Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

[goldy_331]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Last year for Lou Chia Pet?

We can only hope that you'll finally retire that lame-azz nickname. Hasn't made any sense for a few years now given the hairstyle changes.

 

[Slap Shot]

We can only hope that you'll finally retire that lame-azz nickname. Hasn't made any sense for a few years now given the hairstyle changes.

I don't think you can call that trolling. He can do better then that. Frankly, I'm quite disappointed at the lack of effort on his part...weak.

Skeeter. You trolling again? Come on now.

Guys, guys, guys. Take this away from Skeeter and what’s he have left?

 

[gordwiser]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Freshmen

Defensive End. - Helgeson
Offensive End. - Budish

Non-Frosh

Defensive End. - Fischer
Offensive End. - Lucia

Love to hate Lucia, and completely respect what he brings to the team. I don't question his grit to play that role, I wonder if he's big enough to do it. I don't think Fischer has the cajones to do it game in and game out.

Those Freshmen will be fun to see develop in those roles, and I think bringing in Potulny will make a huge difference in coaching exactly what the Gophers have been lacking the last couple years.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Guys, guys, guys. Take this away from Skeeter and what’s he have left?

Colon cleansings.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Guys, guys, guys. Take this away from Skeeter and what’s he have left?

Colon cleansings.

And old Steven Wright jokes.

 

[Go4PuckFan]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Guys, guys, guys. Take this away from Skeeter and what’s he have left?

An act as empty as the rafters of the National Hockey Center.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

An act as empty as the rafters of the National Hockey Center.

They have participation banners, don't they? Maybe a DQ Cup one?

 

[Dirty]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

They have participation banners, don't they? Maybe a DQ Cup one?

That belonged to UND! They went undefeated in the regular season that year against Minnesota teams! That along with their fraudulent WCHA Playoff banner and pretty much everything they've won was stolen from UND.

 

[61ache]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

At least Goon had numbers to back up his claim, you just have your opinion.

So, I'll give my opinion. Who's the better goalie? After watching just one season from Eidsness and two from Kangas, I would give the slight nod to Kangas at this point. Kangas had a dominant freshman season and then I think his confidence and "swagger" really took a hit last year, and that can be a killer for a goalie, where so much is mental. Eidsness did great for us last year as a young freshman goalie, but did tend to wander at inopportune times and had issues with rebounds. I didn't expect anything more from him though, he gave us a chance to win each night and that's all I wanted of him, especially with his age. Kangas, on the other hand, had unrealistic expectations placed on his shoulders (remember last year at this time when some fans were saying that his numbers would improve from his freshman year?), and I think the pressure got to him as the season went along. I'm excited to see how both will do this year. Eidsness with another year of experience under his belt...and then seeing which Kangas shows up. If I had to guess, I would think Kangas' numbers for this year will fall somewhere in the middle of his frosh/soph seasons.



I would take this bet though. It's not like his numbers were outstanding last year, he just got the job done on most occasions. I would imagine his GAA stays similar to the 2.56 from last year, but the save % will go up from .906 IMO.

Here's my <b>opinion</b> on Kangas. The only thing I have to credit my <b>opinion</b> is having played the position and learning from some of the best. You can brake down SV% and GA all you want, and in a large enough sample it might actually mean something. Between the pipes, every game is different, every bounce is different, and SV% might as well be underwear size for all it matters in 36 appearances over a single season--this isn't baseball this is hockey.

The big knock I've had against Kangas over the years and why I absolutely love Mike Lee is positioning. You can't stop the shot if you're not in a position to make the play. Stand on your head all day long, turn the lights out, put up the brick wall, but sooner or later that foundation will fall apart if you're not in a position to make the play. Last year I heard Woog and that other idiot on FSN (don't even want to utter his name...rhymes with either nepotism or miss taco, can't remember) kept talking about a return to the form Kangas had a year ago, like some sort of magically pixie dust could be sprinkled on him and viola playoff Kangas. Meanwhile, fundamentally, not much changed in his game over the year--Kangas found himself out of position, on his heals, over committed, off balance, etc. Sure, diving, rolling, upside down saves are great, but if you play your position with your head you don't really ever need to do that very often.

But then again, my opinion's not worth much, so there you go.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Here's my <b>opinion</b> on Kangas. The only thing I have to credit my <b>opinion</b> is having played the position at a high level before. You can brake down SV% and GA all you want, and in a large enough sample it might actually mean something. Between the pipes, every game is different, every bounce is different, and SV% might as well be underwear size for all it matters in 36 appearances over a single season--this isn't baseball this is hockey.

The big knock I've had against Kangas over the years and why I absolutely love Mike Lee, is positioning. You can't stop the shot if you're not in a position to make the play. Stand on your head all day long, turn the lights out, put up the brick wall, but sooner or later that foundation will fall apart if you're not in a position to make the play. Last year I heard Woog, and the other idiot on FSN (don't even want to utter his name) kept talking about a return to the form Kangas had a year ago, like some sort of magically pixie dust could be sprinkled on him and viola playoff Kangas. Meanwhile, fundamentally, not much changed in his game over the year--Kangas found himself out of position, on his heals, over committed, off balance, etc. Sure, diving, rolling, upside down saves are great, but if you play your position with your head you don't really ever need to do that very often.

But then again, my opinion's not worth much, so there you go.

So, what changed then from freshmen to sophmore year with Kangas? Or was his positioning always the same and he just got lucky (was more athletic) his freshmen year?

Pixie Dust? That's a new one.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

I liked the implication that Eidsness wears bigger skibbies myself.

