Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

"[The players] are doing the things we are asking them to do," Don Lucia said. "You can see the hurt in the locker room. There is no reward."

So Coach Lucia believes his players are responding and giving a solid 100%. Okay I can respect that. There is still not enough scoring talent and the players don't know their roles on the team.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Time for the benediction. There's still a lot of hockey left, but for all practical purposes the Gophers have all but locked up 7th place. FWIW, I don't think it's even realistic to think this team will do anything significant this year. A F5 win or an NCAA bid is basically out of reach. Statistically, the probability is low for either. Watching these guys as a team from week to week doesn't cast any doubt on that either.

For those who still hold out hope for a F5 win, more power to ya.

I venture to predict that Lucia will stay on for a few reasons (mostly financial) until the end of his contract in 2012. That means potentially more of the same unless significant changes in recruiting, coaching, systems, and discipline are installed. There is no excuse for a program of this caliber to see this kind of consistent ineptitude. I'd like to see Hill go and Grant needs more training to coach at this level, but who knows how that will play out, if any change happens at all.

 

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Time for the benediction. There's still a lot of hockey left, but for all practical purposes the Gophers have all but locked up 7th place. FWIW, I don't think it's even realistic to think this team will do anything significant this year. A F5 win or an NCAA bid is basically out of reach. Statistically, the probability is low for either. Watching these guys as a team from week to week doesn't cast any doubt on that either.

For those who still hold out hope for a F5 win, more power to ya.

I venture to predict that Lucia will stay on for a few reasons (mostly financial) until the end of his contract in 2012. That means potentially more of the same unless significant changes in recruiting, coaching, systems, and discipline are installed. There is no excuse for a program of this caliber to see this kind of consistent ineptitude. I'd like to see Hill go and Grant needs more training to coach at this level, but who knows how that will play out, if any change happens at all.

I don't think it is the assistant coaching. They need to recruit different players who can score goals.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I don't think it is the assistant coaching. They need to recruit different players who can score goals.

IMHO the entire coaching staff not just asst. is partially to blame for this mess. Changes in recruiting strategy is only one area where change is needed. Moreover, we have premium recruits as it is (Mr. Hockeys, NHL draft choices) who were brought in to score goals (i.e. Hansen, Carmen, Budish, Birkholz, etc.) and have failed to live up to expectations. No one in this league has more NHL draft choices.

Please let's not sugarcoat this disaster. If this was football, the clamor for change at the coaching level would be deafening. I suspect as they cruise through the rest of the season with a loss here and a tie there, the voice of disdain will get louder.

It's one thing to say the players are doing what we ask them to do and it's another to have the charisma and vision to inspire a team to a championship. I question now whether Lucia still has that ability based upon this and previous underachieving seasons. I'm not about to pick each asst. and Lucia apart here, but there are several seasons now of poor results, defections and disconnects between the coaches and players. Coaches must be held accountable and not be allowed to cruise on the laurels of past successes.

This program needs to be revamped top to bottom if they want to be a contender for an NCAA championship, period. If money was not a problem, this might be Lucia's last season.

 

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

IMHO the entire coaching staff not just asst. is partially to blame for this mess. Changes in recruiting strategy is only one area where change is needed. Moreover, we have premium recruits as it is (Mr. Hockeys, NHL draft choices) who were brought in to score goals (i.e. Hansen, Carmen, Budish, Birkholz, etc.) and have failed to live up to expectations. No one in this league has more NHL draft choices.

Please let's not sugarcoat this disaster. If this was football, the clamor for change at the coaching level would be deafening. I suspect as they cruise through the rest of the season with a loss here and a tie there, the voice of disdain will get louder.

It's one thing to say the players are doing what we ask them to do and it's another to have the charisma and vision to inspire a team to a championship. I question now whether Lucia still has that ability based upon this and previous underachieving seasons. I'm not about to pick each asst. and Lucia apart here, but there are several seasons now of poor results, defections and disconnects between the coaches and players. Coaches must be held accountable and not be allowed to cruise on the laurels of past successes.

This program needs to be revamped top to bottom if they want to be a contender for an NCAA championship, period. If money was not a problem, this might be Lucia's last season.

I will not disagree. The thing here is the Don Lucia has multi years left on this deal. Unless the boosters pony up and pay off the rest of the deal only then will coach Lucia be asked for the door. Otherwise we are stuck with him and his staff.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I will not disagree. The thing here is the Don Lucia has multi years left on this deal. Unless the boosters pony up and pay off the rest of the deal only then will coach Lucia be asked for the door. Otherwise we are stuck with him and his staff.

