Rau to Sioux Falls

[High Flyer]

I feel so used and feel the need to impose a 72 hour wait period before commenting on any future threads.....

[MrBoDangles]

http://tinyurl.com/2ce82pe

Those of you that ripped Lucia in this situation have egg on your face once you read his dad's comments in the article above.

Lucia is worthy of criticism in a number of respects (I'm right there with people on some topics). But making kids leave HS early is not one of them.

From what Lee Smith was saying it sounded like Lucia was trying to pressure him into a last minute decision. Lucia seems to be the one with egg on his face this morning.

12:58 in the interview

[Gopher Blog]

http://tinyurl.com/2ce82pe

Those of you that ripped Lucia in this situation have egg on your face once you read his dad's comments in the article above.

Lucia is worthy of criticism in a number of respects (I'm right there with people on some topics). But making kids leave HS early is not one of them.

From what Lee Smith was saying it sounded like Lucia was trying to pressure him into a last minute decision. Lucia seems to be the one with egg on his face this morning.

12:58 in the interview

So you are saying Rau's dad is lying? Because he made it pretty clear that Lucia has always maintained that the kid could do what was in his heart. I tend to believe a father over the overly emotional coach that had to rely on text messages

[MrBoDangles]

http://tinyurl.com/2ce82pe

Those of you that ripped Lucia in this situation have egg on your face once you read his dad's comments in the article above.

Lucia is worthy of criticism in a number of respects (I'm right there with people on some topics). But making kids leave HS early is not one of them.

From what Lee Smith was saying it sounded like Lucia was trying to pressure him into a last minute decision. Lucia seems to be the one with egg on his face this morning.

12:58 in the interview

So you are saying Rau's dad is lying? Because he made it pretty clear that Lucia has always maintained that the kid could do what was in his heart. I tend to believe a father over the overly emotional coach that had to rely on text messages

I think it was pretty obvious what Rau (the player) wanted to do all along. It seemed to me that the texts between coaches were pretty heated. Could there be tension now between coach and player in the future? What would of happened if Rau's dad said anything negative? Rose colored glasses?

[supertacks]

http://tinyurl.com/2ce82pe

Those of you that ripped Lucia in this situation have egg on your face once you read his dad's comments in the article above.

Lucia is worthy of criticism in a number of respects (I'm right there with people on some topics). But making kids leave HS early is not one of them.

From what Lee Smith was saying it sounded like Lucia was trying to pressure him into a last minute decision. Lucia seems to be the one with egg on his face this morning.

12:58 in the interview

For Lucia, desperate times call for desperate measures... thankfully in this case, Kyle and family saw the bigger picture and did the right thing. Kyle does not need to go to Sioux Falls to become a better hockey player. Those of us who have had the pleasure of watching him over the past many years realize that he is just one of those extremely rare kids who has an incredible innate hockey sense that can't be taught. In addition to all the natural talent he has, he will work harder than anyone else on the ice and he will take your head off if you piss him off. He has and will always be the best player on any team he plays for. He could go to the Gophers today and he would be the best player on that team period, end of story. Lucia did the right thing here as well, you do whatever is necessary to ensure you get that kid on your team. Good luck to Kyle and the rest of the EP boys this year, it should be fun!

[Hockey_Rube]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps ... ckD8EQDUsA

im sure it was already posted...

[shakey]

http://tinyurl.com/2ce82pe

Those of you that ripped Lucia in this situation have egg on your face once you read his dad's comments in the article above.

Lucia is worthy of criticism in a number of respects (I'm right there with people on some topics). But making kids leave HS early is not one of them.

From what Lee Smith was saying it sounded like Lucia was trying to pressure him into a last minute decision. Lucia seems to be the one with egg on his face this morning.

12:58 in the interview

So you are saying Rau's dad is lying? Because he made it pretty clear that Lucia has always maintained that the kid could do what was in his heart. I tend to believe a father over the overly emotional coach that had to rely on text messages

What do you expect his father to say? You're a Gopher insider - you know that the truth is that there was significant pressure being applied from multiple fronts including Lucia.

