Pre-Season Top 10

starmvp · Post by **starmvp** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 5:07 pm

Guru20 wrote:
ManBearPig wrote:
The Best in the Bizz3 wrote:couple ?'s

What is going to make MG so good this year?
Depth, Good goal-tending, and four good defense men.

Maple Grove returns most of their important pieces from a team that made it to the Section Final last year.

Some good players who could step in from a very good JV team last year, and some very good players from last years Bantam A team that made it to state.

Last 2 years Bantam A team has made it to state and it should start to show this year and the next few at the High School level.

Goalie
Coyne- Last years starter, Elite League this year

Forwards
Bell- Section 17 team, Elite D League this year
Mason- Elite D league this year
Paulson- Advanced 16 team, Elite D league this year
Dunagan- Section 17 team
Wolden- As talented as any of these guys, hasn't received the accolades
Steman- Advanced 15 team, Elite League this year

Defensemen
Popowitz- Section 17 team
Freburg- Advanced 16 Final 51
Aspinwall- Advanced 16 Final 51, Elite D league this year
Gross- Advanced 15 team

I'm sure I'm missing some and these accomplishments mean nothing once they hit the ice, just saying many have noticed that the talent is there.

I wouldn't call the Elite D League an accomplishment. The play in that league is a lot different than the Elite League. But that's just my opinion...

ManBearPig · Post by **ManBearPig** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:23 pm

starmvp wrote:
Guru20 wrote:
ManBearPig wrote: Depth, Good goal-tending, and four good defense men.

Maple Grove returns most of their important pieces from a team that made it to the Section Final last year.

Some good players who could step in from a very good JV team last year, and some very good players from last years Bantam A team that made it to state.

Last 2 years Bantam A team has made it to state and it should start to show this year and the next few at the High School level.

Goalie
Coyne- Last years starter, Elite League this year

Forwards
Bell- Section 17 team, Elite D League this year
Mason- Elite D league this year
Paulson- Advanced 16 team, Elite D league this year
Dunagan- Section 17 team
Wolden- As talented as any of these guys, hasn't received the accolades
Steman- Advanced 15 team, Elite League this year

Defensemen
Popowitz- Section 17 team
Freburg- Advanced 16 Final 51
Aspinwall- Advanced 16 Final 51, Elite D league this year
Gross- Advanced 15 team

I'm sure I'm missing some and these accomplishments mean nothing once they hit the ice, just saying many have noticed that the talent is there.
I wouldn't call the Elite D League an accomplishment. The play in that league is a lot different than the Elite League. But that's just my opinion...

Gross made the Final 20 for Select 15's, as did Paulson for the 16's.
Paulson. Aspinwall has moved up to the Elite League.

Post by **karl(east)** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 7:43 pm

The Best in the Bizz3 wrote:couple ?'s

What is going to make MG so good this year?

Why is AHA so down?

Burnsville? not top 10?

Since when is the top 20 about records? all i here is that aha will not win a non conference game? isnt this the type of schedule that makes a team strong? The best teams play the best schedules...

I think the MG question has been answered pretty well--they've got depth, a solid feeder program, and it doesn't hurt that their rivals in 5AA and the NWSC will be dropping off.

AHA lost all three Reillys (two to graduation, one to Shattuck) who were a big part of their success last year, and last year was already one of the worst (by their standards) in recent memory. That said, I do think some people are overstating their dropoff--they've still got LaBate and Hurley, and there's some interesting young talent there too. I'll probably have them between 15 and 20 in the preseason rankings.

I listed Burnsville as #10 in an earlier post. They lost more skaters to graduation than the average top ten team, but they still have one of the state's finest goalies, a few talented returners, and a strong feeder program.

Yes, playing a strong schedule should be a good thing for development. And I do think AHA will win at least one non-conference game. But if they lose to most or all of their nonconference opponents, most of which are elite teams, that's not a compelling reason to give them a high ranking. Strong schedules aren't inherently good--the team has to make something of it.

mkpfb · Post by **mkpfb** » Tue Oct 12, 2010 10:40 pm

Karl:

Edina has lost Reno (one of its top four D) for the season and might lose Everson (top 2 D) to Ann Arbor. If Everson does not come back, are they still #1?

Who is your best bet to beat favorite EP in 6AA?

The Exiled One · Post by **The Exiled One** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 8:41 am

mkpfb wrote:Karl:

Edina has lost Reno (one of its top four D) for the season and might lose Everson (top 2 D) to Ann Arbor. If Everson does not come back, are they still #1?

Who is your best bet to beat favorite EP in 6AA?

My prediction is that Everson will certainly have an invitation to join the NTDP full time, but that he'll come back. Lucia, on the other hand, I could see getting an invitation and ACCEPTING IT. No inside info here... just a couple predictions. Is Wayzata still a top 10 team without Lucia?

observer · Post by **observer** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 9:51 am

I don't agree. A little curious who had Lucia ranked as the next best 93 forward anyways. I guess USA Hockey. Or, maybe some other players ranked ahead of him passed on the invite. I think a coaches son should have to do more to prove themselves than their counterparts, not less. Had to be an eye opener playing in the Elite League one week and vs. Denver and CC the next. Wow. And, now he's played well against a couple of USHL opponents and scored twice in their last game so congrats.

I think they are using the Minnesota boys to fill these spots as most all the other players in the US are in their Tier 1 seasons playing games and the Minnesota season hasn't started. Hasn't happened before, to my knowledge, but something USA Hockey leaders have figured out. Otherwise, there's no reason all the subs would come from Minnesota. I'll guess they both come back.

