Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

Luciapet out as Goofer coach. Not sure if retired or fired.

tDon swims with the fishes, eh?

 

[MadCityRich]

tDon swims with the fishes, eh?

I heard he woke up with a horse head next to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccRVYg2Jni0

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

I heard he woke up with a horse head next to him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccRVYg2Jni0

At least he didn't get a bullet in his eye while on the massage table.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

Well this is something...

ESPN put together a ranking of "Ultimate Lineups in NCAA Men's Hockey History"

Basically, put together a team of former NCAA players based on their NHL career and see which school can put together the best squad.

I'll let you go through and see where they ranked which schools, but as a teaser here is UW's squad:
Dany Heatley, Joe Pavelski, Scott Mellanby
Chris Chelios, Ryan Suter
Curtis Joseph

Alternates
Gary Suter on D
Mike Richter in G

Special Mention
Mark Johnson

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

Well this is something...

ESPN put together a ranking of "Ultimate Lineups in NCAA Men's Hockey History"

Basically, put together a team of former NCAA players based on their NHL career and see which school can put together the best squad.

I'll let you go through and see where they ranked which schools, but as a teaser here is UW's squad:
Dany Heatley, Joe Pavelski, Scott Mellanby
Chris Chelios, Ryan Suter
Curtis Joseph

Alternates
Gary Suter on D
Mike Richter in G

Special Mention
Mark Johnson

We're number 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooooooot! What jumped out at me was how pathetic MN's starting goalie was.

For the 3rd D I'd like to see Rafalski get some consideration, though G Suter was before my time to compare. What do the really old farts on this thread think or Suter vs Rafalski vs Driver?

 

[MadCityRich]

We're number 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooooooot! What jumped out at me was how pathetic MN's starting goalie was.

For the 3rd D I'd like to see Rafalski get some consideration, though G Suter was before my time to compare. What do the really old farts on this thread think or Suter vs Rafalski vs Driver?

Wow, great question. I saw all 3 play and thinking about it....it's a tough question!
If I remember, Bruce was more of a QB on the blue line and had to share the spotlight with Chelios. I can see his stick WAY over his head when ripping a slapper from the point.

Gary was all around great like Ryan and had that, well....Suter gritty, tough, edge.

Brian wasn't very big and played a more Euro style on D; more points & movement than drilling guys.

I guess I just classified myself as a "...really old fart...", Tim.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

We're number 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooooooot! What jumped out at me was how pathetic MN's starting goalie was.

For the 3rd D I'd like to see Rafalski get some consideration, though G Suter was before my time to compare. What do the really old farts on this thread think or Suter vs Rafalski vs Driver?

This is no way to go about getting a response, Tim.


And yet... here we are. hmm...

IMO Gary Suter is the best Badger alum at D, which is not the same as the best D as a Badger. Suter is one of only a handful of D to win the Calder from the Blue line, and despite playing 500 less games, he has more goals than Cheli. His offensive numbers were just ridiculous, and he had more than enough Suter toughness to hold up in his end.

This is the order:

1. Gary Suter
2. Chris Chelios
3. Brian Rafalski
4. Bruce Driver
5. Ryan Suter

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

Wow, great question. I saw all 3 play and thinking about it....it's a tough question!
If I remember, Bruce was more of a QB on the blue line and had to share the spotlight with Chelios. I can see his stick WAY over his head when ripping a slapper from the point.

Gary was all around great like Ryan and had that, well....Suter gritty, tough, edge.

Brian wasn't very big and played a more Euro style on D; more points & movement than drilling guys.

I guess I just classified myself as a "...really old fart...", Tim.

This is no way to go about getting a response, Tim.


And yet... here we are. hmm...

IMO Gary Suter is the best Badger alum at D, which is not the same as the best D as a Badger. Suter is one of only a handful of D to win the Calder from the Blue line, and despite playing 500 less games, he has more goals than Cheli. His offensive numbers were just ridiculous, and he had more than enough Suter toughness to hold up in his end.

This is the order:

1. Gary Suter
2. Chris Chelios
3. Brian Rafalski
4. Bruce Driver
5. Ryan Suter

Maybe I should have said "Elder Statesmen" instead of old farts. As you well know sometimes my typing gets ahead of my brain. Anyway, you were two I was hoping would respond, and Solo too. Hey, I'm cracking the big 50 this year, but I'm still a young pup.

 

[KaMiGo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

A few new scheduling tidbits from Baggot's last article for the season...
Home vs MTU, BC, Denver, USNTDP (1)
Away vs NoDak and Clarkson (1)/St Lawrence (1)
That would put us at 24 conference games, 10 non-con games, 1 Exhibition

We already knew about the away games, and knew about the BC games. I had not heard anything about Denver or MTU visiting. We had tried to schedule MTU recently but things got messed up with ND coming in and upping our conference game total.
I hope that we get another 4 year rotation with Denver and someone else (likely CC, maybe Air Force).
I would expect the MTU games to be a 1 for 1, or maybe part of a longer arrangement with them and NMU.
Hopefully more details come out.

