Johnson Highlights Vikings Draft

The Vikings were not expected to make a splash in the 2008 draft after being stripped of 1st and 3rd round picks in the Jared Allen trade. But they did their best to make some noise when they moved up in the 2nd round to nab Arkansas State safety Tyrell Johnson with the 43rd overall pick. Johnson was a fast-rising safety who some had sneaking into the 1st round and brings a solid set of skills to the table for the Vikings. He will play apprentice to both Madieu Williams and Darren Sharper in 2008 and could be the heir apparent to Sharper at strong safety, which could come soon considering Sharper's contract is up after the 2008 season and he turns 33 in November. Johnson is the type of versatile safety with ball skills that the Vikings covet and he will have time to learn the position playing behind a couple talented veterans. For this year he will add some solid depth to a defense that is shaping up quite nicely and may be needed to fill in at times given Williams fairly lengthy injury history.

The big name of the draft class is John David Booty, who was at the helm for Southern California the past two seasons. Booty brings experience in the West Coast offense, which the Trojans employed, and an accurate arm that bodes well for the system. His arrival likely means the end of the road for Brooks Bollinger in Minnesota and if Tarvaris Jackson struggles in 2008 Booty may be the favorite to start in 2009. The Vikings also brought in talented but enigmatic defensive tackle Letroy Guion from Florida State, along with center John Sullivan from Notre Dame and wide receiver Jaymar Johnson from Jackson State. The Vikings do not have many roster spots available, so late round picks will have their work cut out for them if they are going to make the team, especially given the amount of undrafted free agents the team signed immediately following the draft.

Liriano Sent Down

Expectations for Francisco Liriano's 2008 season were generally tempered as he tried to work his way back from 2006's Tommy John surgery. But nobody expected a start this shaky, especially considering that 18 months between the surgery and the start of this season was ample time for his arm to return to health. After failing to get out of the 1st inning on Thursday afternoon Liriano was sent to Rochester in favor of right-handed reliever Bobby Korecky. In three starts, Liriano struggled mightily with his control, walking 13 in 10 1/3 innings en route to posting an 11.32 ERA. His velocity was also down in the high-80's to mid-90's range and he simply did not have command of his pitches. Considering the Twins are looking to alter his mechanics, early struggles are no real surprise, but the lack of pop on his fastball and the reluctance to throw his slider are bad signs as he works his way back. The slider was the pitch that set him apart during his epic 2006 run and was virtually unhittable at times. It is understandable that he and the Twins both would like to cut back on the use of the slider but at this point his other stuff is not strong enough to thrive without it. Francisco will have a chance to straighten things out in Triple-A, where he started the year with several uninspiring outings. Nobody expected to see the 2006 version of Liriano this season but such discouraging outings out of the gate beg the question of how much he will be able to contribute this year. If he can regain the life on his fastball and refine his change-up, he should be able to settle into the back of the rotation, or at the very least work his way back in Rochester in hopes of breaking into the 2009 Twins rotation. With no need for a 5th starter for a couple weeks, Korecky will work in relief until the Twins get a fully healthy Kevin Slowey back in the rotation.

With Michael Cuddyer scheduled to come off the DL, the Twins also sent down outfield Denard Span. Span was better than expected during his first stint in the bigs. He showed decent plate discipline and hit .276 during his trip to the MLB. But his punch and judy style of hitting was a liability every time the Twins started him in right field. His .276 slugging percentage was merely unacceptable at a position where offense is a must. Cuddyer will likely step back into the 3-spot which moves Mauer back to 2 and balances out the entire lineup, hopefully giving it a spark as the team moves into the second month.

Royce White Commits To Gophers

Already armed with a Top-20 class for 2008, Tubby Smith added his first piece to the 2009 class this week when Hopkins junior forward Royce White committed to the program. White is rated by Rivals as a Top 40 prospect for 2009 and has seen his stock steadily rise for the past year. He played his first three years at DeLaSalle before being expelled from school for reasons unbeknown to the public, forcing a transfer to Hopkins, the likely 2009 state champions.

The addition of White is another example of the quick turnaround that Tubby has orchestrated. Dan Monson was able to attain some top in-state talent, but it was usually after they transferred back to Minnesota for various reasons and most underperformed under Monson's watch. Tubby has pieced together a talented and versatile class and has put Minnesota back on the map as a desirable place to play basketball. The 2008 class is highlighted by three Top-150 players in Ralph Sampson III, Devoe Joseph, and Colton Iverson, and a fourth, Verdell Jones, may soon make his intentions known as he decides between the Gophers, Arizona, and Kentucky.

Vikings Get Their Man

After months of hopelessly searching for an impact defensive end, the Minnesota Vikings finally found one when they shipped three draft picks, including their first rounder, to the Chiefs for 2007's NFL sack leader Jared Allen. Allen posted 15 1/2 sacks and forced 3 fumbles in 14 games in 2007 and has tallied 43 sacks in his four year career. At 26, Allen still has plenty of football ahead of him and makes the Vikings defensive line one of the more dominant units in football. His presence finally gives the Vikings an elite pass rushing end, a pivotal component in the Cover-2 defense, and with Kevin and Pat Williams eating up blockers in the middle of the line Allen should have ample room to roam free on the outside. The Vikings are now without 1st and 3rd round picks but still have six picks overall, with the first coming in the 2nd round, the 47th overall pick. Allen fills the huge void at defensive end with Ray Edwards, Brian Robison, and Jayme Mitchell all competing for the job across from him. The Vikings could go in many directions with their 2nd round pick, but an Offensive Tackle or Tight End appear to be the most likely routes. After having arguably one of the better offseasons in the league, the Vikings will enter 2008 as a sexy favorite to take the Favre-less NFC North and have the talent to compete for the NFC Crown if Tarvaris Jackson is merely competent.

Potential Roster Turnover

The 2007-2008 Wild campaign came to an unceremonious end on Saturday night, as the Avalanched closed out the series in six games with a 2-1 victory. The Wild were ultimately done in by untimely mistakes, a hot Avs goaltender, and a rash of injuries that exposed the team's lack of depth. After entering the postseason appearing as poised as ever for a deep playoff run, the team bowed out in the first round for a second consecutive year and now faces an offseason of uncertainty. The Wild have numerous key free agents and superstar Marian Gaborik could be at the heart of trade talks as he enters the last year of his contract. The roster could be in store for an overhaul and the personnel turnover may start at the top.



Doug Risebrough
-The organization has already seen an ownership change this year and a new General Manager may be next. Risebrough is a rumored candidate for the vacant Maple Leafs GM position and the Leafs are pushing hard to make some changes this offseason. Risebrough has played a large role in building the current squad and he does deserve a good amount of credit for getting the organization to where it is. When compared to their expansion partner, the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Wild have been a model franchise, appearing in the postseason three times including a Western Conference finals run in 2003. The Wild have had a solid core for several years and should maintain that for the foreseeable future, but building around that core has been an issue. The team has often taken on bargain projects to fill holes and given huge contracts to players such as Kim Jonsson and Mark Parrish, both of whom have failed to live up to their price tags. Risebrough has failed to put the right pieces around the team's stars, specifically in getting a center who can get Gaborik the puck. While Risebrough has done some good things for the organization, I do not think people would be too broken up about it if he took the Leafs job, as his conservative nature and questionable draft record have seemingly stagnated the Wild when compared to much of the Western Conference.

Pavol Demitra
-Acquired in 2006 for a first round pick and star prospect Patrick O'Sullivan, Demitra was believed to be one of the final pieces in pushing the Wild amongst the West's elite. He came with a lengthy injury history, but when he was on the ice he was a steady point producer, and his friendship with fellow countryman Marian Gaborik was supposed to make the Wild star happy in the locker room. Two years later, Demitra becomes an unrestricted free agent, and despite the relatively low price tag he had for his first two years, the Wild are unlikely to throw big dollars Pavol's way. Demitra still showed up on the scoresheet but often disappeared for long stretches while playing center as opposed to his natural position of wing. He also missed his share of games, including missing a tilt in 2006 due to soreness of all things. If the sides part ways it may be a mutual decision as rumors of Demitra being unhappy in Jacque Lemaire's system have floated around for awhile now. Pavol helped take the team to a new level but it is clear at this point he probably won't help them go much farther.

