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Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

D2D said:
IF being the key word, SteveO. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, you know one game at a time and all that. ;)
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:D Hey, a guy can dream can't he? Possible though, Sparty is in trouble this season. If Mich beats MSU today, MSU's season has tanked at 1-12-1 in their last 14.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

SteveO said:
:D Hey, a guy can dream can't he? Possible though, Sparty is in trouble this season. If Mich beats MSU today, MSU's season has tanked at 1-12-1 in their last 14.
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You are right, as usual, the Gophers do have a realistic chance to seep against Sparty at home. Just say'in that if the Gophers don't get a big enough lead when the game is on the line, watch out because as we've seen way too many times this season, a favorable outcome is never assured.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

They better sweep next weekend. Their RPI simply can't absorb a home ice loss to MSU, regardless of what happens the rest of the way.

That's the stinker about the OT losses to PSU and Harvard. The team played well and probably deserved better than what they got in those 2 games, but with the position they are in it just doesn't matter. The time has passed where showing improvement and playing well was good enough. It's all about the W-L now. Those were 2 very winnable games that they very much needed, and that slipped through their fingers.

With the way the Big 10 is shaping up, losses to those bottom 3 teams are going to put a serious hurt on in terms of the PWR, and wins give next to no bump.
It's already a bit of a long shot, but a loss to MSU this weekend pretty much seals the Gophers needing to win the conference tourney for a birth to the NCAAs.


As for the game tonight, a very solid effort. The Gophers did a good job of tightening up defensively and eliminating mistakes on their own end. As often happens when you do that, you force the opponent to make some mistakes that you can capitalize on. It's always nice to get out to a lead, too. The game is so much easier playing ahead rather than behind.

I also liked the decision to shake up the D and insert Sadek, and I thought the right choice was made in who to sit.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

D2D said:
You are right, as usual, the Gophers do have a realistic chance to seep against Sparty at home. Just say'in that if the Gophers don't get a big enough lead when the game is on the line, watch out because as we've seen way too many times this season, a favorable outcome is never assured.
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Sad thing is in at least two of those OT games (MSUM, PSU), a clear Dman error cost the game. Ryan Collins certainly has the size and reach to be very good and funny thing is I don't remember him being THAT bad last season. Benching him was the right thing to do to send a message that he needs to play smarter position hockey.

On a another note, what has happened to Sparty? They were a contender in the Big Ten last season, but this season the wheels have apparently fallin' off. Jake Hildebrand was marked preseason as one of the top goalies in the NCAA. His GAA is now 3.37. Total goals scored in home and home games this weekend: Mich 15, MSU 5. Gophers must kick them while they're down for a sweep at Mariucci next weekend.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

They would love to have Friday night back but I love that they came out on Saturday with a purpose. Now they need to really minimize the mistakes and drive it home. A very good result in the NSC would go a long way toward not only PWR but overall confidence and preparation for the playoffs.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

I still can't believe we scored 7 goals on Saturday. Hope they've got a few left in the tank for this weekend.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

D2D said:
I still can't believe we scored 7 goals on Saturday. Hope they've got a few left in the tank for this weekend.
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I attribute that to PSU, while having offensive strengths, not being a defensive Harvard...and then getting gassed. Maybe we'll start on a big scoring streak...but I wouldn't count on that.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Could have used him this year leading that D.

Though we are starting to play much better now and tDon finally made the correct move with the D on Saturday. Sorry but #6 should watch more often.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Meh.

I think it's more about college hockey in general and how it's changed in the last 10-15 years. Parity is now the norm.

The B1G is no (old) WCHA. Then throw in 15 YO recruits into the mix and things change.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Wisko McBadgerton said:
Curious what Gopher fans take is on this article? http://www.citypages.com/news/what-happened-to-the-university-of-minnesota-hockey-program-7960026
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That's a pretty significant piece of work. But I think the story is a retread. Let me explain...