High Flyer · Post by **High Flyer** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:32 am

observer wrote:I don't agree. A little curious who had Lucia ranked as the next best 93 forward anyways. I guess USA Hockey. Or, maybe some other players ranked ahead of him passed on the invite. I think a coaches son should have to do more to prove themselves than their counterparts, not less. Had to be an eye opener playing in the Elite League one week and vs. Denver and CC the next. Wow. And, now he's played well against a couple of USHL opponents and scored twice in their last game so congrats.

I think they are using the Minnesota boys to fill these spots as most all the other players in the US are in their Tier 1 seasons playing games and the Minnesota season hasn't started. Hasn't happened before, to my knowledge, but something USA Hockey leaders have figured out. Otherwise, there's no reason all the subs would come from Minnesota. I'll guess they both come back.

I think the USNDTP sees "Lucias upside" and believes that if he was in thier program, they would do a better job of helping him get to that next level. I maybe mis-informed, but someone once told me that the USNDTP staff had a bonus incentives based on NHL entry draft results. Compare Lucia to his own team mate Cameranesi. Who is the best player today? Cameranesi. Who is projected to be a better pro prospect? Lucia due to his size.

I think the fill in opportunity is the carrot they are dangling in front of Lucia to get him into the program and is the same with Everson. As much as you think it has something to do with his dad, I don't think it does.

I'm not clear as to how this all works with the USHL teams as I thought both Lucia and Everson where on Sioux Falls and Omaha's affiliate list. I'm assuming those teams would have to release them first and not sure what the motivatation is for them to do that, but they are playing for team USA, so maybe I just don't understand how all that roster stuff works

I'm also not clear as to how the MSHSL new transfer rules will apply to both these players.

The Exiled One · Post by **The Exiled One** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:38 am

High Flyer wrote:I'm also not clear as to how the MSHSL new transfer rules will apply to both these players.

They are both attending classes at their respective schools as normal, so the MSHSL rules don't pertain to this situation.

observer · Post by **observer** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 11:56 am

Nice. Budget for flying around, eh? Not attending high school in Michigan? Attending classes at Edina and Wayzata? I would hope the MSHSL would make an exception for an opportunity of this type.

The Exiled One · Post by **The Exiled One** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:32 pm

observer wrote:Nice. Budget for flying around, eh? Not attending high school in Michigan? Attending classes at Edina and Wayzata? I would hope the MSHSL would make an exception for an opportunity of this type.

Just think of how much some of us have given to USA Hockey over the years... now we know where it's all going!

Yes, I believe they're still at Edina and Wayzata during the week for classes... at least that's what I was told.

High Flyer · Post by **High Flyer** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 12:42 pm

[/quote] Yes, I believe they're still at Edina and Wayzata during the week for classes... at least that's what I was told.[/quote]

"Bueller? .........Bueller?"

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 1:10 pm

High Flyer wrote:Compare Lucia to his own team mate Cameranesi. Who is the best player today? Cameranesi. Who is projected to be a better pro prospect? Lucia due to his size.

Maybe you didn't mean to single out this one aspect (size) but I think it is a tad unfair to Mario to make it seem like that would be the only reason he is considered the more attractive long term prospect. Lot of ability there too.

It is clear that Mario's coordination hasn't quite caught up to his body frame and that seems to be the main hurdle right now. Reminds me of some taller/lanky athletes in various sports that look at tad awkward in their mid teens but then "blow up" when their coordination finally catches up a few years later. I can see why the NTDP would be interested since he is right at that time where those things tend to occur.

High Flyer · Post by **High Flyer** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 3:23 pm

Gopher Blog wrote:
High Flyer wrote:Compare Lucia to his own team mate Cameranesi. Who is the best player today? Cameranesi. Who is projected to be a better pro prospect? Lucia due to his size.
Maybe you didn't mean to single out this one aspect (size) but I think it is a tad unfair to Mario to make it seem like that would be the only reason he is considered the more attractive long term prospect. Lot of ability there too.

It is clear that Mario's coordination hasn't quite caught up to his body frame and that seems to be the main hurdle right now. Reminds me of some taller/lanky athletes in various sports that look at tad awkward in their mid teens but then "blow up" when their coordination finally catches up a few years later. I can see why the NTDP would be interested since he is right at that time where those things tend to occur.

We talking about the same thing (upside) and thanks for taking the time to elaborate what I was attempting to point out.

Post by **karl(east)** » Wed Oct 13, 2010 5:30 pm

mkpfb wrote:Karl:

Edina has lost Reno (one of its top four D) for the season and might lose Everson (top 2 D) to Ann Arbor. If Everson does not come back, are they still #1?

Who is your best bet to beat favorite EP in 6AA?

If Everson does leave, then I would put serious thought into dropping them a spot or two. If that happens, I believe Ostlie would be the only returning defenseman who saw significant ice time last year--that'd be an issue, even for a program as deep as Edina.

My pick to upset EP is probably Benilde, even though they may not be as good on paper as Wayzata or Tonka. Tonka will still be a very good team but has holes on defense, and until Wayzata does something on the big stage I'm hesitant to pick them. Benilde has a balance the other two don't, and though they may not be as deep, I'm not sure that's as big an issue against EP as it would be against, say, Hill or Edina. They do need to find themselves a goalie, though. If EP fails to get much scoring from someone other than Rau, I would like Tonka's chances if their defensemen grow up fast.

As for the question about Wayzata if Lucia goes, yes, I still think they're top 10. I'd probably put them around #8 or #9. It's a deep program, and they've still got Cameranesi.