Hastings seems like a really good coach but I think its fair to ask why this team seems to falter in the Tournament at the worst possible times. I don’t buy the “overrated” monicker Twitterverse is claiming as this is a top-quality roster from top to bottom. I’m also not buying the bs claim by some MSU fans that somehow the nWCHA is weak and therefore to blame. You can’t go up 3-0 and collapse, only to blame “weak conference opponents” as the explanation for giving up 6 unanswered goals. That is quite pathetic.
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Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
- Thread starter MavsFan
- Start date
Hastings seems like a really good coach but I think its fair to ask why this team seems to falter in the Tournament at the worst possible times. I don’t buy the “overrated” monicker Twitterverse is claiming as this is a top-quality roster from top to bottom. I’m also not buying the bs claim by some MSU fans that somehow the nWCHA is weak and therefore to blame. You can’t go up 3-0 and collapse, only to blame “weak conference opponents” as the explanation for giving up 6 unanswered goals. That is quite pathetic.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Very well said and I couldn't agree more. I think Hastings record in winner take all games is like 10 - 8. We won a holiday tournament once and would win and lose at the North Star Cup but the 0-6 at the NCAAs is just something that I think has to make you wonder a bit about his ability to get this team ready to play and in game changes. At 0-6 and you have been outscored 7 to 17 (I think) You are the coach of the largest college hockey upset based on pairwise and have been outscored 8 to 0 in periods 2/3 the last two years. Thats not a great resume.
I do wonder though if our conference play doesn't create some over confidence as our ability to hold leads and other teams ability to counter attack. There was some plays yesterday that the mavs did that created offense for Providence and Im not sure if teams in the WCHA are as skilled to make those plays. I don't know. Its all very frustrating especially because losing to Prov or UMD isn't necessarily bad but its the way they lost that's been so baffling. Make no sense. At this point it can only get worse if we get a 4 goal lead..........
Thats the script for 2020. 4 goal lead after 2 and lose.
Very well said and I couldn't agree more. I think Hastings record in winner take all games is like 10 - 8. We won a holiday tournament once and would win and lose at the North Star Cup but the 0-6 at the NCAAs is just something that I think has to make you wonder a bit about his ability to get this team ready to play and in game changes. At 0-6 and you have been outscored 7 to 17 (I think) You are the coach of the largest college hockey upset based on pairwise and have been outscored 8 to 0 in periods 2/3 the last two years. Thats not a great resume.
I do wonder though if our conference play doesn't create some over confidence as our ability to hold leads and other teams ability to counter attack. There was some plays yesterday that the mavs did that created offense for Providence and Im not sure if teams in the WCHA are as skilled to make those plays. I don't know. Its all very frustrating especially because losing to Prov or UMD isn't necessarily bad but its the way they lost that's been so baffling. Make no sense. At this point it can only get worse if we get a 4 goal lead..........
Thats the script for 2020. 4 goal lead after 2 and lose.
Iwearpurple
Registered User
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
While this is a disappointing finish to the season, I think there were a lot of positives to the season, and to the future. Assuming nobody turns pro early, we will lose only one regular player (Coatta), and have what I've been led to believe a really good bunch coming in next season.
The bitter pill to swallow is the 0-6 record in the NCAA. No matter what people say, whether or not it has been mentioned in the locker room (I doubt that it has), it gets in the players heads, and subconsciously, I believe it is affecting their play. This is where Hastings has to figure out how to right this ship. I have all the confidence in the world that he can.
While this is a disappointing finish to the season, I think there were a lot of positives to the season, and to the future. Assuming nobody turns pro early, we will lose only one regular player (Coatta), and have what I've been led to believe a really good bunch coming in next season.
The bitter pill to swallow is the 0-6 record in the NCAA. No matter what people say, whether or not it has been mentioned in the locker room (I doubt that it has), it gets in the players heads, and subconsciously, I believe it is affecting their play. This is where Hastings has to figure out how to right this ship. I have all the confidence in the world that he can.