Yeah that's the bad news. I've held off passing judgment until now, but I would really like to see a coach come in with some fire in his belly with something to prove, make some major changes in their archaic systems, recruit smart and turn this program around. This program needs to continue be held to a high standard. Gopher constituencies and fans expect nothing less.

EDIT:

I'm going to guess and say that unless they get this program on track, the UMN stands to loose cash at the gate next year anyway.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Yeah that's the bad news. I've held off passing judgment until now, but I would really like to see a coach come in with some fire in his belly with something to prove, make some major changes in their archaic systems, recruit smart and turn this program around. This program needs to continue be held to a high standard. Gopher constituencies and fans expect nothing less.

I thought he was starting to bring in more grinders, and less one-and-dones, but maybe I was wrong.

Honestly, if half the team were tDon2s, and the other half were Cepis's.....we'd be in 4th about now. Maybe higher. The hustle, heart, and scoring would all improve. As well as the D, but that's not saying much on that angle.

 

[4four4]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Yeah that's the bad news. I've held off passing judgment until now, but I would really like to see a coach come in with some fire in his belly with something to prove, make some major changes in their archaic systems, recruit smart and turn this program around. This program needs to continue be held to a high standard. Gopher constituencies and fans expect nothing less.

The last few years reminds me of when Woog became tired of coaching the Gophers. Well he never did actually coach at practice his assistants did all that work. Back to Lucia he needs to find guys who can put the pcuk in the net.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I thought he was starting to bring in more grinders, and less one-and-dones, but maybe I was wrong.

Honestly, if half the team were tDon2s, and the other half were Cepis's.....we'd be in 4th about now. Maybe higher. The hustle, heart, and scoring would all improve. As well as the D, but that's not saying much on that angle.

The thing I admire about you Brent, is your a loyal Gopher fan to the bitter end. But let's face it, recruiting the right players is a bit if a science today and right formula is tough to find thanks in part to the NHLPA. However, I look at guys like Hansen, if you look at what he did as a top 5 goal scorer in the USHL, it's shocking compared to what he has done as a Gopher--zilch! Same with Carmen, White, even Miller for that matter was a good captain and scored consistently in the USHL. What happened?

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

The thing I admire about you Brent, is your a loyal Gopher fan to the bitter end. But let's face it, recruiting the right players is a bit if a science today and right formula is tough to find thanks in part to the NHLPA. However, I look at guys like Hansen, if you look at what he did as a top 5 goal scorer in the USHL, it's shocking compared to what he has done as a Gopher--zilch! Same with Carmen, White, even Miller for that matter was a good captain and scored consistently in the USHL. What happened?

IMO? Chemisty is the main reason (there are other reasons, obviously). In the past, we got the best players, and they learned to meld into their role. Now? No one knows what their role is, either they try and do it all, or they all make that extra pass to each other trying to be the setup man or whatever, and end up not finishing.

It's discombulated. Last week, they did little wrong. They showed what they can be. This week? I'd have a better chance of scoring with Eliza Dushku.

Edit: I'm a Bills, Devils, Twins fan. I know the bitter end, for the most part.

 

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Edit: I'm a Bills, Devils, Twins fan. I know the bitter end, for the most part.

Tell your Twins to quit beating up on my Brewers every May and June.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Tell your Twins to quit beating up on my Brewers every May and June.

No, because you are a poopyhead.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

So Coach Lucia believes his players are responding and giving a solid 100%. Okay I can respect that. There is still not enough scoring talent and the players don't know their roles on the team.

Isn't it up to the coaches to determine what role(s) the people on the roster will have? Isn't this why there are these things called "practices"? Shouldn't Lucia et al know what they have at this point and assign roles accordingly?

To me, this team looks like it has one line + Hoeffel. Beyond that, it's a team of grinders that can't finish to save its *'ing life.

Defensively, they continue to have problems covering guys in the slot and make really idiotic plays with the puck (way too many feeble passes became turnovers this weekend). I think a lot of this is mental - it's not like they were pressured that much when they turned the puck over - many of those poor plays were unforced errors.

