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Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Bonin21 said:
Unfortunately, they'll have to massively exceed expectations to be in the title discussion.
Click to expand...
After watching Omaha earlier this evening, there is no doubt in my mind that a similarly young Gopher team could conceivably make it to the Frozen Four next season. I realize that for most any team to make it that far things have to break your way in critical games. Plus you need great goaltending, not only skill but a lot of luck in your end (pipes, missed open nets, tips going just wide, etc.). But really if a much less talented Omaha team can make it as far as they did with a freshmen and sophomore dominated lineup there is no reason why the Gophers can't make it further than they did this year. At a minimum that gives me some reason to be more optimistic than I probably should be...

That said, even this year's team, with all of their experienced and talented NHL draft choices, would have had to have played their best game of the season to compete with either UND or BU, the way both of those teams competed in the second semifinal this evening. I just thought the compete level of both of those teams was off the charts, and with that - plus the talent level both of these teams possess - there was very little likelihood that even this year's Gophers squad could have beaten either one, even at their best.

So that brings my optimism down a couple of notches regarding next season, when both our talent and experience levels will be down. They will clearly need all of the dedication, determination and team chemistry that they can possibly muster to even match what this year's team accomplished. But if they can somehow do that and even then some, it would be real fun to watch.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

I see similarities between the two teams. That badger team came in as a potential champ candidate like we did this year. Ended up with the same conference winning percentage.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Yeah. Reilly certainly moved beyond the college game. So far, he and Larkin joined Yale's goalie as the only players playing in college this year on team USA. Quite a few Minnesotans on that team.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Hint to Gopher staff; Gavin Hain, the YHH Bantam Player of the year, has been a Gopher fan since he was young. Scorer who is also physical. (Casey Middlestadt was last year's YHH POY.) Plenty more to watch on next year's Grand Rapids team. Stampohar (Soph this yr) is a skilled offensive D-man with a lot of potential. Micah Miller (Soph this year) looks like he has D1 potential with great hands. Bantam Goalie coming in (Stejskal) was YHH Goalie of the year last year and some believe him to be the best goalie from that year. And then you have the linemates of Mitch Mattson (Whoiux commit) who both seem to have potential, Adams, and Jake Bischoff's solid younger brother, Jonah, both Junior this year. Oh yeah, and while I haven't seen him, Jake and Jonah's brother (by marriage) coming off the Bantams is also supposed to be quite the player. Amazing hands is the report. Expect to see Guentzel at a game or two.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

5mn_Major said:
Yeah. Reilly certainly moved beyond the college game. So far, he and Larkin joined Yale's goalie as the only players playing in college this year on team USA. Quite a few Minnesotans on that team.
Click to expand...

Why not Eichel? Got to be a certain age, or something?
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

5mn_Major said:
Yeah. Reilly certainly moved beyond the college game. So far, he and Larkin joined Yale's goalie as the only players playing in college this year on team USA. Quite a few Minnesotans on that team.
Click to expand...

Jimmy Vesey is also on the team. Jack Eichel has accepted an invitation from USA Hockey to play as of April 13th. Fortunately, we're in the weaker group (B), but I don't expect much from the USA team beyond the quarterfinals. Sweden, Finland, Czechs (host) will be tough to beat.

Group A (Ranking), Arena: O2, Prague

Sweden (1)
Canada (4)
Czech Republic (5)
Switzerland (7)
Latvia (9)
France (12)
Germany (13)
Austria (16)

Group B (Ranking), Arena: CEZ, Ostrava

Finland (2)
Russia (3)
United States (6)
Slovakia (8)
Norway (10)
Belarus (11)
Slovenia (14)
Denmark (15)
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Koho said:
a couple on GPL seem to have the attitude of 'fine if they all leave' as if Gophs would be better off. Not me.
Click to expand...

I think I'm of two minds on this issue. I'd prefer it if as many stayed as were eligible. However, if the whole lot leaves, I look at it as an opportunity to move forward without lofty expectations weighing the team down (last year when they made the playoff title game) and a chance to rebuild from the ground up. It gives some of the younger players a chance to step up and become that team leader that Rau's graduation left vacant.

It would be interesting what would happen with the Goofs if they had a team of blue-collar players anchoring the majority of the minutes with some skilled underclassman supplementing it. Quite the change from the last 15 years.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

dxmnkd316 said:
I'd prefer it if as many stayed as were eligible.
Click to expand...
In terms of players leaving early are we not now down to just Fasching?

I'm curious with such a young team if Lucia and Guentzel will adopt a much more defensive style next year?
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Given the season both Buffalo and Rochester just had, I would not be surprised to see the Sabres sign Fasching and bring him into Rochester next season. Fasching had a good rookie year, but definitely cooled off last season. As a power forward he's got a working class vibe with good speed and has learned to use his size to his advantage in the corners and in front of the net. He's not a natural goal scorer, but I recall Tim Murray (who paid a fairly hefty price to pry him from the LA Kings) commenting on his net presence and muscle in front paying dividends, which it has numerous times in both his seasons for the Gophers.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

D2D said:
After watching Omaha earlier this evening, there is no doubt in my mind that a similarly young Gopher team could conceivably make it to the Frozen Four next season. I realize that for most any team to make it that far things have to break your way in critical games. Plus you need great goaltending, not only skill but a lot of luck in your end (pipes, missed open nets, tips going just wide, etc.). But really if a much less talented Omaha team can make it as far as they did with a freshmen and sophomore dominated lineup there is no reason why the Gophers can't make it further than they did this year. At a minimum that gives me some reason to be more optimistic than I probably should be...

That said, even this year's team, with all of their experienced and talented NHL draft choices, would have had to have played their best game of the season to compete with either UND or BU, the way both of those teams competed in the second semifinal this evening. I just thought the compete level of both of those teams was off the charts, and with that - plus the talent level both of these teams possess - there was very little likelihood that even this year's Gophers squad could have beaten either one, even at their best.

So that brings my optimism down a couple of notches regarding next season, when both our talent and experience levels will be down. They will clearly need all of the dedication, determination and team chemistry that they can possibly muster to even match what this year's team accomplished. But if they can somehow do that and even then some, it would be real fun to watch.
Click to expand...

Getting the draw of Harvard and RIT would help you get there quite a bit...
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

So I see in Hockey News article, MN isn't even in the Austin Mathews sweepstakes anymore (realize MN never appeared high on the list). Granted, he is a one-and-done, but look what Eichel did for BU. Would be well worth it. Seems there have been a few big misses lately. Wonder if playing in pathetic conference and rumored coaching squabbles is having effect on recruiting. (Although MI is supposedly still mentioned by Mathews.)
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Eichel is a once in a blue moon recruit. It's not fair to either kid to compare them.
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

dxmnkd316 said:
Eichel is a once in a blue moon recruit. It's not fair to either kid to compare them.
Click to expand...

Mathews has more points than did Eichel, Kessel or Patrick Kane. Most ever for NTDP. Projected likely #1 pick next year. Don't think comparison is far off.

In other words, looks like back-to-back blue moons....
 
Re: Minnesota Gopher Season Thread: 2014-15 (Continued)

Guess I hadn't paid much attention to these recruits as much as I would like.

Where's he projected to go?
 
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