Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Not sure if anyone saw this or not, but Jordan Schmaltz led his Chicago Mission U18 squad to a National Title. He led his team in scoring with 9 points in 6 games. Keep in mind he's a defenseman and could be playing at the U16 level.

He's only a sophomore right now. He'll spend two years in the USHL for Sioux city and be a premier recruit for 2012. That pickup is starting to look better and better.

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Thoughts on forwards....

UW is returning only 8 forwards, with project line spot, list by class:
Dolan 3rd/4th line
Johnson 4th line
Turnbull 3rd/4th line
--
Murray - top 2 line
Stephan - top 2 line
--
Meuer 3rd/4th line
Smith top 2 line
Lee top 2 line

Freshmen forwards year born-pts last year
Barnes - 90 -61 (20 yrs old, could put up Smith type numbers, 2nd line guy)
Clark - 92 - 46 (18 yrs old, can score, 3rd line type guy)
Dahl - 89 - 36 (21 yrs old, 3rd line candidate)
Little - 91 - 11 (19 yrs old, 4th line)
Merch - 92 - 14 (18 yrs old, perhaps a 4th line guy)
1st Star - 89 - 126 (21 yrs old top 2 lines -WCHA & national rookie of the yr)

So, top 2 line candidates:
Murray - top 2 line
Stephan - top 2 line
Smith top 2 line
Lee top 2 line
Barnes
1st Star

3rd/4th line guys:
Dolan 3rd/4th line
Johnson 4th line
Turnbull 3rd/4th line
Meuer 3rd/4th line
Clark
Little
Dahl
Merch

I really like Smith a lot and Barnes could put up very similar numbers, being an older freshman, like Smith and putting up 61 pts last year, more than Smith did his last year in the USHL.

There are 14 forwards, so 2 will sit at this point. You could plug Turnbull and/or Dolan into the top 2 lines as an energy/digger type, that would infuse the 3rd line with a bit more talent. Maybe Eaves will have to spot the 4th line more than he did this year.

After doing this, I'm a bit less optimistic for next year with the lack of experience coming back, but there is still a ton of talent in those forwards.

I forgot about Michael Mersch, the biggest thing going against him will be his youth playing in a generally older WCHA (I mean Mankato has 30 year old on their team...). He is a talented player though, and his draft year isn't until 2011, I think he could surprise, but wouldn't be surprised either if he struggled.

On your thoughts, I think Clark and Turnbull could play on the top 2 lines, but I think the team could put together 3 good lines and one line to just beat the hell out of the other team.

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Not sure if anyone saw this or not, but Jordan Schmaltz led his Chicago Mission U18 squad to a National Title. He led his team in scoring with 9 points in 6 games. Keep in mind he's a defenseman and could be playing at the U16 level.

He's only a sophomore right now. He'll spend two years in the USHL for Sioux city and be a premier recruit for 2012. That pickup is starting to look better and better.

Chuck, just wondering if you know why Jordan went to Chicago to play Major Midget? As we know he's a Verona kid, and "The Home of the Capitols" is just down the road. Some connection or a hunch?

(I guess he made a good choice winning the Tier 1 NC.)

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Chuck, just wondering if you know why Jordan went to Chicago to play Major Midget? As we know he's a Verona kid, and "The Home of the Capitols" is just down the road. Some connection or a hunch?

(I guess he made a good choice winning the Tier 1 NC.)

He also played Mission Minors last season. I'm not sure why he chose Chicago over Madison. I don't have any real leads or anything. He most likely has a connection down there with the program. Either that or the Cap's ****ed his family off earlier? Hard to say.

[TJbadgerfan]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Not sure if anyone saw this or not, but Jordan Schmaltz led his Chicago Mission U18 squad to a National Title. He led his team in scoring with 9 points in 6 games. Keep in mind he's a defenseman and could be playing at the U16 level.

He's only a sophomore right now. He'll spend two years in the USHL for Sioux city and be a premier recruit for 2012. That pickup is starting to look better and better.

Chuck, any feelings on how much this kid is committed to being a Badger? I know it's way early yet, but I worry that he may follow the Yellow Brick Road if Oz were to leave.

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Chuck, any feelings on how much this kid is committed to being a Badger? I know it's way early yet, but I worry that he may follow the Yellow Brick Road if Oz were to leave.

