NHL scout: Gophers better than No. 1-rated Ferris State

It's interesting who you might bump into at breakfast at an Omaha hotel.

Just had a nice 10-minute chat with an NHL scout who was at the Gophers-Nebraska Omaha series. He was impressed with the Gophers, who swept UNO 3-2 in overtime and 3-2 in regulation.

He said he does not go this far west very often. He has seen No. 1 Ferris State, a team in Big Rapids, Mich., which claimed the CCHA regular-season title this past weekend.

The scout said Ferris State is not as talented as the Gophers. The Bulldogs are a team that works hard and has a strong goalie.

The Gophers and Boston College are the two best teams he has seen, the scout said.

Who impressed you on the Gophers?

Defensemen Seth Helgeson ... he does the simple things right. (He is also 6-4.) And defenseman Mark Alt (6-3).

He said Kyle Rau was a good college player, but hard to project as a pro. Rau is 5-8, nine inches shorter than Bjugstad.

The Florida Panthers own the draft rights to both Bjugstad and Rau. Helgeson was drafted by New Jersey, Alt by Carolina.

* Wouldn't want to be an NHL scout, but sure liked his sharp-looking black luggage with a team and NHL emblems. I have a red suitcase you could find at a thrift store. Not complaining, just saying.