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Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
- Thread starter dxmnkd316
- Start date
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
I remember my old school norwegian grandfather telling when I was very young in the 70s...I don't care who you marry, you can marry a woman of any race you want...but please just not a swede.
I think that posters in this article are missing two facts:
1. How many of our Europeans have been poor choices? Vanek and Haula were likely among the top player or two (with Bjugs) on their respective teams. These guys have every bit of potential to match (cept probably Hogland but he serves another hard to fill benefit for this year's team)
2. The Gophers are not handpicking 'rich' kids and ignoring the great high school players. We recruit the best kids possible and fill the rest of the roster to fill critical team holes. When we take the best kids we take them regardless of whether they play high school, NTDP, USHL or Shattuck.
But I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone on the board this.
You mean like this one:
This guy is obviously Norwegian.
I remember my old school norwegian grandfather telling when I was very young in the 70s...I don't care who you marry, you can marry a woman of any race you want...but please just not a swede.
I think that posters in this article are missing two facts:
1. How many of our Europeans have been poor choices? Vanek and Haula were likely among the top player or two (with Bjugs) on their respective teams. These guys have every bit of potential to match (cept probably Hogland but he serves another hard to fill benefit for this year's team)
2. The Gophers are not handpicking 'rich' kids and ignoring the great high school players. We recruit the best kids possible and fill the rest of the roster to fill critical team holes. When we take the best kids we take them regardless of whether they play high school, NTDP, USHL or Shattuck.
But I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone on the board this.
mnstate0fhockey
New member
HarleyMC
Registered User
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
An $8M Mariucci Renovation Plan is in the works which may scrap the Olympic size rink for NHL size to accommodate more seating and better sight lines.
With the tradeoff for more seating and better sightlines, scraping the O-size for NHL size makes a lot of sense to me. At present only 8 teams inc. MN currently use O-size (CC, N. Mich., SCSU, Mankato State, UAA, Alaska, New Hampshire...Kohl Center is close at 97'). It will accelerate their game, but I don't think it will make any difference at all in the execution of the Gopher's style of hockey.
An $8M Mariucci Renovation Plan is in the works which may scrap the Olympic size rink for NHL size to accommodate more seating and better sight lines.
With the tradeoff for more seating and better sightlines, scraping the O-size for NHL size makes a lot of sense to me. At present only 8 teams inc. MN currently use O-size (CC, N. Mich., SCSU, Mankato State, UAA, Alaska, New Hampshire...Kohl Center is close at 97'). It will accelerate their game, but I don't think it will make any difference at all in the execution of the Gopher's style of hockey.
purpleinnebraska
Well-known member
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
Kato switched to a near-NHL size rink last year (90'). Coach Hastings said at the time, "Hockey's hockey, but if we have the opportunity to prepare them on an NHL sheet, we should try to help them." Obviously, the Gophers don't have that concern, having produced a busload of NHL players. But for us, if it helps us in recruiting against other schools, I'm OK with it. Not sure it made much difference in style or quality of play. All of our guys had experience on NHL-sized rinks before coming here, and we play a majority of our road games on the smaller rink. If we had Europeans like Bristedt coming in, there might be some adjustment, but that's not an issue for us.
The one concern I had was that we'd lose our home ice edge. That didn't seem to be a problem last year, but that's a pretty small sample size.
Kato switched to a near-NHL size rink last year (90'). Coach Hastings said at the time, "Hockey's hockey, but if we have the opportunity to prepare them on an NHL sheet, we should try to help them." Obviously, the Gophers don't have that concern, having produced a busload of NHL players. But for us, if it helps us in recruiting against other schools, I'm OK with it. Not sure it made much difference in style or quality of play. All of our guys had experience on NHL-sized rinks before coming here, and we play a majority of our road games on the smaller rink. If we had Europeans like Bristedt coming in, there might be some adjustment, but that's not an issue for us.
The one concern I had was that we'd lose our home ice edge. That didn't seem to be a problem last year, but that's a pretty small sample size.
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
I'm all for it. I've never been a fan of the Big sheet. Good news as far as I'm concerned
I'm all for it. I've never been a fan of the Big sheet. Good news as far as I'm concerned
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
The problem is 99% of fans in MN really only know the MN kids... that's their comfort zone. They don't grasp as much about what is outside of that. The layman Gopher fan (meaning the vast majority of fans that aren't as into things as us rubes on GPL and here) assume the MN prospect is the better route because that is what they know. They are aware of the HS star but that's about the extent of it. They have no real frame of reference to judge a kid like Fällström and so they doubt it.
The scouting report on Fällström that I received from somebody that has scouted him (in person) and has also extensively scouted MN tells me all I need to know that he is a high caliber recruit. When you're told the opinion from a well versed hockey guy that the kid is a 1st line NTDP type of forward, it says a lot. Those kinds of players don't grow on trees (in MN or anywhere else). They beat out BC for the kid and it's not like BC recruits 16 year old chumps.
