Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winning

[IronRange]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

This is it in a nutshell. Oz version 2.0 isn’t working on D. Version 1.0 could take any 5-6 people from the stands and mold them into a solid defense. Now they’ve got Miller and Emberson (the latter of which has been talked up for a million years around here) and Kalynuk and well....

Tony got an enthusiasm bump in year 1. Then Don leaves. The recruits lined up (other than next year) don’t look like a pipeline to sustain winning. Then again they actually have to start winning. So it’s not a pipeline to build a successful long term program.

Wisconsin is in trouble. And I don’t think it’s far fetched to say Caulfield and Turcotte are 1 and dones until they prove us wrong.

Turris wasn’t ready imo but bolted anyway. Happens all the time. And Caulfield has already eclipsed Patrick Kane’s goal production so it’s not inconceivable there is a 1 year bump or two year bump then right back to .500 or below.

AND the question I ask is: what if the fab 5 don’t bring a title home? Then what? Another 5 years of this and Wisconsin will have 30 consecutive years of mostly mediocre **** hockey.

Ivdidn’t Tune in for one second of either game this weekend. I guess i’m done as a fan and becoming a casual observer. I’m tired of it and Alvarez sure as **** won’t ever see a 6-time ncaa championship pedigree as something to cherish and hold to the highest of standards

IMHO, its the culture which builds the programs long term. The culture of UW, Goph, UND, BU, BC....all cultures of "prep for Pro" programs. No real dedication to the team or crazy desire to make the tournament and compete for a national title. The top kids in these programs aren't returning for multiple years to support their school traditions....let alone come for that reason in the first place. I don't see a top kid destined to sign a pro contract at the end of the season diving into 90 MPH shots to make sure one doesn't get through on net.

It's a new world in college hockey and those that adapt will do well. UW still has the name, the facilities and the resources to return to power. Yet it takes strong 3-4 year players to achieve that.

 

[MadCityRich]

Might be time for me to gear up for F1 and INDYCAR now.

Boys, don't forget about the Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend! Love that series and the FIA WEC, as well!

EDIT: I read the game at the U.C. had about 5000 tickets sold. I'd hate to see the butts in the seats numbers.

 

[The Rube]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Top bloke. Real champion of UW hockey in recent years. He pumps out content and info about the Badgers, including future badgers. Very responsive to fans. There's not necessarily a huge lucrative audience for a lot of the ins and outs of UW hockey, so it's good to have a guy (independent from UW) in the local media fighting the good fight, i.e. we all want the Badgers to be big and great and successful on the ice, on TV, in the stands, etc.

Apparently he's going to be on the Gopher Puck Live Podcast this week (Wed at 9pm CT, IIRC).

I look forward to the FB Live stuff after the games this weekend, win or lose (heh, like we'll lose. /tArrogance )

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Stats after Denver:
PWR 25th of 60 decline of 6 spots
GPG 3.15 improved 1 spots to 17th
GAA 3.05 moved down 3 spots to tie for 36th
PP% 19.75 23rd improved 7 spots
PK% 77.01% 49th up 4 spots
Pen Minutes 13.25 stayed at 15th worst
Faceoff % 41.7% still dead last at 60th

Stats after Golden Domers:

PWR 30th of 60 decline of 5 spots
GPG 3.14 improved 1 spots to 16th
GAA 3.14 moved down 5 spots to tie for 41st
PP% 20.22% 20th improved 3 spots
PK% 75.0% tied for 56th down 7 spots
Pen Minutes 12.77 improved two spots to 17th (1st is the most penalties)
Faceoff % 41.1% still dead last at 60th (and dead last by 2.5%)

Ouch. Just utterly disappointed this year. I really expected improvement and we just seem to be sitting in utter mediocrity. For a team with this history that is unacceptable.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

I really expected improvement and we just seem to be sitting in utter mediocrity. For a team with this history that is unacceptable.

I think there is just something internally amiss with the team. The upperclassmen for whatever reason maybe aren't motivated? Did TG screw up these guys in the head when he took over? Did he break their spirit when he ran some of their teammates/friends out of town? I also wonder if somehow he messed up Hayton too, another upperclassman who underperformed. Sure seems odd that some guys played better under MM than TG. I don't think a regression on performance would be expected on held over players.

 

[digitalbooya]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

I think there is just something internally amiss with the team. The upperclassmen for whatever reason maybe aren't motivated? Did TG screw up these guys in the head when he took over? Did he break their spirit when he ran some of their teammates/friends out of town? I also wonder if somehow he messed up Hayton too, another upperclassman who underperformed. Sure seems odd that some guys played better under MM than TG. I don't think a regression on performance would be expected on held over players.

I believe the seniors and juniors were recruited by Eaves, no?

Look at these players and where they play on wisconsin vs a championship team

Malone - 1st line - 2nd line (edit: maybe 3rd)
Freytag - 4th line - 4th line
Johnson - 1st line - 3rd line
Zimmer - 1st/2nd line/right now pressbox - 4th line

Tischke - 1st/2nd pair - 3rd pair

A freshman dman leads the team in points. 5 of our top 6 scorers are underclassmen.

Next year is going to be fun with Pelton-Byce, Caufield, Turcotte, Holloway, Lindmark, LaMaster and Vorlicky (heard really good things about this guy) all joining the team.

The reason for optimism is the underclassmen are the current drivers of the team with high end players coming in. The reason you don't see high end players after next year is probably because of scholarship money and would depend on when these elite players leave.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Next year is going to be fun with Pelton-Byce, Caufield, Turcotte, Holloway, Lindmark, LaMaster and Vorlicky (heard really good things about this guy) all joining the team.