If anyone is interested, I've been keeping track of what we know about future scheduling here

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

A few new scheduling tidbits from Baggot's last article for the season...
Home vs MTU, BC, Denver, USNTDP (1)
Away vs NoDak and Clarkson (1)/St Lawrence (1)
That would put us at 24 conference games, 10 non-con games, 1 Exhibition

We already knew about the away games, and knew about the BC games. I had not heard anything about Denver or MTU visiting. We had tried to schedule MTU recently but things got messed up with ND coming in and upping our conference game total.
I hope that we get another 4 year rotation with Denver and someone else (likely CC, maybe Air Force).
I would expect the MTU games to be a 1 for 1, or maybe part of a longer arrangement with them and NMU.
Hopefully more details come out.

If anyone is interested, I've been keeping track of what we know about future scheduling here

Thanks for the chart, awesome! Pretty good n/c schedule there.

I read that Keegan Ford injured his knee at the midpoint of the season, he just can't get any traction in his college career.

 

[solovsfett]

We're number 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whooooooooot! What jumped out at me was how pathetic MN's starting goalie was.

For the 3rd D I'd like to see Rafalski get some consideration, though G Suter was before my time to compare. What do the really old farts on this thread think or Suter vs Rafalski vs Driver?

This is a very tough question. I didn't start going to games until 84-85 when my dad first brought me along so I saw Gary Suter but not Driver and Chelios.

Based only on thise I saw play I'd say

1. Gary Suter
2. Brian Rafalski
3. Ryan Suter
4. Mark Oseicki
5. David Tanabe

From tapes of old games I can tell Driver and Chelios would be top 3-4 easily but I'd also say Rafalski had a nose for creating plays and a vision that's not teachable, he had several opponents scrambling to cover his home run stretch passes which were always breathtaking to see as he tried to spring the O on a breakaway.

#3 is one of my all-time favorite badgers. It would be great to see Rafalski visit Madison for a game.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

Watched Grant Besse pot his 30th of the season for the Norfolk Admirals vs. the Florida Everblades in a 7-2 loss on Wednesday night. 30 goals leads all rookies and puts Grant tied for 4th in ECHL goals. Probably his last ECHL goal for the year as Grant was scratched last night in another one sided victory for the 'Blades. (Ad's are a one line team, 'Blades are a 4 line team) Turns out the reason for the scratch was that Grant was called up and signed to the AHL Cleveland Monsters today. Monsters and Norfolk are both pretty likely to miss the playoffs, so there's only about 10 games left in the season. I do think the Monsters play at Milwaukee yet if anybody wants to get out and possibly see Grant play.

Elsewhere Trent Frederic scored his first pro goal for AHL Providence last night, and Matt Ustaski buried his 4th goal in 7 games for the JAX Icemen.

Congrats Badgers!

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

The D talk also reminded me that it's complete bs that Gary Suter isn't in the Hockey Hall of Fame. (He is in the US Hockey Hall) The only knock against him is that he never won the Norris trophy... well, he lost to either Paul Coffey or Ray Bourke in his best years, both first ballot HOF's that played mostly on better teams. There's no doubt he had a better career than a good number of D that are actually in. It's a Travesty!

Mike Richter and Cujo should both be in there too, long as I'm on the subject.

 

[MadCityRich]

The D talk also reminded me that it's complete bs that Gary Suter isn't in the Hockey Hall of Fame. (He is in the US Hockey Hall) The only knock against him is that he never won the Norris trophy... well, he lost to either Paul Coffey or Ray Bourke in his best years, both first ballot HOF's that played mostly on better teams. There's no doubt he had a better career than a good number of D that are actually in. It's a Travesty!

Mike Richter and Cujo should both be in there too, long as I'm on the subject.

Agreed.

I've heard rumors of college hockey teams still playing somewhere. Dont know, don't ****ing care.

 

[digitalbooya]

I’m super excited for next year. Better defenseman should make things easier on the forwards. I’ve missed great puck moving defensemen.

 

[gwhinwi]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

I’m super excited for next year. Better defenseman should make things easier on the forwards. I’ve missed great puck moving defensemen.

I am cautiously optimistic. There are going to be some really young defensive players coming in and it could be a bit sloppy at times. Still, excited to see the recruiting classes start to filter in.

 

[digitalbooya]

I am cautiously optimistic. There are going to be some really young defensive players coming in and it could be a bit sloppy at times. Still, excited to see the recruiting classes start to filter in.

I trust Emberson and Miller to come in and do just fine. These guys are top talents for a reason. Tischke will have Ess back to play with. Does anyone know the defensive statistical difference from before and after he was injured? There are just so many guys on the roster that it would be hard not to find a great combination.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

I am cautiously optimistic. There are going to be some really young defensive players coming in and it could be a bit sloppy at times. Still, excited to see the recruiting classes start to filter in.

Heard on a broadcast last night UMD was playing with 5 fr D......Bummer for Air Force. Now I truly don't give a rat's behind what happens now.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

Heard on a broadcast last night UMD was playing with 5 fr D...

True, but keep in mind 3 of them, Perunovich, Samberg, and Mikey Anderson all were on the World Junior Team this year.

Interesting that they and Andrew Peeke (Notre Dame) and Quinn Hughes (MI) are all in the FF this year. Adam Fox (Harvard) and Ryan Lindgren (NY Rangers) are the other two D from the WJ team.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey - 2018 Off-Season - Hope or Despair?

At mid-season, if somebody were to tell me that 3/4 of The Frozen Four would be B1G teams, I'd say that person was ****ed up on some potent Wisconsin Flame.

I haven't watched, but the Twitter machine runs 24/7/365.