Let's talk about what needs to happen to FIX the Gophers !
1. Replace Lucia !
As I've said before I think it's time for Don to move on. However, with an AD how could care less about the hockey program Don probably isn't going anywhere until Don decides it's time to go. MINNESOTA IS A HOCKEY SCHOOL ! They couldn't have picked a worse person to be the AD at a hockey school than Norwood.
2. Goalie !
They have to come up with a lights out goalie or everything else is a waste of time. The good goalies these days are big guys. The era of the small quick goal tender seems to have past.
3. Take care of business in your own end !
How often this past season that the Gophers control the puck in the offensive zone for extended periods only to give up an odd man rush and the other team scored ? A LOT in my recollection. Watching the NCAA tournament the best teams had big tough defenseman who never let anyone near the slot. The Gophers rarely have problems scoring but they need to do a lot better in their own end.
4. Size matters !
Winning teams tend to have bigger (and older ) players these days. You can have a few Cammerattas and Lettieris but you have to have size these days. Ryan Collins and Jaxon Nelson would seem to indicate that they are looking for size. You also need guys who have voted a few times already. 19 and 20 year olds have trouble competing physically with 23 and 24 year olds.
5. The right blend of players !
Don seems to get a lot of guys who want the puck and want to score. He can't seem to put the right "blend " together however. The team chemistry often seems out of whack. Herb Brooks knew how to put the right group of guys together. Players with grit and players he could push when necessary.
6. Is it time to recruit more outside of Minnesota ?
I hate teams like RIT that load up on almost exclusively Canadians. BU had a lot of local players but they also brought in players from Europe and elsewhere. Personally I've always been very proud of the fact that Minnesota's roster was almost exclusively Minnesotans but maybe it's time to bring in a few players from outside of Minnesota ?
1. Replace Lucia !
As I've said before I think it's time for Don to move on. However, with an AD how could care less about the hockey program Don probably isn't going anywhere until Don decides it's time to go. MINNESOTA IS A HOCKEY SCHOOL ! They couldn't have picked a worse person to be the AD at a hockey school than Norwood.
2. Goalie !
They have to come up with a lights out goalie or everything else is a waste of time. The good goalies these days are big guys. The era of the small quick goal tender seems to have past.
3. Take care of business in your own end !
How often this past season that the Gophers control the puck in the offensive zone for extended periods only to give up an odd man rush and the other team scored ? A LOT in my recollection. Watching the NCAA tournament the best teams had big tough defenseman who never let anyone near the slot. The Gophers rarely have problems scoring but they need to do a lot better in their own end.
4. Size matters !
Winning teams tend to have bigger (and older ) players these days. You can have a few Cammerattas and Lettieris but you have to have size these days. Ryan Collins and Jaxon Nelson would seem to indicate that they are looking for size. You also need guys who have voted a few times already. 19 and 20 year olds have trouble competing physically with 23 and 24 year olds.
5. The right blend of players !
Don seems to get a lot of guys who want the puck and want to score. He can't seem to put the right "blend " together however. The team chemistry often seems out of whack. Herb Brooks knew how to put the right group of guys together. Players with grit and players he could push when necessary.
6. Is it time to recruit more outside of Minnesota ?
I hate teams like RIT that load up on almost exclusively Canadians. BU had a lot of local players but they also brought in players from Europe and elsewhere. Personally I've always been very proud of the fact that Minnesota's roster was almost exclusively Minnesotans but maybe it's time to bring in a few players from outside of Minnesota ?