WCHA early departures

[Bear55]

Now, if he's undrafted and older and can go into the NHL with a $2-3mil first year contract, then yes, go for it just like DaCosta did.

I might be wrong but even those guys have to make the team to collect any of that money outside a signing bonus. Sometimes I think those larger contracts can hurt their chances unless they force their way on the team. For example I remember Blake Wheeler kind of surprising everyone when he played great and made the B's. There was talk that he might be a casualty of his own contract because they didn't have enough cap space for him. It ended up working out but I think Boston had to shift some guys around.

[OnAFly]

Yeah, I suppose that would be the case. I don't think many of these guys get one way contracts. Good point.

[scsavre]

For a guy like connelley. He is just flat out ready for the next step. The ahl plays at a way higher level then college. Its not even close. Conneley is done developing at the college level. He stays another year and he will slow his development down. He is ready to take a shot at the show. What's he gonna do....play his senior year and score 8 goals against the gophs.....

Some guys are just flat out ready for new challenges. He is a hockey player then a student, not the other way around.

The ones I don't like are leaving after your freshman year. Is bjugstead ready, not even close. Who is gonna leave the sioux this year. I don't tink kristo is even cose, I don't think knight could either. But I'm sure there are a few junios that would evelop better.

[cbrooks]

] Who is gonna leave the sioux this year. I don't tink kristo is even cose, I don't think knight could either. But I'm sure there are a few junios that would evelop better.

Probable are ben Blood, Jason Gregiore, and Brett Hextall

Maybe Danny Kristo

[Bear55]

Probable are ben Blood, Jason Gregiore, and Brett Hextall

Maybe Danny Kristo

They are all ready! Sign! Sign! Sign! Sign!

[cbrooks]

Rumors are saying Kristo is staying another year.

I was a little surprise that the Coyotes came out and said they are pursuing Brett Hexstal. I didn't think he's NHL ready but the experts seem to think he is.

Speaking of Coyotes...sounds like that franchise is moving back to Winnipeg. Remember when they were the Jets. Well nothing is for sure yet.

[cbrooks]

Sad to break this news to the Bulldog fans. Justin Faulk has signed a three year contract with Carolina.

[scsavre]

Its hard to pass up $270k signing bonus when your 19 and you just won the frozen 4. Good luck. The kids needs some work, that is for sure. I think all the worst turnovers I saw in the tourny ere faulk. He's got potential and room to improve though. I think he gets a few games in the show next year.

[jellio]

He's gone....one and done players suck. As I mentioned in another post he's been off my radar screen for some time at least MConn stayed for 3 years. I'll cheer for local/undrafted guys and guys who stay and play for 4 years over a one/two year player any day. I'd be willing to bet Justin Faulk could have cared less about UmD and it's fans and I'll say the same about other guys who leave early as well. JMHO of course.

[Bear55]

I'll cheer for local/undrafted guys and guys who stay and play for 4 years over a one/two year player any day. I'd be willing to bet Justin Faulk could have cared less about UmD and it's fans and I'll say the same about other guys who leave early as well. JMHO of course.

It's a lot cooler when those 3 and 4 year players turn into all WCHA or All Americas. As a Gopher fan we are longing for the days when the 1 and 2 year players were good enough to go pro instead of leaving because their development has stalled.

It's hard to fault a kid for chasing a dream in the NHL, as fans it's just hard to watch, especially when so few of them actually make it.

[cbrooks]

In Justin Faulks case, i wouldn't think going pro would be any good for him if he just played in the AHL. If he actually gets reps in the NHL then maybe it was his time to move up. I have a feeling they send him down to the AHL. IMO Ithink atleast another year of college would do him good. College is a good time to mature mentally and pyshically before making the professional step.

