Future Gopher Coach Discussion

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None of the usual names really interest me that much. The guys with ties to the U are either not established enough, or just simply not that impressive. Barr doesn't do a whole lot for me, and outside of him I haven't really heard too many names. Sack up Coyle, give Nightingale whatever it takes to get him here and give him the support ($$) he needs to right this ship.
 

GopherPete said:
None of the usual names really interest me that much. The guys with ties to the U are either not established enough, or just simply not that impressive. Barr doesn't do a whole lot for me, and outside of him I haven't really heard too many names. Sack up Coyle, give Nightingale whatever it takes to get him here and give him the support ($$) he needs to right this ship.
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Nightingale makes more than Bob does right now. You’re not outbidding Michigan state (not to mention he has a 2mil buyout)
 

Why on earth would Nightingale want to come here and have no NIL money. Some people this this is the U hockey program of 30 years ago.
 

Coyle and the administration either invest in hockey, or we get left in the dust. Brining in some unestablished coach is going to leave us in the exact same situation.
 

I have a question regarding NIL for hockey. We are the State of Hockey and have produced hundreds of NHL and college hockey players. You would think that of all our Gopher sports, hockey would be the one that's easiest to get NIL for. Aren't there Gopher hockey alums out there that have gone on to successful careers in business? Or Gopher NHL players (current or retired) that have a few bucks they would like to give to the program?

It baffles me that we don't have money flowing into our hockey program.
 


GopherJack said:
I have a question regarding NIL for hockey. We are the State of Hockey and have produced hundreds of NHL and college hockey players. You would think that of all our Gopher sports, hockey would be the one that's easiest to get NIL for. Aren't there Gopher hockey alums out there that have gone on to successful careers in business? Or Gopher NHL players (current or retired) that have a few bucks they would like to give to the program?

It baffles me that we don't have money flowing into our hockey program.
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Been discussed many places. I think what hinders most NIL is across the university for a couple reasons.

1. We are very conservative in terms of legislation and “playing by the rules” in terms of what gets through the NIL portal. This has been the major hang up on getting the Golden Helmet Collective (Gopher hockey specific NIL group) up and running, which has recruited numerous of the alumni you’re talking about. I think this is the biggest hang up is the University’s approach to compliance
2. We, as a state/University, lag drastically behind our peers in terms of general NIL donations/funds, probably in part because of this feeling like “what’s the point” and that we need a “big fish” to do the donating. While that helps, we also have a massive alumni base and you’re going to do better just getting the average Joe to donate 100-1000 a year than wait for someone to donate over a million in perpetuity. It’s on the U and NIL collectives to figure out how to do this and incentivize donors (ffs this is much easier than they’re making it out to be with licensed, player specific material/jerseys/etc) but the U enjoys putting up more road blocks than helping.
3. Related to above, there is a pull in multiple directions for money with professional sports (would you rather donate to NIL or have a 10 game wild ticket package?).


There are, reportedly, many Gopher hockey alumni who want to donate back to the players (per the GHC) as well as numerous businesses. Some good comments on it on Gopher Puck Live and their podcasts
 

upnorthkid said:
Been discussed many places. I think what hinders most NIL is across the university for a couple reasons.

1. We are very conservative in terms of legislation and “playing by the rules” in terms of what gets through the NIL portal. This has been the major hang up on getting the Golden Helmet Collective (Gopher hockey specific NIL group) up and running, which has recruited numerous of the alumni you’re talking about. I think this is the biggest hang up is the University’s approach to compliance
2. We, as a state/University, lag drastically behind our peers in terms of general NIL donations/funds, probably in part because of this feeling like “what’s the point” and that we need a “big fish” to do the donating. While that helps, we also have a massive alumni base and you’re going to do better just getting the average Joe to donate 100-1000 a year than wait for someone to donate over a million in perpetuity. It’s on the U and NIL collectives to figure out how to do this and incentivize donors (ffs this is much easier than they’re making it out to be with licensed, player specific material/jerseys/etc) but the U enjoys putting up more road blocks than helping.
3. Related to above, there is a pull in multiple directions for money with professional sports (would you rather donate to NIL or have a 10 game wild ticket package?).


