I haven't posted in a while and I know how you all miss me.... Ok, maybe not but here's a few things that have piqued my interest lately...
In the area of WTF.... Ferris State University.
True, this the third straight good year they've had, but last year they barely finished above .500 and suddenly they're at a .700 win percentage? #1 in the Nation? They could be paper tigers but I'm less inclined to think of them like a Union based on the following criteria:
1. They won their division and their division isn't a cupcake conference like AHA.
2. They play a full schedule rather than a wonky won likle the ECACHLMAO
3. It's late in the season. No one cares who is number one (except the stat hounds) early in the season. We have something like 3 regular season games left now. To be #1 at this time in a major conference means something.
I'm not saying that Ferris State is going to win the Frozen Four or even win 1 round of the NCAAs. I'm saying it's quite an accomplishment for a team who has never been #1 ever.
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In sadder news, Concordia University (Wisconsin) announced that Tony Hrkac will not return. In his defense.... well, there isn't much. In the 129 games CUW has played since they started the program in 2007, all of which under Head Coach Hrkac, they've amassed.... 10 wins. TOTAL.
They were 10-109-10. I don't care who you are. It's awfully tough to keep a job with a record like that. Here is the link. [USCHO.COM]
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In a more cynical twist:
The Minnesota Wild completed a trade yesterday with the New Jersey Devils. The Wild trade away Zidlicky and get Kurtis Foster (D), Nick Palmieri (F), Stephane "Pe-U" Veillieux, and a 2nd round draft pick (in actuality, Washington's 2nd round pick).
So, Minnesota trades one of its only major trade bait players for two former Wild players, a 2nd round pick, and a mediocre young forward in Palmieri.
It makes no sense to me to go out and get a grinder D, grinder Forward, and a young winger. If you wanted grinding forwards, just call down to Houston. You have a minor league system FULL of them. Why get Veillieux? He's worthless offensively. And last I checked, Minnesota needed scorers. Well, at least Veilleux is fresh. According to NJDevils.com, he's only played 1 game this year. Kindof dovetails into my claims that even in Stephane's prime (he's 30 now), he wouldn't crack most of the NHL rosters on a nightly basis. Oh well.
This was a BAD trade, regardless of 1 for 1 value. It reminds me so much of Risebrough it is scary. Zidlicky was the only player outside of the blockbuster players (Koivu, Harding, Backstrom, maybe Heatley) that the Wild could trade to get scoring forwards and they didn't get one. Palmieri is young, but he's a lot like a Latendresse or Brunette in terms of offense. Seeing how Brunette is a Blackhawk and Latendresse is injured, maybe that's why they got Palmieri? I just feel like the Wild could have gotten Palmieri for less than Zidlicky and then traded Zidlicky for a scorer.
Then again, I wouldn't be afraid at this point to go overkill and trade a player like Zidlicky for a scorer even if Zidlicky, value wise, was superior to that of the scorer in question. The Wild need to score goals and well, they're not going to get that with this trade. They're not even building towards it.
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Last thing.
Though I expect Dell will start tonight, I take great pride in pointing out that Eidsness seems to be returning to form. He did fantastic last night, even with the last 3 minutes being scary. 2 of the 3 goals they scored were no doubter nothing you can do types (Shore's and Zucker's). The third was just sniping. I think Eids could have been in better position for that one but it was a good shot.
In any case, I am sure the Eidsness haters are having a field day with the last 3 minutes of the game, but I don't care. Eidsness has shown this season that he's come to play. And though I don't think we can truly say "Bench Dell for Eidsness" I can't truly say "Thanks Eids, now back to Dell" either.
I'd love to see the JPL/JPar arrangement come into place. Eidsness takes Fridays and Dell takes Saturdays. It's really late in the season to implement such a thing, but I think it should be done.
In any case, however longer the ride goes with this team, I'm all in. They have enough injuries to make it believable that winning is too hard to come by. There's no shame in having a down season due to injury. However, this team plays with a different attitude from other teams: They just go out and have fun with the system Hakstol has put in place. They're not the most talented UND team. Heck, I'd be hard to put them in the top 10 even. But they play with cohesion and support each other much better than in previous years. And from what I hear, the locker room is a different place than in previous years.
