Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge
A big part of the failures this year has been under achieving play. I must be the only one on here who thinks it's not Lucia it has been the players. The senior class was extremely disappointing. I think Tony Lucia exceeded my expectations and Bariball was what I expected but all of the others have been underachievers. You know usually the teams seniors are their better players, but that was clearly not the case on this team. I don't know if they were good leaders or not but did not produce on the score sheet that is for sure. I could not stand Carman from the get go. Woog it right on the head when he references that when a player has more penalties than points that is NOT good for the team. Other then Hoeffel, nobody would sit in front of the net unless you count Flynn sitting out front whiffing on stuff.
I was expecting guys like White, Carman, Sachetti, Shroeder, Farichild, Ness, to put up some numbers this year and I am sure Lucia did as well. Guess what, they under achieved. I don't like ripping guys, because they are good players, but this year was on the players, not the coaches everybody. I want Lucia to continue as coach of the Gophers. They will be better next year. Getting that senior class of the roster is an instant upgrade already.
I don't think the blame falls squarely on either the coaches or the players. I draw the circle of attribution around both, as there are improvements to be made in both camps. Keep in mind, the senior class was not made up of natural goal scorers to begin with. They came up from checking lines and were basically role players in the past. So in retrospect, early expectations to perform beyond their established patterns and abilities were obviously unrealistic. BTW Barriball didn't play enough to accurately assess his play for the season.
I think we all understand more clearly that regardless of whether a player is an NHL draft choice, Mr. Hockey or has done well in the USHL, these factors do not have sufficient predictive validity of a player's immediate impact and performance in the WCHA (there are few exceptions). There are numerous affective risk factors in the transition and adjustment to the NCAA and WCHA that can reduce a players prospective development and effectiveness. NHL teams place their expectations on much younger players today who may or may not develop to satisfy early assessments. So having a team of numerous NHL draft choices does not necessarily indicate their performance will match symbiotic expectations.
I would be very surprised if the Gophers do not improve next season over this season's performance considering the precise scrutiny and greater performance expectations the coaches, players and the program in general will now need to adhere to (can it get any worse?
). However, I don't think there are many, if any Gopher fans who are willing to project great expectations as imminent next season either.
Don said the fag thing to Hakstol. And no, the coaches didn't shake Hextalls hand.
I don't think it's any secret that Don Lucia and Dave Hakstol have philosophically different coaching styles and methodologies; and have at best a professional business relationship only. I also think they're too smart to not lend some degree of respect to each other in their respective roles despite their differences.
I tend to take a singular report of this nature with "a grain of salt" until confirmed through other sources. But if it is true, I think it reveals a few things about young Brett Hextall's lack of character and level of immaturity as a player and a person. Moreover, if he expects to advance his hockey career beyond college, he will need to correct his attitude or he will be shown the door...guaranteed. As a way of expressing disapproval for his disrespect to a coach, who incidently has seen and done more than perhaps Brett Hextall will ever in his lifetime, I think it was appropriate for the coaches to not shake hands with young Brett Hextall.
