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Wisconsin Badgers 2026 Offseason

Finley now signed too. Need to be in the correct thread here.

They are now a forward short by my calculation and can add a sniper from the portal, maybe.
 
Would be interesting, I've played against him back when he was at Edgewood, guys got some talent for sure, not one you want to play against. However, I'd question his fit here and in Hasting's system. As far as Poirier, a smaller guy, but we could really use his ability up front with some incoming six-footers in Wooten, Orpana, Solomon.

I'm interested to see how the lines will shake up. Stacked at the center position with Morrissey, Tulk, Zelenov, Deering, and Wooten. Subject to change, but the four guys we have are true centers, in my opinion, given their ability to chase pucks and play a two-way game (faceoffs, aside from Morrissey, could use some work). The wingers are interesting. Botterill took huge strides and earned that second-line spot, and while Zelenov had been playing center, his hockey IQ and game overall would work as a winger. Looking at the roster, I'd definitely be pushing for a forward in the portal to solidify the offensive core. Sucks that BMO signed; he had a lot of room to grow and would've been a key piece next year. I'd expect tulk, morrissey, and zelenov to carry the point total for the returning players, with wooten and solomon being guys who can adjust quickly as freshmen.
 
Owen Murray (who funnily enough is just a UMass player who's been reporting news on twitter) said yesterday Wiebusch is not coming to Wisconsin, then amended it this morning saying "there is still a possibility he ends up here".

I think either Wiebusch or Poirer would be beneficial. Maybe they're not the perfect player the coaching staff is looking for but they're proven goal scorers at the least.
 
HighToTheGloveSide said:
As mentioned in the other Wisco thread, Blake Montgomery signed with the Ottawa Senators (assigned to the Belleville Senators) so another spot to fill. Seems like a dumb move - he needs to get bigger/stronger and is gonna get eaten up at the next level, even in the AHL.
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Like I said over there, school ain't for everyone. Or he's got a big head. There's hundreds of examples of guys who left too early and did not make the NHL. Of course usually one thinks "that won't be me!" but 7 years later in the AHL........
 
I think, based on the timeline, the fact the portal has been open for just 3 days, and the team just gpt back to business on Mon, the coaches are probably engaging their targets, having discussions amongst themselves, and then going to have conversations with players over the next couple days.

Big thing in G for me is having a pipeline develop. Great G in college should stick around at least 3 yrs to develop. The fact hauser won over 20 games in his F campaign is phenomenal, but there is nothing wrong with competition either.

IMHO Pulver was WAY too out of position too many times for my comfort level that I consider the @Mich St. Series an outlier.

Anyway, we have great talent coming in but in my mind we need some serious goal scorers to develop. I think Kunin, Caufield, and Finley are the only 20G scorers in a season since 2015. That aint good.
 
GoBucky18 said:
I think, based on the timeline, the fact the portal has been open for just 3 days, and the team just gpt back to business on Mon, the coaches are probably engaging their targets, having discussions amongst themselves, and then going to have conversations with players over the next couple days.

Big thing in G for me is having a pipeline develop. Great G in college should stick around at least 3 yrs to develop. The fact hauser won over 20 games in his F campaign is phenomenal, but there is nothing wrong with competition either.

IMHO Pulver was WAY too out of position too many times for my comfort level that I consider the @Mich St. Series an outlier.

Anyway, we have great talent coming in but in my mind we need some serious goal scorers to develop. I think Kunin, Caufield, and Finley are the only 20G scorers in a season since 2015. That aint good.
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Agreed, some competition in G is needed, not sure what will happen with Pulver. Sure that MSU series was great, soon after he's getting pulled against Notre Dame on two separate occassions, a team that finished 51/63 D1 teams. Reminded me of how Scarfone was... will play a period of outstanding goalie between the pipes and then forget he's supposed to stop the puck. Very confident with Hauser, and holding onto hope for Cournoyer.
 
I'm not even sure Montgomery is a full-time AHLer at this point. I could see him shuttling between the AHL and ECHL which - if you're leaving school early to turn pro - is probably a sign you made the wrong decision.
 
GoBucky18 said:
Anyway, we have great talent coming in but in my mind we need some serious goal scorers to develop. I think Kunin, Caufield, and Finley are the only 20G scorers in a season since 2015. That aint good.
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I took a look over the goal scoring for those years and just got depressed lol
 
The U18 Worlds is going on and Winters is listed as the #2 goalie. Zajic is a 4th line wing. Interestingly there is a top line wing who is uncommitted, Brayden Willis as well as the 13th F, Nolan Fitzhenry.
 
Robert Balin said:
Wiebusch to the Badgers.
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Im not gonna say it is huge, but goodness, I love it. College Puck NXT has it up. We just need point producers badly. Whatever Hasty is selling, kids are buying.

EDit: And Id like to add, there is now way he is even engaged unless the coaching staff had him ID'd as a 2 way 200 ft player already.
 
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I wonder if the Badgers are still in on Justin Poirier from Maine. I thought i read someplace that he had hip surgery. If true I wonder how bad his injury was and how long he will be sidelined. On the back end if the Badgers are looking to bring someone in, im curious if AA defensemen Joey Potter is on the radar. I believe his sister plays for the Bucky.
 
Pkazbo said:
Agreed, some competition in G is needed, not sure what will happen with Pulver. Sure that MSU series was great, soon after he's getting pulled against Notre Dame on two separate occassions, a team that finished 51/63 D1 teams. Reminded me of how Scarfone was... will play a period of outstanding goalie between the pipes and then forget he's supposed to stop the puck. Very confident with Hauser, and holding onto hope for Cournoyer.
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Scarfone, Hayton....I think with only one exception, bringing in a G from AHA, CCHA, or non top-tier ECHC teams is not a winning move.

Those leagues now just dont face the offensive talent that exists in BIG, NCHC or HE and play D heavy systems that protect goalies.
 
I have no data outside of the eye test, but I feel like there is almost no movement east to west, traditionally speaking, maybe high end HE to NCHC/BIG the exception.
 
Weibusch is a great get, welcome aboard! Potential 2 year player. Good luck to Finley and Montgomery. It gives me no pleasure to say that I think they're really gonna need it. Maybe Finley/Islanders believe his development has plateaued in college. Agree that the college part of college hockey may have been a driving force for Montgomery. Joe P. still hanging with us?
 
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