Wisconsin Badgers 2026 Offseason

[Timothy A]

Randomly was taking a look at GPL's portal tracker and they have Pulver in the portal. Haven't seen it anywhere else though.

Also saw yesterday Finley either just had or is going to have shoulder surgery. Maybe a result of the Martone hit in Worcester? That was a brutal hit and he seemed shaken up afterwards despite getting right back on the ice.

I saw from another source that Pulver is in the portal. Best wishes.

Perhaps Finley was playing hurt after that game against Michigan State then.

 

[GoBucky18]

Pulver is now in the portal on USCHO's list. Not a big surprise. I wish the lad well. He had two of the biggest wins of this past year in beating Mich St. at their barn when they were #1. I wish the lad nothing but success. Really like how Hastings has completely transformed our Goalie room from a "just stop the puck, you idiot" perspective under TG to now an extremely competitive "you wanna play here, you have to win your position AND we expect you to perform" perspective.

 

[Timothy A]

TDM says it's also unclear if Castro will be back.

A different article by Todd also says that Hastings is in no rush to fill the assistant coach position. He's considering making it some sort of hybrid coaching/general manager spot that may or may not include on ice coaching.

 

[WiscTJK]

Poirier from Maine now in the portal. Are the Badgers going after him?

2026 men's college hockey transfer portal tracker

This page tracks all movement in the NCAA hockey transfer portal.

www.grandforksherald.com

 

[WiscTJK]

TDM says it's also unclear if Castro will be back.

A different article by Todd also says that Hastings is in no rush to fill the assistant coach position. He's considering making it some sort of hybrid coaching/general manager spot that may or may not include on ice coaching.

articles on the coach and goalies (paywall):

Job opening could reshape look of Wisconsin men's hockey coaching staff

The Badgers aren't rushing to fill the job opened when Nick Oliver left to become head coach at St. Cloud State.

madison.com

Wisconsin men's hockey goalie enters transfer portal after team makes addition

Badgers coach Mike Hastings pointed to the team's goaltending metrics when asked why he was interested in a personnel change via the transfer portal.

madison.com

 

[Doogity]

Can never have enough scorers on a team. That being said, if he had surgery on his hip, what does his return to skating timeline look like. Then, who is departing the team as a result of the addition.

 

[TJ77]

TDM says it's also unclear if Castro will be back.

A different article by Todd also says that Hastings is in no rush to fill the assistant coach position. He's considering making it some sort of hybrid coaching/general manager spot that may or may not include on ice coaching.

One former player could fit this kind of role. I'm not giving thumbs up or down for myself, just putting the name out there. Andy Brandt is Coach and GM of the Madison Caps in the USHL. He was on Granato's staff for one year. I think it was Granato's last year.

 

[WiscTJK]

One former player could fit this kind of role. I'm not giving thumbs up or down for myself, just putting the name out there. Andy Brandt is Coach and GM of the Madison Caps in the USHL. He was on Granato's staff for one year. I think it was Granato's last year.

He just got an extension from the Caps. And he was the only coach on staff when Hastings was hired and he was passed over, it's likely he's not coming back.

 

[Pkazbo]

Poirier would be great, the guy can clearly score. Would be a great addition to the forwards and another boost to goal scoring. Morrissey and Tulk were 1st and 3rd on the team in assists. They're smart, great playmakers, and proven two-way guys who swarm the puck. If they have Wiebusch AND Poriier to feed, it would be hard not to feel optimistic about a top offense next year. Some Twitter buzz that Poirier is reminiscent of sophomore Finley with the way he plays defense, but in my opinion, we have plenty of two-way talent, especially at the center position, where it matters most, and a proven defensive core which would certainly compensate for a pure goal-scoring forward.

 

[GoBucky18]

Poirier would be great, the guy can clearly score. Would be a great addition to the forwards and another boost to goal scoring. Morrissey and Tulk were 1st and 3rd on the team in assists. They're smart, great playmakers, and proven two-way guys who swarm the puck. If they have Wiebusch AND Poriier to feed, it would be hard not to feel optimistic about a top offense next year. Some Twitter buzz that Poirier is reminiscent of sophomore Finley with the way he plays defense, but in my opinion, we have plenty of two-way talent, especially at the center position, where it matters most, and a proven defensive core which would certainly compensate for a pure goal-scoring forward.

