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Wisconsin Hockey 2024 Offseason

I'd like to hear some theories on our inability to move the puck out of our own zone, and to possess the puck in the offensive zone. Down the stretch teams just came right at whoever had the puck and we just couldn't seem to make two consecutive passes connect. This wasn't the case in the first half. Did it take time for teams to expose this issue, or was there some backward movement in execution? Also, it seemed down the stretch no one really wanted to possess the puck. I'm also surprised by our lack of grit in front of our net. Other teams camped in front of our net and we failed to clear it out, while our net front presence on offense was not good. Finally, I was disappointed in the urgency or effort put forth, lots of 50/50 situations lost in the last month or two. The urgency in that final line change before the goal was the icing on the cake.
 
I have concerns that our confidence level deteriorated down the stretch due to remnants of the past culture. When things got tougher down the stretch, doubt from the past seemed to creep back in and I swear this was the 22-23 team was back on the ice. Hastings needs time to bring in his players and put the past in the past.
 
srkbadger said:
I'd like to hear some theories on our inability to move the puck out of our own zone, and to possess the puck in the offensive zone. Down the stretch teams just came right at whoever had the puck and we just couldn't seem to make two consecutive passes connect. This wasn't the case in the first half. Did it take time for teams to expose this issue, or was there some backward movement in execution? Also, it seemed down the stretch no one really wanted to possess the puck. I'm also surprised by our lack of grit in front of our net. Other teams camped in front of our net and we failed to clear it out, while our net front presence on offense was not good. Finally, I was disappointed in the urgency or effort put forth, lots of 50/50 situations lost in the last month or two. The urgency in that final line change before the goal was the icing on the cake.
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All great points and all great areas of concern going forward. What mitigates this to me is Hastings’s track record.

i think when the roster is all his guys there will be another step up.

In Hastings I trust. I honestly think he’ll win 3 titles in Madison.
 
I was unable to watch the game, I only followed via social media. Question: did the refs fuck Wisconsin with the penalty in OT? I saw that they may have missed 1-2 tripping calls on QU?
 
solovsfett said:
I was unable to watch the game, I only followed via social media. Question: did the refs **** Wisconsin with the penalty in OT? I saw that they may have missed 1-2 tripping calls on QU?
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It was a call that likely gets made in the course of regulation in a game, but you might let go in OT. It was along the boards in Qs offensive zone. Both were skating for possession and Vorlicky was going to lose the race and he slashed the stick out of the players hands. In no way was there a clear scoring chance taken away. The problem is linked to our compete level. In too many situations we were a step behind and too passive. When the other team outworks us for possession any type of hook, hold, or slash is much more easily perceived as a penalty to try to gain back an advantage. Other teams just always seemed a step ahead of us in the last stretch of games, which didn't happen very often in the first half of the season. I'm trying to decide whether it was caused by indecision, lack of effort or desire, or the other team was just better and we need more talent.

As I watched down the stretch of the season I thought our confidence level dropped noticeably. As I stated above, the futility of the preceding year(s) crept back in and we began to play more like the Granato team than the Hastings team. The nadir of the game for me was in OT when they iced the puck at least 3 times within a minute because they were under so much pressure from the inability to make a breakout.
 
Refs definitely missed the slash on Tassy's hand and he might have scored had it not happened.

All the calls against us were legit penalties so no real complaints there (from me).

We gave away the first period where they were playing with their hair on fire and we were sleepwalking. After that, I felt like we were the more dangerous looking team but honestly a lot of it was individual efforts.

Once again the inability to finish ended up being a big factor. The game was there to take if someone could have finished their chance(s).

I hoped for some magic but honestly didn't expect a deep run, so am not surprised or overly disappointed.

Great first season under Hastings and I look forward to when he gets his guys in.

Also... once again with all the NHL picks going against a team with a bunch of waterbugs... would like to see us transition into a hybrid waterbug/quick/fast team with only a few NHL bigs sprinkled in - preferably snipers coz we need some closers.
 
Gurth 2.0 said:
Also... once again with all the NHL picks going against a team with a bunch of waterbugs... would like to see us transition into a hybrid waterbug/quick/fast team with only a few NHL bigs sprinkled in - preferably snipers coz we need some closers.
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I know no one wants to hear from a Quinnipiac fan in here right now, but on this point -- it's not necessarily about the non-drafted players, it's about how you develop those players. Yaniv Perets was our goalie last year, he was undrafted but became the biggest FA on the market; signed with Carolina and made his NHL debut this year. Collin Graf was quiet last night, but he'll be the best college UFA on the market if he leaves after the season. Lots of stories like that. Quinnipiac signs under-the-radar players but develops the hell out of them. You've got a great coach so I'm sure you'd be able to do that too, but I just wanted to make the point that it's not about signing under-the-radar players, you've gotta develop them, too.
 