Brian Rolston
-Signed before the lockout, Rolston has proved to be a bargain at only 2.5 million a year. The veteran winger has scored 30+ goals in all three of his seasons with the Wild and has become a team leader as well as a fan favorite. Rolston is sure to be looking for a raise this time around, and despite being 35, he has shown no signs of declining and the team has nobody ready to step in and match his production. With a roster that could be fairly young next season, the Wild could use a reliable veteran like Rolston, if he wants to stay in Minnesota. It is believed the Wild will only be able to keep one of the Rolston/Demitra duo and despite being two years older, Rolston would be my choice for the team to re-sign.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard
-PMB has been an assist machine since cracking the Wild lineup and has cemented himself as one of the league's most gifted and creative playmakers. Bouchard enters the offseason as a restricted free agent, meaning any team can step in and sign him to an offer sheet if he does not agree to a new deal with the Wild. The Wild can match any offer, or, if they decide they do not want to meet those numbers, they will receive future draft picks from the team who signs him. A similar scenario played out last year when Edmonton signed Anaheim's Dustin Penner, a contract which the Ducks refused to match, forcing the Oilers to send their 2008 1st and 2nd round picks to Anaheim. Hopefully the Wild work out an extension with Bouchard as he is one of the young players they can build around.

Marian Gaborik
-Gaborik is coming off the heals of his best season. He poured in 42 goals and 83 points along with playing in a career-high 77 games. The big year could not have come at a better time for Gaborik personally, as he heads into a summer where the Wild are likely to approach him about a long-term deal. Minnesota now has to ask themselves if Gaborik is worth a max deal, and it is unclear if Gaborik wants to stay with the team when he could go out east and post monster offensive numbers. His glass groin may make things tricky but he is a dynamic talent whose production and gamebreaking ability would be nearly impossible to replace. Gaborik will be a top priority for the Wild this summer, but if they are unable to work out an extension, the Wild's first ever draft pick may be in a different sweater come October.

Allen On The Market

Not long after being franchised by the Chiefs, Jared Allen has requested, or more appropriately, demanded to be traded by the organization and hopes something gets done before next week's NFL Draft. The offseason has seen the Vikings pursue numerous defensive ends without any success. Justin Smith and Antwan Odom were both free agent targets who signed with other teams, and more recently the Vikings have been in the middle of trade rumors involving Jason Taylor and Julius Peppers. Those rumors did not appear to hold much weight, but the talks of Allen being traded to the Vikings are serious, as he is in Winter Park today talking about the framework of a long-term deal, a must before any team can even consider settling with the Chiefs on compensation. The Buccaneers are also in the mix for Allen's services, and several other teams may jump into the fray before it is all over. But it is a good sign that Allen visited Minnesota first, and with a higher first round pick and a pair of third rounders to work with, the Vikings appear to have the most to offer to the Chiefs, along with having plenty of money to throw Allen's way. Brad Childress called into KFAN this morning, confirming that the team is indeed interested in Allen and undergoing talks with his agent.

Allen and the Vikings appear to be a match made in heaven. Despite all the progress the defense has made under Childress they have still lacked an edge rusher who creates havoc in opponent's backfields, an essential ingredient in the Cover-2 defense that the Vikings employ. Coming off a year in which he led the league in sacks despite missing two games, Allen is exactly that. He is arguably the best defensive end in football and regarded by many as one of the top defensive players in the league. The Vikings would have to part with their first rounder this year along with another pick, either this year or next, but it would look to be good value for the team as they are highly unlikely to find a player who can have the impact of Allen at pick #17. Allen dominated on a Chiefs defense that had underwhelming talent at defensive tackle and it is scary to think of what he could accomplish with Pat and Kevin Williams engulfing blockers while he is running free outside.

He does come with a decent amount of risk. Despite being only 26, he has been arrested twice for drunken driving and faced jail time for his second offense. His issues with alcohol put him in the NFL's substance abuse program and he has two strikes against him in the league's eyes. Allen has reportedly been clean for over a year but any sort of run-in with the law again involving alcohol could lead to a year-long suspension. The good news is that Commissioner Roger Goodell shortened his previous suspension from four to two games in 2007, and with the way Goodell runs the league with an Iron Fist, it is probably a sign that he trusted in Allen's sobriety and the fact that he had cleaned up his act. There are still plenty of details to be hammered out but the prospect of adding a young and uber-productive talent at an important position has to be exciting for most Vikings fans.

Draft Preview

April 26th's NFL Draft does a fantastic job of bridging the gap between the Superbowl and the start of training camp, whetting the football appetites of fans across the nation. 2007's edition netted the Vikings a big-time return. Offensive Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson was taken 7th overall, transforming a painfully boring offense into an exciting one whenever he touched the field. The team was also able to find contributors in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds, drafting Sidney Rice, Marcus McCauley, and Brian Robison, all of whom found themselves playing significant roles throughout the year. Similar success identifying talent this April could be enough to push the Vikings over the hump and into the postseason, and although they are not picking as highly this time around, with 9 picks in 7 rounds they should still be a major player come draft day and there are several players who could help them right away.

Round 1

Derrick Harvey-DE (Florida)

-Minnesota has finished near the bottom of the league in pass defense the past two seasons and a large reason for that is an anemic pass rush, specifically from the defensive ends. Harvey is a speedy rusher who made a home for himself in opposing SEC team's backfields during his two years as a starter for the Gators. The Cover-2 puts a heavy reliance on a pass rush from its DE's and the Vikes have been missing that for several years now. Harvey is the speed rusher that could elevate the whole defense with his ability to get to the quarterback.


Philip Merling-DE (Clemson)

-Merling is not the pass rushing menace that Harvey is, but he may be a more complete player all-around. With Kenechi Udeze's 2008 season likely gone and his career in serious jeopardy the Vikings could use another end who supports the run and controls the line. His stock has been hurt by recent hernia surgery but he should still settle into the latter stages of the first round. There are some questions as to how great his upside may be, although the consensus is he should be a solid end who plays every down with the potential to thrive in time.


Chris Williams-OT (Vanderbilt)

-With Bryant McKinnie's future in doubt thanks to another run-in with the law the team is likely to look for an offensive tackle within the first few rounds as a means of insurance. Williams is an intelligent, technically sound tackle who profiles as a left tackle, a spot that could become a huge need should the team tire of McKinnie's off-field antics. Even if Bryant is kept around, Williams could his start his career at right tackle and offer an immediate upgrade over the human turnstile that is Ryan Cook.



DeSean Jackson-WR (California)

-The Vikings filled their hole at wideout by throwing a lot of money at free agent Bernard Berrian, meaning they may not want to invest heavily in the position at the draft. But, Jackson's versatility as both a receiver and a return man is appealing, especially for a team that has had a sluggish return game recently. Berrian and Sidney Rice are locked in as starters, but Jackson could be an explosive weapon out of the slot and his blazing speed would bring a dimension to the offense that Bobby Wade cannot.



Jeff Otah-OT (Pittsburgh)

-Otah is a physical lineman with great size. His style would seem to mesh perfectly with the Vikings smashmouth gameplan and with the ability to play both left and right tackle he could provide the team with great versatility. Still relatively new to football, Otah is a raw talent with great upside, and at #17 he may simply be the best player available.



Brian Brohm-QB (Louisville)

-The Vikings have shown no signs of giving up on Tarvaris Jackson, but if they are internally troubled with Jackson's progress they may elect to bring in a top young QB. Brohm is the consensus #2 quarterback on the board but that is likely due to a weak class at the position. Still, Brohm is an accurate passer who has put up some gaudy numbers at Louisville. He may not be a star, but he is polished and mature and could immediately push Jackson for playing time.



Quentin Groves-DE (Auburn)

-Similar to Harvey in many ways, Groves is an explosive end who can be a headache for opposing quarterbacks. He is a bit smaller, 6'3, 259 pounds as opposed to Harvey's 6'5, 271 pounds, which begs the question as to whether he can be an every down player. Groves was one of the SEC's most disruptive forces on defense and his edge rushing skills may be coveted by a team such as the Vikings.




