year in HS.

I'm on the side of Jerry York, Red and other coaches on this issue. The D1 college hockey recruiting wars are pernicious and NOT in the best interest of these young kids. I doubt whether a 14-15 year old can make an informed decision about his college hockey future without a lot of other voices telling him what to do. Stockpiling kids before they play a high school game is a sign that the NCAA D1 "gentleman's agreement" needs to be thrown out. The reality is there is no statistical external validity to forecast a kid's developmental curve. If a kid agrees to play at such a young age and doesn't develop as expected he'll inevitably be dumped. IMO getting back to recruiting older HS players and placing more emphasis on honoring the LOI will bring sanity back into the recruiting picture.