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2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
- Thread starter JDUBBS1280
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JDUBBS1280
MN Hockey Enthusiast
gopher wes
Dammit, Gorilla!!
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
While I don't disagree with the Thompson bashing, I am wondering why Marshall doesn't get called out more. I would have sat him for Thompson instead of Parenteau. I think Parenteau has looked good this year while Marshall seems to be regressing a little.....actually a lot with all the turnovers in the neutral zone and getting twisted up defensively in the Gophers' end.
While I don't disagree with the Thompson bashing, I am wondering why Marshall doesn't get called out more. I would have sat him for Thompson instead of Parenteau. I think Parenteau has looked good this year while Marshall seems to be regressing a little.....actually a lot with all the turnovers in the neutral zone and getting twisted up defensively in the Gophers' end.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
Agree. Marshall is best when he moves the puck quickly. He keeps trying to be fancy with his constant spins to try and shake the attacker. I'm sure it worked great in high school, but it's not working anymore at this level, especially when he does it ALL THE *ING TIME! Does he think these teams haven't seen tape of that move? Is it any wonder he's regressing? Everyone now knows that move and as result he's getting turned over more and more. He loses the puck at the offensive blue line, in his own zone and in the neutral zone. Just look for the lane and make the simple, short pass, don't make a move every dam time you handle the puck!
Agree. Marshall is best when he moves the puck quickly. He keeps trying to be fancy with his constant spins to try and shake the attacker. I'm sure it worked great in high school, but it's not working anymore at this level, especially when he does it ALL THE *ING TIME! Does he think these teams haven't seen tape of that move? Is it any wonder he's regressing? Everyone now knows that move and as result he's getting turned over more and more. He loses the puck at the offensive blue line, in his own zone and in the neutral zone. Just look for the lane and make the simple, short pass, don't make a move every dam time you handle the puck!
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
Marshall seems to be either very good or very bad. Doesn't seem to be much in between. Parenteau seems to be more solid defensively but doesn't provide the offensive spark that Marshall typically does. I have no idea what's up with Thompson. Now I wonder what he has over Student.
Marshall seems to be either very good or very bad. Doesn't seem to be much in between. Parenteau seems to be more solid defensively but doesn't provide the offensive spark that Marshall typically does. I have no idea what's up with Thompson. Now I wonder what he has over Student.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
About 5" and 51 lbs. 5'-9" and 175 vs 6'-2" and 216.
About 5" and 51 lbs. 5'-9" and 175 vs 6'-2" and 216.
HoosierBBall_GopherHockey
New member
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
Does Student have 50 IQ points over Thompson? He must not or my guess is Lucia would put in someone Kevin Wehrs' size over 6'2" 216.
Does Student have 50 IQ points over Thompson? He must not or my guess is Lucia would put in someone Kevin Wehrs' size over 6'2" 216.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
Good question. Did Student play much before he transferred here? I know it's an honor just to have a jersey with your name on it but it might be a little difficult coming here knowing you'd be a scratch week after week.
Good question. Did Student play much before he transferred here? I know it's an honor just to have a jersey with your name on it but it might be a little difficult coming here knowing you'd be a scratch week after week.
Gphrpkhead
New member
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
Student is exactly what his name implies. He is here because of the education. MN has been known to have roster guys like that who are so/so players, but are here for the scholarships. Kind of like Chad Roberg from a few years ago.
Thompson has size, but it is the space between his ears that is lacking. I have read much of the thread about Thompson's hit (head, shoulder, chest, etc.). Bottom line, don't put yourself in a position to have the refs have to make that call. The minute you decide to extend your hands through the hit, you run the risk of contacting that player in the head (intentional or not). Thompson seems to have the size to be a good player, but sure puts himself in some bad positions. This is easily evidenced by his lack of playing time. Can't have a risky player on the ice that will consistently put you down a man.
Student is exactly what his name implies. He is here because of the education. MN has been known to have roster guys like that who are so/so players, but are here for the scholarships. Kind of like Chad Roberg from a few years ago.
Thompson has size, but it is the space between his ears that is lacking. I have read much of the thread about Thompson's hit (head, shoulder, chest, etc.). Bottom line, don't put yourself in a position to have the refs have to make that call. The minute you decide to extend your hands through the hit, you run the risk of contacting that player in the head (intentional or not). Thompson seems to have the size to be a good player, but sure puts himself in some bad positions. This is easily evidenced by his lack of playing time. Can't have a risky player on the ice that will consistently put you down a man.
Gphrpkhead
New member
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
And I agree about Parenteau. Probably the biggest surprise of the season. Seems to play his position well. Uses his size and stick without taking penalties and still moving the players around. Even had a solid offensive rush on Friday night that allowed for a completed line change. Interesting decision to sit him!? And Marshall is just a freshman. He will make mistakes. Ness looked lost during his freshman year too! I think Marshall just needs to continue to get playing time and it will come around for him. Or he will just Cade Fairchild his way through 4 years!
And I agree about Parenteau. Probably the biggest surprise of the season. Seems to play his position well. Uses his size and stick without taking penalties and still moving the players around. Even had a solid offensive rush on Friday night that allowed for a completed line change. Interesting decision to sit him!? And Marshall is just a freshman. He will make mistakes. Ness looked lost during his freshman year too! I think Marshall just needs to continue to get playing time and it will come around for him. Or he will just Cade Fairchild his way through 4 years!
Gphrpkhead
New member
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
I think with Marshall, is when he does make a mistake, it's very glaring and creates a somewhat easy scoring opportunity for the opponents, so it stands out more.