[Gopher Blog]

What do you expect his father to say? You're a Gopher insider - you know that the truth is that there was significant pressure being applied from multiple fronts including Lucia.

He said, "The pressure came from Kyle wanting to become the best hockey player he could be. So he decided to commit to Sioux Falls, maybe without thinking about all the consequences that could come with it"

Do you think his dad would intentionally say the above just so Lucia can save face? He put the blame on his son. So he is going to pick Lucia over his son? Not likely.

In my conversations over the years with various Gopher parents (some of which had kids leave early, some of which stayed with their HS team), I have yet to have one that said their kid was outright told their son had to leave HS early. The ones who did leave HS hockey early did so because they felt it was best from a development standpoint or because they wanted their son to get to college a year sooner than he would have had he played his senior year in HS. In other words, they have choices. Of course, there are a handful that get fast tracked to college even if the kid was playing HS hockey as a senior (ironically enough, something the Gophers probably have done a little too much of)

A college coach at any school certainly will have discussions on the various options and how that might lead to college preparation. But outright telling kids they have to leave HS early? I have yet to hear that from a Gopher parent over the years.

[The Exiled One]

Tally another vote for the side of college coaches. They DON'T tell recruits to leave HS early... they just don't. However, they WILL tell certain recruits that a year or two of juniors is expected (after high school is fine with them). This is where the Rau story got so mixed up. Kyle was NOT told he would have to play juniors when he verbally accepted his scholarship offer. Lee Smith led us to believe that Lucia had gone back to Kyle sometime during the Elite League season and told him that the deal had been altered... it hadn't. What happened is that Kyle started believing that playing in the USHL might make him more preparred for college next season... then he changed his mind... again.

That being said, it's not unheard of for college coaches to alter the "straight from high school" deal. The "straight from high school" deal is so uncommon these days that only exceptional players are offered it... and coaches try not to renege on exceptional players. However, it's happened on occasion. This was NOT one of those occasions.

[Raider Nation Guy]

Supertacks, how can u say that Rau will not get better in the USHL? What a stupid comment!! What do you think that leauge is for. If the kid wants to play past the rotten Gophers he needs to move on, and play better competion. This is the exact thinking of the Don. He will be another Gopher that fails at the U because he has made the decision to come right out of high school and be a Gopher. Play 26 games with maybe 5 of those with any intensity at all, and then go in and try to play a 50 game tilt with men. Name the last player in the last 5-6 years that this has worked for!! This is why this Gopher program sucks. There not even a top 20 college anymore. Why would anyone pick this college?

[Raider Nation Guy]

Exiled one, how can you say it does not happen anymore. Bjustad, Gardiner,Ness,Leddy, Loftquist,Schroeder, O'Brein. I know for a fact that Vancouver wanted Schrads out of that mess, and the Hawks wanted Leddy out of there also since they don't have a def. coach. Not one of these players has it worked out for. Bjustad has 1 point in 5 games and is -6 Gardiner has 1 point and is -1 with no ice time. The only coach in the WCHA that takes kids straight out of high school is Don. Go back and look at the average age of the 4 teams in the Final Four last year. You will be stunned!! RIT who was in the Final Four last year is not getting the top recruits in the nation, they are getting 21 year old freshman from Canada. Until the Don figures it out he will continue to finish at the bottom of this leauge.

[Jackler]

Play 26 games with maybe 5 of those with any intensity at all, and then go in and try to play a 50 game tilt with men. Name the last player in the last 5-6 years that this has worked for

seemed to work out for Nick Leddy

[supertacks]

Supertacks, how can u say that Rau will not get better in the USHL? What a stupid comment!! What do you think that leauge is for. If the kid wants to play past the rotten Gophers he needs to move on, and play better competion. This is the exact thinking of the Don. He will be another Gopher that fails at the U because he has made the decision to come right out of high school and be a Gopher. Play 26 games with maybe 5 of those with any intensity at all, and then go in and try to play a 50 game tilt with men. Name the last player in the last 5-6 years that this has worked for!! This is why this Gopher program sucks. There not even a top 20 college anymore. Why would anyone pick this college?