Mike Jenkins-CB (South Florida)

-Not long ago Jenkins was widely regarded as the top cornerback available. Things have changed with the ascension of both Leodis Mckelvin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie but Jenkins is still heralded as a difference maker in the secondary. The Vikings secondary appears to be set but the team often went best player available the past few years and Jenkins may fit the bill come pick 17. He is a physical corner that supports the run well, traits that he shares with current Vikings corner Antoine Winfield. Winfield's days in purple may be up after his contract runs out and Jenkins may be an ideal replacement.


Branden Albert-OG/T (Virginia)

-Albert spent his career at guard for Virginia for the Cavaliers although he is climbing up draft boards thanks to the belief he can move over to tackle. An athletic lineman, he could man down a tackle spot for the Vikes and his great character would fit in with an organization that is trying to emphasize good citizens.



Devin Thomas-WR (Michigan State)

-Thomas burst onto the scene in 2007 with a monster year for the Spartans, cementing his status as a top prospect and at the same time raising questions as to whether he is a one-year wonder. Spectacular offseason workouts have boosted his stock even further to the point where he may be the best receiver available and a talent that the Vikings can't overlook. His combination of size (6'2, 217lbs.) speed, and return abilities make him a weapon for any team.




Round 2

John Carlson-TE (Notre Dame)

-Carlson, a Litchfield, Minnesota native, enjoyed a solid career with the Irish and brings a solid all-around game to the table. Visanthe Shiancoe was somewhat disappointing in his first season in purple and Jackson could use a safety valve at tight end. Carlson is a gifted receiver who is also a good blocker, an important trait for a Vikings tight end.




Anthony Collins-OT (Kansas)

-The Vikings may look away from an offensive tackle in Round 1 due to the fact that there should be plenty of quality ones available in the 2nd. Collins is one of those and he was a big part of the Jayhawks juggernaut offense in 2007. He'd likely be a good value in the mid-2nd and at the very least would be great depth along the offensive line.




Early Doucet-WR (LSU)

-Doucet is probably one of the more complete receivers in the draft. He has good hands, runs good routes, and is a very effective blocker. That balanced skill-set makes him an ideal slot receiver. He would be a better version of Bobby Wade, and considering he could go in the late first he would be a fantastic value in the middle of the second.





DaJuan Morgan-S (N.C. State)

-The Vikings revamped their safety position in the offseason, cutting Dwight Smith and adding Madieu Williams and Michael Boulware via free agency. They appear set for the short-term, but Darren Sharper is getting older and they could use a replacement to groom for the future. Morgan is athletic and can play both the run and pass, bringing an upgrade in talent and depth in the secondary even if he is not starting right away.




Chad Henne-QB (Michigan)

-The Vikings could desperately use some sort of contingency plan at QB. Gus Frerotte is an upgrade over last year's backups but he is clearly not a long-term solution. Henne was a 4-year starter for the Wolverines and has prototypical size and arm strength. He would likely push Jackson from the start and in time could make a solid NFL starter.

All Even

Keith Carney has scored two goals this year. Both have come against the Avalanche and both have come in the past week. Fortunately for the Wild, his latest tally was the team's biggest goal of the year. In a game and series so evenly contested, it is going to come down to who gets a fortuitous bounce at the right time. Friday night was the Wild's time to catch a break as Carney's shot from the high slot deflected off the skate of an Avalanche defenseman and past Avs goalie Jose Theodore. The puck-luck came at the perfect time for the Wild who were in a near must-win situation as to avoid going to Colorado down 2-0 in the series. Instead, the teams will board the plane to Denver in a 1-1 deadlock, a fitting end to the first two games in St. Paul. Lost in the emotional win is another player lost to injury. Branko Radivojevic went down early in the game with a leg injury. He returned, but with the Wild already down Nick Shultz, Kurtis Foster, and Mark Parrish, they cannot afford to have anyone else head to the infirmary.

Early Departures: Version 2008

The spring and nearing end of the college hockey season generally precipitates a mass exodus from the college ranks, as many elect to sign on the dotted line with an NHL franchise to get their professional career underway. Seldom do top players stay four years, and for many elite talents college is merely a one-year pit-stop on the way to the NHL. The WCHA has been hammered with departures the past few off-seasons and early indications are that this year will be no different. Several have already left with many more looming as we head into the spring and summer months.

Kyle Turris (Wisconsin)

-The 3rd overall pick in the 2007 draft, many expected Turris' stop on Wisconsin's campus to be a short one. It turned out to be just that as the 18 year old center signed with the Coyotes just days after the Badgers season ended. Turris is a dynamic offensive talent and led Wisconsin in points this year, scoring 11 goals to go with 24 assists. He was part of a phenomenal
freshman class for the Badgers that carried much of the offense for them. Turris' exit is a blow to a team that has had problems scoring goals for several years and he is a talent that is not easily replaced.


Jon Kalinski (Minnesota State)

-The Flyers became hellbent on signing their NCAA prospects this March/April, and former 6th round pick Kalinski was one of those brought into the fold. A lightning fast forward, Kalinski played in all situations and had become a huge part of the Mavericks resurgence in 2008. His penalty-killing had become something of legend as he was responsible for numerous short-handed chances and was near the top of the WCHA in shorties the past two years. His loss will be felt throughout the Mavs lineup.


Jason Garrison (Minnesota-Duluth)

-Garrison quietly emerged as one of the league's better defenseman as a junior and was a stalwart on a defensively stingy Bulldogs squad. His physical presence and rocket of a slap shot prompted the Florida Panthers to lure him out of school and his departure leaves the Bulldogs short on offensive talent along the blue-line. Garrison was an undrafted free agent, leaving him able to sign with whomever he pleased.



Michael Lee-Teslak (Michigan Tech)

-Teslak emerged from relative obscurity to become a star for Michigan Tech. An undrafted goaltender from the BCHL, Teslak carried the Huskies to back to back respectable seasons despite their dearth of offense. His play intrigued the Flyers enough for them to offer him a sizeable enough deal to entice him to leave Tech. The loss of Teslak is a huge blow to the Huskies as he was the glue to their squad in back to back years, often carrying them to major upsets.



Andreas Nodl (St. Cloud State)

-A 2nd round pick of the Flyers in 2006, Nodl has been an offensive force ever since he arrived on campus, posting 90 points in his first two seasons. Nodl was often criticized for lackadaisical defensive play, but nobody can deny his offensive prowess. He was a handful for WCHA defenseman and a force on the power play. The Austrian native left his mark on the Huskies program and his production is going to be tough to duplicate as he moves on to the Flyers organization.



Jeff Frazee (Minnesota)

-Frazee entered the Minnesota program as a much ballyhooed freshman who had already experienced great success in international play and set several records for the NTDP program in Ann Arbor. Three years later, he departs after an inconsistent and frustrating career, signing with the New Jersey Devils. Jeff was finally benched after a sluggish junior season in favor of Alex Kangas. To his credit, he handled the situation with a lot of grace and aplomb and leaves without many hard feelings from Gopher fans.


Turris has already gotten a taste of the NHL life, appearing in the Coyotes final 3 games of the season. But the rest of this group likely has at least a year in the minor leagues before they move onto the NHL, if they ever make it there at all. That should not stop any others from signing, and every team in the league still faces the possibility of losing one of its stars.

Alaska-Anchorage
-The Seawolves are rarely hit with early departures, but last off-season did see them lose starting goaltender Nathan Lawson, although there were other factors behind his departure. UAA will likely retain all its underclassmen, as the back to back cellar dwellars lack the kind of top-end talent that attracts NHL attention. There is still a chance that Sophomores Josh Lunden or Paul Crowder bolt, but the chances are slim that the Seawolves lose anyone early.

