Re: Minnesota Gophers 2012-2013: From Dinkytown to Steel City!
Nearly every prognostication I've seen by category has the Gophers as a national #1 or 2, an NCAA #1 seed, winning the WCHA, votes for player of the year, Hobey, rookie WCHA player of the year, etc., etc. Exactly how have they been overlooked? Just because some fans haven't come out and said OMGTEHGOFRZRTEHGRTSTEVAH doesn't mean they've been overlooked. Either way fans shouldn't care because they still have to prove it out on the ice.
As for moving Holl to forward, he's never played at least not since before HS and all he needs is to get his confidence back. Anyone that watched him in h.s. saw a sound positional defensive player and someone that created offense - both by shooting and by passing. He very well could be moved to F because he has offensive skills and can skate, but I'm not ready to buy into his defensive demise just yet.
Overlooked? No, the Gophers are getting plenty of national recognition among the media, fans and coaches, but let's face it positioning historically in season polls doesn't mean squat in college hockey until Jan-Feb. anyway. I think everyone wants to see if they'll play up to the hype.
Here's the preseason
GRAND FORKS HERALD WCHA COACHES POLL and the Gophers are #1. Nice to see Mike Reilly get a few votes as preseason Rookie of the Year. As in the WCHA Media poll, Bjugs is picked as Player of the Year by the coaches.
I agree with you on Holl Slap, even though you're a totally bias Skipper fan and your opinion is obviously skewed.
Admittedly, Justin Holl struggled early last season. I recall Lucia mentioning in an interview that he asked Justin at one point early last season, "Why don't you work as hard during games as you do in practice? Look, if you can take care of the puck and work as hard in a game as you do in practice, you'll see a lot more ice time on D". And that was all Justin needed to turn his game around at that point.
IMHO Justin Holl is a lock on defense this season. There's no question, Holl really improved defensively as the season progressed last year and there is absolutely NO WAY Lucia would move him to forward. Moreover, what has really impressed me with Don Lucia's coaching over the years is he's a man of principle and always gives more playing time to upperclassmen over a freshman, if they've really shown improvement.
Holl ended last season tied for second among defensemen with a +18 rating and 4th on the team with 45 blocked shots (Schmidt/52, Alt/51, Marshall/50). He really found his niche moving the puck offensively as well, logging a career high in goals (3), assists (8) and points (11).
One thing that struck me in the Media Day interviews too was Lucia, Helgeson, and Schmidt all commented on how good it was to have high level competition for 6 slots on defense with 9 very good defensemen this season. It just makes everyone work harder. I expect even better things from Justin Holl on D this season.
I think you are literally the only other person I've come across that doesn't rip Holl to shreds.
+2. Everybody else can eat dirt.
Go Gophers!
