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

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

Ah, how I long for the days when 4 year players were committed to the team for the long haul and money wasn't the carrot. Jordan Schroeder may have had a target on his back but that wasn't his problem this season. It was obvious that without being paired with a natural goal scorer he is not that effective. Article on Jordan Schroeder:

Schroeder signed a three-year contract worth $2.7 million or $900,000 per year, the rookie maximum.

"It is a great time for me and my family," Schroeder said. "Anyone who wants to be a pro hockey player would do it. To make the NHL, it's the right opportunity for me."
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Tony Lucia had a solid work ethic, demonstrated leadership at times when needed and had some big goals in his four year career (i.e. 2007-08 GWG: WCHA playoff series vs. MSUM, 2OT). Apparently Tony had been chosen for the Skills Challenge at Frozen Four in Detroit, but will skip that and leave for Worcester today to join the team. Good luck to Tony.

Tony Lucia, Don's son and the senior co-captain this season, has reached contract terms with San Jose. He will sign on Thursday with Worcester, the San Jose Sharks' AHL affiliate.
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Bakunin said:
If The problem MN faces is that if they wish to replace Lucia, they must be able to find a superior candidate AND be able to hire that candidate away from his existing team.
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Here is a major probelm with showing Lucia the door. I fully agree there needs to a a superior candidate waiting on the wings before Maturi decides enough is enough. IMO, the next candidate needs to be a 40 something candidate.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

This year the expectations for the Gophers were not met. Let me clarify what I believe the expectations are.

1. Home Ice. (some folks thought this was a goal this year. Home ice isn't a goal it is an expectation.)
2. An appearance at the Final Five.
3. An NCAA berth 9 out of 10 years (assuming we get to stay at 16, if it goes to 12 you probably would expect a berth 7-8 out of 10.

Goals:
Goals for the team this year was to get back to the NCAA's. That isn't a goal that's an expectation.

Goals are getting a top 2 finish (top 2 now because we'll have 3 teams. It used to be top 3. Getting a 1 or a 2 seed to the NCAA's, that's a goal. Winning and NCAA title, that's a goal. Making the Frozen Four, that's a goal.

So, let's all make sure we understand what's an expectation and what's a goal.

If anyone says Home Ice and a Final Five berth is a goal for next year I'll puke.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

ExRider19 said:
Alright, best quote ever for all you Gopher fans. So after the Sunday game, probably Lucia's last game with the Gophers, he walks over to shake Hakstol's hand. He looks at him and says, "Just so you know, #26 called me a fag twice." And thats all he said. Ha! That is so funny.

Also speaking of Lucias, Tony DID hit a fan with his stick after Sunday's game. Which if we are keeping track, and we are, is 10X more classless than the Fratting hit.
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Where's the link to the story?

Let me guess a friend of a friend told you right. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

ScoobyDoo said:
This year the expectations for the Gophers were not met. Let me clarify what I believe the expectations are.

1. Home Ice. (some folks thought this was a goal this year. Home ice isn't a goal it is an expectation.)
2. An appearance at the Final Five.
3. An NCAA berth 9 out of 10 years (assuming we get to stay at 16, if it goes to 12 you probably would expect a berth 7-8 out of 10.

Goals:
Goals for the team this year was to get back to the NCAA's. That isn't a goal that's an expectation.

Goals are getting a top 2 finish (top 2 now because we'll have 3 teams. It used to be top 3. Getting a 1 or a 2 seed to the NCAA's, that's a goal. Winning and NCAA title, that's a goal. Making the Frozen Four, that's a goal.

So, let's all make sure we understand what's an expectation and what's a goal.

If anyone says Home Ice and a Final Five berth is a goal for next year I'll puke.
Click to expand...

I don't know if 9 out of 10 years is realistic especially since the best players are leaving early. I would go with 8 out of 10 years.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Driftryder said:
Where's the link to the story?

Let me guess a friend of a friend told you right. :rolleyes:
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Oh come on. He's proven time and time again that we should believe everything he tells us. His hockey knowledge (and inside sources, apparently) is so far beyond any of ours, we should be thanking him for gracing us with his presence. :rolleyes:
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

4four4 said:
Here is a major probelm with showing Lucia the door. I fully agree there needs to a a superior candidate waiting on the wings before Maturi decides enough is enough. IMO, the next candidate needs to be a 40 something candidate.
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Personally I don't have a problem bringing in an older guy like Blais with the right young guy behind him. Think along the lines of Blais/Hartzell. Hartzell is already probably ready to take a WCHA job. He could be the "coach in Waiting. Or think Blais/Bell. Either would make me very, very happy.

Gernander would be the route to go if you went younger. But could we get him out of the NYR organization?



Bakunin said:
It'd be nice to get Blasi, but I doubt he could be lured away from Miami. .
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Really? I'd think he'd be on the first plane out. He has built a nice program at Miami, but seriously Minnesota has a lot going for it.