So the bottom line is they don't have enough skilled forwards who can finish off plays, and they have a defense that is often mentally not there. As for getting rid of Lucia, while buying him out would cost a substantial sum of money, it's not that much when compared with what they ate to get rid of Monson and Mason. Plus this must be weighed against the fact that the hockey program will become less profitable if the team continues to struggle. Going on the road in the first round 2 out of 3 seasons is going to cost the program a substantial amount of money. That's two (possibly three) home dates p*ssed away.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Defensively, they continue to have problems covering guys in the slot and make really idiotic plays with the puck (way too many feeble passes became turnovers this weekend). I think a lot of this is mental - it's not like they were pressured that much when they turned the puck over - many of those poor plays were unforced errors.

I said tonight, if Wehrs/Fischer would just at least get in the guy's way, they'd improve greatly. They don't have to actually do anything, just stand in their way.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

They aren't bright enough to do that, sadly.

Although Wehrs had no problem whatsoever seeing the numbers on the back of somebody's jersey and promptly shoving him headfirst into the end boards.

Wehrs and Fischer should be benched for the remainder of the season unless one of the remaining D-men gets hurt. Even then I'd be reluctant to play either one of them.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

They aren't bright enough to do that, sadly.

Although Wehrs had no problem whatsoever seeing the numbers on the back of somebody's jersey and promptly shoving him headfirst into the end boards.

Wehrs and Fischer should be benched for the remainder of the season unless one of the remaining D-men gets hurt. Even then I'd be reluctant to play either one of them.

After that CFB:

SCSU Euro: Hey, you're down another D-man!
Brenthoven: Actually, we're up one.
SCSU Euro: Okay, yeah, you're right.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

After that CFB:

SCSU Euro: Hey, you're down another D-man!
Brenthoven: Actually, we're up one.
SCSU Euro: Okay, yeah, you're right.

I said in the score update thread that I hoped Fischer would take a CFB too.

soh is drunk and ticked. This isn't a good combination.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Isn't it up to the coaches to determine what role(s) the people on the roster will have? Isn't this why there are these things called "practices"? Shouldn't Lucia et al know what they have at this point and assign roles accordingly?

To me, this team looks like it has one line + Hoeffel. Beyond that, it's a team of grinders that can't finish to save its *'ing life.

Defensively, they continue to have problems covering guys in the slot and make really idiotic plays with the puck (way too many feeble passes became turnovers this weekend). I think a lot of this is mental - it's not like they were pressured that much when they turned the puck over - many of those poor plays were unforced errors.

So the bottom line is they don't have enough skilled forwards who can finish off plays, and they have a defense that is often mentally not there. As for getting rid of Lucia, while buying him out would cost a substantial sum of money, it's not that much when compared with what they ate to get rid of Monson and Mason. Plus this must be weighed against the fact that the hockey program will become less profitable if the team continues to struggle. Going on the road in the first round 2 out of 3 seasons is going to cost the program a substantial amount of money. That's two (possibly three) home dates p*ssed away.

I think after exhausting almost every possible line combo I think they may have some idea, but you never know that could change next week. I've been an advocate for setting lines earlier for this very reason as well as establishing line chemistry early.

The Monson and Mason buy outs happened in much more financially prosperous times. Cutbacks and loss of revenue have put a tight squeeze on the athletic dept. to come up with the cash needed to buy Lucia out in today's economy. My take is they will probably be willing to cut their losses and stay with Lucia's contract.

EDIT: On a side note, with UAA's win over CC tonight, a three pt. weekend for UAA against the Gophers puts us in 8th place. Wow.

Here's some of what UAA has done on Friday and Saturday this season:

Friday: UND 5, UAA 0
Saturday: UAA 2, UND 1

Friday: Denver 3, UAA 2
Saturday: UAA 7, Denver 3

Friday: Mankato 8, UAA 2
Saturday: UAA 4, Mankato 1

Friday: CC 5, UAA 0
Saturday: UAA 3, CC 2

Friday: CC 6, UAA 1
Saturday: CC 1, UAA 2

 

[The Rube]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

I said in the score update thread that I hoped Fischer would take a CFB too.

We both said that, too. Don't feel bad. It's the truth.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

After that CFB:

SCSU Euro: Hey, you're down another D-man!
Brenthoven: Actually, we're up one.
SCSU Euro: Okay, yeah, you're right.

Once it was clear the SCSU player wasn't dead, I think most of us rejoiced at the fact Wehrs wouldn't be on the ice again.