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Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

We'll get the one team I didn't really want to see in the playoffs. Although, I suppose all that puck luck against the Irish has to turn our way at some point.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

Three of the four games were close. I'd like to see MSU take a game and end the year with more wins than last year.

While I think we were all hoping to end the year someplace other than last again, this team is better than last year's. In Pairwise we're 27 out of 60 which is an improvement. If you look at who we played this year only two teams are below us in the bottom half of teams showing we did not play an easy schedule.

What we have is a great number one line (all recruited by Anastos, but developed by Cole). A defense that is improving from the horrible place it was in when Cole took over. Not perfect, but better. With such a young defense, there should be continued improvement next year with 6 of the regulars expected to return. The Apap checking line has been consistently good. What has stopped this team from being more successful is the lack of enough secondary scoring. Enough for now...we can speculate about next year once we have a better idea if anyone leaves (Hirosi probably if he gets a decent offer) and who Cole decides to bring in. Unfortunately, our top recruit is expected to go the OHL route.
 
wsummers said:
Three of the four games were close. I'd like to see MSU take a game and end the year with more wins than last year.

While I think we were all hoping to end the year someplace other than last again, this team is better than last year's. In Pairwise we're 27 out of 60 which is an improvement. If you look at who we played this year only two teams are below us in the bottom half of teams showing we did not play an easy schedule.

What we have is a great number one line (all recruited by Anastos, but developed by Cole). A defense that is improving from the horrible place it was in when Cole took over. Not perfect, but better. With such a young defense, there should be continued improvement next year with 6 of the regulars expected to return. The Apap checking line has been consistently good. What has stopped this team from being more successful is the lack of enough secondary scoring. Enough for now...we can speculate about next year once we have a better idea if anyone leaves (Hirosi probably if he gets a decent offer) and who Cole decides to bring in. Unfortunately, our top recruit is expected to go the OHL route.
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It is a shame that we have yet to top our win total from last year. I feel this was a better team and more enjoyable to watch than the previous several years.

I think we can beat Notre Dame. Well, we can beat anybody but I have a good feeling about going to ND. Those posts are gonna start bouncing into the net.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

Pirateasaur said:
It is a shame that we have yet to top our win total from last year. I feel this was a better team and more enjoyable to watch than the previous several years.

I think we can beat Notre Dame. Well, we can beat anybody but I have a good feeling about going to ND. Those posts are gonna start bouncing into the net.
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I definitely agree with that first statement. I think over time we're seeing the results of Danton putting his stamp on the program.

We've been so close with Notre Dame this year I'm wondering if this team can put it all together and get that luck going our way.

Go Green!
 
owslachief said:
I definitely agree with that first statement. I think over time we're seeing the results of Danton putting his stamp on the program.

We've been so close with Notre Dame this year I'm wondering if this team can put it all together and get that luck going our way.

Go Green!
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Well, not yet.

We just can’t score on these guys.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

Pirateasaur said:
Well, not yet.

We just can’t score on these guys.
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Boys played there ashes off tonight. Tenacious defensively, but stifled offensively. Up against a great goalie but guys that block a ton of shots in front of him.

Now we hold our collective breaths.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

I'm not sure Khodorenko skates well enough for the NHL yet, though his playmaking and hockey sense should get him a serious look. Hopefully he stays for his senior year, but a chance to play for a last place team again may not be too enticing. Without Hirose this team just got significantly worse.
 
spartyon58 said:
I'm not sure Khodorenko skates well enough for the NHL yet, though his playmaking and hockey sense should get him a serious look. Hopefully he stays for his senior year, but a chance to play for a last place team again may not be too enticing. Without Hirose this team just got significantly worse.
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Hearing they will be bringing Nodler in a year early....if true we’ll be fine.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

wsummers said:
Hearing they will be bringing Nodler in a year early....if true we’ll be fine.
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Not sure I'd characterize things as fine. Bringing Nodler in early is certainly a good start, but it hardly compensates for losing an NHL-ready player in Hirose, and presumably Afanasyev. Make no mistake, Cole's still got a lot of work to do on the 2019-2020 incoming class to be more competitive than we were this season.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

What about Lewandowski are you guys expecting him back? I would think he comes back for one more.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

Fully expecting him back. Personally Hirose is the only one I expected to leave. Khodorenko is the only other with rumors attached.
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

wsummers said:
Yes, he is the one player expected to leave early. So looks like room for a dman and 3 forwards. Best future players are in the 2020 class....
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Yes it appears that the 2019-20 incoming are big, while the 2020-21's are talented. Chomping at the bit to see the latter!
 
Re: Spartan Hockey 2018-2019 - Preparing for Glory

spartyon58 said:
I'm not sure Khodorenko skates well enough for the NHL yet, though his playmaking and hockey sense should get him a serious look. Hopefully he stays for his senior year, but a chance to play for a last place team again may not be too enticing. Without Hirose this team just got significantly worse.
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IIRC, the entire KHL line was getting a hard look. I still think there's a coin-flip chance we'll lose Lewandowski and Khodorenko, but no recent news is probably good news.

On the bright side, MSU is probably in a position of late-cycle recruiting strength with the losses of Hirose and Afanasyev. I'm guessing there are two full scholarships there.
 
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