The whole story reminds me of a post that I saw on GPL and I quote 'What is obvious is that none of these (current) Dmen is as good as Skjei, Reilly, or Marshall.' The funny thing is that last year the site was blowing up with folks criticizing all three. Its a constant cycle of who's at fault for a game where not every win is guaranteed. And frankly although Reilly was a special talent, some of the guys (Brod, Bischoff) this year are probably on par with Skjei and Marshall anyways.

The larger point is that everyone thinks this years program is a disaster...if only we had the one just like it was. Well I got news. Outside of a few years during the 70s and in the 1920s...the Minnesota program has been very good by national standards but never the best. Michigan was much better in the '50s and '60s. One could have asked 'what's wrong with the Gophers?' Why can't they just put it together? Is it the coaches?' Denver was much better netting it 7 national titles. They could have asked what was wrong in the '90s with Woog. Oh that's right, they did. And as what is a 4 time conference champion and what I believe is the program with the winningest record over the previous 4 years, I think the program is on par with what its done in the past.

The problem is not with the current program, but rather of the fans (and in this case article author) that have idealized childhood memories of the perfect Gophers and who lack historical perspective. imho :)
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

5mn_Major said:
The problem is not with the current program, but rather of the fans (and in this case article author) that have idealized childhood memories of the perfect Gophers and who lack historical perspective. imho :)
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If you read the article, you would see that most of the criticism in it is from former players and NHL scouts. Not sure how you can slide the blame to the author and fans that aren't connected to the program.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Tipsy McStagger said:
If you read the article, you would see that most of the criticism in it is from former players and NHL scouts. Not sure how you can slide the blame to the author and fans that aren't connected to the program.
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The author has done a great work...no question about it and is reporting facts. But the overarching conclusion that the program is in shambles is misplaced for the reasons I said.

While other programs don't have quite the same luxury, the Gopher program exists for its fan and its top objective is to win...period. At MN, we can't (and don't have interest) in accommodating a dozen NHL program requests. Other programs may feel a need to give in as I'm sure Z Parise got the golden throne treatment at UND. Some players and some NHL scouts will not be pleased as their objectives are different and that they aren't first. And I think there's been enough NHL success and admiration by the programs alums to reflect positively on the program. Likewise, Herb Brooks was among the greatest ever. Yet, he moved away from the U of M in other ways...so I don't think his testimony is too d@mning.

In the end, the apocalypse is greatly exaggerated...the program is the way its always been.
 
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Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Not a fan of the article. I think its a myopic and poor attempt to criticize the Gophers in a down year and use it to support their dubious theory that the program is in decline. The program is far from in decline. As far as critics, the article cites one nameless NHL scout and alum Kevin Hartzell. Very small sample size.:)

"Stacked with 12 NHL draft picks, they're struggling to stay with Big Ten bottom-feeder Ohio State"
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Not sure where the author is getting this misinformation, but we're currently 2 pts. out of 1st in the Big Ten and still have reasonable chance for the NCAAs.

"It's his job to set the tone for his program," says an NHL scout. "At Minnesota, what I see is a coach living off past accomplishments."
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Living off past accomplishments? You mean like recently? The way D1 programs measure success is championship banners. Last season's departing Gopher senior class scored more goals than any senior class in the NCAA last season, won the first two Big Ten Regular Season Championships, The Big Ten Tournament last season, four consecutive regular season championships including the last two years in the WCHA, four consecutive NCAA playoff appearances, and 2 Frozen Four appearances. Also over the last four years, Minnesota led the NCAA in total wins (105), winning percentage (.690) and fewest losses (43). Lastly, the Gophers led the nation in home wins (63), home winning percentage (.801) and fewest home losses (13).