I think with Marshall, is when he does make a mistake, it's very glaring and creates a somewhat easy scoring opportunity for the opponents, so it stands out more.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
In regards to sitting Marshall or Parenteau:
Marshall has made some bad mistakes/looked lost at times, but you can't deny he has more talent and tools in his toolbox than nearly any other Dman in the WCHA. For him, it's going to be figuring out how to play solid D and making those talents work for him consistently. He definitely struggles in the areas of the game that don't include the puck being on his stick. But, those are areas that can be learned. The way he skates and handles the puck can't be learned to the same extent. Sitting Marshall over Parenteau may yield fewer defensive miscues, but it will also yield fewer offensive surges and hinder transition from zone to zone.
Lucia has been pretty consistent over his tenure in letting the young talented guys get as much experience as possible. The argument could be made that sitting those guys every now and then is a good way to send a message about needing to take the less "sexy" aspects of the game more seriously; but then again, it may have a negative effect on confidence.
At any rate, I think it's hard to argue that playing Parenteau over Marshall will give the Gophers a better chance to win an individual game. Some of that depends on the opponent, of course, but Marshall is also part of a PP unit meaning sitting him disrupts more than just a single defensive pairing.
Not to mention, I think it's clear that MN prefers to play an open, attacking style this year as opposed to a more fundamentally sound and defensive style. Marshall gives them more of what they are looking for.
In regards to sitting Marshall or Parenteau:
Marshall has made some bad mistakes/looked lost at times, but you can't deny he has more talent and tools in his toolbox than nearly any other Dman in the WCHA. For him, it's going to be figuring out how to play solid D and making those talents work for him consistently. He definitely struggles in the areas of the game that don't include the puck being on his stick. But, those are areas that can be learned. The way he skates and handles the puck can't be learned to the same extent. Sitting Marshall over Parenteau may yield fewer defensive miscues, but it will also yield fewer offensive surges and hinder transition from zone to zone.
Lucia has been pretty consistent over his tenure in letting the young talented guys get as much experience as possible. The argument could be made that sitting those guys every now and then is a good way to send a message about needing to take the less "sexy" aspects of the game more seriously; but then again, it may have a negative effect on confidence.
At any rate, I think it's hard to argue that playing Parenteau over Marshall will give the Gophers a better chance to win an individual game. Some of that depends on the opponent, of course, but Marshall is also part of a PP unit meaning sitting him disrupts more than just a single defensive pairing.
Not to mention, I think it's clear that MN prefers to play an open, attacking style this year as opposed to a more fundamentally sound and defensive style. Marshall gives them more of what they are looking for.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
I agree with a lot of what you put in your post about Parenteau and Marshall before this one, but not so much this one. While he didn't live up to the high expectation placed on him, and took a couple years to get there, Ness was the most consistent and smartest D on the Gophs last year. (Although I wouldn't describe Marshall as looking 'lost', very often. It is more miscues with the puck that stand out, or just an occasional defensive gaffe.)
And Lucia defended Thompson on the radio tonight saying he played well. I didn't necessarily like the way he looked last time. One time making a hit he didn't have to that ended in a questionable call (also thanks to the guy falling forward into the hit) shouldn't be the sole basis for judging his play.
I agree with a lot of what you put in your post about Parenteau and Marshall before this one, but not so much this one. While he didn't live up to the high expectation placed on him, and took a couple years to get there, Ness was the most consistent and smartest D on the Gophs last year. (Although I wouldn't describe Marshall as looking 'lost', very often. It is more miscues with the puck that stand out, or just an occasional defensive gaffe.)
And Lucia defended Thompson on the radio tonight saying he played well. I didn't necessarily like the way he looked last time. One time making a hit he didn't have to that ended in a questionable call (also thanks to the guy falling forward into the hit) shouldn't be the sole basis for judging his play.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
Isaakson played a decent game, and got himself into position for several scoring chances. Looked better than he has. Nice to have guys in the wing who are hungry to prove themselves and have enough skill to make a dangerous 4th line.
Isaakson played a decent game, and got himself into position for several scoring chances. Looked better than he has. Nice to have guys in the wing who are hungry to prove themselves and have enough skill to make a dangerous 4th line.
Re: 2011-12 Minnesota Season Thread (Pride On Ice Returns!)
I agree with you on Ness. He became a pretty solid defensive defenseman by the end of last year. And just think about how improved his offensive numbers would have looked with the scoring ability of guys like Bjugstad and Rau this year.
I wasn't pleased with much of Thompson's play Saturday, outside of what I thought was a really stupid decision on the misconduct penalty.
He was chasing around behind the net quite a bit and taking some pretty poor angles. Those things would probably improve with increased game time, but as it stands he didn't acquit himself very well.
And that penalty was really stupid. It's one thing if you're a daily guy and happen to make that play, but when you (likely) put yourself in the doghouse for taking too many and over-the-top penalties, that is just a hit you do NOT make.
I agree with you on Ness. He became a pretty solid defensive defenseman by the end of last year. And just think about how improved his offensive numbers would have looked with the scoring ability of guys like Bjugstad and Rau this year.
I wasn't pleased with much of Thompson's play Saturday, outside of what I thought was a really stupid decision on the misconduct penalty.
He was chasing around behind the net quite a bit and taking some pretty poor angles. Those things would probably improve with increased game time, but as it stands he didn't acquit himself very well.
And that penalty was really stupid. It's one thing if you're a daily guy and happen to make that play, but when you (likely) put yourself in the doghouse for taking too many and over-the-top penalties, that is just a hit you do NOT make.
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