MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

[MavsFan]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

I will say that Patterson looked very good. When a goalie faces over 40 shots and only gives up two, he has kept his team in the game. I expect we'll see him again tomorrow night here in Mankato.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Tonight's overall floundering and lack of effort by the Gophers seems an all too familiar pattern at this point. This again was an extremely important series in an attempt to climb out of the cellar and show life as a team. Obviously, that didn't happen tonight and the blame must be primarily placed upon the team itself. There is not the consistency nor the chemistry that some of us expected at the beginning of the season. Even key players such as Schroeder and Fairchild seem ineffective to break this pattern of ineptitude.

This team may represent the epitome of embarrassment for a proud Gopher program over the past decade. It's becoming increasingly more realistic to expect this team to end up close to the bottom of the WCHA, miss the F5 and NCAAs, and close a dismal and tortured season on a low point.

Although it's perhaps premature, looking at the future of the Gopher hockey program seems to look more like a deadend to me. I'm at a loss as to what significant recruits lie ahead that will again put this program back on track where it once enjoyed extraordinary success. From a coaching standpoint, I believe change is looming large over the program and Maturi may now be thinking hard and long about what options are available for the future. This is not only a proud hockey tradition but is also one of the three athletic programs at the UM that generates significant revenue. All of these factors must be taken into consideration now.

Harley, I haven't always agreed with every post you have made on here, but this seems like a very apt assessment; especially the portion about the recruits. This season has been horrendous to this point, and looking at the recruits coming in (aside from Houla) I don't know how any of them are going to help the current major issue - lack of offensive production. Tonight's performance was as embarrassing as last Friday against Michigan. It's a dismal feeling to go into the second game of the series feeling like you must win just to, not tread water but, keep from drowning. There is still enough time to salvage a season, but the hole is deep and the opportunities to dig out are becoming increasingly less.

 

[Plante26]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Another loss tomorrow and anything less than three points next weekend, and Pride on Ice will officially be on suicide watch.

 

[curtism]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

I can't believe there were only 6 penalties in the game (only 1 on the Mavs )

Exactly what I was thinking. Way to stay out of the box, Mavs.

 

[Suze]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Hill also said MN players need to pull it out of each other.

Many fans are calling for Lucias head, but I am wondering if his health is back to normal yet? I seem to recall hearing him say he is still getting treatments? If so, has Hill taken over the reins? Maybe you guys need new assistant coaches? Just a thought. Lucia has proven he is an outstanding coach, but something is not right here. 20 NHL draft picks and you're in 9th place? I would kill to have 20 NHL draft picks on my team.

 

[MSUMaverickFan]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Mariucci dead, Gophers dead.

I expect the house to be rockin tomorrow night in Mankato!

 

[CavalryNate]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Many fans are calling for Lucias head, but I am wondering if his health is back to normal yet? I seem to recall hearing him say he is still getting treatments? If so, has Hill taken over the reins? Maybe you guys need new assistant coaches? Just a thought. Lucia has proven he is an outstanding coach, but something is not right here. 20 NHL draft picks and you're in 9th place? I would kill to have 20 NHL draft picks on my team.

I'll have to quote one of my heroes, Herb Brooks:

"You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back. I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country."

(Substitute "the state of Minnesota" for "their country", of course)

There's the problem right there...
These kids have to want to play championship hockey, and not just go through the motions until they sign an NHL contract.
There's not enough Herb Brooks' around these days either.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Many fans are calling for Lucias head, but I am wondering if his health is back to normal yet? I seem to recall hearing him say he is still getting treatments? If so, has Hill taken over the reins? Maybe you guys need new assistant coaches? Just a thought. Lucia has proven he is an outstanding coach, but something is not right here. 20 NHL draft picks and you're in 9th place? I would kill to have 20 NHL draft picks on my team.

Hey, I'd love to see Hill move on and away from the Gophers. I've never liked the guy, as a person or as a coach (I'll admit my appraisal of him perhaps is not based on a complete picture), but any head coach who passes the buck on to his assistants is not worthy of the position to begin with.

 

[CavalryNate]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Great. Fonderwuck is here to post. Just like siouxinminny. Shows up when his team decides to win. Yippee.

Right... I just showed up tonight, and only because the Mavericks won.

Apologies if my compliments to the goaltenders tonight weren't as relevant to the series thread as your posts are.

 

[The Rube]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Right... I just showed up tonight, and only because the Mavericks won.

Apologies if my compliments to the goaltenders tonight weren't as relevant to the series thread as your posts are.

You must be new here. Take a seat, son, and learn.

 

[Plante26]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Many fans are calling for Lucias head, but I am wondering if his health is back to normal yet? I seem to recall hearing him say he is still getting treatments? If so, has Hill taken over the reins? Maybe you guys need new assistant coaches? Just a thought. Lucia has proven he is an outstanding coach, but something is not right here. 20 NHL draft picks and you're in 9th place? I would kill to have 20 NHL draft picks on my team.

When I see the Gophs play, I see a lot of individualism. I also see a lot of out of control play--this year especially. Positional play is poor; defensively, the forwards don't seem to be supporting down low and the defensemen are wandering into the corners without making sure they have the backup. Without their goaltending, they'd be two or three wins lighter.

