At a program like this, this thread doesn't come too early. Even if it gets dusty at some point. I watched what happened to this program when Lucia was allowed to keep his job for two, if not three, extra seasons.
After almost seven full seasons, I have seen enough to know Motzko hockey. I'm out on the entire staff including goaltending coach, the skating coach if they still have one, and even the trainer as they get outworked so often.
Motzko has been too "smart" for the transfer portal, no longer gets any Mr. Hockeys (a big part of U hockey tradition), and too slow to hit up the CHL to start filling massive gaps for next year. He may lose all four first rounders this spring with zero in the pipeline. Of the three big transfers he did get: one did nothing here and then went to SCSU and was great, one sought him out moreso than a strong recruiting push (Wood), and the other was the same with Souliere basically calling him. Had he put in any effort before that, the Gophers would have a true number 1 between the pipes right now.
These Gopher teams have zero grit, play slowly, rely purely on skill, don't hit anybody... Special teams are a disaster and the PP has been poorly structured most seasons under Motzko. Goaltending recruiting and management is unacceptable for a program of this size. Soft teams that pass and pass and pass and then miss the net instead of getting shots on net to create rebounds and crash the net. They can't bury breakways because of lack of tight scoring skill which is reflected in the shootout.
It's a high likelihood Motzko's legacy is choking with the best roster in program history. Maybe the single biggest choke in program history as well.
It's possible they win a game or two this NCAA tourney. I see maybe a first round win. You will get your 20+ win seasons that go nowhere until he decides to retire or is encouraged to do so. Need to go better and younger with the next staff and that would not be hard to do.
As of March 9, 2025, my number one candidate for a clean sweep staff overhaul is Ben Barr and anyone he wants to bring. Better hope to land him before he pulls off a huge underdog program victory and gets Maine a title.
After almost seven full seasons, I have seen enough to know Motzko hockey. I'm out on the entire staff including goaltending coach, the skating coach if they still have one, and even the trainer as they get outworked so often.
Motzko has been too "smart" for the transfer portal, no longer gets any Mr. Hockeys (a big part of U hockey tradition), and too slow to hit up the CHL to start filling massive gaps for next year. He may lose all four first rounders this spring with zero in the pipeline. Of the three big transfers he did get: one did nothing here and then went to SCSU and was great, one sought him out moreso than a strong recruiting push (Wood), and the other was the same with Souliere basically calling him. Had he put in any effort before that, the Gophers would have a true number 1 between the pipes right now.
These Gopher teams have zero grit, play slowly, rely purely on skill, don't hit anybody... Special teams are a disaster and the PP has been poorly structured most seasons under Motzko. Goaltending recruiting and management is unacceptable for a program of this size. Soft teams that pass and pass and pass and then miss the net instead of getting shots on net to create rebounds and crash the net. They can't bury breakways because of lack of tight scoring skill which is reflected in the shootout.
It's a high likelihood Motzko's legacy is choking with the best roster in program history. Maybe the single biggest choke in program history as well.
It's possible they win a game or two this NCAA tourney. I see maybe a first round win. You will get your 20+ win seasons that go nowhere until he decides to retire or is encouraged to do so. Need to go better and younger with the next staff and that would not be hard to do.
As of March 9, 2025, my number one candidate for a clean sweep staff overhaul is Ben Barr and anyone he wants to bring. Better hope to land him before he pulls off a huge underdog program victory and gets Maine a title.
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