Wisconsin Hockey 23-24: Hastily Making Wisconsin Hockey Great Again

[druzy192]

Sanders basically unethically cut the entire team. Sure it'll get results quicker but I respect a coach not wanting to treat student athletes like that.

A couple years ago I would agree. But now players are getting paid and hopping from team to team if they don't get enough reps. It's a full blown business from top to bottom with NIL. So I don't fault Sanders for treating it like a biz. I may not like it but if it gets results then more power to him.

And the kids that got cut from the team learned an early lesson in life that results matter. IMO.

 

[druzy192]

I think Fickell will get it together. Sanders did it his way. Maybe Fickell will learn and get a bunch of transfers next year.. or maybe he has a 3-4 year plan of bringing in players that fit the scheme.

But either way I say his first call this off season should be to Jim Leonhard. Do whatever you gotta do to get him back. Jesus.

 

[digitalbooya]

re: Hastings and 2/3 of MSU top point producers let’s not overhype and set unrealistic expectations for Hastings in year one.

I can see 18-20 wins because I think the men’s hockey player talent is superior to what Fickell inherited. VASTLY superior.

NCAA or bust.

The offensive lines actually look fantastic.

The defensive lines and goaltending leave a bit to be desired. I’m cautiously optimistic. Here’s to hoping the freshmen are good!

 

[solovsfett]

You’re implying logic that doesn’t actually apply to the modern day college game. Nowadays you can go pluck whoever wants to come here in the offseason. Recruiting high schoolers actually matters much less now. He pulled in FIFTEEN transfers just this past offseason, including two major players for the offense that were both 4 star recruits.

Players can leave at the snap of a finger and everything is fine, but if the coach doesn’t want them anymore suddenly they are a “jag off scumbag.” That’s a nice double standard.

Idk what your third section has to do with my post. I wish Fickell could get the players to actually play in the first half instead of waiting till the second half to kick their *** in gear. But hey, I guess we just expect different things *shrug*

Remember until the last couple of years coaches could come and go and the players just had to accept that or transfer and sit a year. Now that players can use the transfer portal to better their situations I don’t see that as a double standard. What is lame is Deion sanders pushing out dozens of players on scholarship.
Not sorry.

 

[solovsfett]

A couple years ago I would agree. But now players are getting paid and hopping from team to team if they don't get enough reps. It's a full blown business from top to bottom with NIL. So I don't fault Sanders for treating it like a biz. I may not like it but if it gets results then more power to him.

And the kids that got cut from the team learned an early lesson in life that results matter. IMO.

That’s not 100% accurate. NIL affects basically the top 1% of players. Jack Nelson ain’t getting NIL $, trust me.

so it’s really a tough argument to make becaus e NIL is for the fab five’s of the world.

players can transfer at will now like coaches leaving but most aren’t doing it for $.

 

[solovsfett]

NCAA or bust.

The offensive lines actually look fantastic.

The defensive lines and goaltending leave a bit to be desired. I’m cautiously optimistic. Here’s to hoping the freshmen are good!

I think they’ll make the NCAA’s but if they don’t I’m not going to call for firing Hastings. He’s a damn good coach with a damn good track record. He deserves a full 4 years to get the ship turned. Fortunately for him, with 25-26man rosters the turn will come quickly.

 

[solovsfett]

I think Fickell will get it together. Sanders did it his way. Maybe Fickell will learn and get a bunch of transfers next year.. or maybe he has a 3-4 year plan of bringing in players that fit the scheme.

But either way I say his first call this off season should be to Jim Leonhard. Do whatever you gotta do to get him back. Jesus.

Leonard’s defenses would get carved up by the new air-raids. It’s just a fact of the modern game.

