Re: Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019
That is a good question...Probably needs to be redirected to the Sconnie expertise that sometimes graces us with their presence.
Gunderson, Peiper, and Smith won't see the ice much at all and Keller could also see her minutes diminished coming back from injury. Another question is how will Taylor Williamson's health be next year? Definitely more competition next year than this past year. My opinion is that Skarzynski should be in the mix at D not a forward but we will see what happens there.
Now I'm in no way an expert, hence why I am asking the question. But with us losing 7 Forwards at the end of the season, would it be unheard of or unreasonable for maybe Gunderson and/or Smith to redshirt, instead of an incoming frosh? Pieper already redshirted, and Keller is only a Jr of the 4 you mentioned who won't see much ice time or might have their ice time dimished, so if you say those 3 seniors aren't going to play much anyways, why not redshirt them, giving our younger players some good experience right away while we have Kelly, Sarah, Nicole, Jackie, Sierra, Taylor and Grace all here at the same time. That's a ton of both talent and plenty of experience right there, with 5 seniors & a very talented Jr and a very talented Soph, and the 3 returners I didn't mention and 5 incoming frosh, that would be 15 forwards with 2 Seniors redshirting. Healthy and injury free, that's 5 full lines. Now I'm assuming Skarzynski goes to the D.
This way we'd only be losing 5 forwards at the end of the season, and would have some experienced players already here to fill in for the departing players come next season.
Now honestly I don't even know if its allowed to redshirt a non-freshman without there being an Olympic invite or an injury, or if its something athletes would ever be willing to do, as a lot of these gals finish school in 4 years? Just seems we'll be losing a lot of experience at the end of the year and if those players won't play much anyway, maybe next year with Kelly, Nicole, Jackie, Sierra & Taylor all leaving there might be more minutes available and a greater need for experienced players in the lineup?
Just a thought?