Raider Guy, you obviously have not even spent more than 5 minutes around Kyle. As I mentioned, he is not like any other hockey player I have ever seen or been around in my many years. Go watch him, not for just 1 game, but for a few games. Watch every shift he takes, count how many times he doesn't have an impact in one way or another during that shift. Let me give you a hint, you won't need more than one hand. He's one kid you won't have to worry about next year.

[Raider Nation Guy]

He is special just like the 6 guys I mentioned in the last post. I watched him play 15 games last year your right he is a nice player, but he will fail if he goes right into the Gophers. You can not do it anymore. He is not strong enough to compete against 22 23 year old men. Jay Barribal is in his 5th year, and this is his first real good start. I would compare there skill set.

[keepyourheadup]

For what it is worth..CC took both Morin and Skalbeck right out of high school..I don't think either is playing much.

[shakey]

Tally another vote for the side of college coaches. They DON'T tell recruits to leave HS early... they just don't. However, they WILL tell certain recruits that a year or two of juniors is expected (after high school is fine with them). This is where the Rau story got so mixed up. Kyle was NOT told he would have to play juniors when he verbally accepted his scholarship offer. Lee Smith led us to believe that Lucia had gone back to Kyle sometime during the Elite League season and told him that the deal had been altered... it hadn't. What happened is that Kyle started believing that playing in the USHL might make him more preparred for college next season... then he changed his mind... again.

That being said, it's not unheard of for college coaches to alter the "straight from high school" deal. The "straight from high school" deal is so uncommon these days that only exceptional players are offered it... and coaches try not to renege on exceptional players. However, it's happened
on occasion. This was NOT one of those occasions.

You sound pretty sure that you have the facts in this case. Why should anyone take your word for it?

[The Exiled One]

Exiled one, how can you say it does not happen anymore. Bjustad, Gardiner,Ness,Leddy, Loftquist,Schroeder, O'Brein. I know for a fact that Vancouver wanted Schrads out of that mess, and the Hawks wanted Leddy out of there also since they don't have a def. coach. Not one of these players has it worked out for. Bjustad has 1 point in 5 games and is -6 Gardiner has 1 point and is -1 with no ice time. The only coach in the WCHA that takes kids straight out of high school is Don. Go back and look at the average age of the 4 teams in the Final Four last year. You will be stunned!! RIT who was in the Final Four last year is not getting the top recruits in the nation, they are getting 21 year old freshman from Canada. Until the Don figures it out he will continue to finish at the bottom of this leauge.

Not sure we're talking about the same thing. Lofquist, Schroeder, and O'Brien did not come straight from HS. Leddy and Bjugstad are exceptional players. I know more about Budish and Gardiner than I wish to share, but both of them are borderline exceptional. Regardless, all of those guys could easily have made a different WCHA roster as a "straight from high school" freshman.

Player talent/skill level is not why the Gophers have sucked in recent years.

[The Exiled One]

Tally another vote for the side of college coaches. They DON'T tell recruits to leave HS early... they just don't. However, they WILL tell certain recruits that a year or two of juniors is expected (after high school is fine with them). This is where the Rau story got so mixed up. Kyle was NOT told he would have to play juniors when he verbally accepted his scholarship offer. Lee Smith led us to believe that Lucia had gone back to Kyle sometime during the Elite League season and told him that the deal had been altered... it hadn't. What happened is that Kyle started believing that playing in the USHL might make him more preparred for college next season... then he changed his mind... again.

That being said, it's not unheard of for college coaches to alter the "straight from high school" deal. The "straight from high school" deal is so uncommon these days that only exceptional players are offered it... and coaches try not to renege on exceptional players. However, it's happened
on occasion. This was NOT one of those occasions.

You sound pretty sure that you have the facts in this case. Why should anyone take your word for it?