When it comes right down to it, the main problem isn't Lucia......it's a bunch of kids who were all the c*ck of the walk in HS/Jrs, and now they don't know how to subordinate.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

If so, has Hill taken over the reins?

No. Lucia has been behind the bench for all the games I've seen.

Maybe you guys need new assistant coaches?

Originally it was Hill and Guentzel, then it was Guentzel and Motzko, then Guentzel and Hill again, followed by Hill and Hastings, and now Hill and Potulny. I think letting Guentzel go / forcing him out was a big mistake.

20 NHL draft picks and you're in 9th place? I would kill to have 20 NHL draft picks on my team.

The word "underachieving" comes to mind. It's not so much a question of talent as it's a question of attitude/motivation. How else can you explain getting outshot 18-4 at home in the first period against another team that is in the bottom tier of the league too? It'd be one thing if the team was clearly competing hard every night and suffering hard-luck losses. However, for the most part, that hasn't been the case (save for the two losses at home to UMD).

 

[state of hockey]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

it's a bunch of kids who were all the c*ck of the walk in HS/Jrs, and now they don't know how to subordinate.

Pretty much. I counted at least four times a Gopher player impeded a Gopher player from controlling the puck. YOU ARE ON THE SAME TEAM.

 

[MavsFan]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Pretty much. I counted at least four times a Gopher player impeded a Gopher player from controlling the puck. YOU ARE ON THE SAME TEAM.

Sounds like a whole team of Tim Jackman (when he was with the Mavs; he's just a role-playing semi-thug in the NHL.)

 

[Stauber1]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

I'll have to quote one of my heroes, Herb Brooks:

"You're looking for players whose name on the front of the sweater is more important than the one on the back. I look for these players to play hard, to play smart and to represent their country."

(Substitute "the state of Minnesota" for "their country", of course)

There's the problem right there...
These kids have to want to play championship hockey, and not just go through the motions until they sign an NHL contract.
There's not enough Herb Brooks' around these days either.

That's great, but the majority of these kids who are looking to an NHL contract right now are delusional. Carman? Flynn? Fischer? White? Lucia? Even Hoefel. These guys, consistently over the course of numerous years, have not shown themselves to be NHL caliber players. And guys like Fairchild, Ness, Sachetti, Mattson...they are starting to join that list. If they are just going through the motions until they get an NHL contract, they will be going through the motions for the rest of their careers unless they start doing the things necessary for a team, not an individual, to be successful. There is far too great a trend going right now not to begin to turn your gaze to the coaching staff.
For a number of years I thought Lucia to be among the best in college hockey. But I'm starting to really question that. Maybe he never was, he just benefited from assistants who were great recruiters...or maybe he was, but has since lost that intensity and competitive edge that is required to lead a championship caliber team. Either way, I don't think there is any way you can't start to put some of the blame on the coaching staff.
I really hope I am proved wrong, and the Gophers turn it on in the second half and turn this thing around...I will be the first to step up and say I was an A$@ for ever questioning tDon. But the last couple weeks, coupled with the start of the season, doesn't make me too hopeful.

 

[Stauber1]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Originally it was Hill and Guentzel, then it was Guentzel and Motzko, then Guentzel and Hill again, followed by Hill and Hastings, and now Hill and Potulny. I think letting Guentzel go / forcing him out was a big mistake.

I, truly and wholly, could not agree more.

 

[Bakunin]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Since it's the coach that recruits the players, the blame falls squarely on Lucia for failing to recruit players that are motivated. Talent doesn't do a * bit of good if there's no heart to go with it.

 

[Jockstock]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

Coach Guentzel was a player's coach. He was easy to talk to and always encouraging. Real good guy.

 

[GO-4-EXCELLENCE]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

For a number of years I thought Lucia to be among the best in college hockey. But I'm starting to really question that. Maybe he never was, he just benefited from assistants who were great recruiters...or maybe he was, but has since lost that intensity and competitive edge that is required to lead a championship caliber team. Either way, I don't think there is any way you can't start to put some of the blame on the coaching staff.

Stauber1,

I must admit there is a lot of validity here, more so, than some might care to admit. Judging how well Motzko did just after leaving the UM (and not having the prestige that the UM has in regards to "recruit appeal") it's more than obvious Motzko was a large part of the success while he was at the UM.

While I am not calling for Lucia's head just yet, I do wonder to what degree does he really hold sway over this group of kids? If he really *is* that good of a coach I would assert that he *should* have the ability to get his players back on track within a series or two at most.

Perhaps, having Guentzel and Motzko on those 2002-03 NCAA championship teams was the difference maker in terms of rounding out a solid coaching "core." Again, Moztko is doing just as well (if not better) with "less" than tDon.

In the end, it's hard not to acknowledge that coaching has a significant role in this under-performing team/program. And, to me, I think a losing season at the UM ought to be enough to warrant ushering in a new coach (coaching staff.)

 

[Koho]

Re: MN vs. MN State Mankato: Where Exactly Are The Speed Traps On 169?

North Carolina coaching legend Dean Smith: "If you make every game a life-and-death thing, you're going to have problems. You'll be dead a lot."

I've felt dead a lot this year, last night being perhaps the worst.