Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

[SteveO]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Supremes. What I had before, but I had a pair from the pre-molded plastic days, so the stiffness is hard to get used to. And I figured out that the new blades, with almost no rocker was part of the issue too. Been having them take some off the ends of the blades to get more rocker and things are improving. It was so bad I felt like I couldn't stickhandle because I actually had to concentrate on skating. Think I had a fall each of the first three times I played in them, including a blueline trip on a partial breakaway for everyone to see. It is getting better though.

Sounds like you may have had the 10' runner profile and rockered it to 9'? Bauer LS3 and LS4 runners both have a 10' profile. The LS2 and Fusion are 9'. You may want to drop the radius down to a 5/8" from a 1/2" for less bite too.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

I don't think they have as much talent as the top teams in the country, but I also don't think they are middle of the pack or lower, in the country either.

All positions considered I think talent-wise the Gophers ARE middle-of-the-pack, held down due to a sub-par D-core where with 2.60 Goals Per Game they currently rank 25th. But their ranking would undoubtedly be lower if were it not for Mat Robson, who ranks 12th in the country in SV% (.928). His stellar goaltending has bailed the team out time and time again.

The team is also middle-of-the-pack offensively with a GPG average of 2.67 for a rank of 34th best in the country - definitely below average. And the team currently doesn't have any individual players in the Top 75 in points per game. With 14 points in 15 games (.9333 Pts/GP) our top scorer (Rem Pitlick) is 76th. So it's hard to argue that offensively the team's talent level is better than middle-of-the-pack. We can disagree how you define the term but the numbers - other than goaltending - are saying average.

The good news, I think, is that team is showing improvement, and the way they played this last series is encouraging. Hopefully the positive trend will continue in the 2nd half.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

All positions considered I think talent-wise the Gophers ARE middle-of-the-pack, held down due to a sub-par D-core where with 2.60 Goals Per Game they currently rank 25th. But their ranking would undoubtedly be lower if were it not for Mat Robson, who ranks 12th in the country in SV% (.928). His stellar goaltending has bailed the team out time and time again.

The team is also middle-of-the-pack offensively with a GPG average of 2.67 for a rank of 34th best in the country - definitely below average. And the team currently doesn't have any individual players in the Top 75 in points per game. With 14 points in 15 games (.9333 Pts/GP) our top scorer (Rem Pitlick) is 76th. So it's hard to argue that offensively the team's talent level is better than middle-of-the-pack. We can disagree how you define the term but the numbers - other than goaltending - are saying average.

The good news, I think, is that team is showing improvement, and the way they played this last series is encouraging. Hopefully the positive trend will continue in the 2nd half.

Only 3 of our 8 defense have completed a single season. Yet 11 of our 15 forwards have completed a year and over half are upperclassmen.

We have super young defense that's actually performing better than our veteran offense. Still don't understand why posters mischaracterize the teams failings as bad defense.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Do you watch the games? The defense sucks. If they can't start a rush or execute breakouts of course the forwards will struggle more than usual.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Only 3 of our 8 defense have completed a single season. Yet 11 of our 15 forwards have completed a year and over half are upperclassmen.

We have super young defense that's actually performing better than our veteran offense. Still don't understand why posters mischaracterize the teams failings as bad defense.

Yes, the D is very young and inexperienced. And there's no question that their youth - along with the forwards failing to consistently help out on D - has contributed to many of the breakdowns. But it is what it is; their youth has contributed to many of the types of mistakes that they've been making. One would hope that a good number of those mistakes won't happen as they gain experience.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Do you watch the games? The defense sucks. If they can't start a rush or execute breakouts of course the forwards will struggle more than usual.

Not to mention Motzko has basically said this. I think 5MM think defense only plays D and their only goal is to keep pucks out of their own net. He's basically confusing Dmen with goalies.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Do you watch the games? The defense sucks. If they can't start a rush or execute breakouts of course the forwards will struggle more than usual.

5 of the 8 defensemen are technically freshmen. Nobody seems to be taking that into account...and mischaracterizing them as bad hockey players.

Our overall team is not that young...its that our veteran leadership is just loaded at the forward position. Now with 3 forwards for every 2 defensemen, they need to act like it.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Not to mention Motzko has basically said this.

If Motzko is positioning the D as bad hockey players rather than young hockey players - he's doing a serious disservice to MN fans and the players themselves.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

UMD had 5 freshmen and a sophomore and won the championship.

I like how Bob doesn't sugar coat it.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

If Motzko is positioning the D as bad hockey players rather than young hockey players - he's doing a serious disservice to MN fans and the players themselves.

Uh no, they've been collectively bad and he's right.

5 of the 8 defensemen are technically freshmen. Nobody seems to be taking that into account...and mischaracterizing them as bad hockey players.

Our overall team is not that young...its that our veteran leadership is just loaded at the forward position. Now with 3 forwards for every 2 defensemen, they need to act like it.

Uh no there are 3 freshmen D and even if you label Phillips a freshman (he's a sophomore) that still doesn't add up. Not to mention we're rolling with 3 upper classmen every night, not 4 freshmen. And Stucker has played in like 1 game, Denman has been on and off, Brinkman is the only one playing consistently. Obviously Phillips and Brinkman are young and there's some reason for optimism with the latter but unless Phillips does a complete 180 he's a bust.

