Minnesota, St. Cloud State to meet in NCAA West Regional final

[HF Article]

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The University of Minnesota and St. Cloud State University will meet for the right to advance to the Frozen Four after winning their respective NCAA West Regional semi-final games.



In the early semi-final, top-seeded Minnesota defeated fourth-seeded Robert Morris University, 7-3. The Colonials, making their first NCAA Tournament appearance, put up quite a fight before falling to the Golden Gophers.

Senior Nate Condon (COL) led Minnesota with two goals in the victory. Sophomore defensemen Mike Reilly (CBJ) and freshman Michael Brodzinski (SJS) both added a goal and an assist for the Golden Gophers.

Minnesota got out to a 4-0 lead midway through the second period, but Robert Morris wasn’t about to go quietly.… read more



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[kingsfan28]

ESPNU between periods had lots of good things to say about Gravel and Dowd. Did a great comparison between Hobie Baker finalists Johnny Gaudreau and Nic Dowd. Both analysts seem split on who will win it.

 

[KingLB]

I've been one of the ones that is hesitant on Gravel seeming ridiculous hype growing this season. So I plan on watching this whole game and try to get my own very small sample size.

First thought...he is taller then I thought. Seems slightly lanky...though mass shouldn't be that hard to add...Fashing looks thinker to me for instance.

 

[Herby]

Gaudreau may be to small to make it in the NHL but he had one of the best seasons I've ever seen a college player have. Taking nothing away from Dowd who is a solid two-way player, but he is also 23, Johnny Hockey is 20.

I hope he can pull a St. Louis, Cammy etc. and make it, he is really a joy to watch.

 

[kingsfan28]

If Fasching hadn't been traded, the Kings could have 4 draftees playing in this game.

 

[KingLB]

WTF NCAA can replay buck outta play????

 

[KingLB]

Lack of editing is making me look drunk in this thread....

BTW still would like to redo the Fashing trade.

 

[Whiskeypete]

McNabb better turn out, because i think Fasching is going to be damn good if not a special player. the kid is a true freshman and has excelled all season and in the Jrs tourney. he hasn't once looked out of place or over matched.

J Brodzinski even though he scored and had an assist last night had a tough game. they were shadowing - double teaming to the point of being ridiculous last night. his goal was a blind, lucky throw it at the net. what i did like though was that he kept his focus and composure all night, despite the added attention.

Dowd i didn't see his OT winner, because the LA game was on. as usual though he played his smart style of play. he plays very responsibly, in fact sometimes i think he plays his D side a bit to over cautiously.

Gravel is a machine imo, he reads and anticipates so well you rarely see him having to go full speed. he's very controlled and in position so well he seems to always be where he should be or where the puck-opponent is going to be in a few seconds. don't see him hammering guys often, but when he does get physical you typically see him easily manhandle the guy. as he gains mass and strength he will be a force, especially with his skating ability. i think for a big kid he is a very strong skater. nice smooth stride, some nice acceleration and quick feet and hips.

 

[Herby]

Gravel is just so smooth and in control every time he is on the ice. And I am really happy he stayed and gained the valuable experience of being a dominant player at the college level (although he was getting there as a junior) and also being a senior leader on his squad. And that is why I was disappointed that Forbort went pro without ever having that opportunity. I have not seen Forbort at the pro level but at the college level Gravel is IMO the much better prospect.

 

[kingsfan28]

3-0 Minn now. St. Cloud just can't get anything going tonight. How does Minn stay on the pp since they scored on the delayed penalty?

 

[Whiskeypete]

yeah st cloud can't get anything going, one and done if they are lucky in the O zone. this reminds me of watching U of M playing against UMD back when i was a kid. better talent and physically bigger, so they just dominated the games. one of the reasons ive always hated the Gophers since i was a kid. i will always root for the other team unless it's the Badgers or the Irish

i agree with you Herby. i think Forbort came out and his development was equal to where Gravel was after last season. the fact that Gravel took this year should leap frog him over Derek when they go head to head in MAN. Gravel also is far ahead when it comes to reads and anticipation. i've never seen Forbort read plays and position himself the way Gravel does.

 

[goosh]

Any chance Brodzinski signs his ELC at the conclusion of his season? He's only a sophomore but turns 21 in June.

 

[kingsfan28]

Looks like St.Cloud used all their mojo in last night's OT win. Minn just sufficated St.Cloud all night long. I think they may have had 2 good scoring chances the entire game.
4-0 win by Minn.

 

[kingsboy11]

Sucks for St. Cloud State, but they lost to the better team. Now get Gravel and Dowd to Manchester pronto!!!

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

Bummer for SCSt

 

[Scottkmlps]

McNabb better turn out, because i think Fasching is going to be damn good if not a special player. the kid is a true freshman and has excelled all season and in the Jrs tourney. he hasn't once looked out of place or over matched.

Don't even get me started on dealing Fasching. Really hated when they dealt him, but have to trust Lombardi and his decisions. He's made most of the right ones so far.

