Prospect Info: Round 7, 206th Overall - Owen McLaughlin (F) - USNTDP -- 6'0", 165 pounds

For college hockey, he kind of was. The program has not been better for him having left it.
They did finally win a national title as soon as he left the program. Of course you can say they did it off the work that had already been done by him, but I’d also argue he won during an era that was not defined by skill like it is today and they’d probably be in a similar spot if he was still at the helm considering we know how stubborn he is.

Go through those rosters and you can see they are Dave Hakstol rosters to a T, especially on the backend. Meat and potatoes types.
 
They did finally win a national title as soon as he left the program. Of course you can say they did it off the work that had already been done by him, but I’d also argue he won during an era that was not defined by skill like it is today and they’d probably be in a similar spot if he was still at the helm considering we know how stubborn he is.

Go through those rosters and you can see they are Dave Hakstol rosters to a T, especially on the backend. Meat and potatoes types.
They were making frozen fours with those rosters though. They won the title after he left, and then were missing the tournament two years later. Too longer to fire Brad Berry than it should’ve though, UND is a blueblood program.

Probably not a good sign we have a prospect leaving it, but then again, so did the coach.
 
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They were making frozen fours with those rosters though. They won the title after he left, and then were missing the tournament two years later. Too longer to fire Brad Berry than it should’ve though, UND is a blueblood program.

Probably not a good sign we have a prospect leaving it, but then again, so did the coach.
Yes they made the Frozen Four during those years (they only made it to the final once during his tenure, his first season, wonder why?). I’m saying college hockey may as well been a different sport compared to what we are seeing today. I’m highly skeptical Dave Hakstol would be regarded as this great college hockey coach in this era.

North Dakota fans don’t seem much different than the mouth breathing portion of the Flyers’ fanbase now that I think about it.

They are a blueblood by definition and the facilities are supposed to be the best of the best, but they don’t attract the top NTDP talent anymore (they got Gavin Hain). Maybe they start to take advantage of their proximity and start to recruit the WHL heavy.
 
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Yes they made the Frozen Four during those years (they only made it to the final once during his tenure, his first season, wonder why?). I’m saying college hockey may as well been a different sport compared to what we are seeing today. I’m highly skeptical Dave Hakstol would be regarded as this great college hockey coach in this era.

North Dakota fans don’t seem much different than the mouth breathing portion of the Flyers’ fanbase now that I think about it.

They are a blueblood by definition and the facilities are supposed to be the best of the best, but they don’t attract the top NTDP talent anymore (they got Gavin Hain). Maybe they start to take advantage of their proximity and start to recruit the WHL heavy.
NCAA Hockey has usually been the most regional/local thing ever, so North Dakota has historically done most of their recruiting in Western Canada, Minnesota, and North Dakota. The fact that Owen McLaugling, a southeastern PA kid, went to North Dakota, is pretty rare. This is why they don't get many NTDP kids, most of those rosters aren't from their natural recruiting grounds. Jake Sanderson was a NTDP loophole kid (basically Canadian, played several years of minor hockey in Calgary where he lived, but born in the States) who they recruited to UND.

North Dakota fans are typically much more knowledgeable about the sport than the mouth breathers in your fanbase.
 
Sacha Boisvert is transferring too, after a good freshman year at UND. I really don’t blame any of these guys. I wouldn’t want to be in North Dakota with that Green Goblin dressing room either. Those fans on Twitter can’t leave so they’re jealous.

McLaughlin isn’t an NHL talent, but I already knew that. Perron was a @BigToe guy though. I remember him messaging me about an exhibition game once.
 
Sacha Boisvert is transferring too, after a good freshman year at UND. I really don’t blame any of these guys. I wouldn’t want to be in North Dakota with that Green Goblin dressing room either. Those fans on Twitter can’t leave so they’re jealous.

McLaughlin isn’t an NHL talent, but I already knew that. Perron was a @BigToe guy though. I remember him messaging me about an exhibition game once.
A lot of the guys I liked that year aren't progressing well this year. Him, Brindley, Heidt, Brzustewicz and Gulyayev :facepalm:.
 
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Sacha Boisvert is transferring too, after a good freshman year at UND. I really don’t blame any of these guys. I wouldn’t want to be in North Dakota with that Green Goblin dressing room either. Those fans on Twitter can’t leave so they’re jealous.

McLaughlin isn’t an NHL talent, but I already knew that. Perron was a @BigToe guy though. I remember him messaging me about an exhibition game once.
I liked McLaughlin, but it was pretty clear Blake was the guy.
 
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A lot of the guys I liked that year aren't progressing well this year. Him, Brindley, Heidt, Brzustewicz and Gulyayev :facepalm:.

Don’t really think Heidt and Gulyayev have done much to not progress. Prince George went from 2nd to 10th in goals, and Russian defensemen scoring is tough to judge. They progressed last year, kinda went flat this year. Both of those guys were on longer trajectories to me. I was a little more down on Gulyayev than some though. Brindley was disappointing this year, but I wouldn’t sell my stock because of an AHL rookie season. Not everyone can have the linear progress of Bonk.
 
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NCAA Hockey has usually been the most regional/local thing ever, so North Dakota has historically done most of their recruiting in Western Canada, Minnesota, and North Dakota. The fact that Owen McLaugling, a southeastern PA kid, went to North Dakota, is pretty rare. This is why they don't get many NTDP kids, most of those rosters aren't from their natural recruiting grounds. Jake Sanderson was a NTDP loophole kid (basically Canadian, played several years of minor hockey in Calgary where he lived, but born in the States) who they recruited to UND.
He was a late commit that played the prior year (almost) in their backyard. Not that hard to connect the dots.

College hockey has never been less regional imo. Americans alone went from making up ~70% of the player base to ~60% of the player base in the last decade and that gap will only shrink with the CHL pipeline opening up and more top European prospects exploring the NCAA route.

If players think you will get them to the next level, they'll play anywhere. Nobody wants to play for Dave Hakstol or his disciple. They want to play in the Big Ten and the Boston schools where player development is a priority.

North Dakota fans are typically much more knowledgeable about the sport than the mouth breathers in your fanbase.
If Twitter is any indication it seems like two fanbases living in the glory days to me. :dunno:

McLaughlin isn’t an NHL talent, but I already knew that.
Fletcher & Flair offered him a contract after his D+1. :laugh:

A lot of the guys I liked that year aren't progressing well this year. Him, Brindley, Heidt, Brzustewicz and Gulyayev :facepalm:.
What did we hire you for?
 
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Live and learn, bb.
Selling your stock already? This is what the u20 scoring looks like when you play in the KHL.

1743809588727.png


Not going to pretend I watch KHL games but it's tough to score in that league if you don't get the minutes and he's at least the 3rd wheel on his own team. Also the Avs.
 
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