The reason for optimism is the underclassmen are the current drivers of the team with high end players coming in. The reason you don't see high end players after next year is probably because of scholarship money and would depend on when these elite players leave.

Sure the talent will take a step up. Great. But lets be serious, are they still going to have the effort issues we continue to see at times? Are they going to continue to make the silly mental mistakes? Are they going to improve faceoff, special teams and goaltending? I think these things should already be improving.....

And I think it's a valid question about the high end talent after next year....

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

The reason for optimism is the underclassmen are the current drivers of the team with high end players coming in. The reason you don't see high end players after next year is probably because of scholarship money and would depend on when these elite players leave.

To be fair about the future, they do have 3 players on the US U17 team, F Tanner Latsch (32gp 3g 3a), D Daniel Laatsch (22gp 2g 3a) and G Noah Grannon (12gp 3.97/.864). Also, Oz is retweeting things about the U17 leading scorer, Thomas Bordeleau (34gp 10g 14a), who is uncommitted. FYI there are a total of 5 uncommitted U17 players.

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

To be fair about the future, they do have 3 players on the US U17 team, F Tanner Latsch (32gp 3g 3a), D Daniel Laatsch (22gp 2g 3a) and G Noah Grannon (12gp 3.97/.864). Also, Oz is retweeting things about the U17 leading scorer, Thomas Bordeleau (34gp 10g 14a), who is uncommitted. FYI there are a total of 5 uncommitted U17 players.

This is fair and a good point. .864 save % is not too good though. Although his stats aren't substantially different than the other goalie Commesso (26gp, 3.48 .883)

 

[digitalbooya]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Sure the talent will take a step up. Great. But lets be serious, are they still going to have the effort issues we continue to see at times? Are they going to continue to make the silly mental mistakes? Are they going to improve faceoff, special teams and goaltending? I think these things should already be improving.....

And I think it's a valid question about the high end talent after next year....

I think effort issues will go away when you don't have players playing roles they shouldn't be playing. The PK has been a disaster from the start. Is Osiecki in charge of that? The players allow for too much room. Faceoffs... Been waiting on that to improve for years. Probably isn't going to happen. Goaltending? Who knows. Is Lebedeff okay?

That's what I'm saying though. Do they have the scholarship money to offer high end talent for after next season?

 

[digitalbooya]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Anyone think that having five left handed dmen and one right handed dman as the primary players with minutes is an issue? I do. That's where Vorlicky and, hopefully, LaMaster should help out a lot.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

This is fair and a good point. .864 save % is not too good though. Although his stats aren't substantially different than the other goalie Commesso (26gp, 3.48 .883)

Yeah, I saw that as well, neither are lighting the world on fire, but Grannon being part of that program makes him the most highly touted goalie recruit since Oplika.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Anyone think that having five left handed dmen and one right handed dman as the primary players with minutes is an issue? I do. That's where Vorlicky and, hopefully, LaMaster should help out a lot.

I can't see how that is an asset. One would think you'd want a L & R on each pair, but I don't know how realistic idea is either. The handing of players is not something I pay too much attention to, but I should probably start.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

Where's the Badgers at runts, peons, scrubs, bottom rodent on the totem pole, hired help, (AKA gopher) thread? It was only a few years ago that there would be 6+ pages of world-class chirping.

Jesus, this entire world is ****ed up.

 

[digitalbooya]

I can't see how that is an asset. One would think you'd want a L & R on each pair, but I don't know how realistic idea is either. The handing of players is not something I pay too much attention to, but I should probably start.

Handedness is what makes simples plays, such as keeping the offensive zone, either easy or more challenging. May not seem like a big deal... I think it is. I’m also a fan of a pro team that up until recently had 8/9 top 9 forwards as left handed players. It was an issue.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

What a great picture.

https://www.facebook.com/100005943782347/posts/1018488551692595/

 

[solovsfett]

Boys, don't forget about the Rolex 24 at Daytona this weekend! Love that series and the FIA WEC, as well!

EDIT: I read the game at the U.C. had about 5000 tickets sold. I'd hate to see the butts in the seats numbers.

Yes! Should be a fun race this weekend. WEC I need to check out for sure.

 

[solovsfett]

What a great picture.

https://www.facebook.com/100005943782347/posts/1018488551692595/

Daaaaaamn! The 2 men who really built Wisconsin Hockey.

Too bad Sauer pushed out Standbrook. Terrible move...

 

[WiscTJK]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It has been almost 20 years since the last time the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Badgers</a> and Minnesota both had losing records at the start of a Border Battle series. This was the <a href="https://twitter.com/WiStateJournal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WiStateJournal</a> headline on March 5, 1999: <a href="https://t.co/BNj7HaiYUY">pic.twitter.com/BNj7HaiYUY</a></p>— Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddMilewski/status/1088459282771820544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey 2018-2019: We can have a witty thread title when we start winnin

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">It has been almost 20 years since the last time the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Badgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Badgers</a> and Minnesota both had losing records at the start of a Border Battle series. This was the <a href="https://twitter.com/WiStateJournal?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WiStateJournal</a> headline on March 5, 1999: <a href="https://t.co/BNj7HaiYUY">pic.twitter.com/BNj7HaiYUY</a></p>— Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddMilewski/status/1088459282771820544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2019</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

It will be FASCINATING to see how many recruiting classes Motzaball needs to get the rodents back to where they want to be. TG has 2 and there is a long way to go.