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

[HarleyMC]

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

Harley - pretty much every team plays better with a lead. You'll see the "when leading after 2" stat with win pct's around .900 for most teams. The "when trailing after 2" stat is what is most telling: mediocre to bad teams will have a win pct under .300, while the good teams will be closer to .500.

Which was my point. We don"t have the lead much therefore we're in 7th.

It's too late to step away from the ledge, the team is already over the edge and off the ledge. Falling deeper until the next savior coach arrives.

I would think SCSU fans would be starting to feel a little NCAA swoon panic. If SCSU losses their NCAA game this season, SCSU will officially no longer be the turd that refuses to flush.

I have heard from the grapevine many NHL scouts don't like the rink size in Mariucci. If the Gophers didn't have the tradition they likely would lose out on the best players.

What do they know? We got a truckload of their highly recommended NHL draft picks and that doesn't work either.

 

[HarleyMC]

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

We need somebody who can score. It seems to help.

We basically need 3-4 natural goal scorers to pull this program out of the gutter or it's more of the same. If the recruiting, team building, coaching and the intensity and drive to excellence is back on track, I estimate we're 2-4 years away from building a team that has another legitimate shot at an NCAA title.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

We basically need 3-4 natural goal scorers to pull this program out of the gutter or it's more of the same. If the recruiting, team building, coaching and the intensity and drive to excellence is back on track, I estimate we're 2-4 years away from building a team that has another legitimate shot at an NCAA title.

That's way too long. There's no excuse for this team not to be able to score now, and there will be no excuse tomorrow either. This is epic coaching failure.

The team has been shut out 5 times this year and scored only 1 goal in 5 games.

Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedickuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulus.

 

[Bakunin]

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

Hoeffel and Schroeder are guys with the talent to score a lot of goals. The fact that they aren't doing it is a big reason why the team is where it is right now. Fairchild and Ness are a couple blueliners who should be producing a lot more offense from the blueline than they have - which is another glaring weakness on this team.

If that group of four had the season we expected of them at the start, we'd be talking about fighting for a top three finish rather than sitting in 7th and likely missing the NCAA's.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

I looked some more. 5 games with two goals or less and only one win in those games.

That's 1-14 when scoring 2 goals or less.

When scoring 3 or more the Gophers are 15-2-2.

9 of those games they scored 4 goals or more and the Gophers are 9-0 in those 9.

The NCAA winner every year scores about 4 goals a game and gives up about 2.

 

[jorgie74]

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

Total lack of pride!!!!

IMHO they will be swept by Bucky and make a quick exit from the WCHA playoffs. Each incoming Gopher should be asked why they want to play here.

 

[Bakunin]

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

When scoring 3 or more the Gophers are 15-2-2.

If the four players I mentioned previously had been producing near what they were expected to, MN would be scoring about 3.5 per game. It's not national title contender territory, but it's a lot better than what they're doing now, and it would at least have them in position for home ice in the first round, an NCAA berth, and at least an outside shot at going to the Frozen Four.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

If the four players I mentioned previously had been producing near what they were expected to, MN would be scoring about 3.5 per game. It's not national title contender territory, but it's a lot better than what they're doing now, and it would at least have them in position for home ice in the first round, an NCAA berth, and at least an outside shot at going to the Frozen Four.

Correct. And you can add the lack of transition to the college game of Jake Hansen and Nico Sachetti to that list. Those two were supposed to impact the scoresheet.

 

[HarleyMC]

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

That's way too long. There's no excuse for this team not to be able to score now, and there will be no excuse tomorrow either. This is epic coaching failure.

As a Gopher fan what are your options? The Gophers need time to "rebuild", not "reload". IMO it will take 2-4 seasons at least to be strong contender for an NCAA title. Next season will be better but not there yet.

Hoeffel and Schroeder are guys with the talent to score a lot of goals. The fact that they aren't doing it is a big reason why the team is where it is right now. Fairchild and Ness are a couple blueliners who should be producing a lot more offense from the blueline than they have - which is another glaring weakness on this team.

If that group of four had the season we expected of them at the start, we'd be talking about fighting for a top three finish rather than sitting in 7th and likely missing the NCAA's.

I wouldn't put any of these guys in the category of a "natural goal scorer". That's what's lacking on the team among other things.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

As a Gopher fan what are your options? The Gophers need time to "rebuild", not "reload". IMO it will take 2-4 seasons at least to be strong contender for an NCAA title. Next season will be better but not there yet.



I wouldn't put any of these guys in the category of a "natural goal scorer". That's what's lacking on the team among other things.

Next season will be better? You can't say that. You don't know that.

I would. There are a number of kids on the team right now that were "natural" goal scorers before they got here. White, Hansen, Hoeffel, Schroeder. They got to Minnesota and digressed.

 

[Greyeagle]

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

Thank God for the BTN.

 

[SJHovey]

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

Next season will be better? You can't say that. You don't know that.

I would. There are a number of kids on the team right now that were "natural" goal scorers before they got here. White, Hansen, Hoeffel, Schroeder. They got to Minnesota and digressed.

Maybe being a natural goal scorer coming out of the Twin Cities hasn't meant the same that it did a few years ago.

For WCHA conference scoring alone, here are the hometowns (or home states/provinces) of the top 25, plus ties:

1. Tennessee
Alberta
California
Alberta
California
Missouri
Virginia
Ontario
Duluth
10. Colorado
Hastings
Alberta
Moorhead
Michigan
Manitoba
Brit. Col.
Wisconsin
Duluth
Wisconsin
20. Brit. Col.
Illinois
Prior Lake
Prior Lake
Elk River
25. Manitoba
Duluth
Eden Prairie
Alaska

 

[Greyeagle]

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

They got to Minnesota and digressed.

