I think it's absolutely going to hurt a program like Minnesota State. B1G and NCHC are likely to pick off the vast majority of blue-chip high-school kids who are capable of playing D1 hockey right away. MSU has relied on getting late bloomers out of junior A. That won't be a feasible business model anymore.
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Wisconsin Badgers 2026 Offseason
- Thread starter srkbadger
- Start date
While it's concerning, nothing has been truly decided yet. I just hope the NCAA realizes that hockey is really a diff't sport and if you want a decent product on the ice, you have to allow for some caviat for when the clock starts. That assumes they would care though (I'm not holding my breath). A couple additional thoughts:
1) Major Jrs age out at 21, under proposed new model, they'd still get 2yrs of eligibility. I somewhat think this was a way for NCAA to limit influence of Major Jrs, but unless kids are all in on school, they were "hired guns" anyway. The best CHL players that aren't ready for NHL/AHL probably want to up their free agent stock in the NCAA (BIG/NCHC/HE) rather than languish in the ECHL/play overseas and not get any vis. I don't really think that changes.
2) Failure by the NCAA to realize probably less than 10% of HS graduating seniors are ready for NCAA D1 hockey other than NTDP players and actually takes options away from kids.
3) I don't see any of the CCHA/AHA schools really competing for the top young players under a new system like is proposed and will have to rely on transfer portal/CHL players to put together their roster each year. Sad.
4) I'm hoping against hope that if they do 5yr chunks, they at least say 5yrs from the 19th birthday (Sept 1 or Aug 1 cutoff) OR from date of high school graduation. That way it covers the FB/BB folks, and allows for a cple years of jr hockey devlopment from 17-19. That way if you're 19 on Sept 2nd, it allows for an additional year.
At the end of the day, if it's possible that hockey can get the reprieve by the NCAA for the clock to start at 19, and the juniors system is saved, I think that Hastings now has in place the ability to develop everyone he needs to for us to have great recruiting classes but it not matter if it's ranked #1 or #20. Anything in that middle I will defer to the coaching staff that they have the guys they want/need to be successful.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I agree, but I like to look at things in perspective. It never hurts to have "experts" like your incoming class. If the class was unranked, I will admit I'd be slightly apprehensive. The portal eases the angst as long as you get a guy or 2 who can produce now.
WiscTJK
Well-known member
MSU will have likely 8 -10 #1 draft picks on their team this fall. Wow. That will be the true test of these high fire power teams that honestly haven't gotten it done in the playoffs.
The newest guy, Ethan Belchetz is 6'-5", 227 and likely first round pick in 26 draft.
I am truly worried if Wisconsin can contend in this environment. I just don't see how many of the CCHA teams and others like that can compete.
The newest guy, Ethan Belchetz is 6'-5", 227 and likely first round pick in 26 draft.
I am truly worried if Wisconsin can contend in this environment. I just don't see how many of the CCHA teams and others like that can compete.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
With single elimination playoffs I'm not worried at all. The nhl draft is based on potential, not in the moment performance. McKenna wasn't an omg player. On paper the MI teams should destroy everyone. They didn't destroy us last year.
I think we really need to look at MSU, PSU, and Michigan for what they kinda have become...NHL prep academies where guys get NIL deals and play a year to develop. Winning anything means little to them or their NHL teams as lobg as the strength/conditioning, skills development, nutrition, and facilities piece is in place.
Michigan had 3 or 4 of the top 5 picks a few yrs ago and they flamed out as per usual bc they end up in the box. PSU front loads their NC shedule with patsies and then cant ever play structured defense and comes up short. MSU is really the only one that may be a concern bc Nightengale runs a great program with his connections to USNDT locally, proximity to OHL, and that he has been knocking on the door.
The goofs...I dont know. He runs things similar to Sandelin. But its a huge roster TO to manage this year. Going to depend on how aggressive AD allows with the football and bball sucking dry the NIL cash. Hoping Hastings can steal some of their recruits. Kessel them back.
I don't know what restrictions there are on NIL. Is it possible for the NHL to be funding the NIL at certain schools?
That is a really interesting question. Short of the teams donating explicitly, Im sure they could pass through whale donors without much trouble....but I dont see any NHL team funding NIL beyond a 1st or 2nd rnd pick. Just not enough payoff. Plus those guys are then signed to 2 or 3yr entry level contracts after school so that math can get fuzzy after a while.
Anyone else have an idea?
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Interesting......Could an NHL team love a certain coach, steer their 1st & 2nd rounders there and fund them thru NIL? All the kids would have to do is de-commit / re-commit pre-college or transfer after year 1 depending on what age they get drafted.