ZYanksRule said:
I know no one wants to hear from a Quinnipiac fan in here right now, but on this point -- it's not necessarily about the non-drafted players, it's about how you develop those players. Yaniv Perets was our goalie last year, he was undrafted but became the biggest FA on the market; signed with Carolina and made his NHL debut this year. Collin Graf was quiet last night, but he'll be the best college UFA on the market if he leaves after the season. Lots of stories like that. Quinnipiac signs under-the-radar players but develops the hell out of them. You've got a great coach so I'm sure you'd be able to do that too, but I just wanted to make the point that it's not about signing under-the-radar players, you've gotta develop them, too.
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Ironically that's the kind of program Hastings put together in Mankato. But that's not the kind of teams you see in the B1G.
 
njmav1 said:
Ironically that's the kind of program Hastings put together in Mankato. But that's not the kind of teams you see in the B1G.
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And that's what I'm hoping he'll do here.

I don't give a shit about who's been drafted by what team - never have.

I want a successful college program and oftentimes these days it seems that the programs that have sustained success are the ones that develop teams over time rather than relying on individual prodigies or being a flash in the pan group once every five years.

We're always gonna have some NHL prospects but as I said, I'm looking forward to the 4 year guys that Hastings will bring in and develop who will be great college players but unlikely to have an NHL future. Mix those elements together and it should equal success on a yearly basis.
 
ZYanksRule said:
I know no one wants to hear from a Quinnipiac fan in here right now...
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It's all good and congrats - your team won fair and square.

Been watching from afar for years as for whatever reason we used to get a bunch of Q games on our sports tier for several seasons maybe 10 years ago.

Also... you forever have Badger Nation's gratitude for stopping the rodents last year.
 
srkbadger said:
I'd like to hear some theories on our inability to ... possess the puck
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This was glaring throughout the whole game (and coincidentally during the women's champ game) - not only could they not hold possession, but they had problems even settling the puck down. The stick handling was pretty poor, pucks flipping over the stick or whiffing completely. Maybe I had my hyper-critical badger goggles on but I didn't see Q having the same issues. Was really frustrating.
 
BadgerBadgerBadger said:
This was glaring throughout the whole game (and coincidentally during the women's champ game) - not only could they not hold possession, but they had problems even settling the puck down. The stick handling was pretty poor, pucks flipping over the stick or whiffing completely. Maybe I had my hyper-critical badger goggles on but I didn't see Q having the same issues. Was really frustrating.
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I completely agree with all of this. I felt like there were alot of nerves and squeezing the sticks to tight. I wasn't impresses with the play of the D core overall. It did feel like the Granato D core. Puck watching, panicing with the puck, turning the puck over and an inability to make the first pass to begin the rush. Vorlicky and Lataash seemed to struggle worst last night. I felt myself holding my breath everytime they were on the ice.
 
srkbadger said:
I'd like to hear some theories on our inability to move the puck out of our own zone, and to possess the puck in the offensive zone. Down the stretch teams just came right at whoever had the puck and we just couldn't seem to make two consecutive passes connect. This wasn't the case in the first half. Did it take time for teams to expose this issue, or was there some backward movement in execution? Also, it seemed down the stretch no one really wanted to possess the puck. I'm also surprised by our lack of grit in front of our net. Other teams camped in front of our net and we failed to clear it out, while our net front presence on offense was not good. Finally, I was disappointed in the urgency or effort put forth, lots of 50/50 situations lost in the last month or two. The urgency in that final line change before the goal was the icing on the cake.
Click to expand...

I think most of our defense just think the game too slowly. It allows the opposition forwards to get in and cause disruption.
 
solovsfett said:
I was unable to watch the game, I only followed via social media. Question: did the refs **** Wisconsin with the penalty in OT? I saw that they may have missed 1-2 tripping calls on QU?
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They didn't call Q for a trip that happened maybe a minute before Wisconsin was called for a penalty in OT. That was the one that pissed me off.
 
At least the goofs are out. 6>5 for at least another year. I mean, let’s be honest, that’s all that really matters…
 
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