 

[etherialone]

Don't even get me started on dealing Fasching. Really hated when they dealt him, but have to trust Lombardi and his decisions. He's made most of the right ones so far.

As someone who has loved McNabb and coveted him since before his draft when I saw that we had picked him up I was very happy. When I heard what we gave up for him the bubble burst. I think McNabb is at the top of our D prospect list today and we have a couple of dandy kids coming up too (the overhyped for the past few years by me Gravel is going to be a good one) but I hate that we gave up Hudson and from all accounts another of my favorite kids Nic Deslariers is doing very good so far in Buffalo too.

I think Fasching is going to be a special player in a few seasons but we are in win now mode and like you if DL and co believe it was the right move to make then it was the right move to make. Oh well, we sure seem to be fully loaded with talented young Dmen today and for the foreseeable future.

 

[CTKingsFan]

Dealing Fasching defiantly hurt. But, we also acquired (or re-aquired) two 2nd round picks in that deal. That goes a long way with this organization. We could theoretically draft 2 players of Fasching's potential. Plus getting McNabb was HUGE! We had no NHL ready d-men in the system and I feel like acquiring him took some of the pressure off of getting a d-man this off-season. (Not to say we don't still need to) It also allows us to use more of our cap space in re-signing Gaborik. Which I think will be the most important aspect of the off-season.

 

[LAKings88]

I think mcnabb will be a good one in our system. Zykov and porkins could alleviate some of the loss of HF. Tough to lose him tho.

 

[donkozak]

Brodzinski Should Go Back To St Cloud

Any chance Brodzinski signs his ELC at the conclusion of his season? He's only a sophomore but turns 21 in June.

Having only completed his 2nd year in college I'm hoping Jonny Brodzinski goes back and plays at least one more year of college before turning pro. As it sits he'd be centering our third or fourth line in Manchester and we don't want to ruin his chances of making the NHL by "Pejorative Sluring" his development!

 

[kingsfan28]

Don't even get me started on dealing Fasching. Really hated when they dealt him, but have to trust Lombardi and his decisions. He's made most of the right ones so far.

I was bummed too, but when you look at the higher end of the reserve list we really lack an up and coming NHL ready defenseman.McNabb fills that spot. We have lots of good forwards coming through the system and when you think about it, Fasching would probably be 3-4 years away at the earliest. We also got 2 seconds, and we've had good success at finding talent there so it eases the loss a bit.

 

[HYORI 1963]

Does anyone ever recall the kings having 3 of their prospects on one collegiate team as their top 3 best players?

 

[Herby]

No one wants to admit it, but the lack of development of Forbort really forced Lombardi to make a move for a guy like McNabb. Plus, getting the two second round picks made the deal a winner for the Kings. Was also a great deal for Buffalo, they aren't going to be ready to contend for 4-5 years and by that time McNabb is in his late 20's and eligible for UFA.

Really was a nice deal for both teams.

 

[Whiskeypete]

No one wants to admit it, but the lack of development of Forbort really forced Lombardi to make a move for a guy like McNabb. Plus, getting the two second round picks made the deal a winner for the Kings. Was also a great deal for Buffalo, they aren't going to be ready to contend for 4-5 years and by that time McNabb is in his late 20's and eligible for UFA.

Really was a nice deal for both teams.

That is a definite possibility, but it could also be:
-Dean trading for a player they coveted but didn't draft
-Dean trading for a SAH to further cement the long-term situation for LA
-Dean hedging his bets in the event that Forbort doesn't pan out

personally i think the trade is because of the first two opinions. your point of McNabb's age and BUF's current situation and time frame fit this perfectly. the development window for McNabb and Fasching currently fit both teams very well. adding McNabb to Gravel and Forbort possibly cement LA's D setup for years to come.

i'm still hoping for Forbort to make it for selfish homer reasons. the kid grew up in my old neighborhood in Duluth. he played for my old schools/programs i did, so i would love to see him make it. i don't know him, but it would be very cool for him to play for LA.

i got short changed back in 2001-02 when LA signed B Hauer, but then traded him mid season to NSH. i was so hoping he would make it in LA. to personally have known a guy on the team and from back home would have been awesome.

talk about irony. i just did a google on him and this pic came up. Hauer covering Gabby at the World's back in 2004

 

[Herby]

I hope he makes it too, and think he will because his size, reach and skating can't be taught. But he just never took that next step in college to be a great defenseman, and I think it's fair to say the Kings are a bit disappointed with his development. I think when he was drafted he was probably penciled in to be an NHL'er by next season, and I really don't see that. You have to think they like McNabb more and I think Gravel is the way better player, especially for the role that likely will be available on the Kings next season as a SAH defender.

btw, interesting that UMD missed out on Forbort but were able to lure Justin Faulk away from Minnesota (from St. Paul) in the same recruiting class, did the Gophers not recruit Faulk?

I saw Forbort and Faulk at the 2011 Frozen Four and Faulk was one of the best freshman defenders I have ever seen.