Tressel was assistant coach of the year last year in Cincinnati. I don’t recall Leonard ever winning that award. Tressel uses man coverage. That’s a foundation of the 3-3-5. Wisconsin doesn’t have the horses to run that but they’re going to coach the kids up by the end of the year to at least be decent at it. When the Fickell recruits come in (and look at how many dbs he has coming in over the next 2 years) you’re going to see a radical change in this team’s defense.

 

[digitalbooya]

Remember until the last couple of years coaches could come and go and the players just had to accept that or transfer and sit a year. Now that players can use the transfer portal to better their situations I don’t see that as a double standard. What is lame is Deion sanders pushing out dozens of players on scholarship.
Not sorry.

I guess we just think differently on the matter. It might be "lame" in the sense that these players were promised money from a prior coach. But Sanders' job is to win and transferring that money to players that will help him win is a button he is able to press.

I think they’ll make the NCAA’s but if they don’t I’m not going to call for firing Hastings. He’s a damn good coach with a damn good track record. He deserves a full 4 years to get the ship turned. Fortunately for him, with 25-26man rosters the turn will come quickly.

I never said anything about firing coaches. I've remarked on my expectations. My expectation is for this team to make the NCAA tournament. There is too much talent on this team for the expectation to be any lower than making the tournament. We've got the 1-2 punch for centers (Silye-Stramel), some nice scoring wingers (Lucius, Fitzgerald, Whitelaw, DSP), some nice depth pieces (Lindmark, Bantle, Stange, Horbach, etc), and one goalie with a good track record at a prior school (McClellan).

The questions for me are if Cleveland, Schulz, and Palodichuk can make a significant impact on the defensive side as freshmen. Also, can Dexheimer, Vorlicky, Kehrer, Jugnauth improve to more than what we have seen? There's some talent there and I trust the coaching staff to have them ready.

 

[Timothy A]

My expectation is for this team to make the NCAA tournament. There is too much talent on this team for the expectation to be any lower than making the tournament. We've got the 1-2 punch for centers (Silye-Stramel), some nice scoring wingers (Lucius, Fitzgerald, Whitelaw, DSP), some nice depth pieces (Lindmark, Bantle, Stange, Horbach, etc), and one goalie with a good track record at a prior school (McClellan).

The questions for me are if Cleveland, Schulz, and Palodichuk can make a significant impact on the defensive side as freshmen. Also, can Dexheimer, Vorlicky, Kehrer, Jugnauth improve to more than what we have seen? There's some talent there and I trust the coaching staff to have them ready.

I expect guys like Bantle and Stange to be more than depth pieces. These guys have plenty of ncaa experience and can score too based on their history.

I am super excited about the goaltending from a coaching standpoint. Moe probably over-achieved based on TG's PATHETIC goalie coaching/handling and D zone scheme (scheme? LOL). I just don't know behind McClennan if there is true D1 talent there or not. I would have liked to see them bring in another G with some experience.

 

[digitalbooya]

I expect guys like Bantle and Stange to be more than depth pieces. These guys have plenty of ncaa experience and can score too based on their history.

I am super excited about the goaltending from a coaching standpoint. Moe probably over-achieved based on TG's PATHETIC goalie coaching/handling and D zone scheme (scheme? LOL). I just don't know behind McClennan if there is true D1 talent there or not. I would have liked to see them bring in another G with some experience.

Bantle and Stange will probably play 3rd line. I’ll be shocked if they are higher based on who their competition is. Stange has been a huge disappointment from where I thought he would be.

Where did Moe even go? I remember him in the transfer portal, but no news after that.

 

[Timothy A]

Stange has been a huge disappointment from where I thought he would be.

The same thing could be said for all the guys who were on last year's team. Who wasn't a disappointment? Cruz? Moe? TG dragged everyone down bigtime.

Oz picked up a gig as a midwest scout for an NHL team. Connelly is a goalie coach for the Caps, hopefully he can succeed at that level.