 

[61ache]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

So, what changed then from freshmen to sophmore year with Kangas? Or was his positioning always the same and he just got lucky (was more athletic) his freshmen year?

Pixie Dust? That's a new one.

Players play over there ability all the time. Also, players screw there season by getting in their own heads. I think this year will be a good indicator if it was the former or latter. I wouldn't say I was blown away by his game (I was blown away by his performance) his freshman year, but it was a heck of a lot better then last year. Just too many times where he was playing the pass and out of position, or off balance and on his heels. Numerous short side goals through the year are a great indicator on where a goal is mentally, and that's the biggest layman's indicator right there. I don't care if it's Wayne Gretzky, T.J. Oshie, or Bobby freakin' Orre. It is physically impossible if you are a) over three feet tall and b) in the correct position to score a short side goal--and that's a fact.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Players play over there ability all the time. I think this year will be a good indicator if that's the case or if last year was just a struggle. I wouldn't say I was blown away by his game (I was blown away by his performance) his freshman year, but it was a heck of a lot better then last year.

I guess we'll have to see then. He was pretty highly touted coming in and certainly has shown more than Frazee did.

Mike Lee better live up to the hype.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

It’s a weird (uneducated?) analysis of Kangas considering he was never known for making the spectacular save his freshman year and iirc, the discussion of his play revolved around the belief that he was typically in position.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

It’s a weird (uneducated?) analysis of Kangas considering he was never known for making the spectacular save his freshman year and iirc, the discussion of his play revolved around the belief that he was typically in position.

Now that you mention it that's what I remember as well. Seems to me that a lot of goaltending comes down to how often your defense hangs you out to dry. Many a time last year I remember Kangas making the first save and there was no one clearing out the rebound.

 

[61ache]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

It’s a weird (uneducated?) analysis of Kangas considering he was never known for making the spectacular save his freshman year and iirc, the discussion of his play revolved around the belief that he was typically in position.

Well it's my opinion take it for what it's worth. I'm not going to label myself as "the expert"--I'll let other guys do that. I've worked with some guys and picked up a thing or two and that's the extent of that

 

[brianvf]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Mike Lee better live up to the hype.

Indeed.

He's supposed to bring SCSU their first national title, isn't he?

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Indeed.

He's supposed to bring SCSU their first national title, isn't he?

Well, I thought BOBBY!!@#$#@@!@!!!! was supposed to win them an NCAA game but that has been poo-pooed by the fans with the "he didn't have the horses in front of him excuse". So......................who the heck knows?

All I do know is Mike Lee is hyped to the max.

 

[61ache]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Well, I thought BOBBY!!@#$#@@!@!!!! was supposed to win them an NCAA game but that has been poo-pooed by the fans with the "he didn't have the horses in front of him excuse". So......................who the heck knows?

All I do know is Mike Lee is hyped to the max.

I've seen this kid play many times and he's the real deal. Cool customer that never tries to do too much. Steady Eddie.

 

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Here's my <b>opinion</b> on Kangas. The only thing I have to credit my <b>opinion</b> is having played the position and learning from some of the best. You can brake down SV% and GA all you want, and in a large enough sample it might actually mean something. Between the pipes, every game is different, every bounce is different, and SV% might as well be underwear size for all it matters in 36 appearances over a single season--this isn't baseball this is hockey.

The big knock I've had against Kangas over the years and why I absolutely love Mike Lee is positioning. You can't stop the shot if you're not in a position to make the play. Stand on your head all day long, turn the lights out, put up the brick wall, but sooner or later that foundation will fall apart if you're not in a position to make the play. Last year I heard Woog and that other idiot on FSN (don't even want to utter his name...rhymes with either nepotism or miss taco, can't remember) kept talking about a return to the form Kangas had a year ago, like some sort of magically pixie dust could be sprinkled on him and viola playoff Kangas. Meanwhile, fundamentally, not much changed in his game over the year--Kangas found himself out of position, on his heals, over committed, off balance, etc. Sure, diving, rolling, upside down saves are great, but if you play your position with your head you don't really ever need to do that very often.

But then again, my opinion's not worth much, so there you go.

I don't remember Kangas as having a positioning problem freshman year. I don't feel like he positioned himself as well last year, and I credit that to perhaps a reduced confidence, probably due to exceptional expectations placed on him. He did seem to be on his heels more last year (which is can also be from less confidence in the D corp in front of you so you think you have to cover all possibilities) than his freshman year. His freshman year, especially in the playoff run, I remember him sitting tight several times and minimizing the rebound allowed, only making an occasional acrobatic save when there was a breakdown somewhere on defense (failure to clear puck, etc.). I don't claim to have a perfect memory, but my memory is one of feeling confident in Kangas over Frazee because he was so much better positionally.

And the implication you seemed to be making in the second post that he way overplayed his ability in his freshman year is something I disagree on. I don't think a drop in performance in the next season is necessarily an indication that a goalies isn't as good as they are touted to be. Sure, things went well for him at the end of the year with the Gopher's defensive play solidifying and getting some bounces to help his numbers. I think many things went equally wrong last year to give him numbers below his ability (as opposed to last year's numbers being the "real Kangas"). I guess I would also have to ask, are Bachman and Muse just run-of-the-mill goalies too, who just way overplayed their abilities in their freshman year?

I'm not expecting Kangas to be the next Stauber. I just think you aren't giving him enough credit. Only time will tell. (Oh yeah, and I don't remember Kangas playing a viola in the playoffs!?)