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Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Slap Shot said:
Regarding your, "right the ship" remark - this wasn't a last minute decision by Bell nor Motzko so I don't think it needs to be viewed as a sign that things are shaky in Dinkeytown is what I'm getting at.
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Apparently Bell was given some time to land on his feet somewhere. The good news is that this has given Motzko the time needed to bring in the best available replacement. If the decision has in fact been made, we should see an announcement soon.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

D2D said:
Apparently Bell was given some time to land on his feet somewhere. The good news is that this has given Motzko the time needed to bring in the best available replacement. If the decision has in fact been made, we should see an announcement soon.
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Seems like Guentzel would be available. ;) While you always want the best available, I wonder if not having an alum could limit recruiting to some degree, given you wouldn't have the guy to talk about how the MN legacy makes the Gophers THE team to play for if you are from MN? I never had a problem with hiring the last two head coaches based on them not being MN alums, but not sure I like the possibility of not having a single one on the staff.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Koho said:
Seems like Guentzel would be available. ;) While you always want the best available, I wonder if not having an alum could limit recruiting to some degree, given you wouldn't have the guy to talk about how the MN legacy makes the Gophers THE team to play for if you are from MN? I never had a problem with hiring the last two head coaches based on them not being MN alums, but not sure I like the possibility of not having a single one on the staff.
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Motzko's about a month out from the Fall semester, so he's got a bit time to mull over the possibilities for a Gopher alum.

Not sure about their interest in the job, but a couple Gopher alum/asst coach candidates come to mind. Ken Gernander was the AHL Hartford Wolfpack head coach for years up until two seasons ago. The Coleraine, Minnesota native played for the Gophers from 1987-1991. He has a ton of coaching experience.

In the spring of 1987, after playing four seasons for the Gophers, Gernander left before graduating to begin an NHL career with the Winnipeg Jets. After 30 years, he went back recently and finished his degree at the University of Minnesota.

Cory Laylin is a St. Cloud native who played for Minnesota 1988 to 1992 and is currently the head coach of the Hamline Pipers. Prior to Hamline he was the head coach for two seasons of the Brookings Blizzard of the NAHL and was a Hamline assistant to Scott Bell for two seasons.
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Haven't looked at GPL yet. Any confirmation from MN on Sampo Ranta to the Gophs? Didn't seem likely they would have any money to offer him.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Koho said:
Haven't looked at GPL yet. Any confirmation from MN on Sampo Ranta to the Gophs? Didn't seem likely they would have any money to offer him.
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They just lost Hurley. It's an amazing swap by the new staff.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Minnesota has apparently taken advantage of a Wisconsin loss this week. Finnish forward Sampo Ranta was a third round pick of the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL Draft this past June and was set to be an incoming forward for the Badgers this fall. However, apparently there was some issue with an English as a Foreign Language test score and he was having trouble getting admitted to Wisconsin. He asked for and was released from his letter of intent as Todd Milewski of the Wisconsin State Journal reports.

While nothing has been officiall confirmed by the U, several tweets yesterday indicated that Ranta has decided he wants to stay and play in the Big Ten and will be enrolling at Minnesota instead - SB Nation
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Mark Divver @MarkDivver

Sampo Ranta to Minnesota, per NCAA source

4:38 AM - 17 Aug 2018


Jess Myers @JessRMyers

Newest @GopherHockey commit is Sampo Ranta, a Finnish LW who had picked Wisconsin but allegedly had admissions trouble in Madison. Third-round @Avalanche draft pick.

5:00 AM - Aug 17, 2018

“There’s a lot of guys who can skate fast, but there’s a big difference between guys who can skate fast and make plays at that pace with the puck. If you watch a NHL game you see a player like Connor McDavid. He skates fast, but is just as fast, if not faster, with the puck. He plays the game at a high pace. I think that is something that Sampo does from when we’ve played against him.” – Anthony Noreen/Tri-City Storm head coach
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

He wasn't left much to work with, but with his Ranta pickup and the badly needed fresh voice it's possible they end up in Big Ten contention and trying to win a couple games at tournament time.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Bonin21 said:
He wasn't left much to work with, but with his Ranta pickup and the badly needed fresh voice it's possible they end up in Big Ten contention and trying to win a couple games at tournament time.
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But Ranta is a third rounder, yes? That should have fans streaming through the gates at Mariucci, right? Or is that only for the first rounders? I get confused sometimes:confused::confused:
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers Season Off-Season Thread 2018

Rabid Gopher said:
So, is tBob and company going to add #6 this year or what?
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I think a lot of success this season will depend on how the players respond to new leadership. If they buy into Motzko and the coaching staff's style and systems, this year's roster could surprise and have a deep run in the tournament. There's some interesting talent coming in. Returning players have something to prove coming off a down year in scoring. Under Motzko, I think the Gophers will be an energized, disciplined and aggressive team around the net.
 
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