[brmuskie]

I might be wrong but even those guys have to make the team to collect any of that money outside a signing bonus. Sometimes I think those larger contracts can hurt their chances unless they force their way on the team. For example I remember Blake Wheeler kind of surprising everyone when he played great and made the B's. There was talk that he might be a casualty of his own contract because they didn't have enough cap space for him. It ended up working out but I think Boston had to shift some guys around.

Matt Read signed a 3 year one way contract for 2.7 million with the Flyers after he finished his senior season. That is guaranteed money whether he plays in the AHL or NHL. I don't know about most... but some still get the one way deals.

[solbes]

Good luck to Faulk too. Of course he had room to improve yet in college as he's only a Freshie. Rumors had been flying all year about him leaving, and it's absolutely no surprise that he left. I think I posted 3 or 4 times earlier that I thought he was gonna leave after this year.

Like it or not, he was a big part of our team this year. Yeah he did make somm turn overs, but more often than not he would correct his mistake and get the puck back. He logged a lot of minutes, had a blast of a one timer, and showed a lot of poise for a freshman on our 1st Dline. Best blueliner I've seen come to Duluth since I started watching 18 years ago. Really would have been something given another year or two. I think he'll make a splash for Carolina in 2-3 years of further development.

[scsavre]

You are right about is bettering his mistakes. It seemed every time he turned the puck over, he came sprawling and crawling out of no where and got it back. Yah, he will be in the show. That kid looked way older then a freshman. He was a muture body and mind back there.

Reid got a heck of a deal with that 1 way. I have no idea how he managed that. Crazy. to pay him that much for 3 years. Seems the undrafted kids are the ones getting the 1 ways.

[cbrooks]

This could be a brutal off season for UND departure's. Dell is being rumored to have a two year contract offer from Montreal.Not too often he hear a college goaltender being courted by a NHL team. Tough to turn that down also. If UND loses him they have Theif River native Zane Gothberg(Fargo Force)to replace him.

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/?p=87797

[Bear55]

Matt Read signed a 3 year one way contract for 2.7 million with the Flyers after he finished his senior season. That is guaranteed money whether he plays in the AHL or NHL. I don't know about most... but some still get the one way deals.

Looks like you are right, he is too old to sign a rookie contract so he can go to the highest bidder, good for him.

[solbes]

Two really big departures for UMD and I wonder who's next. According to Pates at the D.N.T., he believes there will be no further departures from Duluth. If that remains true, we could have another pretty solid team next year. Other potential departures remaining include Jack Connolly (Jr), Brady Lamb (Jr), and JT Brown (Fr). If they can keep Jack and JT, at least we won't be starting over.

There is also the risk of Sandelin being woo'ed away by Penn State. Wish they'd hurry up and hire Gwoz or Mark Johnson already.

Brooks, losing Dell would hurt big time. Guy was a rock between the pipes.

[Shorelunch]

This could be a brutal off season for UND departure's. Dell is being rumored to have a two year contract offer from Montreal.Not too often he hear a college goaltender being courted by a NHL team. Tough to turn that down also. If UND loses him they have Theif River native Zane Gothberg(Fargo Force)to replace him.

http://undhockey.areavoices.com/?p=87797

Per UND, Dell is staying put.

[scsavre]

Per me, I hope they all leave und.

I saw the tentative schedule today. Gophs host nodak in nov and then hit ralphie late january, 26th I think it said.

[cbrooks]

I'm glad that shorelunch is right. Dell will return for his Jr year.

Interesting how the Matt Read one way contract situation work for him. He was too old for a rookie contract so his age worked in his advantage. Whats the maxium age for a rookie contract? This is something to think about as a college fan of the game. Those 22 year Canadian freshman don't look so bad now

[cbrooks]

Brett Hextall signed with the Coyotes. First UND early departure since TJ Oshie & Taylor Chorney in 2008.

[scsavre]

Keep em coming. they have managed to be the only team to not loose players every year.

