My thoughts on the upcoming season and so forth:
The goaltending is just fine. I mean, Big Sam is as quality as anything we have had basically ever in my time (which is 30ish years) and Olki is like striking gold on an almost blind dig, plus Murray is more capable and more experienced than any other third-stringer we could ever hope for.
Unlike a few years ago, when we had Chevy and his lone start as our whole entire goaltender experience...
The defense will be as good as any group I have witnessed...I really fail to recall any top four as gifted as Makowski(granted his return to full health), Phillips, LaLeggia and Mayfield. Then you add in Didier (a top 4 in mostly any other year), the new Mermis and a Travis Zajac...We are looking at whole group of excellent collegiate defensemen. My educated understanding is that Murray Armstrong focused on having a core of stud d-men as the basis of his championship teams. I would think he would be at least somewhat proud in the core that Gwoz has assembled for us to witness next season. We have guys who, while still focusing on their proper role of defense, can also move the puck and contribute mightily to the offense.
Obviously, the offense is our question mark. Yet, what would you rather have -- Questionable offense or questionable defense (goaltending)? I would personally prefer to see a team with a wall of a defense with great goaltending -- and proper team-play -- than the polar opposite. We got took out by Ferris in the NCAA's, which was a team that had the proper team-play mixed with superb defense; basically the formula with which we captured our back-to-backs. I see a DU team whose offense won't get worn down because the certain stars are out there every other shift...we will have a balanced attack and might actually roll four lines for the first time in years. I think we will have a solid, yet unspectacular offense which will have a unique balance which is what actually was a major key to our success which has gone away the last few years.
All-in-all, I truly believe our program thrives when underrated and has a tendency to tank when we are supposed to thrive. I'm not sure why, but I'm not here to decide why
Personally, I think we will have another top-half finish (which many years of recent history dictate) and will make some unexpected noise at the proper time come March/late March/early April....GO DU!!!!....