There are, reportedly, many Gopher hockey alumni who want to donate back to the players (per the GHC) as well as numerous businesses. Some good comments on it on Gopher Puck Live and their podcasts
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That's a lot of words to say we're fucked
 

bonin21 said:
That's a lot of words to say we're fucked
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It’s not but sure. And I’d presume you’re donating, advocating the the STH group on things fans would like to see or to DTA to inquire about how you can help them design better shirts (and are a member) while attending the things the program puts on, and seeking to be part of the solution (GHC has mentioned numerous times they’re still networking and would love for interested people to contact them) rather than just continually writing negatively across multiple online hockey boards like that somehow helps the perception.

Or instead you’re being point number 2 encapsulated. All the people taking the approach of that they won’t donate to the U for random reasons (general incompetence, politics, lack of success, why have you) are cutting off their noses to spite their faces.

This program isn’t “fucked” unless you think mn hs hockey is fucked. It will adapt and adjust just like it did during the start of Bob’s tenure and Coyle isn’t enough of an idiot to not know this is like 1/4 places in the country where you may be fired due to your hockey team not being good over a period of time.

But hey if it helps you feel better, have at it. People are asking genuine questions on a message board. I don’t know why you feel playing the troll to them is somehow helpful.

I appreciate that you’re one of a few people here who actually watch and follow college hockey. You provide some good insight very frequently. It’s the reason I take the time to respond to your posts because you can, when you choose to, actually discuss this kind of stuff with a lens on college hockey over years of following. I like to think maybe we’d have a good time discussing it over a beer at Sturbs even if we disagree on subjects acutely.

But my goodness you need to get off the ledge that this program is “over” or something unless you’re also of the opinion a place like DU is fucked or UND for that matter if having the most NIL acutely is the end all, be all
 




That was a pretty pathetic night for Gopher hockey. They were pretty much run out of their own building by a team that is playing at a much different level.
 

I put it off far too long. Gonna email Coyle making sure he knows who Barr is this weekend. I know he's not stupid but better safe than sorry.
 

Either Bob has to be willing to move players out in the offseason and get after it in the portal and CHL or he needs to be done. I am fine with either, but if he's going to sit pat with some of this middle and upperclassmen who have gotten no better, this team will be mildly better next year up front due to the FR/SO class getting older, but is going to get killed by a weak back end.

You need to keep like 6 players right now just for some continuity as there is some talent there. The rest of the roster can be blown up
 

bonin21 said:
I put it off far too long. Gonna email Coyle making sure he knows who Barr is this weekend. I know he's not stupid but better safe than sorry.
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only benefit of coyle being out at syracuse, he'll at least know where Maine's campus is
 



upnorthkid said:
Either Bob has to be willing to move players out in the offseason and get after it in the portal and CHL or he needs to be done. I am fine with either, but if he's going to sit pat with some of this middle and upperclassmen who have gotten no better, this team will be mildly better next year up front due to the FR/SO class getting older, but is going to get killed by a weak back end.

You need to keep like 6 players right now just for some continuity as there is some talent there. The rest of the roster can be blown up
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Are you actually saying they should cut all but 6 players at the end of the year? I get you think the gophers need new blood, and maybe getting rid of some players makes sense, but you don't think that some of the six players you want to keep will say, screw it, you cut my friend, so I'm gone too? Then you have like 4 returning players. You don't think that future recruits, some are some high end talent, will look and say, I don't want to go to the Gophers because of the way they treat their players? I'm all for strengthening the roster, but cutting 6 may be more reasonable rather than trying to find 20 uncommitted CHL players.
 

Vanek26 said:
Are you actually saying they should cut all but 6 players at the end of the year? I get you think the gophers need new blood, and maybe getting rid of some players makes sense, but you don't think that some of the six players you want to keep will say, screw it, you cut my friend, so I'm gone too? Then you have like 4 returning players. You don't think that future recruits, some are some high end talent, will look and say, I don't want to go to the Gophers because of the way they treat their players? I'm all for strengthening the roster, but cutting 6 may be more reasonable rather than trying to find 20 uncommitted CHL players.
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I’m meaning there is going to be attrition after a year like this on both sides and there are some guys who are absolute priorities (Zeimer, Mooney, hendy, Moe, Moore and I’d keep Rombach personally because I think he’ll be a good 4 year guy) as building blocks that you need to sell on the future. Mix of grit and some skill and LDP is fine to keep as a goalie, but the portal always has goalies who want to play.

