Bob Herpen: Checking in on the Big Ten-Hockey East Challenge Recapping the events of the past weekend in the Big Ten-Hockey East Challenge including the exploits of top American prospect Jack Eichel; talking about how voters have given quite generously to Minnesota over the last few years when the Gophers sit atop the national rankings.

Go Gophers! They'll be number one for most of this season again....

Lucia better be on the Hot seat if they don't win the National title this season. It's been far too long with the number of blue chip players he's had the fortune of coaching.

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone when I say that you can take that #1 ranking and give it to someone else. The Gophers historically play better hockey as an underdog or lower ranked team. It's like a freakin Target on their backs!!!

I think Bob you have a very substantiated view on this but as Gopher fans myself included realize Rankings don't mean much if anything. Now the pairwise matters a great deal but that is another story. I really think this current Gopher team is soooo deep and talented. They are gonna break hearts again in the Conference and Tourney. Gotta finish though or it doesn't matter. This group can win the Natty I think. Big Ten Hockey maybe down this year. I know Wisconsin has nice freshmen class but lost a couple of their difference makers. Michigan with nice start but Meh!

North Dakota and St. Cloud St have nice squads. Boston College and Notre Dame have top end talent.

I'm pretty sure I'm not alone when I say that you can take that #1 ranking and give it to someone else. The Gophers historically play better hockey as an underdog or lower ranked team. It's like a freakin Target on their backs!!!


- mngopherguy

Yeah, but they played pretty damn good all of last season with the #1 ranking. What a terrible playoff performance though. I for one will not be satisfied with just another frozen four appearance. They need to step up and win it all this season and maybe even next with as deep a team Lucia has to work with.

Tony - I think my overarching point is that the fans know the rankings don't mean much, so why do the voters insist on pouring on the love to Minnesota in particular?

With so much unfulfilled potential year after year, I'd love for the Gophers to put together a complete season -- one where they're not at 50 first-place votes in October and November but can win when it counts most.

Big Ten simply needs to expand to the point where there's a marked difference between the best teams and the worst teams, and last year's playoffs didn't do much to dispel that notion. Too much parity is ridiculous.