They started playing basketball?

Regressed.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

They started playing basketball?

Pretty much what it looked like Saturday night. And many other nights this season.

 

[Turk 77]

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

It's too late to step away from the ledge, the team is already over the edge and off the ledge. Falling deeper until the next savior coach arrives.

And we will STILL be waiting for the SCSU to win an NCAA playoff game

 

[HarleyMC]

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

Next season will be better? You can't say that. You don't know that.

I would. There are a number of kids on the team right now that were "natural" goal scorers before they got here. White, Hansen, Hoeffel, Schroeder. They got to Minnesota and digressed.

You're starting to sound like you missed your nap for the last 2 weeks. Next season could potentially be Lucia's last if the program does not show significantly more progress. Lucia is not a bad coach and I suspect he'll be focusing on giving his best effort to work hard to improve upon this season's disappointments.

There's a good recruiting class coming in, and I think guys like Leddy, Budish, Birkholz, Larson, Matson, Cepis all have potential for breakout seasons. I think we will see some positive changes and adjustments under the conditions. I think it may take 2-4 seasons though to find the right mix of natural goal scorers and true role players again to make this team the powerhouse it once was. It's very possible if Lucia is successful next season he may receive an extension based upon a multiyear rebuilding proposal and strategy. It happened to Scott Sundelin when he was in the hot seat last season in his final year of his contract and a new building opening in Dec. 2011.

Again, I don't see White, Schroeder (playmaker), Hoeffel as natural goal scorers. We had one last year in Ryan Stoa. Hansen is an anomaly, but I think with Jake obviously the transition from USHL has been more severe and that says something about the quality of hockey in the WCHA more than anything else. I think Jake is a good hockey player he just hasn't found his niche yet...it happens.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

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

You're starting to sound like you missed your nap for the last 2 weeks. Next season could potentially be Lucia's last if the program does not show significantly more progress. Lucia is not a bad coach and I suspect he'll be focusing on giving his best effort to work hard to improve upon this season's disappointments.

There's a good recruiting class coming in, and I think guys like Leddy, Budish, Birkholz, Larson, Matson, Cepis all have potential for breakout seasons. I think we will see some positive changes and adjustments under the conditions. I think it may take 2-4 seasons though to find the right mix of natural goal scorers and true role players again to make this team the powerhouse it once was. It's very possible if Lucia is successful next season he may receive an extension based upon a multiyear rebuilding proposal and strategy. It happened to Scott Sundelin when he was in the hot seat last season in his final year of his contract and a new building opening in Dec. 2011.

Again, I don't see White, Schroeder (playmaker), Hoeffel as natural goal scorers. We had one last year in Ryan Stoa. Hansen is an anomaly, but I think with Jake obviously the transition from USHL has been more severe and that says something about the quality of hockey in the WCHA more than anything else. I think Jake is a good hockey player he just hasn't found his niche yet...it happens.

You're just making excuses for them. White was brought here to put the puck in the net. No question about it. So was Hansen.

Who's coming in next year that's going to score? You can't assume any of them are because Lucia is proving over and over again that when he brings kids in from the USHL who light that league up they disappear.

 

[HarleyMC]

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

You're just making excuses for them. White was brought here to put the puck in the net. No question about it. So was Hansen.

Who's coming in next year that's going to score? You can't assume any of them are because Lucia is proving over and over again that when he brings kids in from the USHL who light that league up they disappear.

Excuses about what?

As I said (last season too), White, Hoeffel, Carman, Sacchetti, Lucia, Flynn, Barriball (B+) are grade B/C players, not natural goal scorers. Unless they drastically improve, I don't think any of them will get a legitimate shot at NHL ice. Jake needs more time, maybe he turns it around maybe he doesn't, but I'm pretty sure he'll give it his best. I see some strong potential for goal scoring in the following recruits: Erik Haula, Nick Bjugstad, Nate Condon to name a few.

 

[4four4]

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

You're just making excuses for them. White was brought here to put the puck in the net. No question about it. So was Hansen.

Who's coming in next year that's going to score? You can't assume any of them are because Lucia is proving over and over again that when he brings kids in from the USHL who light that league up they disappear.

Maybe just maybe the USHL is overrated?

People need to remember junior hockey is no where near the the college level for the average player. Which goes to show many of the the USHL players become average college players.

Every level is a step up in the pyramid of hockey.

 

[HarleyMC]

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

Maybe just maybe the USHL is overrated?

People need to remember junior hockey is no where near the the college level for the average player. Which goes to show many of the the USHL players become average college players.

Every level is a step up in the pyramid of hockey.

I don't think the USHL is overrated. You're right, it's simply a different and lower standardized level of play compared to the WCHA and players understand that. IMO every level has a normative standard of measurable success based upon the style and level of league play. The recruiting risk is whether, for example, a top USHL goal scorer will be able to perform with the same proficiency at a higher level (eg. WCHA). At times there are exceptional cases when the developmental peak is delayed for some players and they suddenly excel at a higher level. But nevertheless there is a risk percentage in recruiting players based upon psychosocial and physiological risk factors that may hinder player potentiality causing them to reach a performance plateau at the next level.

Players that are perceived to be "natural" goal scorers at one level may not be at another level. Exceptions would be Vanek, R. Potulny, Irmen, Kessel, Okposo, Stoa, etc. who are proven inherently natural goal scorers at various levels. Generally speaking, the term "natural goal scorer" seems misleading and is perhaps used too liberally to describe an inherent quality to score but it has often proven to be relative to the level and style of league play. I prefer to use the term to describe the exceptional player that can consistently perform with high proficiency (20+ g/yr) at various levels.