Colorado College
-The McNaughton Cup champions could get hit fairly hard this year. Junior Chad Rau led the WCHA in goals and juniors coming off fantastic seasons are generally good bets to sign. Rau's rights are owned by the Maple Leafs, a team looking to rebuild, and signing Rau may be part of that plan. Sensational freshmen Richard Bachman was a 4th round pick by the Dallas Stars in 2006 and there are rumors floating around that the Stars would like to get him in their system. Dallas is a bit short on goaltending talent and could use a long-term option behind starter Marty Turco. Sophomore Billy Sweatt is a 2nd-round pick of the Chicago Blawhawks and Chicago is in the midst of a youth movement. Sweatt has NHL speed and improved his offensive game from his freshman to his sophomore season. He is likely to spend another year in Colorado Springs to develop his game, but you never know what NHL teams are thinking. Those appear to be the only three serious threats for CC, but those guys, along with senior Jack Hillen were major pieces in their run to a WCHA regular season title.

Denver
-The Pioneers also have to be worried about some of their top talent leaving campus. Junior defenseman Chris Butler has developed into one the league's top defenseman, and his rights are owned by a Sabres organization that is looking to compensate for the loss of All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell. Sophomore forwards Rhett Rakshani and Tyler Ruegsegger both are flight risks as 4th and 6th round picks respectively. The Islanders showed their willingness to grab guys from the NCAA when they took Kyle Okposo out of Minnesota during the middle of the year, and after losing draft picks in the Ryan Smith trade in 2007, the Isles desperately need depth in their system. Undrafted Tyler Bozak had a fantastic freshman season, leading the Pioneers in scoring and earning all-freshman WCHA honors. As a 21-year old free agent, he may look to get his career started while his stock is high. If all or some of these players return to Denver next year they will stand as one of the league's preseason favorites.

Michigan Tech
-Teslak should be the only loss for the Huskies. None of their returning players have been drafted and none of them have really shown enough for an NHL to lure them out of school. Tech appears safe and should return a lineup heavy on veterans for the 2008-2009 season.

Minnesota
-The Gophers are no strangers to early departures, having seen a littany of elite talent leave before their eligibility was up during the Lucia era. This off-season promises to be easier on the Gophers but there are still a few candidates. Former 5th overall pick Blake Wheeler just finished his junior season and is set to graduate this spring. The Coyotes are loaded with young talent at forward, which could either signal they would like to add Wheeler as another or that they are not in need of Wheeler's services at the moment. All indications are that Phoenix would like to sign Blake but that he has yet to decide if he wants to sign or return for his senior season. Junior Ryan Stoa lost most of this season to a torn knee ligament and many had this earmarked as his final season at Minnesota. But the injury changes thing, and the former 2nd round pick of the Avalanche is likely going to be patient and return for his senior year. Undrafted freshman Stu Bickel was a pleasant surprise on the blue-line and at 6'3, 215 he has NHL-size. At 21 years old, he is on the older side for college freshman and his combination of size and maturity may be attractive to NHL scouts. He is a wild-card and may be tempted to take his chances in the professional ranks.

Minnesota-Duluth
-Other than Garrison, two names stick out for the Bulldogs. Junior forward Michael Gergen is a 2nd round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins and the speedy forward has the most offensive skill on an offensively challenged team. Already loaded at forward, Pittsburgh may elect to wait on Gergen and give him another year in Duluth. Goaltender Alex Stalock is property of the San Jose Sharks, an organization that has had a knack for pumping out elite goaltenders. Stalock would likely toil away in the minors for a few years, but with the Sharks ability to develop netminders, he may be tempted to sign.

Minnesota State
-The Mavericks appear safe from further departures as they feature a cast of solid if unspectacular players. Goaltender Mike Zacharias had a huge junior year but his size limits his NHL potential.

North Dakota
-The Sioux are likely to get pounded by early exits. Former first rounders Joe Finley and T.J. Oshie are virtual locks to leave, as both have proved all they can at the college level and have the ability to step into an NHL lineup as soon as next year. Ryan Duncan flirted with leaving last year, and as a free agent he should have leverage to leave after this year. Taylor Chorney is a 2nd round selection of the Oilers and they could use blue-line help, meaning he is as good as gone. That would likely be it for UND, but those four juniors all were key in getting them to three consecutive Frozen Fours.

St. Cloud State
-Like Minnesota State, SCSU is looking at losing only Nodl, although Ryan Lasch is a possibility. He has been a scoring-machine in two years at St. Cloud and as a free agent all it takes is for one team to be interested.

Wisconsin
-The Badgers brought in an elite recruiting class this season but that always can backfire when players leave early. Defenseman Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith were both 1st round selections, 12th and 29th respectively, and both showed their promise during the year. Smith is likely to stay, but McDonagh is an interesting case. The Canadiens were one of the NHL's best teams this year but McDonagh was solid all year and could add some punch to their blue-line. Jamie McBain, Carolina Hurricanes property, is the likeliest of the three to leave as he had an outstanding year as has ascended to the top of the WCHA defenseman.

Wild vs. Avalanche

By virtue of the Wild's 4-3 shootout loss to Colorado on Sunday, they will host the Avalanche in the first round of the playoffs starting on Wednesday. It will be the first time these division rivals have met in the playoffs since 2003, when the Wild stormed back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Avalanche in 7 games en route to the Western Conference finals. For many Minnesota fans, seeing Colorado is a relief considering the other potential matchup was Calgary, a team that has owned the Wild during the year in winning 6 of 8 contests. But it may be a situation where you have to be careful what you wish for. The Wild went 5-2-1 versus the Avalanche during the year but many of those wins came while the Avalanche had key players out due to injury. Colorado is now healthy and they are a franchise that is no stranger to the playoffs.

Led by potential future Hall of Famers Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, along with young stud Paul Stastny, the Avalanche are loaded with firepower up front, even though the numbers tell a different story. Colorado finished 15th in the NHL in goals and next to last in Power Play %, but they had to deal with the aforementioned injuries and have only had Forsberg on board for 14 games after he elected to return to the NHL. Both Sakic and Forsberg have hoisted a Cup before and are notorious for strong playoff performances. Stastny is one of the NHL's brightest young stars after posting 71 points in only 64 games. The fantastic trio is complimented by veteran sniper Milan Hejduk's 29 goals and the Avalanche have enough offense to make a run in the postseason. The goaltending duo of Jose Theodore and Peter Budaj is solid if unspectacular, and whomever gets the nod is unlikely to carry the Avs to a series victory. Colorado is a good matchup for the Wild but this series has all the makings of a 6 or 7 game battle. After being physically manhandled by the Ducks in last year's first round, the Wild added much needed toughness with the additions of Todd Fedoruk, Sean Hill, and Chris Simon. Hopefully the Wild take a page out of the Ducks playbook and punish a skilled Colorado team with physical play, a trait often synonymous with a deep playoff run.

Kings Of The Northwest

A 2007-2008 season that featured several notable team records was capped off with a franchise first for the Wild: a Northwest Division title. A two goal effort from captain and superstar Marian Gaborik paced the victory Thursday night in one of the more important victories in Wild history. The Wild locked up the #3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, important because it gives them home ice for at least the 1st round of the playoffs and allows them to avoid conference heavyweights Detroit and San Jose. The win also was only the 2nd over Calgary in 8 tries this season, a team that could potentially be the Wild's first round opponent. The most successful regular season in Wild history ends on Sunday and the playoffs loom next week.

Opening Day

The 2008 season marks the start of a new era for the Minnesota Twins. Mainstays Torii Hunter and Johan Santana are both gone, leaving an amalgamation of youngsters to fill their void. The team faces low expectations for the first time since before the 2001 season, but despite a foggy forecast for the '08 campaign, there are plenty of intriguing storylines surrounding this year's Minnesota Twins. Possibly the biggest headline during the season will be the Twins rotation, which turns over four starters from the start of the '07 season. Santana, Carlos Silva, Ramon Ortiz, and Sidney Ponson are all gone, leaving a group of youngsters along with free agent signing Livan Hernandez to stabilize a group that has long been a strength of the team. They have a daunting task ahead of them, but the talent is in place to silence many of the doubters.

