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Goldy Gopher wrote:

DmanDad1980 wrote:
This year U squad; zero finishers; zero playmakers; poor hands all around up front...

I know they're down this year, but that might be a little bit of a stretch.

Most people do not appreciate how big of a jump it is to go from high school to D1, especially the WCHA. What can appear to be superstar status in high school does not guarantee you will be a great finisher/playmaker/good hands-type player when you are up against much better and more experienced college players. Team defense and goaltending has improved so much that it has become very difficult to make the jump from being a star in high school to being a star freshman player in D1. Only a very select few can do it. And unfortunately those that do excel right away only play one or two years of college before jumping ship to try and make their mark in the NHL.

GopherHockeyRube wrote:

Lucia4President wrote: I was hoping the Gophers would pick him up. He is a great player, and he should do well in college.

It would have been a real coup for the Gophers if they could have gotten Lee as well as convince Everson to back out of his committment to join Buddish at the U. Who really knows the Gophers interest though.

Thats way to much cake for the Gophers to stomach

Goldy Gopher wrote:

DmanDad1980 wrote:
This year U squad; zero finishers; zero playmakers; poor hands all around up front...

I know they're down this year, but that might be a little bit of a stretch.

Okay, a little stretch, but the players that have left this squad in the last two years to go to the NHL have virtually depleted this squad of playmakers and finishers!

The upperclassman kids left at the forward position are not going onward to the NHL, and yes, that means Wheeler. He has regressed this year. He tries to stickhandle through too many D, and loses the battle every time.

I like Hoeffel & White, but they fit the young and inexperienced, and I think they are more the finsihers type, not the playmaker type as they get older...

This team struggles to score goals, thus playmaking and finishing...

GopherHockeyRube wrote:

Lucia4President wrote: I was hoping the Gophers would pick him up. He is a great player, and he should do well in college.

It would have been a real coup for the Gophers if they could have gotten Lee as well as convince Everson to back out of his committment to join Buddish at the U. Who really knows the Gophers interest though.

Can you imagine 3 Edina kids at the U There would surely be wailing from North to South. No way Gopher "purists" would stand for this, they would rather lose (like this year) than have any undue Edina influence.

If Edina had 4 first rounders on their team, the Gophers would limit themselves to only one of them (or two if there were some sort of legacy connection).

Wisconsin needs nat'l titles Too!!!

DmanDad1980 wrote:

Goldy Gopher wrote:

DmanDad1980 wrote:
This year U squad; zero finishers; zero playmakers; poor hands all around up front...

I know they're down this year, but that might be a little bit of a stretch.

Okay, a little stretch, but the players that have left this squad in the last two years to go to the NHL have virtually depleted this squad of playmakers and finishers!

The upperclassman kids left at the forward position are not going onward to the NHL, and yes, that means Wheeler. He has regressed this year. He tries to stickhandle through too many D, and loses the battle every time.

I like Hoeffel & White, but they fit the young and inexperienced, and I think they are more the finsihers type, not the playmaker type as they get older...

This team struggles to score goals, thus playmaking and finishing...

what are you smoiking???

ttt

You are right, it does not guarantee anything. That being said, he was the 2nd best forward on a good St Thomas squad for two years, behind a kid who is skating circles around current D1 players. Lee went from skating with Jordan to skating daily with other guaranteed D1/D3 players and being coached by a former NHL, along with currently 4 years of state tourney experience under his belt. Disappointing to not see him and Jordan play together again, but if he's got the academics to make it at Harvard, more power to him and good job. Good luck.

hockeywatcher4 wrote:

DmanDad1980 wrote:

Goldy Gopher wrote: I know they're down this year, but that might be a little bit of a stretch.

Okay, a little stretch, but the players that have left this squad in the last two years to go to the NHL have virtually depleted this squad of playmakers and finishers!

The upperclassman kids left at the forward position are not going onward to the NHL, and yes, that means Wheeler. He has regressed this year. He tries to stickhandle through too many D, and loses the battle every time.

I like Hoeffel & White, but they fit the young and inexperienced, and I think they are more the finsihers type, not the playmaker type as they get older...

This team struggles to score goals, thus playmaking and finishing...

what are you smoiking???

Yeah you nailed it, Wheeler got drafted second overall but since DManDad thought he regressed in college he is no longer going to go to the NHL.

Maybe hes not getting the goals and points that we had all imagined after watching him score 4 goals in the state championship game but you gotta be kidding me. This kid is obviously going to the NHL and so are plenty of the Gopher forwards.

hockeywatcher4 wrote:

DmanDad1980 wrote:

Goldy Gopher wrote: I know they're down this year, but that might be a little bit of a stretch.

Okay, a little stretch, but the players that have left this squad in the last two years to go to the NHL have virtually depleted this squad of playmakers and finishers!

The upperclassman kids left at the forward position are not going onward to the NHL, and yes, that means Wheeler. He has regressed this year. He tries to stickhandle through too many D, and loses the battle every time.

I like Hoeffel & White, but they fit the young and inexperienced, and I think they are more the finsihers type, not the playmaker type as they get older...

This team struggles to score goals, thus playmaking and finishing...

what are you smoiking???

Sorry, bad week to quit smokin'... smoiking ? is this smoking after doik...? anyway...

Still think Wheelers regressed; he has tremendous trouble taking the puck into the zone and to the net. I should have said that he will not be going to the NHL after this season (Junior), and I will say that Phoenix made a huge stretch and mistake to take Wheeler that high... #2 3rd round maybe... NHL chance yes, another Lawton type, yes...

What upperclassmen (Jr & Sr) forwards will be NHLers? Bostrom, Gordon, Howe, Kaufmann, Pohl... Not stellar... Stoa may if his knee returns to strength...

Wheeler still can possibly be an NHL'er I highly doubt it but he still is SO raw give him some years in the AHL and who knows...I'd love to see it. But right now it looks like just some wishful thinking...

But for others that will play in the NHL from the U may include
Stoa (most likely)
Fairchild (if he can develop physically and get a little quicker)
Kangas (if he can keep playing this well how can you doubt it?)
Hoeffel (if he can continue to develop)
White (if he can figure out the adjustment and develop physically)
and my darkhorse
Tony Lucia
Why?
Everyone's doubted him in the shadow of Joe Miller and growing up he's always made a contribution and made a difference at every level he's played at. He's a competitor and sacrifices for the team. One of the few Gophers who is willing to give it up for his teammates.