[cbrooks]

UND got pledges to come back next season from Aaron Del, Ben Blood(can't believe he came back), and Danny Kristo. Brad Eidness and Jason Gergiore are the two that are at risk. I'm gonna say Jason Geregiore isn't coming back since the Islanders has his rights. That franchise has a habit of pulling its college drafted players out of school and putting them in the AHL, example Kyle Oskoso, Matt Donavan, and goalie Rick Dipietro(sp).

[cbrooks]

Wisconsin's Junior forward Jordy Murray is expexted to sign for a team in Switzerland.

[solbes]

Dangit Brooks, quit bumping this thread! You're giving me chest pains. Badgers, we don't need no stinking Badgers. Also missing that Pride on Ice signature. That looked awful sharp.

I thought for sure this would have been the Jcon departure I've been dreading now for 2 weeks. Without him I'm afraid the Dogs would have a pretty dismal season next year. Oleksuk would center line 1 and then a huge fall off to line 2. With Jcon they might at least make things interesting if a couple of guys step up like I think they will (Seidel, Hendrikson, and Basaraba). This team will need a legit 2nd center to elevate some of the younger wingers.

On the flip, how are those Sioux going to be next year? Looks like you'll be running Gregoire, Knight, Kristo, and Nelson? If Gregoire stays it seems like a decent crew. If he leaves you have a pretty decent gap it seems from years past. But with Dell between the pipes anything is possible.

How are those Goph's looking for next year? No more Barriball, seems like he's been there for a decade. Bjugs and Haula going to be line 1 guys anchoring the team as Sophomores?

[scsavre]

My expert opinion says dell has a mediocre year next year. Remember that is expert opinion too.

[Bear55]

Also missing that Pride on Ice signature. That looked awful sharp.

How are those Goph's looking for next year? No more Barriball, seems like he's been there for a decade. Bjugs and Haula going to be line 1 guys anchoring the team as Sophomores?

Hmmm good question on the sig, I though he was suppose to keep it for a month. If the Sioux lost on 4/7 I would think 5/7 would be the date to pull the sig, unless brooks is using Sioux math.

Here is my take on the Gophs, our D will be young and probably not all that great. Marshall looks like a great player and should step in and hopefully put some decent numbers up but he can't be the leader and we will need everyone else to step up and improve on last year if they want to actually have some kind of post season success.

I was half way excited about our forward group last year but this year I have my doubts. We lost 3 key seniors and I know guys will step up somewhat I just don't know if they will step up enough for us to be considered any kind of contender.

I see Bjugs, Haula, Moped(Budish), Hanson, Condon and Matson as having the ability to step up their games, but the real question is how much will they step up. Just enough to hang around or sign with their NHL teams or will they step up enough to really lead the team and win us games. As for the rookies it's hard not to imagine Rau having a nice year and if Ambroz can clean up some garbage in front of the net I would be thrilled if he could net 10 goals. The other two, Boyd and Isackson don't come in with as much hype but I could see them pushing some of the lower line players/seniors for ice time and that could be a good thing.

Loving Patterson in net, please stay healthy.

Overall I have been a gopher optimist the past 3-4 years and they let me know every time. This year I just don't see it but I hope I am surprised. If we can get the current soph and freshman classed to hang around another year or two we might have a high quality team again but who knows if that is possible or if any of them will develop enough to get to that level.

[scsavre]

My expert opinion says we will be b etter this upcming year. My biggest concern is player development. Rau will be an impact and ambroz will get a minimum of 15 goals. Put him out there with bjugs and hansen. I could see isackson putting up 7-10 goals too.

Not sure wht to think about defense. I think we will be better there. We didn't loose any good defense. And we have a bunch of semi experinced guys coming back. I think alt is going to be a all leaguer this year

[Bear55]

That Ambroz Bjugs Hanson line does sound kind of beastly! Hanson didn't put up huge numbers last year but he really stepped up his play, I would love to see a big year out of him. You could trade out any of those guys for Budish and have a killer line too.

[scsavre]

Budish will be a bruiser with 20 goals this year, as long s the take away his moped key