Who Is The Staff Ace?
-Livan Hernandez is the default ace by his stature as Opening Day starter, but he is a long shot to finish the year as the Twins best starter. He is a certified innings eater, but that aspect of his game has dipped the past two years, as he has gone from 264 to 216 to 204 innings in the past three seasons. If he fails to go deep into games and save the bullpen on nights he starts he is going to lose a lot of his value. Livan's ERA has also taken a serious nosedive in the past few seasons, dipping nearly a run since he posted a solid 3.98 ERA in 2005. Throw in an ascending WHIP and you have a guy who is likely to disappoint and turn into another guy who the Twins foolishly throw millions at just because he is a veteran who has had a decent career.

Francisco Liriano stands as the Twins most talented starter but cannot be relied on in his first year back from Tommy John. He was understandably rusty during Spring Training and has yet to regain the dominating slider that really made him an elite pitcher in 2006. He'll start the year in Triple-A and likely will not be counted on for more than 25 or so starts in 2007 as they work to limit his innings.

Scott Baker has had solid big league stints in 2005 and 2007 sandwiched by a miserable run in 2006. His combination of experience and stuff make him a serious candidate to be the team's best starter this year. Baker is not overpowering, although he is far from a soft-tosser, but he has excellent command of all of his pitches and really settled in during the second half of 2007. Assuming he is over back problems that limited him during Spring Training, he could be poised for a breakout season and has a great chance to enter 2009 as the Twins #1 starter.

Is The Bullpen Still Elite?
-No, but it is probably pretty damn close. The Twins feature an elite closer, Joe Nathan, and set-up man, Pat Neshek, but they still have a few question marks in both long and middle relief. Juan Rincon, once the Twins top set-up man, has seen a rapid decline in his numbers and really has not been the same pitcher since being suspended for PED's in 2005. Jesse Crain has been a successful and sometimes dominant reliever for the Twins since entering the bigs, but he is coming off rotator cuff surgery and will have to be eased back into his role in the pen. Guerrier is a safe bet to do well in a long relief role but there is a good chance that 2007 stands as his career year. The bullpen is stocked with quality arms and should once again be a team strength, but it might be a year where plenty of arms are shuffled through as we see some familiar faces either demoted or traded.


A re-tooled lineup also takes center stage for the Twins. Delmon Young, Mike Lamb, Brendan Harris, and Carlos Gomez are new faces in the lineup and each, save Gomez, offer an upgrade from their predecessor offensively, although that is not saying much considering who many of them are replacing.

Where Does Young Fit In The Lineup?
-Young is going to bat 5th and his main job is going to be to protect Justin Morneau. Delmon is dripping with potential as a former 1st overall pick who is blessed with 5-tool ability, but has to answer questions about his character and plate discipline as he enters his 2nd big league season. Hitting 5th should provide him ample opportunities to drive in runs and he is likely the lineup's 2nd biggest power threat after Morneau, but he will need to improve his OBP if he really wants to become an elite bat. That should improve as he gets older, and he should be credited for simply holding his own as a 21-year old rookie in 2007, although his minor league numbers suggest he may never truly be a patient hitter. Young is a key piece to the future and if he puts it all together he can become one of the more dangerous hitters in baseball.

Will Brendan Harris Be The Everyday 2nd Baseman?
-I would sure hope so. Nick Punto was a massive liability as an everyday player last year. He can be a valuable asset as a utility guy but really gets exposed with consistent at-bats. Harris provides a much better bat and should be a solid bat in the order if he can duplicate his 2007 season in Tampa Bay. His defense is average at best, but playing 2nd base with Gold Glove candidate Adam Everett at short should alleviate those concerns. Despite his offensive advantage, Harris could still see himself splitting time with Ron Gardenhire's boy-toy. Punto is a Gardy favorite and he will likely see significant playing time, be it at 2nd, 3rd, short, or possibly even in center field. Harris will most certainly lose some playing time, and if he proves himself to be sub-par defensively Punto could usurp the job altogether.

Boston College Matchup

Saturday's regional semifinal in Worcester, Massachusetts features two programs who are separated by many miles, but in many ways mirror each other. Boston College stands as the most hated team on the east coast while Minnesota is the most hated team in the west. Both the Gophers and Eagles often feature high profile players, and the success and exposure that each team receives is what breeds much of the hate and envy from other fans. In most years this would be a wide open affair as both teams play an offensive minded game that emphasizes wide open play. This year looks to be a different type of game. Minnesota is short on offensive talent and depth, therefore relying on a tight-checking, defensive game combined with strong goaltending to carry them. Despite a contrast in styles this season, the matchup arguably stands as the most intriguing first round game in the field.

Boston College (Hockey East)

The Eagles: Boston College has been a dominant playoff team this decade, a run that includes a 2001 National Championship along with 2006 and 2007 runner-up finishes. Veteran Head Coach Jerry York is notorious for getting his team's to play their best at the right time and this year is no different. A preseason favorite, the Eagles slumped a bit early in the year, dropping their season opener to the Michigan Wolverines en route to an underwhelming first half. The slow start led the Eagles to an uncharacteristically low 4th place finish in Hockey East, the first time since 2001-2002 they had finished lower than 3rd. They picked up their game in March, posting a 5-1-1 record and capping it off with a Hockey East championship, a tourney that included overcoming a 3-goal deficit to regular season champion New Hampshire in a triple overtime thriller. A strong finish propelled them to a #2 seed and they get a chance to stay close to home and remain in their home state for the regional.

Key Players: Offensively, BC is led by Hobey Baker finalist Nate Gerbe. Gerbe has been a scoring machine since arriving on campus at Chestnut Hill in 2005, amassing 122 points in 3 seasons. He is complimented by Joe Whitney who leads the nation in assists with 39. The Eagles have plenty of offensive firepower but lack size up front. Five of their forwards are 5'8 or shorter and all check-in the 150-160 pound range. They possess tremendous quickness and agility, but a bigger team that plays a physical game may be able to wear them down. Goaltending was a huge question mark heading into 2007-2008. All-American Corey Schneider had signed with the Canucks and the job was going to be handed over to a freshman, either John Muse or Andrew Margolin. Muse took the job out of the gate and never looked back. He has started every game for the Eagles this year and posted solid numbers across the board: 21-11-8 record, 2.26 GAA, .919 save %. His steady play has been a key to BC's season and gives them a very balanced and dangerous squad.

To Beat Minnesota: Boston College needs to use their speedy, skilled forwards to take advantage of the young Gophers defenseman. They also need to figure out Minnesota's last line of defense, goaltender Alex Kangas, who is in the midst of a phenomenal playoff run in which he has not allowed more than 2 goals in any game. If the Eagles are firing on all cylinders offensively, they should be able to handle a low-scoring Gophers team and advance to the regional final.


Minnesota (WCHA)

The Gophers: It was a less than stellar regular season for the Gophers. They finished seventh in the WCHA, their lowest finish since the 1970's. They also suffered bad losses to Alaska-Anchorage and RIT and blew numerous third period leads. But a run to the Final Five title game along with big wins over Michigan, North Dakota, and Colorado College helped put the Gophers comfortably into the 16 team field. Head Coach Don Lucia is no stranger to the NCAA's, having led Colorado College to the tourney numerous times before arriving at Minnesota. Despite having struggled in the regular season, they Gophers are a team that nobody wants to play in the playoffs as they are riding a hot goaltender and have a coach who owns two national titles.

Key Players: Freshman goaltender Alex Kangas has seemingly saved Minnesota's season. His 12-9-9 record is mediocre, but his 1.92 GAA and .932 save percentage are both team records. He took over for a struggling Jeff Frazee in January and has been one of the nation's better goaltenders ever since. He has been helped by improved play from the defenseman in front of him. With three freshman on the blueline, there were bound to be some growing pains, but Cade Fairchild, Stu Bickel, and Kevin Wehrs have grown up as the year has gone on and provided steady play in the second half of the year. Blake Wheeler (15-19-34) has paced a weak Gopher offense. Two freshman, Mike Hoeffel (9-10-19) and Patrick White (6-4-10) have really picked up their games in recent weeks and are keys if the Gopher offense is going to get off the ground in the tournament.

To Beat Boston College: For the Gophers to beat Boston College in Massachusetts they are going to have to continue to play a blue-collar game. Some of the team's bigger players, such as Stu Bickel (6'3, 205) Blake Wheeler (6'4, 215) and Ryan Flynn (6'2, 215) are going to have to take the body on BC's smallish forwards to create some space for their teammates. They are going to have to get traffic in front of Muse and score some ugly goals. Kangas can steal a game, but getting a few goals in front of him early would aid a Gopher team that has played one goal games in its last seven contests.

