Minnesota can turn anyone's head.
Watch the Gophers for a few minutes. Watch Tyler Sheehy effortlessly redirect a pass by a goalie as a streaks through the slot. Watch Casey Mittelstadt embarrass a defenseman almost as highly touted as he is to set up a goal. Watch Ryan Lindgren bang a slap shot off the crossbar and in moments after breaking up an opposing rush in his own zone.
The Gophers can play man.
Except, sometimes, they just don't.
Through the season's first 12 games, we have two versions of the Gophers from which to choose when projecting their fate for the 2017-18 season.