Minnesota Gopher men's hockey coach Don Lucia was not happy when the New York Islanders signed forward Kyle Okposo before his sophomore season was complete. Islanders GM Garth Snow wasn't happy about Lucia not being happy."Quite frankly, we weren't happy with the program there," Snow told the paper. "They have a responsibility to coach, to make Kyle a better player, and they were not doing that."The controversy was a hot topic in Minnesota hockey circles through the Christmas season, as people who love and hate the Gophers opined on Okposo's departure. Minnesota floundered on the ice for a time, but found a way to make the WCHA tournament championship game and qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
He continued, "[Okposo] just wasn't getting better - bottom line. And to me, that's the frustrating part. We entrusted the coach there to turn him into a better hockey player, and it wasn't happening. We feel more comfortable in him developing right under our watch."
"Whether it was Kyle or another player, until things change in that program we'd probably make the same decision," Snow told the Star-Tribune. "There should be a coach there that looks in the mirror. ... I don't think we'd be at this point if he was being coached properly."
Okposo went on to earn a shot with the Islanders late in the season, and it appears likely that he'll be on the NHL roster from the outset of the 2008-2009 season. The Islanders appear to have forgotten how incompetent they think Lucia is, as they picked incoming Minnesota freshman Aaron Ness in the second round of last weekend's draft.
Snow changed his tune Saturday, saying, he blasted the Gophers because in a Star Tribune article the day before, "there were three people that took shots against our organization, against Kyle, and I wasn't going to sit idly by.When I spoke to Lucia in January, he made it clear to me that he was moving on from Snow's remarks, but he was also still bothered by the fact that someone would criticize his coaching without seeing him conduct practice.
"Every situation is different. We're happy we got a good hockey player, and we support [Ness] getting his degree at the University of Minnesota."
I was very harsh on Snow in a post on my blog, and I stand by those words. Snow is in no position to call out one of the most successful coaches in the history of college hockey, no matter how mad he got at things that were said. Lucia's words were carefully-chosen, and they merited a similar response, instead of the rabid rant Snow went off on.
As for Ness, he's a great kid and a super player. He's not the biggest defenseman, and his lack of size means he may not be ideal for every system. However, he has great hands, unreal vision, and seems to be a natural leader. He's also very intelligent, having accelerated his high-school education so he could graduate a year early and start his college career.
His puck-moving ability makes him an ideal fit for Lucia's system, which relies on more wide-open hockey than others, in part because Minnesota's home games are played on Olympic-sized ice. His lack of size means he is probably in need of at least two seasons of college before he's pro-ready.
(By the way, that's two "full" seasons, Garth. Just an FYI.)
By the way, there is still no new agreement between the NHL and NCAA, so players can still be signed to pro contracts during their college seasons, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-24-2008 @ 5:41PM
TheIslandersRule said...
Hey coach- let this kid play in the right position and allow him to develop properly, and Im certain there will be no problems at all.
Reply
6-24-2008 @ 11:54PM
eeedlef said...
Hey Islanders fan, keep your nose in the pros and we'll do just fine.
Reply
6-25-2008 @ 7:17AM
NYI Fan Central said...
Respectfully,
Seems like your controling the spin here because your a fan of Don Lucia or a big fan of the Gophers. That's not all Garth Snow said this week.
Mr Lucia should have kept his comments to himself and not ripped the Isles to start all this and Snow even this weekend did not back off that stance.
******************************
http://www.twincities.com/ci_9660555?source=most_emailed
Pioneer Press 6/23:
John Shipley
Snow, however, did not back off from his statements about Lucia and others who criticized the Islanders for plucking Okposo in midseason.
"First and foremost, anyone who takes a shot at our players, our organization, there's going to be a shot going back. So that's what happened," Snow said. "There were three people who took shots at our organization, took a shot against Kyle, and I'm not going to sit idly by.
"I told the truth. People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
Lucia on Saturday was conciliatory.
"Probably if we had it to do over again, there were some things that wouldn't have been said," he said. "You live and learn. The thing is, Kyle got to play for the Islanders and that was great for him, and we're looking forward to having Aaron in the program. He's a great kid from a great family."
The Gophers coach said he isn't worried that New York will try to persuade Ness to leave the program.
"No, I don't believe that at all," he said. "I'm sure they have people watching all their prospects, and we hope this time around we can have a good dialogue. I'm looking forward to having a good relationship with them."
Aaron Ness for his part made it clear the NHL is the proirity by his words too.
"As long as it takes," he said. "Whenever (the Islanders) feel I'm ready, and I feel I'm ready, let's go. But I'll take that when it comes. As of now I'm going to the U, so I'll just concentrate on that."
***************************************
If your going to be fair with these updates you have to include everything said, not just what sells your viewpoints.
Otherwise why bother writing ?
New York Islander Fan Central
Reply
6-25-2008 @ 8:59AM
Bruce Ciskie said...
Sorry, Isles fan. You need to keep up on your reading. Look closely at the links provided in the story to past FanHouse work or work on my home blog.
Then re-think your argument that I'm a Don Lucia or Gopher fan. Nothing could be further from the truth, even if you called me a raging right-wing lunatic.
Reply
6-25-2008 @ 7:46PM
NYI Fan Central said...
Mr Ciskie,
I wrote you were a raging right-wing lunatic?
Having written that Lucia's words were not carefully chosen when he initiated this the moment Okposo announced in December he would not be returning to school.
Lucia was critical of the Isles and Okposo decision.
Snow responded and defended his player.
Lucia even second guessed his own conduct in the article provided as to how he handled things so even he does not agree with your viewpoint he did the right thing.
For Snow's part he stood by his response to Lucia's december comments as he should have.
Reply