Don't you think after last year he should have righted the ship?
When do we lose confidence to that he can right the ship? 0-7 0-8?
BCeagle
Registered User
PC just snuck in because BC couldn’t beat NU in the hockey east tournament
In the quarter finals BC best PC 2 games to one in 3 tough games
That assessed major was the killer as PC broke the 3-3 tie with 2 more power play goals
manurespreader
Still upright
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
I'm sorry to butt in, but PC is a lot like BG and honestly, you should have lost to them 3 times instead of two. So you were behind the 8 ball really before the game even started. Those types of team gave you trouble all year apparently given the score vs ASU. PC is not extraordinarily skilled. And didn't you already play Duluth this year?
I'm sorry to butt in, but PC is a lot like BG and honestly, you should have lost to them 3 times instead of two. So you were behind the 8 ball really before the game even started. Those types of team gave you trouble all year apparently given the score vs ASU. PC is not extraordinarily skilled. And didn't you already play Duluth this year?
Wi.Huskies Fan
Registered User
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Nice venue. Close to many college hockey schools that are within driving distance. I would like to see a team bid for that arena. Maybe Tech could look into it sometime in the future. I know they hosted a couple of them in Green Bay. Going another 100 miles south wouldn't seem to be that big of a deal if it was available during regional play. I don't consider Pennsylvania as being a mid-west site for the tournament.
Nice venue. Close to many college hockey schools that are within driving distance. I would like to see a team bid for that arena. Maybe Tech could look into it sometime in the future. I know they hosted a couple of them in Green Bay. Going another 100 miles south wouldn't seem to be that big of a deal if it was available during regional play. I don't consider Pennsylvania as being a mid-west site for the tournament.
BCeagle
Registered User
I would have to agree
I watch PC all the time when they play BC
Mavs got muscled by the Friars after falling behind 3-0
Laker Dude
Registered User
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Obviously I would love to see it there too, as it would be a simple 45 minute drive for me to attend.
Obviously I would love to see it there too, as it would be a simple 45 minute drive for me to attend.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
I'm more than a little stunned that people seem to think that Hastings should be in jeopardy. How soon we forget how it used to be.
I'm more than a little stunned that people seem to think that Hastings should be in jeopardy. How soon we forget how it used to be.
I'm not advocating him being let go or even slightly in jeopardy. He's a great coach because I remember all to well how rough our seasons were but just because he elevated our program to new heights does that mean he doesn't deserve criticism? I love what he has done for us but 0-6 doesn't warrent a few questions? Especially as to how we lost in the last 3.
I'm simply asking at what point do start to lose that confidence because mine is shaken in him a bit. I'm not nearly at "fire him" but im not nearly as positive that he can get us to the frozen four. 3/4 years ago I had 100% faith he'd get us there
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purpleinnebraska
Well-known member
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
It's going to take a lot more losses before i'm anything less than 100% sure we have the right coach.
It's going to take a lot more losses before i'm anything less than 100% sure we have the right coach.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
I'm right there with you. Hastings has won at every level that he's been at. He will get us there. I wonder if there may be some adjustment to the recruiting strategy though. I love the guys that we have, but there is one significant flaw in the teams that we've had. The teams that we continually struggle against are those that are built like BG and PC. They are tight checking teams that play a heavy game. We struggle if we ever get behind to teams like that. We have a style that we can play and play very well, but if those teams can get us down a goal (or don't change their style when we get up on them) we struggle badly. It happened against RIT. It happened against BG this year. It happened against PC this weekend. We lose the ability to dictate the style of play against those teams. We can do it in conference against teams that aren't as talented, but can we do it against teams that have more talent?
I'm certain that Mike will get this straightened out and my confidence in him has not been shaken a bit. I think the natural shift in recruiting is that we end up going after more high end and younger players. I think we will always be an older team that has leadership ability. Now we seem to need to add that one or two players that can throw the team on their back and get a goal when necessary.