Finally, what the article does not point out is the college hockey recruiting landscape has expanded coast to coast far beyond the Larson days, the 2006 NHL CBA elevated early departures and rarely do top end players stay for 4 years anymore, Junior Tier I hockey has become a significant feeder route for college hockey and has contributed to increasing D1 parity. College hockey has changed with the times so I think it 's difficult to correlate the ethos and opportunities of Gopher teams of the past with the present.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

SteveO said:
Living off past accomplishments? You mean like recently? The way D1 programs measure success is championship banners. Last season's departing Gopher senior class scored more goals than any senior class in the NCAA last season, won the first two Big Ten Regular Season Championships, The Big Ten Tournament last season, four consecutive regular season championships including the last two years in the WCHA, four consecutive NCAA playoff appearances, and 2 Frozen Four appearances. Also over the last four years, Minnesota led the NCAA in total wins (105), winning percentage (.690) and fewest losses (43). Lastly, the Gophers led the nation in home wins (63), home winning percentage (.801) and fewest home losses (13).

.
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But yet we are somehow a dumpster fire, while we were playing for a NC in 2014. :rolleyes: It's friggin' hilarious the attempts by some to create the illusion that we are now alaska anchorage. Every program goes through down times, we knew this season would be rough, losing all those high end players. I think some just live in the land of fairy tales and are not looking at the reality of today's college hockey.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Wisko McBadgerton said:
Curious what Gopher fans take is on this article? http://www.citypages.com/news/what-happened-to-the-university-of-minnesota-hockey-program-7960026
Click to expand...

It's a sensationalized piece written by someone who doesn't have a very good understanding of college hockey, its history or in what ways it has changed and what ways it has stayed the same.

Or to put it another way, it's rubbish.

I'm not a huge Lucia fan. If a quality replacement for him was in hand, I would be just fine seeing him fired. But the criticisms levied against him in this article and elsewhere are either of a personal nature or pretty absurd.

The Gophers had so many departures after last season because players don't value the Maroon and Gold and only see the Gophers as a stepping stone? The majority of Div 1 schools probably never would have gotten 3 years out of Skjei, Reilly or even Wilcox. Or 3 from Bjugstad. Not to mention 4 from Rau.

UND develops better NHL and team players because they teach them how to be more lunch pail, while the Gophers teach them how to be prima donnas - and this prima donna complex was evidenced by the Gophers' loss to Union? Didn't the Gophers beat UND to get to that game, and beat them 2 years earlier to go the the FF?

The loss to Union was an embarrassment? Really? Everyone who could tell their ******* from a hole in the ground saw the Gophers as underdogs in that game. How about back in the 70's when the Gophers were beat by another small school in the middle of nowhere, Michigan Tech. Was that an embarrassment? How about any of their other NCAA losses to "small" schools like RPI, Providence, St. Lawrence, LSSU, Harvard? The 2012 loss to Yale had to have been an embarrassment. Oh, wait....Yale beat UND too, and by a wider margin. Never mind.

The article seems to want to lay blame at Lucia's feet for the practice of recruiting young players, but ignores the fact that he has been more vocal than anyone about doing away with the 1 thing most responsible for it...the "gentlemen's aggreement."


There is some acknowledgement that a lot of the folks (former players and alum) quoted in the article were put off by Lucia's disregard and disrespect for the alumni community. I get that. I can totally understand disliking Lucia on a personal level. But criticism of his personality shouldn't be conflated with criticism of the program. And the offered criticism of the program just doesn't make sense.

Where criticism of the program does make sense is in the decline of attendance. But I fail to see how you can put the blame on Lucia for that. Attendance has been declining ever since they implemented the mandatory "donations" on season tickets, jacked the price of single-game tickets through the roof, and joined the Big 10. Those were administrative decisions, not coaching ones.
 
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Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Tipsy McStagger said:
If you read the article, you would see that most of the criticism in it is from former players and NHL scouts. Not sure how you can slide the blame to the author and fans that aren't connected to the program.
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I'm always a little bothered when people refuse to go on the record with respect to their comments. Anyone who had generally positive things to say were named. My view is that if you have something negative to say, and you think your opinion is correct, be a man and let them put your name to it.

I understand if it's an insider like a current player or coach, but NHL scouts, and certainly former players, have nothing to fear by criticizing Lucia. Kind of B.S. imho.
 
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