Because they don't NEED to tell their recruits to leave high school early. You don't have to take my word for it, just think about it. If they're asked to play a year of juniors, the pressure is on them to start college as a true freshmen is usually enough to do the trick. Just from the Huskies, Festler is one who bowed to the pressure, but Garrett Hendrickson is sticking around for his senior season. Hanowski is the only Husky in a while give the opportunity to come "straight from high school".

[Pens4]

A couple decades ago the USHL was the graveyard for HS players that didn't get offers. I remember a small D1 school in the eastern UP that was chastised for taking the Major Jr A player on school-boy contracts and rolling with 20 year old freshman.

It was not a secret formula for success then nor is it today. If you are a D1 coach...wouldn't you want to be molding and developing that true freshman player. They complain about losing players after their sophomore year but they don't let them come in until they are 20. I suggest that some of these D1 coaches want a complete package when they arrive because they struggle bringing these high end player even higher. As a result, the NHL comes a knocking early because a 24 year old rookie is not really what they want and the college kids feel the clock is ticking too. The NHL average age has not gotten any older than 20-years ago but college hockey sure has.

Joe Sakic vested in his 400 game pension when he was 21...the college programs and the NHL will continue butting heads for players in the foreseeable future. I believe that going straight into college from HS is the best route if you have the game. You have 4 years to develope in college and see what you can be.

[Raider Nation Guy]

Hey EXLIED ONE,exactly my point all three of those players acclerated there education and worse came in as 17 year olds. Not one of them did it work for. As far as Buddish goes theres no way he is a top 6 forward at ND, Duluth, Wisc, or Denver last year. The skill level is why they have been awful the last couple of years. High school players skill level does not mean they can compete with 22-23 year old men.

[The Exiled One]

Hey EXLIED ONE,exactly my point all three of those players acclerated there education and worse came in as 17 year olds. Not one of them did it work for. As far as Buddish goes theres no way he is a top 6 forward at ND, Duluth, Wisc, or Denver last year. The skill level is why they have been awful the last couple of years. High school players skill level does not mean they can compete with 22-23 year old men.

I disagree. The skill level and average age of the Gophers is not so different than before 2007. The Gophers suck because their coaches suck. Namely, they've got an experienced guy who can't coach defense, an exuberent but inexperienced guy coaching the forwards, and a guy who knows how to coach but won't get rid of the other two.

Also, whether he would be top six or not, North Dakota would have taken Budish straight from high school. In fact, they offered him that very thing.

By the way, I understand the appeal of wanting to play for the college team you grew up idolizing, but for those high school studs our there receiving offers from the Gophers and other Minnesota schools I say this: It's no easier to get the "straight from HS deal" from St. Cloud, Duluth, Mankato, or Bemidji than from the Gophers. However, consider the playing time you'd get as a true freshman on a team already loaded with high NHL draft picks versus one of the smaller schools. If it means so much to you to be a Gopher that you're willing to play limited minutes or perhaps watch from the press box... more power to you.

[keepyourheadup]

Seems this matter is being painted with a rather broad brush, I take exception to the idea that it hasn't worked out for anyone. "Shrads" had a great freshman season, hard to explain what happened last year but it wasn't a talent issue. Forbort and Nelson are doing well at ND. Faust is playing at UW. I mendtioned Skalbeck and Morin at CC earlier. Do to many kids try to make the jump..yes. More are struggling than not but it can still be done. Trouble is, kids see others do it and think they can as well. There are a number of NTDP players accelerating right now and they are committed to schools other than the U. Does Rau have the ability to make the leap? Only time will tell but he's been the best kid in his class since the time he was a squirt. I think there is little doubt kyle could have picked any school he wanted and got the opportunity to play right away. The 21 year old freshman idea has been around a very long time. Gino was bringing them in to North Dakota thirty years ago and I'll bet those great teams Denver had in the sixties did it as well.

[MrBoDangles]

Congrats to Rau on being chosen metro player of the year. Now it's YOUR time to make your mark in Minnesota High School Hockey.

[MrBoDangles]

The mark was made!

[HockeyMN1]

Now he's for real going to Souix Falls.