I Think Hastings worked a lot of magic with Finley, taught him PK and full 200ft player. He made huge strides soph to jr yr.

NO way Poirer comes w/o knowing what the expectations are up front. Hastings expects full buy in.

 

[Timothy A]

Tom Gilbert is the associate head coach and assistant GM for the Caps. I would think he'd be an ideal guy to kick the tyres on for the assistant spot with the coaching and GMing experience and the UW winning pedigree (which is not that essential, but it is a plus.) Doesn't have to uproot his family to boot.

 

[GoBucky18]

Tom Gilbert is the associate head coach and assistant GM for the Caps. I would think he'd be an ideal guy to kick the tyres on for the assistant spot with the coaching and GMing experience and the UW winning pedigree (which is not that essential, but it is a plus.) Doesn't have to uproot his family to boot.

I figure at this point we just let Hastings cook. He will find tge right guy and certainly knows more about what's nedded than us peasants lol

 

[con1977]

Tom Gilbert is the associate head coach and assistant GM for the Caps. I would think he'd be an ideal guy to kick the tyres on for the assistant spot with the coaching and GMing experience and the UW winning pedigree (which is not that essential, but it is a plus.) Doesn't have to uproot his family to boot.

I wont expound on it, but I would be quite surprised if Tom was interested in the position at UW.

 

[WisconsinWildcard]

I wont expound on it, but I would be quite surprised if Tom was interested in the position at UW.

I really feel the travel commitment would be a huge negative for the family man post-NHL career types. Maybe once the kiddos are in college.

 

[GoBucky18]

Portal has been very quiet with committments. If I recall it closes tomorrow (Mon)?

After a quick look, there's nothing much left in there outside of Mercyhurst, Freshmen with zero playing time, or guys with unproductive numbers.

Poirer pretty much the only get remaining. Will be interesting to see where he goes as I havent heard any rumors or scuttlebutt. Wonder if he has received multiple options and is still debating or if it is the reverse.

 

[GoBucky18]

Poirer to Penn St. They must have backed up the Brinks truck for him after getting gutted lol.

Based on some of the "bad locker room guy" comments Ive heard on the Maine board, he will prob fit right in at Penn St. If he took money over a much better team.

 

[WiscTJK]

Poirier to Ped State. Not that surprising.

 

[WiscTJK]

I think the Badgers are rolling with what we have right now. Hopefully these freshman can come in and compete and we can roll 4 strong again next year.

I am more concerned with the Hastings way and this 5 years eligibility from graduating high school they are trying to push thru. That will eliminate 21 year old freshman getting 4 years. If they graduate at 18 - 19 years old, they likely have only 2 maybe 3 years at NCAA level. And someone coming in as 18 year old freshman now has 5 years of eligibility. NCAA is just lost right now.

 

[GoBucky18]

I think the Badgers are rolling with what we have right now. Hopefully these freshman can come in and compete and we can roll 4 strong again next year.

I am more concerned with the Hastings way and this 5 years eligibility from graduating high school they are trying to push thru. That will eliminate 21 year old freshman getting 4 years. If they graduate at 18 - 19 years old, they likely have only 2 maybe 3 years at NCAA level. And someone coming in as 18 year old freshman now has 5 years of eligibility. NCAA is just lost right now.

Concur, NCAA has no idea what it's doing. Development agewise varies drastically across sports. I'd rather they just put a cap on the Age limit, like "can't turn 24 before x date.

Hockey is just a difft animal with regards to development.

 

[Timothy A]

I wont expound on it, but I would be quite surprised if Tom was interested in the position at UW.

Ok, I'll let Mike know.

Zajac with a hatty against the Krauts today. Listed as a 4th line W, played 17 shifts. They must have been rolling 4 lines all game long. 4 goals so far at the U18 worlds on 8 shots.