 

[druzy192]

That’s not 100% accurate. NIL affects basically the top 1% of players. Jack Nelson ain’t getting NIL $, trust me.

so it’s really a tough argument to make becaus e NIL is for the fab five’s of the world.

players can transfer at will now like coaches leaving but most aren’t doing it for $.

K so not all of the starters on Wisco get NIL money? I assumed they would but I honestly don't know.

They have to be getting money at a big time school. Right? There is no public information on this I assume?

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

I’m still annoyed from going to that obnoxious football game against U. Buffalo.

I’m definitely giving it til mid season to see if they’re doing that same “drown out the crowd and the band with the PA” bullshit before I even consider buying a ticket.

I will not spend that much money to drive in from out of town if I have to leave in the first period over my kid having a panic attack just because some idiot in the AD thinks that having a crowd actually participate at a game is too old fashioned.

To say nothing about needing to see if Hastings is another All Bluster hire like Fickell.

 

[WiscTJK]

I’m VERY disappointed to hear Chris McIntosh screwed over Mike Lucas by booting him off the broadcatsts of football and basketball. What a classless ******* move. Max favors jocks. This is a terrible look for him and he needs to remember what the word integrity means.

I agree with you most times. But, I am sorry, Lucas was terrible. The broadcast is much better with him gone and Tauscher in there with Lepay. And he is still doing articles for uwbadgers.com, so he wasn't completely removed.

 

[WiscTJK]

Leonard’s defenses would get carved up by the new air-raids. It’s just a fact of the modern game.

Tressel was assistant coach of the year last year in Cincinnati. I don’t recall Leonard ever winning that award. Tressel uses man coverage. That’s a foundation of the 3-3-5. Wisconsin doesn’t have the horses to run that but they’re going to coach the kids up by the end of the year to at least be decent at it. When the Fickell recruits come in (and look at how many dbs he has coming in over the next 2 years) you’re going to see a radical change in this team’s defense.

I was at the game Saturday and they were in zone most of the day and got destroyed. Maybe it is because the players he has can't handle that currently. That's fair I think. I am not going to get worked up yet, but I expected more from football.

I am super excited about hockey. He turned around MSU in year 1, taking a team with a losing record in 8 of the previous 9 seasons and had a winning record. I think if the guys buy in and work they will make the NCAA's this year.

 

[WiscTJK]

I’m still annoyed from going to that obnoxious football game against U. Buffalo.

I’m definitely giving it til mid season to see if they’re doing that same “drown out the crowd and the band with the PA” bull**** before I even consider buying a ticket.

I will not spend that much money to drive in from out of town if I have to leave in the first period over my kid having a panic attack just because some idiot in the AD thinks that having a crowd actually participate at a game is too old fashioned.

To say nothing about needing to see if Hastings is another All Bluster hire like Fickell.

I wasn't at Buffalo, but was there Saturday and noise lever was back to what I remember in the past. I agree with you and and in the Kohl Center the band is almost as loud as the speakers.

 

[solovsfett]

I agree with you most times. But, I am sorry, Lucas was terrible. The broadcast is much better with him gone and Tauscher in there with Lepay. And he is still doing articles for uwbadgers.com, so he wasn't completely removed.

I prefer Tauscher to Lucas but Lucas basically called Mac a coward for how he handled the situation and it kind of makes sense as to how quiet the whole thing was. Lucas wrote it up this week.

 

[WiscTJK]

I prefer Tauscher to Lucas but Lucas basically called Mac a coward for how he handled the situation and it kind of makes sense as to how quiet the whole thing was. Lucas wrote it up this week.

Can you post a link to the article? I can't find it.

 

[solovsfett]

Can you post a link to the article? I can't find it.

Sure: https://www.jsonline.com/story/spor...s-said-he-was-kicked-to-the-curb/70844271007/

 

[digitalbooya]

Sure: https://www.jsonline.com/story/spor...s-said-he-was-kicked-to-the-curb/70844271007/

Honestly, just sounds like sour grapes from a guy who was fired.