I understand the unknown is sometimes more difficult to grasp (especially for the casual fan) but some people need to develop a little more faith considering how well the team has performed in recent seasons with this coaching staff.
The problem is 99% of fans in MN really only know the MN kids... that's their comfort zone. They don't grasp as much about what is outside of that. The layman Gopher fan (meaning the vast majority of fans that aren't as into things as us rubes on GPL and here) assume the MN prospect is the better route because that is what they know. They are aware of the HS star but that's about the extent of it. They have no real frame of reference to judge a kid like Fällström and so they doubt it.
The scouting report on Fällström that I received from somebody that has scouted him (in person) and has also extensively scouted MN tells me all I need to know that he is a high caliber recruit. When you're told the opinion from a well versed hockey guy that the kid is a 1st line NTDP type of forward, it says a lot. Those kinds of players don't grow on trees (in MN or anywhere else). They beat out BC for the kid and it's not like BC recruits 16 year old chumps.
I understand the unknown is sometimes more difficult to grasp (especially for the casual fan) but some people need to develop a little more faith considering how well the team has performed in recent seasons with this coaching staff.
HarleyMC
Registered User
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
Ok...funny CHN has the Verizon Wireless at 87', but I think you're accurate at 90'. There's been a bit of an arms race in arena renovation in various venues throughout college hockey over the past couple years (Yost/$16M, Munn/$20M this year). State of the art facilities obviously attracts fans, helps create a competitive atmosphere and I agree provides a competitive edge in recruiting talent.
The O-size is a good fit for the Gophers puck possession game, but the downside is it also allows D time to play a more positional game as well. The O-size allows players to create time and space whereas the smaller NHL rink requires greater reaction times and instinctual playmaking. But as you said, they've all logged lots of ice time on NHL rinks and there doesn't seem to be any significant advantage in the W/L column on either sheet for the Gophers. I think it's a good move.
Ok...funny CHN has the Verizon Wireless at 87', but I think you're accurate at 90'. There's been a bit of an arms race in arena renovation in various venues throughout college hockey over the past couple years (Yost/$16M, Munn/$20M this year). State of the art facilities obviously attracts fans, helps create a competitive atmosphere and I agree provides a competitive edge in recruiting talent.
The O-size is a good fit for the Gophers puck possession game, but the downside is it also allows D time to play a more positional game as well. The O-size allows players to create time and space whereas the smaller NHL rink requires greater reaction times and instinctual playmaking. But as you said, they've all logged lots of ice time on NHL rinks and there doesn't seem to be any significant advantage in the W/L column on either sheet for the Gophers. I think it's a good move.
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
Is this a done deal? Or a done deal that needs money to change to NHL ice?
Is this a done deal? Or a done deal that needs money to change to NHL ice?
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
The B1G tourney or FrozFour are never on Olympic ice.
The B1G tourney or FrozFour are never on Olympic ice.
mnstate0fhockey
New member
Done deal. Money is there via private donations.
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
Will the rink size be altered before the start of the upcoming season?
Will the rink size be altered before the start of the upcoming season?
HarleyMC
Registered User
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
With the new arenas/renovations going up around the college hockey scene, the Gophers staff says its team areas (locker rooms, weight room) are now among the lower half of the Big Ten. As far as rink size is concerned, they're already on contract for a new refrig. system and locating a pre-design consultant for exact plans by the end of this month. Only guessing, but it seems feasible this will be done before the season starts.
With the new arenas/renovations going up around the college hockey scene, the Gophers staff says its team areas (locker rooms, weight room) are now among the lower half of the Big Ten. As far as rink size is concerned, they're already on contract for a new refrig. system and locating a pre-design consultant for exact plans by the end of this month. Only guessing, but it seems feasible this will be done before the season starts.
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
Thanks, goldy, for that bit of information. I suppose too the progress of the fundraising enters into just how quickly this aspect of the renovation gets done, as this would appear to be the most expensive component of all the improvements they're making.
Thanks, goldy, for that bit of information. I suppose too the progress of the fundraising enters into just how quickly this aspect of the renovation gets done, as this would appear to be the most expensive component of all the improvements they're making.
Slap Shot
I got nothing
I didn't think the money was fully raised yet, but l perhaps that update has been passed with new info.
mnstate0fhockey
New member
I believe i remember reading that they have raised $8 million thru private donation (primarily from alums), but I could be wrong.
Re: Minnesota Gophers Offseason Thread 2014 - Quick, Reload!
I thought I saw that, too, but haven't been paying close attention.
I thought I saw that, too, but haven't been paying close attention.