WCHA early departures

[solbes]

'Cause Mopeds are dangerous.

[Bear55]

If Budish scores 20 and Ambroz nets 15 we will make the NCAA's next year. Now the bad news, I just don't see if happening, I would be pretty happy if they each get 10.

[scsavre]

What happened to that optomistic bear with antlers.

On a terrific side note. My lenton commitments of no booze have experied. I would expect happier and funnier messages from me again. I don't think I can drink enough to stop bashing the sioux, but I will try to refrain until june. That's a tough goal.

Now on to my bottle of woodford reserve and ginger ale-don't ask.

[Bear55]

I think my negativity is a lame attempt to reverse psych the gophers into the ncaa's next year.

For the gophs to do any damage next year Marshall and Rau will have to place 1 and 2 for rookie of the year and Bjugs is going to need to be an All American. Oh ya and a whole bunch of other guys are going to have career years.

[cbrooks]

Amboz os gonna be a stud this year from what I'm hearing. Here's a couple of articles on Minnesota's defensemen line up and the new rookie Blake.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/120719904.html

http://www.startribune.com/sports/blogs/120740319.html

[Shorelunch]

According to a "source" on SS.com, Brett Bruneteau is leaving the program. Similar situation, I would guess, to Fienhage and D. Toews. And no . . . I don't think he's going to BSU . . .

[cbrooks]

Rumors are that Mike Cichy may follow, lack of playing.

[Shorelunch]

Rumors are that Mike Cichy may follow, lack of playing.

Yeah, that would be too bad. He's been Jeckyl and Hyde, but he's shown up and had a few decent games, and then disappears. Wonder what going on there. Theoretically, he should get some considerable ice time this coming year.

[scsavre]

Yah, didnt they have high expectations for him?

[cbrooks]

Wasn't he the USHL MVP and the Canadians Jrs wanted him along with all the top colleges. He had high expectations that didn't pan out yet. he maybe played six games last year. I couldn't tell you if he looked good or bad. never heard anything from him. Kind of a mystery.

[scsavre]

Not MVP, but second in the league in scoring. 76 points. What the heck happened.

[scsavre]

Im not thrilled about this. I wonder if we had a different coach if this would be happening.

bjugs press

Hopefully Bjugs stays.

Word is the Florida Panthers have been hoping Gophers freshman forward Nick Bjugstad, last year's Mr. Hockey Minnesota, would sign rather than return to school.

The Panthers rate Bjugstad the third-best prospect in their system, according to The Hockey News, and are not thrilled about him remaining at Minnesota because they believe he's "being misused by playing wing instead of center. That's not his fault," Panthers assistant general manager Mike Santos said.

[cbrooks]

I don't want to sound like the UND fan slamming Minnesota program but yeah...Minnesota may have an issue with pro teams trusting there prospects develop in there program. Example Kyle Oskposo leaving halfway through the season to play with the Islanders raise some questions. Rumor was the Islanders weren't happy with his development at the U. I didn't read too much into that because I thought the Islanders didn't respect college hockey as much. I could be wrong alot of this stuff is from chatter on the internet. I just know what I see every year. I'm hearing opinions from some of the sports writers that Bjugstad is staying also for atleast another year. My opinion is if he didn't sign back in March he will be back next season.

[scsavre]

Not telling us anything new Brooks. The NHL GM's do not trust their players with Lucia and they are right not too. Look at all the first and second rounders that have flopped under him. Is it all his fault? no, but he shares the blame. Some of it is the teams drafting players that shouldn't have gone that high. Some of the teams were drafting MN kids because they were going to the Gophs. Figured why not let Guentzel do the scouting and all the work research hing these kids.

I am not even kidding you that defense man that have wanted to come here have been advised not to come to the Gophs, due to Hill and Lucia. I dont like all these advisors out there, but we have flopped on our D-development in the past 6 years.

I just thought of something, Maybe Don is advising Mario Lucia against being a Gopher, He doesnt trust his staff to develop his kid.

[Bear55]

Ok I didn't see every gopher game this year but I don't ever recall Bjugs playing wing. Heck I think he was our best faceoff man.

While its no secret NHL gm's don't care for Lucia I really think it gets overblown, you never heard any of this stuff when guys were putting up point and the gophers were winning NC's. A lot of times college coaches are just scapegoats for bad picks. Winning will change just about everything, those NHL guys want to see their prospects put up the numbers, win games and get into the playoffs.

From what I hear about the Okposo deal is he wanted to go pro after one year, the Isles sent him back. You could see he didn't want to be there and it really showed in his play, sure Lucia had him at center because we didn't have anyone else to put there but you don't suck in college and then put up very good numbers in the AHL in the very same year.

[Shorelunch]

So now Cichy is transferring to another (to be named) school. Neither Bruno or Cichy were second or even third line guys, but both had "potential" to be there, especially Cichy.

Must have saw the writing on the wall with some incoming freshmen. Still would like to know what happened to Cichy's game . . .

[Bear55]

So now Cichy is transferring to another (to be named) school. Neither Bruno or Cichy were second or even third line guys, but both had "potential" to be there, especially Cichy.

Must have saw the writing on the wall with some incoming freshmen. Still would like to know what happened to Cichy's game . . .

Poor development, coaches fault for sure. Montreal/NHL not happy with the way UND and Hakstol are developing players. I'm only kidding of course but this is how this stuff starts.

It use to be that college players worked their tails off to get more playing time, now they just move on. Now the best part, if you aren't good enough to crack your college team really where do you think you are going to move on to?

[cbrooks]

haha. Bear still work up about the the bjustad articles written about him being misused in Minnesota.

[Bear55]

I am still trying to figure that one out, heck I still don't remember him playing wing plus he was one of our best players during the 2nd half and got all kinds of ice time and pp time.

[Shorelunch]

Son of a . . . UND's Gregoire leaves after his Jr. season. His absence will definitely be felt this upcoming season.

[scsavre]

Wish I could say I was sad. Nope, not sad. As long as they stay 3 years I'm ok.

[solbes]

Son of a . . . UND's Gregoire leaves after his Jr. season. His absence will definitely be felt this upcoming season.

Yup, that one hurts. I thought we were all done with kids leaving early?

[solbes]

Max Gardiner is headed to USHL and leaving the Gophers. Probably didn't see a lot of ice time in his future looking at next years roster.

[scsavre]

Max gardiner leaves the gopher program. 17 games played. 3 points. Perfect example of why u need to play a year of juniors. He was a last minute roster addition and now he is gone.

He is going to the ushl.

This is actually a good thing, makes room for anew player with some ushl experience.

[yakfisher]

I bet Gardiner shows up at Sconi after his one year in the USHL.

[mulefarm]

He'll end up with the Sioux.

[Bear55]

He is going to have to step up his game big time to end up at one of those schools. Hey in time he could be an NHL regular but he wasn't ready for the WCHA last year.

[cbrooks]

Wisconsin coach Mike Eaves a finalist for the headcoaching job for the Devils. Rumors floating around that he has it and will make an annoucement tomorrow. Guess we'll see.

[cbrooks]

I figured this can count as a departure. Sioux recruit JT Smith has decommitted from UND and will be playing Canadian Jrs. Yep...kind of stinks

[Bear55]

Just saw that, he probably wants no part of the Super Conference. That or he wished he had gone with a Big Ten school and decided to skip the NCAA all together.