If he wasn't a Wisconsin kid that may worry me but he's from Verona. He'll be a Badger no matter what.

[60min]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

My biggest fear as a fan is losing 3 d-men, and Stepan.

fingers crossed for stepan and one of smith, mcdonagh and goloubef to return

Last I heard, Stepan was definitely coming back for another year. Of course, that could always change, but I believe the intent is for him to come back and have a more consistent and hopefully dominant year with the Badgers before going pro.

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

College Hockey 247 talked to Stepan's little cousin Zach, a sophomore forward at Shattuck.

This kid defines "lock" for Wisconsin. I had him on the recruiting board as soon as I made it. He will be a Badger.

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Any chance UW looks at this Ryan Walters kid that de-comitted from the rodents?

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Any chance UW looks at this Ryan Walters kid that de-comitted from the rodents?

I would have to think that answer is yes, I think that he should be in play. He noted that he really wants to play in the WCHA, and he wants to play this season. UW loses 7 seniors as well as Thurber. We have 6 forwards (Zengerle, Barnes, Dahl, Little, Mersch, and Clark) to come in right now leaving us with 14 for next year. Ideally you would like to go into a season with 15 forwards, 5 equal lines. This season we carried 16 until Thurber was kicked off the team.

We have 2011 recruits that could be brought in, but all of them need another year in the USHL. (Strang, Paape, Hartzog, Woods, and Lapic) This of course doesn't even take into account Stepan possibly leaving. Walters could be a very viable option for the upcoming season. He's an elite scorer who will be a 4 year college player.

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

I would have to think that answer is yes, I think that he should be in play. He noted that he really wants to play in the WCHA, and he wants to play this season. UW loses 7 seniors as well as Thurber. We have 6 forwards (Zengerle, Barnes, Dahl, Little, Mersch, and Clark) to come in right now leaving us with 14 for next year. Ideally you would like to go into a season with 15 forwards, 5 equal lines. This season we carried 16 until Thurber was kicked off the team.

We have 2011 recruits that could be brought in, but all of them need another year in the USHL. (Strang, Paape, Hartzog, Woods, and Lapic) This of course doesn't even take into account Stepan possibly leaving. Walters could be a very viable option for the upcoming season. He's an elite scorer who will be a 4 year college player.

I'm all for UW going after this kid, unless some on the gpl board are correct and there is the potential for this kid or his parents being a disruptive force.

Of course, we heard that about Bennett and I don't think anyone heard a peep of trouble from him this year?

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

I'm all for UW going after this kid, unless some on the gpl board are correct and there is the potential for this kid or his parents being a disruptive force.

Of course, we heard that about Bennett and I don't think anyone heard a peep of trouble from him this year?

Wasn't an issue when he was tearing up the USHL last season. I don't see why it would be an issue when he gets to college.

Gopher fans are just trying to spin this in their direction to make the kid and his family look bad.

We'll glady take him. He immediately steps into a top 3 line role at UW next season.

[DPlaya]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

Chuck, just wondering if you know why Jordan went to Chicago to play Major Midget? As we know he's a Verona kid, and "The Home of the Capitols" is just down the road. Some connection or a hunch?

(I guess he made a good choice winning the Tier 1 NC.)

Schmaltz played for Mission Minor last year, I believe.

As far as why Mission was so good...Mission hosted the National Tournament this year, meaning they got a bye into Nationals without having to win State and Central Districts. High-end kids tend to jump onto teams hosting National Tournaments (and teams recruit them) because they know they'll make it to Nationals and be scouted. That's why Mission had 6 kids who were invited to the USNTDP tryouts on their team.

[DPlaya]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

I've started an Offseason Interview Series with players from Wisconsin that will likely involve many UW recruits. My first e-mail interview is with Eau Claire native and 2011 UW recruit Jake McCabe, and is posted here.

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

I continue to worry about goaltending futures.

No disrespect to our CURRENT goalies, but I see these very solid goalies at other schools and sometimes I wonder what if......(Howie was still around.)

Maybe somebody should head to Finland? The Finns seem to have something in the water (or the vodka), since they are turning out a ****load of NHL goalies. I have offered to go in the past without any replies.