Wisconsin Hockey 21-22: Your Guess Is As Good As Mine

[Timothy A]

Mr. Columnist Jim Polzin did an column that was disappointing. He's the guy who should be saying TG has to go. He did not man up. All he did was point out McIntosh has softened his position on TG. Maybe Tom Oates can grow a set and write Watts needs to be written.

 

[Timothy A]

For the first time I fee like change can occur, there is hope for change.

 

[WiscTJK]

For the first time I fee like change can occur, there is hope for change.

Don't get your hopes up. The $2.4M buyout will be tough to overcome unless some alumni or former players step up. Being TG is UW hockey royalty, the common fans like us will not get what we want I'm afraid....

 

[TalonsUpPuckDown]

Hi Badger nation, BG guy here. I've been trolling your board all season watching for updates/comments on Max Johnson. He was a MAJOR player for us during his 4 years at BG and I've been surprised at his contribution level this season. Curious on people's thoughts as to the reasons behind this? I'd accept the competition level between the oWCHA and the B1G may have something to do with it, however, the two BG guys who transferred into Nacho programs (one of whom was Johnson's linemate, Cameron Wright, who went to Denver and is continuing to light it up) have had very good seasons.

I'll hang up and listen if anyone has thoughts. Thanks.

 

[WiscTJK]

Hi Badger nation, BG guy here. I've been trolling your board all season watching for updates/comments on Max Johnson. He was a MAJOR player for us during his 4 years at BG and I've been surprised at his contribution level this season. Curious on people's thoughts as to the reasons behind this? I'd accept the competition level between the oWCHA and the B1G may have something to do with it, however, the two BG guys who transferred into Nacho programs (one of whom was Johnson's linemate, Cameron Wright, who went to Denver and is continuing to light it up) have had very good seasons.

I'll hang up and listen if anyone has thoughts. Thanks.

IMO, and my opinion only, there is a lack of a cohesive system, lack of team chemistry, and overall lack of leadership. It's been a train wreck. I feel bad for Max. He looks like he fits right in the Big7, but as with many players that light up juniors or transfer in, they struggle here and it's really not their fault..... We are in the bottom 10 of programs in both defense and offense this year, 1-13 on the road (likely to get worse), I could go on and on.

 

[digitalbooya]

Moe is a beast.

 

[Timothy A]

Yay?

 

[digitalbooya]

Yay?

Now starts the most epic late season turnaround in history?

 

[The 7th Defenseman]

So after I heard the Badgers somehow won last night I decided to pay the $10 to get the BTN+ team subscription for the month (after the first month or so of the season I decided i wasn't going to spend any money on this team - why pay money to make myself sad/frustrated/angry). I just finished watching yesterday's game and I'd say the Badgers were just okay. My expectations for this team are pretty low at this point. They were not the better team, although I thought they played ND pretty even the first period (despite ND getting 20 SOGs) and second period; the third period ND was taking it to em pretty good and Moe was playing out-of-his-mind and kept the Badgers from losing.

I thought the Badgers played with a decent amount of effort early on. Their d-zone coverage was okay. It continues to amaze me how out-of-the-blue the Badger d-zone coverage will break down and the other team will have a ton of time/space (i.e. no Badger player within 10 feet of them) in the zone. Brock looked like his younger brother on his goal - poor angle, hit the far post and bounced in. Brock also went hard to the net with the puck on his stick a couple of times - I didn't see that much from the forwards this year. Good to see Dominic and Tyler combine on a goal and the Eau Claire lads combining on another.

If the Badgers play like they did yesterday tonight I can't imagine they'll win again. It's too much to ask Moe to have another 50 save night. I understand the rationale to hope the Badgers lose to assure/expedite TG's departure, but I can't bring myself to root against them.

Random thought - TG occasionally mentions having a young team as one of the excuses/reasons for being a terrible hockey team this year. I guess it's technically true they have a top 10 youngest team based on age, but I don't see this as a young team experience wise. Tyler and Josh E are in their 5th seasons and setting records for most games played as a Badger and they have 6 senior/super seniors at forward and all of these seniors are regular contributors. A quick glance at some of the other BTN hockey rosters shows that the Badger have 5 freshman who are regular starters (2 d and 3 f), Gophers have 5, MI 5, Penn 5, OSU 4, and ND 3. Based on MN/MI/OSU records it seems possible to win more than 9 regular season games with 4 or 5 freshman in the line-up.

 

[digitalbooya]

Well that was disappointing.

 

[Timothy A]

Well that was disappointing.

Brutal.

 

[digitalbooya]

Brutal.

Right off a timeout too.

 

[digitalbooya]

One thing that constantly bugs the crap out of me: the need to flip the puck up in the air to the other team and then go for a line change. Then the next group spends the next 30-45 seconds chasing after the puck/defending just to get the puck and flip it up to the other team and go for a change. Have your d hold it while the forwards go for a change. Then have the d change when the rush starts or rotate the forwards to hold the puck while the d change. You see this all the time in the pros.

Then again this team doesn't know how to pass so maybe dump n' chase is the best they can do...

 

[Patman]

One thing that constantly bugs the crap out of me: the need to flip the puck up in the air to the other team and then go for a line change. Then the next group spends the next 30-45 seconds chasing after the puck/defending just to get the puck and flip it up to the other team and go for a change. Have your d hold it while the forwards go for a change. Then have the d change when the rush starts or rotate the forwards to hold the puck while the d change. You see this all the time in the pros.

Then again this team doesn't know how to pass so maybe dump n' chase is the best they can do...

hate to tell you, its everywhere these days

 

[Timothy A]

Well, the boys didn't go down easy, I'll give them credit. Glad to see Moe play really well.

Now we wait for Ceulmanns and McIntosh to make decisions. He canned the soccer coach who didn't do nearly as bad as TG did.

 

[digitalbooya]

Well, the boys didn't go down easy, I'll give them credit. Glad to see Moe play really well.

Now we wait for Ceulmanns and McIntosh to make decisions. He canned the soccer coach who didn't do nearly as bad as TG did.

Ceulemans has all the skill in the world, but is turnover prone and a puck hog. He isn't ready for the next level. It would be silly for him to sign.

 

[WiscTJK]

I encourage anyone interested to email Jason King, the Senior Associate AD in charge of men's hockey at JWK@athletics.wisc.edu with your thoughts on the state of the UW Men's Hockey program. Be respectful and add facts, but I think this is something any fan can do to affect change.

 

[Timothy A]

Ceulemans has all the skill in the world, but is turnover prone and a puck hog. He isn't ready for the next level. It would be silly for him to sign.

Yeah he's not ready. If he feels that UW is going to suck next year, maybe that will increase the bail out likelihood.

I'd love to hear the truth of why they left from the guys who could have done 5th years this last year and didn't.

 

[WiscTJK]

Well, I am guessing since we haven't heard in 3 days, TG will be back. Will he have the same assistants? TBD.

Disappointing IMO, as it delays the inevitable rebuild by one year.

 

[Timothy A]

Well, I am guessing since we haven't heard in 3 days, TG will be back. Will he have the same assistants? TBD.

Disappointing IMO, as it delays the inevitable rebuild by one year.

I think they need more time to do the deep dive analysis. Ahcan is not coming back, that is addition by subtraction.