Gopher Hockey Recruiting

[pinball]

Sorry to watch enough college hockey to know what a contending team looks like

Then, dont watch the Gophers. Stick with your Michigan, Michigan State and BU teams.

 

[upnorthkid]

So, you have given up on this year and next year. Yep, keep telling yourself you are a true Gopher fan.

i'd be pretty surprised if that group was in contention next year as well without an additions, however Has been seen time and again all it takes his being in for a chair in a chance and you can put it together at the right time.

I do expect with the incoming group coupled with our large freshman forward class getting a year older that we are better offensively next year than we are this year as we'll lose basically only Lamb. Much of next year will depend on Rombach, Gruba, and Whipple improving. Sounds like Bob had interest from some CHLers (and there are rumors of several of them planning on visits after the season, but we'll see) so maybe we'll see if he's more comfortable dabbling in that direction after a year of seeing how it goes for other teams and clearly he's already shown he's good with taking transfers

I'm actually super curious to watch how this last batch of NTDPers do. By all means was regarded as a down team (and this years team has been meh as well) but the kids on it are the highest regarded ones. Kvasnicka's current pace would see him finish top ten in scoring and around where Reschny (UND; year younger than Kvas when stats obtained) and Ritchie (BU) finished last year as well as ahead of Zakreski (UND; year older than Kvas), all of whom are looking like productive college players. Phillips is really hard to know what he'll ever become as he's an awesome athlete, but he's going to be a long development path to hope he ever hits.

 

[upnorthkid]

Recruit updates

Harper with 10pts in 11 games up in the O, so good start for him
Kvas with 16pts in 11 games in the W; really seems like this year should help him a lot
Grimes with 6 pts in 10 games; well above his clip from last year contributing offensively
Phillips seems like a penalty machine with over 5PIM a game so far; definitely happy he is playing 1 (if not 2) USHL years
Reid with 3 pts in 11 games; really don't see how you bring him to campus unless its as a non-scholarship scratch to take Harris' place
Katz with 9 pts in 11 games so a good start in Green Bay
Nevers with 3 pts in 9 games; 4th line at best when if/when he comes in next year
B Cullen with 1 pt in 8 games in Fargo; would think he's one they have play USHL multiple years and maybe come in the same time as Wyatt
Jarvis with 2 pts in 10 games for a Tri City team that's scored 23 total goals (just for some context that this team really doesn't score at all)
Geiger with no pts at the NTDP so far, McArthur with 2 pts
Casey is 2-2 .925 Sv%, 2.03GAA, 1 SO so far in the W
Conboy and Wyatt Cullen haven't played yet this year

Updates
Kvasnicka 19pts in 14games
Harper 14pts in 14
Katz 11pts in 13 and is tied for lead for Green Bay in goals with 7
Grimes 6pts in 12
Reid 5pts in 14
Jarvis with 5pts in 13
Nevers 4pts in 11
Phillips 3pts in 8; 41 PIM
B cullen 1 pt in 10
Casey is 3-2-1, .906Sv%, 2.7GAA, 1 SO
McArthur with 3 pts, Geiger with none with the NTDP
Conboy and W Cullen still out

 

[bonin21]

2026
Middle 6 right away: Kvasnicka 19pts in 14games
4th line or defer again: Katz 11pts in 13 and is tied for lead for Green Bay in goals with 7
TBD, will be hard to come in a year early and make an impact: W Cullen still out
Meh: Grimes 6pts in 12
Meh: Phillips 3pts in 8; 41 PIM
Only a Gopher because brothers: B cullen 1 pt in 10
Cut ties: Reid 5pts in 14
Cut ties: Nevers 4pts in 11

There should be alarms going off about this class just like this year's class. Two local misses to rivals (Simpson and Solomon) leading the USHL. I could see Bob trying to flip Jack Christ since Mankato recruits are an easy target.

Ben Barr will bring the Mckinnon brothers.

 

[GopherPete]

2026
Middle 6 right away: Kvasnicka 19pts in 14games
4th line or defer again: Katz 11pts in 13 and is tied for lead for Green Bay in goals with 7
TBD, will be hard to come in a year early and make an impact: W Cullen still out
Meh: Grimes 6pts in 12
Meh: Phillips 3pts in 8; 41 PIM
Only a Gopher because brothers: B cullen 1 pt in 10
Cut ties: Reid 5pts in 14
Cut ties: Nevers 4pts in 11

There should be alarms going off about this class just like this year's class. Two local misses to rivals (Simpson and Solomon) leading the USHL. I could see Bob trying to flip Jack Christ since Mankato recruits are an easy target.