Nathan Locked Up

The last bit of offseason business was wrapped up by the Twins on Monday, as they extended Joe Nathan through at least 2011. The deal will pay Nathan between 11 and 12 million annually over the course of the next 3 seasons and includes an option for a fourth year in 2012. Nathan has been one of the league's most dominating closers ever since assuming the position for the Twins in 2004, a time in which he has amassed 160 saves, posted a 1.94 ERA, and dominated hitters with a 355/80 strikeout to walk ratio. The move seemed to be a popular one in the Twins clubhouse as many were pulling for Nathan to get locked up after seeing extensions for both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau earlier in the offseason. The signing virtually eliminates any trade deadline deal involving Nathan, a topic which was sure to surround the team had the closer not been under contract going into 2009. Nathan will once again anchor a fantastic Minnesota bullpen that enters the season as the team's strength.

It is a risky move for the Twins, a lower budget team who has to be wise in how it allocates its resources. Nathan has been dominant, a linchpin of the Twins pitching staff, but allotting about 15% of the team's payroll to a guy who pitches 70 innings a year could handcuff the organization as Joe enters his mid-30's. The Twins have taken underwhelming talents such as LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado and turned them into effective closers, begging the question of whether the club needs to spend a lot of money at the position, especially considering that Pat Neshek or Jesse Crain may both be capable of doing an admirable job in the role. But Nathan's popularity in the clubhouse seemed to win out and he is going to be a Twin heading into the new stadium. The deal comes with a lot of risk, but if it is a sign that Carl Pohlad is loosening the purse-strings it could also pay huge dividends.

Gophers Heading East

The Gophers failed to defend the Broadmoor Trophy, falling to the Denver Pioneers 2-1 on Saturday night, but their miraculous run through the WCHA playoffs earned them a spot in the national tournament as a #3 seed. Minnesota heads to Worcester, Massachusetts to play 2nd seeded Boston College in a Saturday night tilt. The team's road to the postseason was anything but smooth, with an all out battle against Minnesota State in the 1st round of the playoffs followed by two nerveracking affairs against St. Cloud State and Colorado College in the Final Five. But phenomenal goaltending from Alex Kangas anchored the team, and some puck-luck, which had gone against the Gophers for most of the year, was found as they advanced to the Final Five title game. Minnesota heads to the NCAA Tournament for the 8th straight year, although their streak of six straight #1 seeds comes to an end this year. The Worcester bracket features Miami, Boston College, and Air Force along with the Gophers and the winner of the region advances to the Frozen Four in Denver. The tournament features 6 WCHA teams, and the field sets up like this:

Albany, NY
1) Michigan vs. 4) Niagara
2) St. Cloud State vs. 3) Clarkson

Colorado Springs, CO
1) New Hampshire vs. 4) Notre Dame
2) Colorado College vs. 3) Michigan State

Madison, WI
1) North Dakota vs. 4) Princeton
2) Denver vs. 3) Wisconsin

Worcester, MA
1) Miami vs. 4) Air Force
2) Boston College vs. 3) Minnesota

The big controversy surrounded Wisconsin, a sub-.500 team who had all the chips fall in their favor in order to sneak into the tourney. Minnesota State was the odd man out, despite a better conference record and head to head record. The Badgers were aided by a better Pairwise ranking combined with the fact that Madison was a host this year, meaning more money will be pumped into the NCAA if the Badgers compete at home. It is an indictment of the system, but it does not appear the system is going to change anytime soon. The tournament kicks off Friday with the Gophers and Eagles squaring off Saturday night at 6:30.

A New Era

When Dan Monson was fired in the middle of the 2006-2007 season, a new optimism surrounded Golden Gopher basketball. Monson's 7+ year tenure had seen only one tournament berth, a 2005 appearance that saw the Gophers quickly eliminated by Iowa State. The former Gonzaga coach succeeded the long standing Clem Haskins, a coach who had very good success but was mired in a serious academic scandal. Haskins would be forced to resign and Monson was hired shortly thereafter on the heels of Gonzaga's tournament runs. His first job was to clean up a program that had been embarrassed by the scandal. To his credit, he was able to do that, overseeing an era that saw no scandals and a very good graduation rate. But the lack of wins had worn on the fans, and after year's of calling for Monson's dismissal, Athletic Director Joel Maturi bought out Monson's contract shortly into the non-conference schedule in 2006. Assistant Coach Jim Molinari took over as interim coach, but it was well known it would be a temporary gig. The Gophers needed a fresh face to give new life to a program that gone from annual tournament contender to cellar dweller in a short period of time.

Enter Tubby Smith. Smith and Kentucky had recently parted ways, mainly due to the Kentucky program's unrealistic expectations and poor grasp on reality. Tubby had already experienced success at Tulsa, Georgia, and Kentucky, a run that included a national championship in his first season at Kentucky. Smith was the big name that the team needed to make a splash in the Big 10. His stature as a coach and reputation as a great teacher and leader was a perfect fit. The buzz that surrounded the Gophers in the 80's and 90's was finally restored as Minnesota had a coach that could fill seats and rack up W's.

Smith got right to work. Kentucky fans had labeled him a poor recruiter, but he quickly silenced some of those claims as he landed two talented big men not long after he took the reigns. Athletic JUCO forward Paul Carter and South Dakotan high schooler Colton Iverson both gave their commitment to the Gophers, signaling that Minnesota had become a major player on the recruiting scene. That was only the start, however, as three more youngsters would commit in the coming months. Talented JUCO scorer Devron Bostick was the third recruit and should add a much needed scoring boost to next year's squad. The best was saved for last, as Top 100 big man Ralph Sampson III joined the program followed by Top 100 guard Devoe Joseph. It was clear that Smith intended on giving Minnesota some staying power as he has already made the University a much more desirable destination for young stars. With the program's future in taken care of, Tubby could turn his attention to the present.

Nobody knew what to expect during the 2008-2009 campaign. Tubby is a great coach but was dealt a horrible hand to start the year. The 2006-2007 squad had only won 9 games, and the only new faces were freshman Al Nolen and Blake Hoffarber. Early expectations were tempered as many anticipated a team with subpar talent taking its lumps for much of the year. The Gophers got off to a 10-2 start in the non-conference, but much of that was insulated by a horrid strength of schedule. Florida State and UNLV were the only quality opponents on the Gophers slate and both handled the Gophers with relative ease. The team showed some bark early in the Big 10 season, taking conference heavyweights Michigan State and Indiana to the wire before dropping both contests. The rest of the conference schedule saw Minnesota win most of the games they were supposed and lose in the same fashion. A Big 10 tournament stunner over Indiana would be the highlight of the season, but any sort of miracle run to the NCAA tournament would be shot down in the semis by Illinois, a team that beat the Gophers thrice.

Tubby capped off his first season with a 20-13 record and a chance to add to that in the upcoming NIT tournament. The team was fairly mediocre throughout, but sapping 20 wins out of a squad that was a little short on talent is a testament to Smith as a coach. A talent infusion in the next few years could make the Gophers a dangerous squad and they should routinely be competing for an NCAA berth with the potential to go fairly deep.

Last Men Standing

The end of March has long been a time that sports fans circle on their calendars. It signals the start of March Madness, the approach of Opening Day, and playoff pushes in the NHL and NBA. For WCHA fans, all of that pales in comparison to a three day event at the XCEL Energy. The Final Five features some of the best hockey the nation has to offer and the tournament rarely if ever disappoints. 2007's Final Five was capped off by arguably its greatest finish ever, as Blake Wheeler's diving goal in overtime propelled the Gophers over North Dakota for the Broadmoor Trophy. Fans traveling to St. Paul would be lucky to see such a dramatic and unexpected result this year, but they have already gotten a taste of intense playoff hockey. This past weekend saw heavy underdog Michigan Tech push North Dakota to 3 games before dropping a 2-1 decision in the series finale. Fans in Mankato experienced a tight, 3 game series of their own, although they did not head home with the same feeling as Sioux fans. After the Mavs won a 1-0, two overtime Game 1, they went on to drop Game 2, 2-1 in overtime to set up a Game 3 that may have ultimately decided both team's NCAA tournament fates. The final tilt also went into 2 overtimes, but this time it was the Gophers who got a tip in from Tony Lucia to advance to St. Paul and eliminate the Mavericks by a 3-2 score. Colorado College, St. Cloud, and Denver all had easier goes of it as they each swept their series, although both CC and St. Cloud were forced into Game 2 overtime's before they finally punched their ticket. Minnesota as the #7 seed was the only upset, but their win leaves many of the usual suspects in St. Paul to compete for the tournament title.