Bakunin said:
Cary Eades would be an interesting choice in that regard, although I suspect half the fanbase would want to shoot Maturi for hiring the assistant of a huge rival. On the other hand, I doubt the team would have a problem being properly motivated for their games with him at the helm, and I also doubt they'd struggle to the same degree with their psychological edge.
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The day Cary Eades is the coach at Minnesota is the day I'm a Bemidji fan. He has been hated by the Minnesota fan base since before I was born, Plus he is 100% UND. Hell, he even coached the UND farm team between stints with big club. If I were going to hire a Canadian it would Enrico Blasi from Miami. He understand the current game better than anyone else in my opinion.
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Not sure if anyone saw this, but Tom Serratore will be joining the Gophers this fall. He's a 21 year old freshman forward that Lucia expects to add a lot of grit and grind to the PK and the 4th line.

The hockey bloodlines run deep in the Serratore family as Tom's father, Frank, spent six seasons (1982-87, 1989-90) behind the bench in the USHL and ranks first all-time in coaching winning percentage (.710) with a record of 202-81-5. He is now in his eighth season as the head coach at the Air Force Academy. Tom's uncle, Tom, is the head coach at Bemidji State University.
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Although a lot of fans were unsure about Ryan Walters coming in the fall, he most likely will join the Gophers next season as well. Ryan has done exceptionally well as a goal scorer in the USHL (currently 12th). After scoring a hat trick on just five shots, he was named most valuable player of the USHL All-Star game in Indianapolis this season.
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

HarleyMC said:
Not sure if anyone saw this, but Tom Serratore will be joining the Gophers this fall. He's a 21 year old freshman forward that Lucia expects to add a lot of grit and grind to the PK and the 4th line.



Although a lot of fans were unsure about Ryan Walters coming in the fall, he most likely will join the Gophers next season as well. Ryan has done exceptionally well as a goal scorer in the USHL (currently 12th). After scoring a hat trick on just five shots, he was named most valuable player of the USHL All-Star game in Indianapolis this season.
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Let's just hope they can but a body on someone and throw their weight around! I'm sick of the pretty boy, no checking style of play.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

4four4 said:
I have been saying this all year. We will see even more players leaving early.
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It's clearly a catch 22 - either the team does well and the players rack up the stats and bolt for max offers, or the team does poorly and the players fail to develop and bolt early to get into the AHL because the pro teams holding their rights are *'d at the U.

Unless Lucia completely gives up on trying to recruit talented players, it now appears this team is destined to be gutted every offseason. Do any of you see a way around this problem? I don't.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Bakunin said:
It's clearly a catch 22 - either the team does well and the players rack up the stats and bolt for max offers, or the team does poorly and the players fail to develop and bolt early to get into the AHL because the pro teams holding their rights are *'d at the U.

Unless Lucia completely gives up on trying to recruit talented players, it now appears this team is destined to be gutted every offseason. Do any of you see a way around this problem? I don't.
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I'm just amazed at how arrogant the Islanders are. Look at that article claiming Garth Snow was out ahead of everyone on Minnesota's demise. What have the Islanders ever developed with all those top 10 picks they've gotten? Out of the playoffs AGAIN this year.

And I agree, no way out of the box on this one.

If Ness left they'd probably have to bring in Holl for the 8th defense roster spot. That prevents Holl from getting a year of Juniors.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

One positive at least it referenced the incompetence of Hill! Any chance the "rumors" of his departure are true?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

Bakunin said:
It's clearly a catch 22 - either the team does well and the players rack up the stats and bolt for max offers, or the team does poorly and the players fail to develop and bolt early to get into the AHL because the pro teams holding their rights are *'d at the U.

Unless Lucia completely gives up on trying to recruit talented players, it now appears this team is destined to be gutted every offseason. Do any of you see a way around this problem? I don't.
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I don't think we will ever be able to prevent the team from being "gutted" per say, but it happens to many of the top teams, not just MN. We need to get back to the "reloading" tradition from the past. As obvious as it is, I'd much prefer to see the guys have great stats and bolt for max offers, than to leave because they aren't developing.

Side note: I seriously hope David Fischer got his degree out of this, he will need it!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

ScoobyDoo said:
If Ness left they'd probably have to bring in Holl for the 8th defense roster spot. That prevents Holl from getting a year of Juniors.
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Is that really a bad thing? Ness = BUST
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010: Calmly Step Away from the Ledge

ScoobyDoo said:
Islanders organization throws Don Lucia under the bus again.

http://www.islanderspointblank.com/...ggling-2008-2nd-round-pick-needs-to-turn-pro/

Ness likely to leave according to article.
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Scoob, Chris Botta does not work for the Islanders. So the Islander organization is not throwing tDon under the bus again. He is a former employee who writes the blog you linked to and works for Fanhouse. In fact, he and Snow have been at odds lately and what he wrote is his opinion about the Gophers. No doubt he has some contacts feeding some information that the Isles may be looking to sign Ness but his comments about the Gophers are his. He has no quotes from any Islander reps.

The Islanders only give scoops to Newsday and that is where Snow threw Lucia under the bus last time.
 
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