Ben Barr will bring the Mckinnon brothers.

Oof

 

[bonin21]

Once he "retires" I'll be ready to start spending good money on tickets again. Unfortunately he's going to leave a multi year rebuild behind.

Watch Mooney transfer after a year to go to a contending team and more money.

Mooney transfer very likely with this horse shit team and pipeline

 

[upnorthkid]

Sounds like Hayden Reid has decommitted and now is going to Clarkson. Per his Instagram (though I don’t have it so second hand)

 

[upnorthkid]

Both Cullens have signed their NLIs with MN. Would envision this is why the Reid info came out as likely kids are seeing where they rank as far as coming in in the future and timing of that.

Would suspect both Cullens would come in 2027 imo but guess we'll see

 

[bonin21]

Both Cullens have signed their NLIs with MN. Would envision this is why the Reid info came out as likely kids are seeing where they rank as far as coming in in the future and timing of that.

Would suspect both Cullens would come in 2027 imo but guess we'll see

There is not enough forward turnover to make next year's forward group elite.

- Mittelstadt, Lamb, at least one unexpected departure
- Add at least four forwards to get to 15
-- Kvasnicka (good but not elite)
-- Nevers (yikes)

Good like finding two first rounders this late to round it out.

 

[upnorthkid]

There is not enough forward turnover to make next year's forward group elite.

- Mittelstadt, Lamb, at least one unexpected departure
- Add at least four forwards to get to 15
-- Kvasnicka (good but not elite)
-- Nevers (yikes)

Good like finding two first rounders this late to round it out.

next year's group will predominantly depend on ongoing development, I agree. Can't say I look at any of the freshmen forwards and think there's no way they should play for us, but the roles this early they're being asked to play are more the problem. D is more problematic as I think replacing Lamb will not be all that difficult with balanced growth amongst the returners.
I don't see any unexpected departures other than maybe Harris if Bob is "making room" though would doubt that as they have scholarship room and he can just stay on as an extra. No one is an immediate step into the NHL lineup guy right now. Maybe you see someone in the bottom 6 transfer out to get a bigger role but I'd kind of doubt it as Bob plays the lines all pretty equally and no one currently in the bottom 6 roles "pops" like that.

There will be plenty of action next spring, as there always will be now with the CHL and international rules getting relaxed in terms of guys who have played pro coming here. This US class is once again looking pretty weak (As Bob has mentioned prior), but you have a bunch of guys not committed for next year including a bunch of Swedes and Canadians who are in that first 2 round tier. Obviously competition for them will be high, but I do also have more optimism based on Bob's not keeping Reid on board, pushing Kvanicka and Phillips out, etc. that show maybe he's going to adapt a bit more.

I know you will forever feel this team is stuck until Bob is gone and I share your feelings that I'd also be fine moving on to someone younger (and hiring a GM rather than letting the coach hold you hostage or just going with it because your Coyle and have no idea what hockey even is), but the incoming pipeline looks stronger so maybe he'll feel a little more comfortable plugging some holes to bridge there. I'd be fine with that even if it pushes some guys who are playing some this year to occasionally be in the press box

 

[bonin21]

but the incoming pipeline looks stronger so maybe he'll feel a little more comfortable plugging some holes to bridge there. I'd be fine with that even if it pushes some guys who are playing some this year to occasionally be in the press box

But does it really though? They were all like 4 star recruits and not 5 star recruits and outside of Harper none are looking like some kind of incredible pickup so far.

 

[upnorthkid]

But does it really though? They were all like 4 star recruits and not 5 star recruits and outside of Harper none are looking like some kind of incredible pickup so far.

i know we've had the star discussion, but when Ryland Rooney is a 5 star recruit and some of the kids coming to MN are not, I don't put a ton of stock in their "star rating" per se. Cullen and Conboy have scored/produced at the international level against their peers. Both of them I think are pretty underrated guys (Cullen especially as he has grown a heck of lot). I really like Geiger's game and he strikes as one of those tall/rangy defenders we have developed really well under Bob.

Would feel better if we added at least one of Fitzhenry or Schneider (preferably Fitzhenry based on production so far but Schneider impressed me watching him play while younger as well).

But no matter how you slice it, this crop looks better on paper than the last 2 classes.

 

[bonin21]

But no matter how you slice it, this crop looks better on paper than the last 2 classes.

Doesn't say much cuz look at the team. They need Fitzhenry or a miracle in Willis or something.

 

[bonin21]

Masun Fleece is available. Sure Bob doesn't care and will roll with Katz and Nevers.