I'm right there with you. Hastings has won at every level that he's been at. He will get us there. I wonder if there may be some adjustment to the recruiting strategy though. I love the guys that we have, but there is one significant flaw in the teams that we've had. The teams that we continually struggle against are those that are built like BG and PC. They are tight checking teams that play a heavy game. We struggle if we ever get behind to teams like that. We have a style that we can play and play very well, but if those teams can get us down a goal (or don't change their style when we get up on them) we struggle badly. It happened against RIT. It happened against BG this year. It happened against PC this weekend. We lose the ability to dictate the style of play against those teams. We can do it in conference against teams that aren't as talented, but can we do it against teams that have more talent?
I'm certain that Mike will get this straightened out and my confidence in him has not been shaken a bit. I think the natural shift in recruiting is that we end up going after more high end and younger players. I think we will always be an older team that has leadership ability. Now we seem to need to add that one or two players that can throw the team on their back and get a goal when necessary.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Just watching the game as a fan, I was very surprised that when PC scored most of their power play goals, they kept running the same back-door play - and Minn. State never adjusted. Don't know if they are simply a "this is what we do" and "who we are" and they don't really make adjustments, but found the lack of in-game strategy/adjustments surprising.
Just watching the game as a fan, I was very surprised that when PC scored most of their power play goals, they kept running the same back-door play - and Minn. State never adjusted. Don't know if they are simply a "this is what we do" and "who we are" and they don't really make adjustments, but found the lack of in-game strategy/adjustments surprising.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
No, that was break down after break down after break down. I didn't see that happen all year.
In all honesty (and this legitimately isn't an argument about regional sites, it's about what I think happened), PC got the game to within two and we had the disallowed goal. You could feel the momentum changing and, although I wasn't there, I'm sure the feeling in the building was the same. Knowing that this team doesn't make those mistakes often, I think it got in their heads. I dont' think it was coaching, I think it was a bunch of guys that just got shaken and made uncharacteristic mistakes.
No, that was break down after break down after break down. I didn't see that happen all year.
In all honesty (and this legitimately isn't an argument about regional sites, it's about what I think happened), PC got the game to within two and we had the disallowed goal. You could feel the momentum changing and, although I wasn't there, I'm sure the feeling in the building was the same. Knowing that this team doesn't make those mistakes often, I think it got in their heads. I dont' think it was coaching, I think it was a bunch of guys that just got shaken and made uncharacteristic mistakes.
purpleinnebraska
Well-known member
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
That's been the missing piece. I like the strong work ethic and leadership skills of the players on our team, but we've had just one NHL draft pick start school at Mankato in the last 5 years (CJ Suess), and he was a late draft pick who'd already committed to MSU-M before the pro scouts discovered him. Of the 16 teams in the NCAA field, only us and AIC lacked an NHL draft pick on the roster. I like a system of interchangeable parts. It works great in the regular season. If our top line gets shut down, we can always get goals from a Spooner or a Napravnik or a Duehr. But in the NCAA tournament, benches get shortened, the emphasis is on defense, and you really need a guy who can make a play that no one else on your team can make. We just haven't had that guy.
The Gophers and BU and some other blue blood programs have likely went too far in the other direction (too many draft picks, not enough 4 year guys) to be consistent contenders, but I think we lack some of the high end talent to go far in the tournament.
That's been the missing piece. I like the strong work ethic and leadership skills of the players on our team, but we've had just one NHL draft pick start school at Mankato in the last 5 years (CJ Suess), and he was a late draft pick who'd already committed to MSU-M before the pro scouts discovered him. Of the 16 teams in the NCAA field, only us and AIC lacked an NHL draft pick on the roster. I like a system of interchangeable parts. It works great in the regular season. If our top line gets shut down, we can always get goals from a Spooner or a Napravnik or a Duehr. But in the NCAA tournament, benches get shortened, the emphasis is on defense, and you really need a guy who can make a play that no one else on your team can make. We just haven't had that guy.
