NCAA stuff

I think PIT may have signed a real good Undrafted FA in Adam Johnson, F, U. MN-Duluth. He's leaving after a very productive Sophomore season and projects to be an NHL winger after a bit of seasoning in WIlkes Barre.

Will Butcher, D, U. Denver, will be this year's Vesey story - without the drama. Tim Murray threw gasoline on the Vesey story by trading a third for his rights in a futile gambit. No one is going throw pyrotechnics Butcher's way this year, but Will is the Hobey Baker winner. And, more importantly, he's almost the ideal blueliner for today's NHL.

BUF will be in on the Butcher sweeps but no one knows where he'll sign after Aug. 15. The only certainty is the Avs really fucked this one up.

 

Will Butcher, the Hobey Baker winner, is this year's highly coveted collegiate free agent. The Avs essentially told him to scram last year, and he's understandable upset with the team that drafted him. He is now a UFA and will sign with whomever he wants.

Reports out are that he will visit with three teams, so these must be considered the favorites for his services: Buffalo, New Jersey, and Vegas, (these are listed in alphabetical order; there's no implied priority). He's the kind of defenseman for today's NHL, and he is not likely to go to the team that wows him with bling. (That's going to be capped.) Rather, he is saying he wants to go to the team that he feels gives him the best long-term opportunity to succeed.

Obviously as a Sabres fan I am pleased to see that he'll visit Buffalo. I believe that having Teh Phil Housley as HC is one of the primary reasons for them being on his short list. I will admit that I was surprised to not see Pittsburgh, and I would not be shocked to see this drag out a bit as other teams vie for his services.

 

The Pens cupboard is bare especially concerning D. I hope he finds it in his heart to help them out.

 

Here's an NCAA related post... and teh Penz are the example of showing how to "git 'er dun".

https://www.nhl.com/news/pittsburgh-penguins-benefit-from-ncaa-mens-hockey/c-290979624

 

College hockey is back too, my list of definite possible future NHL stars or role players or huge disappointments - Casey Mittlestadt (BUF) - UMinnesota, Henrik Borgstram (FLA) - UDenver, Troy Terry (ANA) UDenver, Adam Fox (CAL) - Havard, Josh Norris (SJ)- UMich, Quinton Hughes ('18 eligible)- UMich, Joe Woll (TOR)- BC, Riley Tufte (DAL)- UM-Duluth, Youngest Tkachuk ('18 eligible)- BU, Dante Fabbro (NAS)- BU, Jake Oettinger (DAL) - BU, Cale Makar (DEN) UMass.
Bode Wilde (UMichigan), Joel Farabee (BU) and Oliver Wahlstrom (Harvard) look like 1st rounders in '18 but wont play NCAA until next season.

 

I'm going to see the U. MN Gophers and Casey Middlestadt at U. North Dakota on the 20th. He has NHL star potential; he still has to convert some baby fat into muscle, but he is electrifying. Otherwise, I like the way you covered your bases when projecting these players' futures. I think the Avs have a real goodun in Makar. U. Mich appears to be pretty loaded.

 

Minnesota at North Dakota is a great hockey bucket list take, that should be a fantastic atmosphere. I hear that's the best rink in college hockey to boot.
Michigan and BU chalk full of stars, problem is that the stars leave early. You gotta gel quickly and win right away, easier said than done. The long route played by the Duluths or UMLowells seems to lead to consistent success as teams. I think the best answer is a healthy mix but loading up on 1st rounders may be sexy but it's such a small window of opportunity.

 

Yeah, the great players in college these days are one season and done. If you're lucky you may get two years.

Teams like Denver can rotate in new stars every year since success begets success. But, I am jacked to get to North Dakota.

 

well teams like Denver go through their stretches of not being in the hunt as well. Up until a couple years ago they hadnt been heard from in a decade.

 

tip of the cap to Minnesota State for sweeping the (sucks to....) B.U. Terriers this weekend.

 

Dan how was the trip to Engelstad?
Denver coming east to take on BU and BC. I would expect DU to take 3+ points this weekend, hoping they take at least 2 anyway......the right 2 of course.

 

"The Ralph" is easily the finest hockey facility that I've ever been to for a college match. They bill the North Dakota - Minnesota rivalry as the biggest in college hockey, (I'm not quite buying that, but it was intense - of course they haven't played each other in a regular season game for awhile after MN bolted for the Big 10*).

My boy, Casey Mittlestadt, had the primary assist for the Gopher's first goal. Casey is good. It took into the third before the Fighting Hawks were able to release their dead gophers onto the ice. (That's a tradition when UND scores against MN. In year's past they weren't always dead prairie rats.)

I did not catch Saturday's game, but UND skated to a resounding win. Our boy, Casey, sat that one out with an injury.

I think the * Big 10 schools screwed themselves when the bolted for their own hockey conference. Last year, U. Denver, U. MN-Duluth, and North Dakota were all national championship contenders and were all ranked at or close to #1 or #2. This year, St. Cloud State is #2 (look back, I think you'll find I predicted great things for them this season). The schools playing Big 10 Hockey would be in a more prestigious league if they'd stayed where they were.

Speaking of St. Cloud State, I'm going to see them skate in Denver on 11/11.

 

Why am I watching NE Huskies, two words. Adam Gaudette, this kid is fun to watch.

 

matty-all teams go through that, but what baffles me is why do top teams suddenly lose ground and stink again? they win titles, have great incoming recruiting classes, which are better than most of the other colleges - why does it go bad? when does the tide turn against them?

im a ND football fan. from 1987-1994 they were the champs to very good to good. then they fired Lou Holtz and they stunk for over 15 yrs. Their recruiting slipped into the teens and they fired one coach after another as they became a laughing stock. how did this happened? same for hockey. i believe ex-Flyers Matt Carle played and Captained for Denver when they were National Champs. Then as you said they were bad again. I know it's hard to keep winning year after year, but high success should make it easier to stay at the top vs trying to climb to the top from the bottom. None of this applies to Nick Saban ! That guy just keeps on winning year after year and has a top 3 recruiting class every year!

 

http://www.masportsoffice.com/news/beanpot-history/

A buddy asked me cool hockey traditions...He was shocked i mentioned the Beanpot Trophy and Tournament. He vaguely heard of it. I laughed at him.

 

That above pic is a great chicklet cup.

 

Huskies beat BU, this is always awesome.

 

NU with a nice 4-1 win. Some interesting names in the box score with Shane Bowers getting an assist for BU and part of the Duchene deal on the same day, Nolan Stevens with a hatty for NU, I think he’s John Stevens kid. And Cayden Primeau, son of Keith, getting some time in net for NU.

 

Cornell ranked 14th, hmmm, BC not ranked. Geez, BU is ranked 15th. My world flipped upside down.

 

St. Cloud State Univ., #1, Univ. of North Dakota, #2, and Univ. of Denver, #3. And, I'm gonna see all three by 11/17.

(Does this belong on the fun stat board?)

Oh, Go Big Red!