By virtue of their regular season championship, Colorado College enters as the #1 seed. North Dakota follows as the 2nd seed, with Denver, St. Cloud, and Minnesota following them in that order. The first semifinal is already set and is always good for some Friday night drama. The Fighting Sioux and Pioneers will face off in that game and both teams are similar in their styles of play. They are led by senior goaltending, as North Dakota's J.P. Lamoreux and Denver's Peter Mannino are two of the top netminders in the conference. Up front, both teams have elite top talent, with the Sioux trotting out juniors Ryan Duncan and T.J. Oshie and the Pioneers having sophomore sensations Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger. The matchup is sure to be a tight one, but these are two squads who are heading in different directions, as Denver has slumped down the stretch while the Sioux have lost only once in their past 20 games.

St. Cloud State and Minnesota will battle it out in the other semifinal with the winner taking on Colorado College. The Huskies have had the better of the matchup recently, as they sported a 1-0-1 record against the Gophers this year with a 3-0-3 mark over the past two seasons. Playing on the small sheet should benefit Minnesota, as they have a significant size advantage over St. Cloud, but if the Huskies speedy forwards are given space it may be up to Alex Kangas to bail out the Gophers as he did in their 1st round series. St. Cloud is a virtual lock for NCAA play, while the Gophers are in a fairly good position, although they would benefit greatly from winning a couple games in St. Paul. Minnesota will be without senior forward Tom Pohl, who suffered a scary injury Sunday night in Mankato. Pohl's season and career are likely over, but at this point a full recovery takes precedent over any future hockey games. The Thursday night game tips off the action in what should be another eventful weekend at the X.

March To The Final Five

After a long and arduous trek through the nation's toughest college hockey conference, Colorado College held on to win the McNaughton Cup after staving off hard charging North Dakota to earn the WCHA regular season title. An impressive regular seasons gives the Tigers the #1 seed in the upcoming playoffs, but as we have seen the past few seasons, a high seed is hardly any guarantee come postseason. Low seeds St. Cloud State and Minnesota-Duluth pulled off startling upsets in 2006 and in 2007 10th seeded Alaska-Anchorage pushed Minnesota to 3 games before ultimately failing in their upset bid. The WCHA playoffs are always surrounded by intrigue as teams push towards the Final Five in St. Paul, which stands as arguably the greatest event in college hockey. With the league being so balanced, getting a read on the outcomes of the Best of 3 series is a tall task, but the usual suspects generally are able to fight their way to the Xcel Energy Center. 2008 saw some new faces earn home ice which could change the landscape of the Final Five.

#1 Colorado College (26-9-1 Overall, 21-6-1 WCHA)

-The Tigers were the league's most consistent team all year, avoiding any long losing streaks and registering at least 1 point in every series during the year. CC is reliant on a deep lineup that can roll 4 lines effectively. Seven players have 20 points or more, led by Junior Chad Rau (27-13-40). The Tigers dominated nearly every WCHA statistic, finishing at or near the top in every offensive and defensive statistic. Their biggest question mark coming into the season was in goal, where Matt Zaba had graduated and left the Tigers with the inconsistent Drew O'Connell and Freshman Richard Bachman as the only options in net. After a couple shaky outings by O'Connell, Bachman took the job and ran with it. Bachman was the backbone of CC's success, dominating from the start of the year en route to posing a 23-6-1 record along with a .934 save percentage and a 1.77 goals against. Those numbers should make the freshman netminder a slam dunk pick for the WCHA Rookie of the Year, and also put him in the running for the title of the league's top goaltender. The Tigers have been atop the WCHA standings since the 1st weekend of the year and are a safe bet to advance to St. Paul next week.

VS.

#10 Alaska-Anchorage (7-19-8 Overall, 3-19-6 WCHA)

-The Seawolves placed last for the third straight season in 2008. Their previous two 10th place finishes left them with trips to Mariucci arena, but in 2008 they will travel further south to World Arena in Colorado Springs. Anchorage is a heavy underdog against Colorado College after having won only 3 WCHA games and having severe offensive deficiencies. They have only one player 10 goals and their team leader has only 24 points (both are Josh Lunden at 13-11-24). In net they have not been much better. Sophomore John Olthuis has a poor .886 save percentage, among the worst in the WCHA. The Seawolves have been a pesky squad for much of the year, but they are long shots to move past CC or even push the series to 3 games.

Prediction: Colorado College in 2 games.

#2 North Dakota (23-8-4 Overall, 18-7-3 WCHA)

-As is typical for Sioux teams under Dake Hakstol's guidance, UND played .500 hockey for the first half of the year before going on an absolute tear in the 2nd half. The Sioux enter the playoffs on a 17 game unbeaten streak and currently are ranked #1 in the nation. The Sioux have been carried by senior goaltender J.P. Lamoreux, who has started 34 of 35 games. He holds a 22-8-4 record with a .934 save percentage and a 1.66 GAA. He is the prohibitive favorite to be the goalie on the All-WCHA squad and his steady play has been the key to UND's success all year. Offensively North Dakota is led by last year's Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan (13-20-33) along with 1st round pick T.J. Oshie (14-21-35). Duncan's numbers have taken a huge hit when compared to last year, but a lot of that can be contributed to the departure of linemate Jonathan Toews, a guy who really made the offense click. The Sioux are strong on the blue-line as well, with Chay Genoway posting 22 points in only 30 games and Robbie Bina chipping in 21 assists. North Dakota is deep, balanced, and has an excellent goalie, all of which make them a heavy favorite in their 1st round series and a good bet to take home the Broadmoor Trophy, awarded to the winner of the Final Five.

VS.

#9 Michigan Tech (13-18-5 Overall, 9-15-4 WCHA)

-The Huskies were a sexy pick to jump up the standings and battle for home ice, especially after advancing the Final 5 last year and returning most of their key players from the 2006-2007 campaign. High expectations were not met as the Huskies struggled down the stretch and dipped all the way down to 9th in the standings. Tech's struggles mirrored what they have been most of the decade as they lacked guys who were capable of burying the puck. Tyler Shelast and Peter Roleau chipped in 13 and 12 goals respectively, but after that Tech could not find anyone else to pick up the scoring slack. What they do have is one of the best goalies in the league in Michael-Lee Teslak. Teslak burst onto the scene with a breakout campaign last season and built on that this year. Despite a mediocre 7-9-4 record, Teslak posted a .920 save percentage and a 2.13 GAA. His play in net is going to have to be stellar if the Huskies have any chance of knocking off the Sioux and making a return trip to St. Paul.

Prediction: North Dakota in 2 games.

#3 Denver (22-13-1 Overall, 16-11-1 WCHA)

-The Pioneers were hot out of the gate, surging to the top of the standings in October. They appeared poised to battle it out with Colorado College for the McNaughton Cup, but a slump to start 2008 set them back in the standings. Much of that can be attributed to the loss of Brock Trotter, the team's leading scorer who was expelled from the University for a violation of school rules. His loss was a blow to the team's scoring, but they are still armed with plenty of offensive firepower. Freshmen Tyler Bozak (15-15-30) and Kyle Ostrow (10-12-22) combine with sophomore's Rhett Rakhshani (13-13-26) and Tyler Ruegsegger (10-10-20) to give the Pioneers weapons up front. Senior goaltender Peter Mannino has been a key to Denver during his 4 years at Denver, including helping them win a national championship in his freshman season. The Pioneers are limping into the postseason for the 3rd straight year, but a stellar performance from Mannino can propel them into the Final Five for the first time since 2005.

