I know what the thought process is, I just don't really agree with it, but whatever. We could handpick examples from any demographic to debate this but I would rather not.Talk about rent free... It's not just a Motzko thing. I'll never want a team full of Minnetonka and Wayzata kids.
The reason is they're rich kids and get every camp or skills coach they need growing up with little adversity. Having too many prima donnas has been a concern for Gopher hockey for decades. You gotta mix as many kids with different backgrounds as you can. They're often bottom 6 guys.
Now of course, many of the outstate kids are rich, too...
But the outstate kids put their heart into the M at a much higher rate per capita than the metro kids. And that's why they become fan favorites even if they're not superstars. Seth Ambroz. Jaxon Nelson. Ben Meyers (Delano kind of edge of civilization/metro). Huglen. Fish as a STP public school kid. Travis Boyd (Hopkins). Aaron Ness (never reached what we hoped for him)
eh i don't really view that as a Bob comment and more how its been for at least the last 25 years given Lucia's propensity for that as well (while it being obvious that from an access and skill standpoint, you're going to get higher numbers from your backyard in one of the country's hockey hotbeds). It's just kind of what gopher hockey has been as the outlying MN programs have grown and that you are going to run into more recruiting battles the further outstate you get as well.He is always complaining that Motzko only recruits kids from Minnetonka... That was a backhanded shot at Bob.
Even if St Cloud goes under, you will continue to see more and more Minnetonka area and Stillwater area kids on the Gophers in the coming decades. Hockey is just so expensive. UND will lean more to the CHL kids and I bet UMD will, too, as fewer kids on the range and on the North Shore can afford to play hockey.eh i don't really view that as a Bob comment and more how its been for at least the last 25 years given Lucia's propensity for that as well (while it being obvious that from an access and skill standpoint, you're going to get higher numbers from your backyard in one of the country's hockey hotbeds). It's just kind of what gopher hockey has been as the outlying MN programs have grown and that you are going to run into more recruiting battles the further outstate you get as well.
So, then Bonin took a shot at the Gopher program for how its been for the last 25 years. You can defend Bonin all you want but his comment was a shot at Motzko (as usual).eh i don't really view that as a Bob comment and more how its been for at least the last 25 years given Lucia's propensity for that as well (while it being obvious that from an access and skill standpoint, you're going to get higher numbers from your backyard in one of the country's hockey hotbeds). It's just kind of what gopher hockey has been as the outlying MN programs have grown and that you are going to run into more recruiting battles the further outstate you get as well.
Lakeville is going to go downhill quick with what happened to AV and BurnsvilleConboy is a good player but Lakeville is too affluent of a suburb, I don’t want him.
to me, seems like a great pickup. really on the upswing. College ready body wise at least too.4 star - Gunnar Conboy - Gophers
Seems like a good pickup. Like Casey, seems like his stock is climbing.
Tbh there’s about 5-10 kids (or a few more now with the Canadians) who fit more sure fire things at this age. Outside of those and rankings by puck preps and co are a complete shit show. Hell many people on GPL probably have watched more of some of the mn kids than the guys ranking them. Like you go look at the 05 (bedard class) and its all over the place with those guys (joy of how young they all are)5* Oliver McKinney - Michigan
Joins his brother
So far the usual suspects, BU and UM, as well as Notre Dame with the 5 stars today.
Just a 3rd round draft pick added in AugustSean Barnhill (older kid) also flipped to Mich St. he’s an injury replacement that was going to go to Northeastern
A 3rd round draft pick northeastern didn’t want to bring in this year yes. He’s young. He had ok at best numbers in the ushl. Could’ve probably used the extra year. Did not see who got hurt that he is replacingJust a 3rd round draft pick added in August
More saying, yeah he’s one that I’d ignore puck preps star rating (as they’re hard to make a ton out of sometimes, see my prior post) and just say he’s an instant impact caliber player. The rest are still developing. Most casual people to this board don’t follow closely enough to know the difference. He’s a huge get for providenceA 10th overall pick is a massive pickup, no quotation marks needed.
Like Whipple last year. A year too early. But his year 2 and 3 will probably be better than Whipple's years 2 and 3. It's a good pickup this late.A 3rd round draft pick northeastern didn’t want to bring in this year yes. He’s young. He had ok at best numbers in the ushl. Could’ve probably used the extra year. Did not see who got hurt that he is replacing
I agree with you. Probably too early to say how he’ll compare with whipple long term though. I’m not super optimistic he’ll figure it out but defensemen follow weird paths sometimes. Whoever whipples advisor was that pushed to come in last year was clearly very wrong though. He absolutely should’ve played juniors and I guess we’ll see if it’s the case with this guy. Would envision he’ll be much like whipple and asking as 7th defenseman or bottom pair but if you’re barnhill, you don’t pass up moving to the B10 over NE either wayLike Whipple last year. A year too early. But his year 2 and 3 will probably be better than Whipple's years 2 and 3. It's a good pickup this late.
Not only moving to Big Ten but being part of a sure fire title contender. Even if you play limited minutes you are a champion forever.I agree with you. Probably too early to say how he’ll compare with whipple long term though. I’m not super optimistic he’ll figure it out but defensemen follow weird paths sometimes. Whoever whipples advisor was that pushed to come in last year was clearly very wrong though. He absolutely should’ve played juniors and I guess we’ll see if it’s the case with this guy. Would envision he’ll be much like whipple and asking as 7th defenseman or bottom pair but if you’re barnhill, you don’t pass up moving to the B10 over NE either way
I'm sure you'll get Cullen to MSU within a few weeks hereDU and MSU each pick up a higher end commit. Still no word on the additional higher tier MN kids outside of Conboy
I like it! I have come around to the fact that bonin is a sad little half wit.Conboy is a good player but Lakeville is too affluent of a suburb, I don’t want him.
Just kidding. Score one for Motzko.I'm sure you'll get Cullen to MSU within a few weeks here