They have some young guys back there but Sadek is maybe the best Dman on this team right now and that says a lot.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

When I took my buddy (defenseman) to a game this year he asked which D to watch and I just said none lol. Brinkman because of what he could become, but otherwise by the end of the game he agreed.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

All positions considered I think talent-wise the Gophers ARE middle-of-the-pack, held down due to a sub-par D-core where with 2.60 Goals Per Game they currently rank 25th. But their ranking would undoubtedly be lower if were it not for Mat Robson, who ranks 12th in the country in SV% (.928). His stellar goaltending has bailed the team out time and time again.

The team is also middle-of-the-pack offensively with a GPG average of 2.67 for a rank of 34th best in the country - definitely below average. And the team currently doesn't have any individual players in the Top 75 in points per game. With 14 points in 15 games (.9333 Pts/GP) our top scorer (Rem Pitlick) is 76th. So it's hard to argue that offensively the team's talent level is better than middle-of-the-pack. We can disagree how you define the term but the numbers - other than goaltending - are saying average.

The good news, I think, is that team is showing improvement, and the way they played this last series is encouraging. Hopefully the positive trend will continue in the 2nd half.

A team that has middle-of-the-pack stats can be a middle-of-the-pack team performing as expected, or can be a more talented team that is not playing up to their potential. Poor stats don't always mean a lack of talent. When you look at college hockey as a whole, there are a lot of teams without a lot of talent, so saying there are more teams that are less talented than teams that are more talented than the Gophs isn't saying they are great. I agree that the D is the weakest spot, and I think the D play has contributed to the forwards not playing to their potential. I think Robson has probably played at an elite level compared to most college goalies. And from my observation, the forwards haven't applied themselves as much as they could, and a number of them are definitely skilled players. (Doesn't MN have one of the highest numbers of drafted players in the country?) My point is, I don't believe this team is playing to their potential based on the combined potential of all the skill on the team. I don't think they are a top five team in skill, by any means, but they should be able to beat a majority of the teams in the country and give the top teams a challenge based on more than just having Robson stand on his head as 100 shots are fired his way. And mediocre stats is just as likely to be an indication of my point as it is that the team is made up of a majority of players that have turned out to be considerably less talented than all the college and NHL scouts thought they were. Hopefully the talent is there and it will start to come together in the second half. It just seems like we've been on a year and a half ride of very inconsistent play.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Uh no, they've been collectively bad and he's right.

Uh no there are 3 freshmen D and even if you label Phillips a freshman (he's a sophomore) that still doesn't add up. Not to mention we're rolling with 3 upper classmen every night, not 4 freshmen. And Stucker has played in like 1 game, Denman has been on and off, Brinkman is the only one playing consistently. Obviously Phillips and Brinkman are young and there's some reason for optimism with the latter but unless Phillips does a complete 180 he's a bust.

They have some young guys back there but Sadek is maybe the best Dman on this team right now and that says a lot.

At this stage, Phillips and Rossini haven't played a full season yet. They're basically red shirt freshmen to add to the other three true freshmen.

UMD had 5 freshmen and a sophomore and won the championship.

Thank you. Forwards are fully capable of carrying the load. No more excuses.

Anyone want to make a bet that a year from now our defense will be much better? Outside of our couple of freshmen, will a year of seasoning collectively make our forwards better? I'd bet against that. One group needs games under its belt. The other has plenty of games under its belt.

 

[trixR4kids]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

A team that has middle-of-the-pack stats can be a middle-of-the-pack team performing as expected, or can be a more talented team that is not playing up to their potential.

Or a bad team that's overachieving, which given the results of the last 4 games and how badly we got out-played seems about right.

Thank you. Forwards are fully capable of carrying the load. No more excuses.

That's clearly not what he's saying lol. Duluth won/is winning on the back of the best blue line in the country most of which were freshmen last year.

 

[gopher wes]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Anyone want to make a bet that a year from now our defense will be much better? Outside of our couple of freshmen, will a year of seasoning collectively make our forwards better? I'd bet against that. One group needs games under its belt. The other has plenty of games under its belt.

Well, I'd argue the defensemen can't be much worse a year from now. I agree with getting games under their belt. Which, for as much as I've been down on Phillips and Brinkman, is why I'd be very much against Novak moving to D in place of one of those two guys.

Hard to say on the forwards. If Walker can find a finishing touch to go with that speed, he could certainly improve from this year to next. We've seen flashes from Ranta. Going to lose a few anchors to graduation which, again, can't make them much worse.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Well, I'd argue the defensemen can't be much worse a year from now. I agree with getting games under their belt. Which, for as much as I've been down on Phillips and Brinkman, is why I'd be very much against Novak moving to D in place of one of those two guys.

Hard to say on the forwards. If Walker can find a finishing touch to go with that speed, he could certainly improve from this year to next. We've seen flashes from Ranta. Going to lose a few anchors to graduation which, again, can't make them much worse.

Check my post. I did exclude freshmen forwards. They are just like the vast majority of our defense - just plain green.

The offense outside of those 4 will not be better next year - how far the four freshmen forwards and very young defense progress will determine what this team looks like next year.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Holding on to a coach multiple seasons too many left a program that usually reloads in a multi year rebuild.

 

[5mn_Major]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Holding on to a coach multiple seasons too many left a program that usually reloads in a multi year rebuild.

Yep.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

Or a bad team that's overachieving, which given the results of the last 4 games and how badly we got out-played seems about right.
That's clearly not what he's saying lol. Duluth won/is winning on the back of the best blue line in the country most of which were freshmen last year.

1. Or as he noted a team that is under-achieving. We'll see how it plays out
2. That UMD team returned a hell of a lot of talent

But anyway no reason for optimism season is over.

 

[gopher wes]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-19: The Motzko Era Begins!

But anyway no reason for optimism season is over.

Yeah, that's exactly what he said. lol