The Gophers and BU and some other blue blood programs have likely went too far in the other direction (too many draft picks, not enough 4 year guys) to be consistent contenders, but I think we lack some of the high end talent to go far in the tournament.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Personally I think we have had a few of these guys who can make those type of plays plus when you say built on defense are we not routinely a top national ranked defense? Brinkley, Nelson, and as it sounds maybe Mackey to the NHL?
Im still hopeful that Hastings can get us to promise land but Im not sure how everyone is still as sure as they were? Recruit Different players? Different tactics? Doesn't he set who we recruit and how we play? Isn't that an inditement of him saying we need NCAA draftees? Or different tactics? How about an easy opponent in the NCAA? Got it. The 2015 team was LOADED and RIT beat us because of the type of game they played. Isn't it on the coach to make in game changes to counter that? Then with Providence and UMD it wasn't that we lost but how we lost that concerns me. In both games they made changes and we never recovered. Im sure much of my angst right now is because I grow tired of hearing "next year" and failing miserably in the NCAAs. We are a joke and deserve to be. Ive traveled from Houghton to Denver to UAH to watch the Mavs, Hastings has done more to make us relevant than anyone could have imagined. I don't think he should be fired, I don't think he should be on the Hot seat even but I do have some reservations about his ability to lead us to a frozen four.
"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." 2019-20?
Personally I think we have had a few of these guys who can make those type of plays plus when you say built on defense are we not routinely a top national ranked defense? Brinkley, Nelson, and as it sounds maybe Mackey to the NHL?
Im still hopeful that Hastings can get us to promise land but Im not sure how everyone is still as sure as they were? Recruit Different players? Different tactics? Doesn't he set who we recruit and how we play? Isn't that an inditement of him saying we need NCAA draftees? Or different tactics? How about an easy opponent in the NCAA? Got it. The 2015 team was LOADED and RIT beat us because of the type of game they played. Isn't it on the coach to make in game changes to counter that? Then with Providence and UMD it wasn't that we lost but how we lost that concerns me. In both games they made changes and we never recovered. Im sure much of my angst right now is because I grow tired of hearing "next year" and failing miserably in the NCAAs. We are a joke and deserve to be. Ive traveled from Houghton to Denver to UAH to watch the Mavs, Hastings has done more to make us relevant than anyone could have imagined. I don't think he should be fired, I don't think he should be on the Hot seat even but I do have some reservations about his ability to lead us to a frozen four.
"Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it." 2019-20?
MavHockey14
New member
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Mackey will return to school. So, the Mavericks effectively return 19 of their 20 regulars in the lineup, Coatta the only one gone. Expectations for next season will be through the roof, and on paper this will be the best team ever in Mankato.
This doesn’t count at all on guys like incoming 3rd round NHL pick Nathan Smith, Ryan Sandelin, etc.
Mackey will return to school. So, the Mavericks effectively return 19 of their 20 regulars in the lineup, Coatta the only one gone. Expectations for next season will be through the roof, and on paper this will be the best team ever in Mankato.
This doesn’t count at all on guys like incoming 3rd round NHL pick Nathan Smith, Ryan Sandelin, etc.
Re: Minnesota State 2018-19 Season Thread
Which means there's got to be a few guys leaving through other channels, doesn't it? I was under the impression there were 6 (maybe more) guys coming in and only 3 leaving.
Which means there's got to be a few guys leaving through other channels, doesn't it? I was under the impression there were 6 (maybe more) guys coming in and only 3 leaving.
They officially signed 7 in November I think NLI are good for 2 years. The real question will be if Michaelis leaves. I think if MSU won an NCAA game he’d be gone, but now I believe he’ll be back. It’s Hastings job to out recruit his current players. Top two lines are set but 3-4th are up for grabs.