Saw on CHN that NCAA rejected the hockey proposal. If that's the case, you will now see kids delay graduation from HS until 19. There are going to be a TON of home school USHLers now coupled with kids just forgoing the 1st year of their eligibility. From what I know, most states don't put a credit req on kids, just an age req for graduation.
And what's the point? The 1st-3rd round guys will still only play 1-3 yrs anyway, and the 4-7th rnd guys will still get their 4 years. I'm honestly not all that concerned.
And what's the point? The 1st-3rd round guys will still only play 1-3 yrs anyway, and the 4-7th rnd guys will still get their 4 years. I'm honestly not all that concerned.
WiscTJK
Well-known member
I am still very concerned. Look at the greater than 19 year olds that Hastings has brought in. They will have 3 or maybe 2 years of eligibility. They will have to recruit more kids and bring them in early or cut them if they aren't progressing fast enough. I am sure they will figure it out, but this new proposal really favors the Denver, Nodak, Michigan, MSU, Minnesota, BC, Boston, etc., and other teams that have better funding of their hockey programs (Penn State). Unfortunately, the 4 year glue guys are likely done forever. Maybe I am overreacting, but I don't think so.
And it really screws over the kids in high school now, especially those that graduated in 2026, and where the lawsuits will come from which are rumored.
solovsfett
Registered User
I agree with all of this.
Also recall, UW had 4 first round NHL draft picks with Caufield, Turcotte, Miller and Holloway and to say that team was underwhelming is an understatement.
Watching Michigan this year I thought they had the best overall talent in the country but the coaching wasn’t up to par. The kids went off the rails several times and seemed to break once they went down by 2 or more.
Well, it looks like NCAA committee approved/advanced age-based eligibility and it should be the law of the land come end of June. Essentially, everything should remain about the same, as the clock will begin ticking "upon initial full-time enrollment in college or at the beginning of the academic year following the athlete's 19th birthday, whichever occurs first."
This preserves at least 4years of eligibillity for junior hockey players entering after they age out at 20. Ultimately our fears were unfounded as the NCAA probably realized how crappy of an ecosystem they would be creating. There's a funny video out there when WI was at Michigan this yr of Hage chriping at Tassy in the box because of his age. My point being that, there are a lot of guys that simply don't blossom till later in their college (much like football and basketball), and very few 18yos or even 19yos make large positivie impacts their freshman year. This rule renders moot all the argumanets about "older guys in college hockey" which I think is silly anyway.
This preserves at least 4years of eligibillity for junior hockey players entering after they age out at 20. Ultimately our fears were unfounded as the NCAA probably realized how crappy of an ecosystem they would be creating. There's a funny video out there when WI was at Michigan this yr of Hage chriping at Tassy in the box because of his age. My point being that, there are a lot of guys that simply don't blossom till later in their college (much like football and basketball), and very few 18yos or even 19yos make large positivie impacts their freshman year. This rule renders moot all the argumanets about "older guys in college hockey" which I think is silly anyway.
Yep, that was the year before Covid, and everyone was marveling at the talent, and also expecting lots of Ws. In reality what happened was Turcotte was hurt a lot, Miller was strong on assists/god awful on D, Holloway showed flashes here and there, and Caufield was below expectations bc they tried to play hero hockey (just stood around and watched Caufiled shoot).
TG, great person, but he really had no cohesive approach to coaching a college team and tried to take the pro approach with little discipline or accountability. Their defensive performance all his years, penalty kill, and inability to get a decent goalie (he was chasing the entire time) was readily apparent.
WiscTJK
Well-known member
new assistant coach hired: https://x.com/BadgerMHockey/status/2064736134836470228
Nick Peruzzi
I like his background. Scouting and player development. Young, from the midwest and was on very successful teams as an assistant coach.
Nick Peruzzi
I like his background. Scouting and player development. Young, from the midwest and was on very successful teams as an assistant coach.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I love the hire. I think the third spot on Hastings staff will always be an up-and-comer who leaves eventually. I'd love to know who else applied for the job out of curiosity. I may be reading the tea leaves wrong but I think Knot is kind of guy who knows his role and loves being the number two.
I think the jury is still out on what kind of goalie Coach Murdock is. Not a good sign when they could not elevate Pulver's play. Hauser was great when healthy, but I'm attributing his great play when healthy to his talent.
I think the jury is still out on what kind of goalie Coach Murdock is. Not a good sign when they could not elevate Pulver's play. Hauser was great when healthy, but I'm attributing his great play when healthy to his talent.