VS.

#8 Minnesota-Duluth (13-15-6 Overall, 9-14-5 WCHA)

-The Bulldogs enter the playoffs with the dubious distinction of being the league's most anemic offensive squad. Duluth posted only 71 goals in 34 games, putting them at barely over 2 goals/game. In spite of offensive deficiencies the Dogs have managed to stay around .500, relying on tight defense and goaltending to keep them in the hunt for an NCAA Tournament bid. No Bulldog has over 7 goals or 17 points, leaving the heavy lifting to goaltender Alex Stalock. Stalock thrived in his sophomore season, posting a save percentage of .917 and a goals against of 2.28 despite often getting peppered with shots from the opposition. Stalock is the Bulldogs only reason for hope in the WCHA playoffs as their offense is not going to scare anyone.

Prediction: Denver in 3 games.

#4 Minnesota State (18-14-4 Overall, 12-12-4 WCHA)

-The Mavericks were the surprise team in the conference, using a hot second half to earn home ice and ward off low expectations garnered in the preseason. Minnesota State got contributions from their forwards, defenseman, and goaltenders which makes them one of the more balanced teams in the league. Junior forwards Mick Berge led the Mavs with 19 goals and eleven players notched 10 or more points. As with most teams in the league, they got stellar goalt have home ice for the ending. Junior Mike Zacharias was one of the league's best, winning 17 games and posting a .920 save percentage. He kept them above water during October and November until the rest of the squad started clicking. The Mavericks have home ice for the first time since 2003 and have a great chance to advance to St. Paul for only the second time in Troy Jutting's tenure as coach.

VS.

#7 Minnesota (15-14-9 Overall, 9-12-7 WCHA)

-It was a down year by Gopher standards, as they were sub-.500 in league play and failed to earn home ice for the first time this decade. The season got off to a tumultous start for Minnesota, as they lost their first four league games. They were also hit by two key losses. Junior forward and captain Ryan Stoa was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury against Michigan on the first weekend of the year. They then lost last season's leading scorer in Kyle Okposo when he signed with the New York Islanders in early December. The Gophers combined big wins over Michigan and North Dakota with bad losses to Alaska-Anchorage and RIT, proving that they can play at both ends of the spectrum. Known for their offensive prowess under Don Lucia, they hit a season long scoring funk. They finished near the bottom of the league in both goals per game and power play percentage, both of which are generally hallmarks of Gopher squads. They did get solid seasons from junior Blake Wheeler (15-17-32) and senior Ben Gordon (14-13-27) to pace the offense. Freshman netminder Alex Kangas took over for struggling Jeff Frazee permanently in January and never relinquished the starting job, stabilizing the team and giving tem a chance to win every night. The Gophers young defenseman and scoring troubles may hinder them in the postseason, but they have owned the all-time series with the Mavericks and always find their way to the Xcel come mid-march.

Prediction: Minnesota in 3 games.


#5 St. Cloud State (17-14-5 Overall, 12-12-4 WCHA)

-The Huskies are the antithesis of the WCHA, as they rely on a high scoring offense for most of their success. Sophomore Ryan Lasch (23-25-48) led the WCHA in points and he was complimented by freshman Garrett Roe (18-23-41) and sophomore Andreas Nodl (17-24-41). The Huskies offensive attack is potent, but they have had struggles along the blue-line. Their defenseman are small and have a tough time handling bigger, faster opponents. It is generally a track meet when the Huskies are playing, and they need their big guns to find the net if they are going to make their third striaght trip to the Final Five.

VS.

#6 Wisconsin (15-14-7 Overall, 11-12-5 WCHA)

-The Badgers defined medicority this season, as they hovered around .500 all year. They are a very dangerous team however. Led by a talented freshman class headlined by Kyle Turris (11-20-31), the Badgers have forwards who can be a threat whenever they hit the ice. Ben Street (13-26-29) and Blake Geoffrion (9-18-27) give Wisconsin a dangerous top line that can give defenders fits. Junior Shane Connelly had large shoes to fill when he took over for Brian Elliot in net, but he has performed admirably, posting a .914 save percentage, although nobody is going to mistake him for a dominant netminder at this point in his career. Wisconsin is a tough team to figure out. They have loads of potential, but have yet to realize it.

Prediction: Wisconsin in 3 games.

Ness Wins Mr. Hockey

Minnesota's most prestigious high school award was presented Sunday, and as expected it was given to Roseau defenseman Aaron Ness. Ness was the state's most dominant blue-liner all year and helped lead Roseau to an undefeated regular season. The 5'9 defenseman posted 28 goals and 44 assists for 72 points, placing him among the state's leaders in points and 1st amongst defenseman. It was the first of several accolades for Ness as on Monday he was named to the AP's 1st team All-State along with winning the AP Player of the Year. The awards came on the heals of a 4th place finish at state for the Rams, as they were unable to repeat as state champs. They blew out Blaine in the quarterfinals 8-2 but dropped a 4-1 decision to eventual state champion Hill-Murray in the semis. It was a disappointing result for the Rams, but another brilliant season has etched Ness' place among the all-time greats in Minnesota high school hockey history. The next stop for Aaron is the University of Minnesota, where he will give the Gophers a much needed boost on the blue-line.

Elusive Search For Ends Continues

For as well as the Vikings defense has played over the past two seasons, they have still lacked one key ingredient: a pass rush. Much of the blame can be placed at the feet of the defensive ends. When the team grabbed Kenechi Udeze and Erasmus James in back to back drafts, both in the 1st round, they felt they had locked up impact players at the position for the next decade. Neither player has lived up to their billing. Udeze has developed into a solid end that supports the run well, but he has not shown the same ability to get to the quarterback that he did at Southern California. His career high in sacks is 5 and in 2006 he failed to record a single, solitary sack. Last month, it was announced that that Udeze was diagnosed with leukemia. The illness likely wipes out Kenechi's 2008 season and leaves the rest of his career in jeopardy. It is sad news for a guy who has shown great character and become a fixture of the defense, but it further illustrates the Vikings need at the position.

Erasmus James dominated Big 10 play by becoming a ferocious pass rusher off the edge for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was widely considered a Top 5 talent heading into the 2005 draft, but injury concerns dropped him to the 18th pick, where the Vikings happily grabbed him. The concerns proved to be warranted as injuries have plagued his 3 year career, limiting him to only 23 games. James has shown flashes of becoming a quality player, but the team simply has not been able to rely on him on a down to down, game to game basis. The Vikings sit in the midst of the offseason without big plans for James or Udeze during the 2008 season. Unproven Jayme Mitchell and situational rusher Brian Robison are currently penciled in as the starters with Ray Edwards backing them up. Edwards is one positive drug test away from a year long suspension and both Mitchell and Robison best serve as backups or in a rotation. As such, defensive end stands as one of the team's bigger needs, one of the few they have failed to address this offseason.

It is not for lack of effort though. The Vikings have swung and missed on the two premier free agents on the market, Justin Smith and Antwan Odom, both of whom signed elsewhere before making the trek to Winter Park. Recently released Jevon Kearse is scheduled to visit with the staff on Friday, but popular opinion is that he will sign with the Titans and never make it to Minnesota. Missing on these three may prove to be a blessing, as all are getting paid well and may not be the best fits for the Vikes. But it further amplifies the team's need at the position.

That leaves the Vikings with two recourses; the draft or a trade. Rumors have placed the Vikings in talks with Carolina for Julius Peppers and Miami for Jason Taylor, but as usual with most rumors it is likely that they do not hold much weight. If they fail to acquire a veteran they will assuredly take one early in the draft. The class is fairly rich with defensive ends. Chris Long and Vernon Gholston head the class but neither is likely to be available when the Vikings pick at 17. Florida's Derrick Harvey, Auburn's Quentin Groves, and Clemson's Philip Merling all stand as more realistic options. Harvey and Groves are both tenacious speed rushers, a skill that fits perfectly and is essential within a Cover-2 defense. Both are likely to be atop the Vikings wish list, and players of their caliber are needed for the defense to become complete and take the next step towards the league's elite.