Wisconsin Badger 2025 Offseason

[UW student and hockey fan]

First post on last year's thread. This ranking stuff is all suspect in my opinion.

Yeah it's impossible to know which recruits will break out and which might not live up to the hype- did anyone predict Gavin Morrissey would be the first line center heading into this season?

On that note, I personally think the team will be in a good spot if 3 or 4 of the 6 freshman forwards contribute in some way. In an ideal world, It'd be great if Tulk and Montgomery each finish with 20 ish points, and maybe Idzan (or other USHL guys) scrap together 10-15. Maybe this is unrealistic, but I worry if the freshmen underperform the team may struggle to score.

 

[Tremelo3]

Last year our problems were losing 7 or 8 games in OT, the injuries on D (big difference once Laatch went out) p the goaltending inconsistency, and only having 1 line that could score.
I do feel like all these things could easily be fixed this upcoming season. Stay healthy, hopefully Hauser/Pulver/Castro are consistent, stop losing close games.
The question comes down to can we get a nice 2nd and 3rd line going. I do agree we need Tulk and Montgomery to be good. But we also need Tassy, Fitzgerald, and Kukkonen to step up.

 

[Ditra]

Makes for interesting dead time discussions.

Fredric hit the jackpot today with the Oilers.

Dude has got a great agent if he's really getting an eight year deal as reported on his stats.

 

[Timothy A]

Dude has got a great agent if he's really getting an eight year deal as reported on his stats.

He's getting 1.71 million per year more than Holloway got from the Blues, and I think the Oilers needed Holloway more than Fredric.

 

[Timothy A]

Last year our problems were losing 7 or 8 games in OT, the injuries on D (big difference once Laatch went out) p the goaltending inconsistency, and only having 1 line that could score.
I do feel like all these things could easily be fixed this upcoming season. Stay healthy, hopefully Hauser/Pulver/Castro are consistent, stop losing close games.
The question comes down to can we get a nice 2nd and 3rd line going. I do agree we need Tulk and Montgomery to be good. But we also need Tassy, Fitzgerald, and Kukkonen to step up.

It's paramount the upperclassmen F step up and they get solid goaltending. Imagine if Tassy, Fitzgerald, and Kukkonen double their scoring? They need 2 Fr F to get into the 15-20 pt range also.

 

[digitalbooya]

Yeah it's impossible to know which recruits will break out and which might not live up to the hype- did anyone predict Gavin Morrissey would be the first line center heading into this season?

On that note, I personally think the team will be in a good spot if 3 or 4 of the 6 freshman forwards contribute in some way. In an ideal world, It'd be great if Tulk and Montgomery each finish with 20 ish points, and maybe Idzan (or other USHL guys) scrap together 10-15. Maybe this is unrealistic, but I worry if the freshmen underperform the team may struggle to score.

I feel like 20 points from Tulk would be pretty disappointing. 30 is pretty realistic IMO. Agreed on Montgomery/Izdan.

Expectations should be these type of freshmen come in and make an impact right away. It’s not like they are 18 and need to bulk up a ton.

Morrissey was a 21 year old freshman.

Tulk will turn 21 in the middle of this season.

Montgomery is 20.

Izdan is a wildcard; he’s 19 and went way under the radar prior to last season. He should be drafted as an overager. Will be interesting to see how he adjusts to college hockey. He certainly has the size to fit right in.

 

[Timothy A]

I feel like 20 points from Tulk would be pretty disappointing. 30 is pretty realistic IMO. Agreed on Montgomery/Izdan.

Expectations should be these type of freshmen come in and make an impact right away. It’s not like they are 18 and need to bulk up.

I've been hurt before, I don't want to be hurt again. I'm tempering my expectations.

 

[UW student and hockey fan]

I feel like 20 points from Tulk would be pretty disappointing. 30 is pretty realistic IMO. Agreed on Montgomery/Izdan.

Expectations should be these type of freshmen come in and make an impact right away. It’s not like they are 18 and need to bulk up a ton.

I agree that he should make an impact right away, but I would politely disagree that 20 points would be disappointing. I think the leap from juniors (even if CHL) to NCAA is a significant leap even for older players, and any freshman scoring 20 points is solid.

With Tulk, I am a little concerned about size. To be completely honest, he's probably a little closer to 5-7 than the listed 5-8, and I could see him getting bossed around physically if the skating and maneuverability isn't elite. With that being said, 100 points in the W this past year is awesome. For all the talk and hype surrounding younger drafted CHL players I believe Tulk has the 2nd most points of any CHL player going to the NCAA.

So long story short, I could see a wide range of outcomes, but I don't think 20 points would be too bad. Obviously hoping for more, though.

 

[Tremelo3]

Last year we only had 3 guys score 10 or more goals. Finley, Mosley and Kukkonen. This upcoming season I’d hope to have Finley, Morrisey, Tulk, Montgomery, Tassy, Fitzgerald, Kukkonen each get 10 plus

Last year not one single Defenseman had more than 2 goals. This year I’d hope Dexheimer, Hensler and Osburn all score 4 plus

 

[Timothy A]

Last year not one single Defenseman had more than 2 goals. This year I’d hope Dexheimer, Hensler and Osburn all score 4 plus

Wow, setting the bar super high! Haha. Ideally one D should get double digit goals, but I'd settle for a ton of apples, one guy in the 20's and one guy in the teens. D getting apples means things are flowing in the right direction.

 

[digitalbooya]

Hensler taken in the 1st round.