Bickel signs with the Ducks

I have to admit I laughed when I read that on GPL. Bickel? I mean I get how he was a 21 year old freshman and all.. but he didn't do that great for us this year. Then again he was asked to be a better defenseman than he was. But still. I don't understand first of all why everyone is leaving college so early. The money will be there when your done, and what happens if you get hurt? No college degree and your left with dittly. I was just looking at the signing bonus he got. He got the same amount of money that Erik Johnson got for signing. Or maybe it was Kyle Okposo. $85,000. I love how Lucia was quoted as saying Bickel would be a four year maybe captain for the Gophers. Totally putting on the guilt there. I don't get why he signed to play in the minors. I mean i honestly don't think he will be missed that much but hey what do I know. But we do have some defensemen coming in that are highly talented, most notable Aaron Ness. Maybe Bickel sensed that he wouldn't be such an impact player. I don't know. What ever happens for him , best of luck. Another player gone and another point for the NHL.

BICKEL ARTICLE FROM PIONEER PRESS:

Gophers' Bickel turns pro, surprising Lucia

No one, not Don Lucia and not Stu Bickel himself, expected Gophers defenseman Bickel to sign a pro contract and leave the University of Minnesota men's hockey team after one season.

"It was a surprise to me, the offer that they made," Bickel said after signing a three-year free-agent contract with the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday. "It was tough to turn down."

Bickel, a 21-year-old from Chanhassen who was not drafted, signed a deal reportedly worth the maximum, including an $85,000 signing bonus and a two-way contract that will pay him approximately $67,500 if he plays, as expected, for the Ducks' American Hockey League affiliate in Des Moines, Iowa.

"Whatever level I end up at, I'm just going to continue to improve," said Bickel, a bruising 6-foot-3, 210-pounder who had one goal and six assists for the Gophers in his first season. "I think I will begin my development in the American League."

Lucia, the Gophers' coach, said he was surprised to learn that the Ducks had made an offer to Bickel.

"When we were recruiting Stu, we thought he'd be a four-year guy and a captain for us," Lucia said. "He had a great year for us; he exceeded all our expectations this year. We're going to miss him.

"It's hard for me when it looks like a guy will play in the minors. I hope it works out for him."

A forward who converted to defense after a season with the Southern Minnesota Express of the NAHL and played one season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the U.S. Hockey League, Bickel will be playing for his sixth team in six seasons. Before going to the NAHL, he played his senior season at Eden Prairie High School and his junior season at Minnetonka High School.

Bickel joins Blake Wheeler and Jeff Frazee as players to leave Minnesota with eligibility remaining since the end of the past season.

Lucia said the Gophers expect to have eight defensemen next season: R.J. Anderson, Cade Fairchild, Kevin Wehrs, David Fischer, Aaron Ness, Brian Schack, Sam Lofquist and Grant Scott.

Wheeler, the Gophers' leading scorer last season, signed with the Boston Bruins. Terms were not disclosed.

Wheeler had announced he was turning pro after three seasons at Minnesota. He was drafted fifth overall by Phoenix in 2004 but didn't sign with the Coyotes. Last season, he led the Gophers in scoring with 15 goals and 20 assists. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Wheeler finished his college career with 42 goals and 54 assists in 127 games.

Frazee, who had one year's eligibility left, signed with New Jersey after last season and played for the Devils' minor league team in Lowell, Mass.