There are others who are good depth players to have (Pritchard, Whipple for example) but not make or break if they say there are looking elsewhere. Multiple others I’d have no problem keeping, but you need to overturn more than 4 guys on this team to try compete with the upper tier of the B10 next year.

If you let rot set in, the top guys who want to win are not going to stay here and lose so you need to sell them on that future to stay though the shit that this season is
 

bonin21 said:
Why on earth would Nightingale want to come here and have no NIL money. Some people this this is the U hockey program of 30 years ago.
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Stop with the 'We have no NIL funds" thing. You have no idea.
 

upnorthkid said:
Been discussed many places. I think what hinders most NIL is across the university for a couple reasons.

1. We are very conservative in terms of legislation and “playing by the rules” in terms of what gets through the NIL portal. This has been the major hang up on getting the Golden Helmet Collective (Gopher hockey specific NIL group) up and running, which has recruited numerous of the alumni you’re talking about. I think this is the biggest hang up is the University’s approach to compliance
2. We, as a state/University, lag drastically behind our peers in terms of general NIL donations/funds, probably in part because of this feeling like “what’s the point” and that we need a “big fish” to do the donating. While that helps, we also have a massive alumni base and you’re going to do better just getting the average Joe to donate 100-1000 a year than wait for someone to donate over a million in perpetuity. It’s on the U and NIL collectives to figure out how to do this and incentivize donors (ffs this is much easier than they’re making it out to be with licensed, player specific material/jerseys/etc) but the U enjoys putting up more road blocks than helping.
3. Related to above, there is a pull in multiple directions for money with professional sports (would you rather donate to NIL or have a 10 game wild ticket package?).


There are, reportedly, many Gopher hockey alumni who want to donate back to the players (per the GHC) as well as numerous businesses. Some good comments on it on Gopher Puck Live and their podcasts
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Just responded to Bonin on this so I'll be consistent. Nobody here has any real idea how much NIL funding we have.
 

upnorthkid said:
I’m meaning there is going to be attrition after a year like this on both sides and there are some guys who are absolute priorities (Zeimer, Mooney, hendy, Moe, Moore and I’d keep Rombach personally because I think he’ll be a good 4 year guy) as building blocks that you need to sell on the future. Mix of grit and some skill and LDP is fine to keep as a goalie, but the portal always has goalies who want to play.

There are others who are good depth players to have (Pritchard, Whipple for example) but not make or break if they say there are looking elsewhere. Multiple others I’d have no problem keeping, but you need to overturn more than 4 guys on this team to try compete with the upper tier of the B10 next year.

If you let rot set in, the top guys who want to win are not going to stay here and lose so you need to sell them on that future to stay though the shit that this season is
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I generally agree with this. I'm not sure if 6 is the number but we need a big overhaul. There is a balance though, as both you and Vanek allude to. I would not be in favor of blowing it completely up, the way Colorado football did a few years ago. That got them a decent season or two but then straight back to mediocrity. And you do have to think about the locker room. There is a lot to be said for the way a coach treats people, how teammates bond, and how continuity plays a factor. There also still is this aura of the Minnesota player playing for the hometown university. I don't have the perfect answer but these are all considerations in a roster blow up.
 

bonin21 said:
I put it off far too long. Gonna email Coyle making sure he knows who Barr is this weekend. I know he's not stupid but better safe than sorry.
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The first question that comes to mind is will you or will you not use ChatGPT to write it?

Exciting times!
 



The University of Minnesota hasn’t mattered nationally in football or men’s basketball for decades. This reality was tolerable because men’s hockey served as the exception. It was the one program that still carried prestige and identity. However, that fallback has eroded. The program rarely dominates the national conversation, and for the first time in a generation, it no longer holds unquestioned respect within MN.

The last game I attended was the embarrassing loss to LIU. The reality of just how far things have slipped hit during that game. If Motzko isn’t done at the end of this season, it signals acceptance of mediocrity and at that point, the program is cooked. I know I won’t be spending another dime on attending games.
 



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