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Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

5mn_Major said:
Yeah. And I think I'm OK with that. After going 5-10 in NC play for the year, we don't really deserve to get in. From a novelty standpoint, I'd like to see if they can win the B1G regular season. But beyond that, we really don't deserve more.

The season is almost over...so a soft year close isn't that bad. I'm really just hoping us getting a year older will get us into top 10 shape. But I'm not so sure.
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Wow...so much negativity on this site. Have you ever played this game? Gopher players are not giving up on this season, neither should Gopher fans. There are 10 games left of the season, so a lot of hockey remains to be played. Stay optimistic, never give up your support. Just my .02 worth (well, maybe a nickle).:)
 
SteveO said:
Wow...so much negativity on this site. Have you ever played this game? Gopher players are not giving up on this season, neither should Gopher fans. There are 10 games left of the season, so a lot of hockey remains to be played. Stay optimistic, never give up your support. Just my .02 worth (well, maybe a nickle).:)
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It should be better now that the Gophers don't have to play any more of those in state schools from inferior leagues laden with 21 year old freshmen anymore this year!
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

davyd83 said:
It should be better now that the Gophers don't have to play any more of those in state schools from inferior leagues laden with 21 year old freshmen anymore this year!
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The rule would impact what, two players on SCSU?
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

I might have a slightly different take on this...

Since leaving the grind of playing the full WCHA schedule, the performance of the team hasn't really been up to par (as most here would define it). While the quality of the B10 is WAY down, tDon hasn't picked up the overall quality of the NC games. This year had a couple of good games, but still scheduling the group that was in the Mariucci was not very sound. Harvard can be counted on to have a great year every 10 or so years, and they got lucky with them being up this year.

I am not sure things will go back to being a perennial good team until the B10 picks up and is able to provide high-quality opponents on a weekly basis.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

JoeGopher said:
While the quality of the B10 is WAY down, tDon hasn't picked up the overall quality of the NC games.
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I am not sure this is entirely valid. Take a look at the strength of schedule since the move to the B1G.

Their first year in the B1G, the Gophers strength of schedule was 4th in the country. Last year it was down to 19 but I think it is fair to say that was more due to the B1G than the non-conference (especially UW being so brutal). They currently sit at 12 for this season. I wouldn't say that is a massive dropoff compared to the old days.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

I'd have to agree with Hammy on this. Looking at it from another perspective in terms of performance two years before and two years after entering the Big Ten, Gopher season records were remarkably similar: WCHA/54-23-6, .668 W% (2 RS titles, 2 NCAA appearances, one FF appearance/3rd); Big Ten/49-20-9, .692 W% (2 RS titles, 2 NCAA appearances, one FF appearance/2nd).

Got a little time on my hands here today so as far as NC games are concerned:

WCHA: 2011-12/8 NC games (1 ranked NC team vs 4 ranked WCHA teams = 5 ranked teams overall)
WCHA: 2012-13/8 NC games (3 ranked NC teams vs 6 ranked WCHA teams = 9 ranked teams overall)
Big Ten: 2013-14/16 NC games (5 ranked NC teams vs 2 ranked Big Ten teams = 7 ranked teams overall)
Big Ten: 2014-15/16 NC games (7 ranked NC teams vs 1 ranked Big Ten team = 8 ranked teams overall)
Big Ten: current 2015-16/15 NC games (5 ranked NC teams vs 2 ranked Big Ten teams = 7 ranked teams overall)

The Gophers play more NC games to supplement their Big Ten schedule than they ever played in the WCHA. They've actually played slightly more ranked NC teams and overall in their previous two years in the Big Ten than their last two in the WCHA.

As far as the Big Ten being a WEAK conference, I think its important to understand that conferences are made up of teams that all have various recruiting reputations, strategies and cycles. MSU has not been a consistently good team since 2008 when they were in the CCHA; 7 out of the past 10 years OSU has been under .500, Penn St. just started their program 2 years ago breaking the .500 mark last season, Wis won the LT and made the NCAAs the first season of the Big Ten and then had recruiting issues resulting in two brutal seasons so far (inc. this season).

My point is the Big Ten conference has very little to do with how these teams have performed since its inception. Secondly, the historical average of all conferences has typically been 50% of teams in the top tier and 50% in the bottom tier based upon a .500+ W% intra-conference cutoff. This has been historically true of both the Big Ten and WCHA.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Very illuminating and great job, SteveO. Not all doom and gloom like so many make it out to be.

And honestly I hope to live to see the day when the Big Ten is at least on a par with, or exceeds, every other conference in the country. It will take some time, but I think someday it could happen.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

It's going to be tough for this team to win if their top line doesn't show up on the score sheet. Both Fasching and Bristedt had no pts on the weekend, and Novak had one PP assist. That's not going to get the job done.

For this team to have success they need consistent scoring from the Novak line, the Kloos line, the PP and the occasional chip-in from other sources.
They got 1 of the 4 each night this past week.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

I don't know if everyone has completely given up on them, but I would say the team needs Lettieri/Cammarata/Gates to do ANYTHING for any corner to be turned.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Bonin21 said:
I don't know if everyone has completely given up on them, but I would say the team needs Lettieri/Cammarata/Gates to do ANYTHING for any corner to be turned.
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I'd be happy for them to just not get scored on. Get specialty team minutes from Vinny and Cammy, and have them be 0 for +/-.

You're probably right in that it's going to be tough to compete if they only have 2 lines that can score (easier for other teams to match up).

I think Cammy could be doing better if he had some more offensively capable line mates, but he isn't going to create very much for himself. Vinny seems like a classic 4th line player. And Gates is still a year away it seems to me.

So I'm not crossing my fingers, I guess is what I'm saying :P
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Stauber1 said:
I'd be happy for them to just not get scored on. Get specialty team minutes from Vinny and Cammy, and have them be 0 for +/-.
So I'm not crossing my fingers, I guess is what I'm saying :P
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Honestly I cringe whenever the pressure is on and Vinny and Cammy are out there. Combined they are a minus -14 (worst on the team) and they need to be broken up,
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

D2D said:
Very illuminating and great job, SteveO. Not all doom and gloom like so many make it out to be.
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So there was a couple of posts of people claiming this team is not that good. Its a message board...we should be getting different points of view. We can disagree without somebody being wrong.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

D2D said:
Honestly I cringe whenever the pressure is on and Vinny and Cammy are out there. Combined they are a minus -14 (worst on the team) and they need to be broken up,
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This team has some very good players, but its not deep. I've been of the opinion that if you're not going to use one of the handful of good tools the way its designed (Cammy), you might as well put it back in the toolbox and go with even less.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Thread hijack; in between some winter indoor chores, again this year I'm watching HDIM on Fox North. As much as we hate each other ;), I'm always impressed with the history of the best sport on earth in your frickin' state. I've made many trips up 53 to fish Ontario, but only once I stopped at the HOF in Eveleth and plan to go back maybe this summer, but spend a lot more time there. I'm not jealous of Minnesota's hockey history because I was once told that's a wasted emotion, but I'm very envious. Very cool day in your state; you better be proud, but not arrogant. :p
 
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