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Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
You can't replace a guy like Oz. Hopefully we can find another defensive coach that can at least help fill the shoes.
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exactly.

Coach Eaves has had a ton of good assistants since he started, and all have gone on to be head coaches as far as I remember. That really says a ton about Eaves.

any early word on candidates?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

It sucks that Osieki left, but he isnt the first assistant coach at Wisconsin who moved on to be a head coach somewhere else and its a testament to the quality of Wisconsin's hockey program.
It will be OK. He isnt the first assistant coach to move on and he wont be the last. Sounds like it wasnt a big surprise, so Im sure that Eaves has a plan to find another great assistant coach. Best of luck to Osiecki.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

badgerhawk said:
Pavelski having a good night again, 2g 1a, still 7 min left.
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He had a great series in 6 games....5G and 3A.

He was the player of that series no question about it. Joe Pa was a huge reason why the Sharks are going to round 2.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

solovsfett said:
exactly.

Coach Eaves has had a ton of good assistants since he started, and all have gone on to be head coaches as far as I remember. That really says a ton about Eaves.

any early word on candidates?
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Eaves wants a wolf pack of just one. No assistants needed.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
You're probably right (although you should probably stop accusing others of not understanding economics).
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Yeah, sorry about that. I was in the moment.

But I do think that there's room for debate here.

Imagine, if you will, the thought process of the common idiot. Think of the kind of people you hear at sports bars, or people who leave comments on youtube or espn.com. So much of what they think, they think because of what's in the media. For sports teams, this mostly means what's on TV- and how easy it is to find it on TV. The "common idiot" out there will scoff at the NHL simply because its not as easy to find on TV (evidently, in other parts of the country, Vs. isn't as available as it is in Wisconsin).

If they don't talk about it on Sportscenter or hear about it on local sports radio or can't see games on TV, it doesn't exist to them.

Now think of the UW programming you see on cable, for instance. I'm talking about stuff like "the BAdger Report" or whatever campus programming UW submits to the BTN. How much do they talk about hockey? Do they ever talk about hockey? Don't you think that the AD as an organization has some say in stuff like that?
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I'm sure they do - I also don't think people watch those shows all that much in the grand scheme of things.

You may argue that the ratings for UW hockey might not be good, thus giving the AD fewer ecomonic reasons to try to get them on TV. I made a comment in the No Alibis blog comparing this as a less extreme version of what the Blackhawks went through in the last decade, and I feel its a safe comparison.

Simply: TV is the golden goose for any revenue-producing sport. Obviously, coverage and media exposure are improving with the BTN. That's a good thing. But I think it would be hard to deny that Barry and Co. are perfectly content to wait for the BTN to take care of it, since there's not a lot of evidence that UW is trying to get on board with local media.
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Well, being on TV is a chicken and egg thing. You need it to be popular, but you need to be popular to get on it.

And yes, UW could do a lot more. But I see that as a completely separate argument from the outdoor game.

And, remember, that even though they didn't sell it out, they might just be stupid like a fox. 55k at 25 bucks a pop is a gross of 1.375 million. 80k at 15 bucks a pop is 1.2 million. My counter point would be that you hold an event like that for the spectacle, not the revenue - and you can't have the full experience unless you bang it out.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

blockski said:
And, remember, that even though they didn't sell it out, they might just be stupid like a fox. 55k at 25 bucks a pop is a gross of 1.375 million. 80k at 15 bucks a pop is 1.2 million. My counter point would be that you hold an event like that for the spectacle, not the revenue - and you can't have the full experience unless you bang it out.
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Empty Upper Deck = FAIL

I agree with you that the spectacle was important and with your economic argument.

It may have been a success from a revenue standpoint, but the fact that it was not even close to capacity makes it a forgettable failure of an event, IMHO.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

solovsfett said:
exactly.

Coach Eaves has had a ton of good assistants since he started, and all have gone on to be head coaches as far as I remember. That really says a ton about Eaves.

any early word on candidates?
Click to expand...

I'm not worried that Eaves will find quality assistants as his track record proves that he has and most likely will. I'm not thrilled we will be replacing BOTH in one offseason, but it is what it is.

Some names that would logically seem to be possibilities (pure speculation on my part) would be Gary Shuchuk, Chris Tok, & a Suter (maybe Gary). Problem with Tok is he just left Michigan Tech to take a gig as the head guy with a NAHL team (but I love the fact that he is both an alum and been in the trenches as a D1 assistant recruiting). Shuchuk seems like a real good fit coming from great sucess with Team Wisconsin, as an alum that has been working in the U16 age category, and bring in some credibility having played some in the NHL. Don't know if Gary Suter would have ANY interest, but he's been coaching in the Caps program for a few years and his name (I think he is worthy of NHL Hall of Fame honors) would definately open doors and get phone calls answered.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

markwojo said:
I'm not worried that Eaves will find quality assistants as his track record proves that he has and most likely will. I'm not thrilled we will be replacing BOTH in one offseason, but it is what it is.

Some names that would logically seem to be possibilities (pure speculation on my part) would be Gary Shuchuk, Chris Tok, & a Suter (maybe Gary). Problem with Tok is he just left Michigan Tech to take a gig as the head guy with a NAHL team (but I love the fact that he is both an alum and been in the trenches as a D1 assistant recruiting). Shuchuk seems like a real good fit coming from great sucess with Team Wisconsin, as an alum that has been working in the U16 age category, and bring in some credibility having played some in the NHL. Don't know if Gary Suter would have ANY interest, but he's been coaching in the Caps program for a few years and his name (I think he is worthy of NHL Hall of Fame honors) would definately open doors and get phone calls answered.
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I haven't been following these guys too closely. Obviously an alum would be sweet, preferably one with NHL experience ala Suter or Schuchuk. Does Chris Tancill have coaching experience?

any opportunity to steal Rohlik from the dogs?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

I'm guessing one huge factor with some of these guys is whether they'd want to take on the travel responsibilities of an assistant coach? I know I probably wouldn't want to do it if I had a young family and the pay wasn't much more than I was currently making (not sure what Oz and KP were making?).
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

markwojo said:
I'm not worried that Eaves will find quality assistants as his track record proves that he has and most likely will. I'm not thrilled we will be replacing BOTH in one offseason, but it is what it is.

Some names that would logically seem to be possibilities (pure speculation on my part) would be Gary Shuchuk, Chris Tok, & a Suter (maybe Gary). Problem with Tok is he just left Michigan Tech to take a gig as the head guy with a NAHL team (but I love the fact that he is both an alum and been in the trenches as a D1 assistant recruiting). Shuchuk seems like a real good fit coming from great sucess with Team Wisconsin, as an alum that has been working in the U16 age category, and bring in some credibility having played some in the NHL. Don't know if Gary Suter would have ANY interest, but he's been coaching in the Caps program for a few years and his name (I think he is worthy of NHL Hall of Fame honors) would definately open doors and get phone calls answered.
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Yeah, I don't have any concerns about Eaves finding quality coaches. He's got a great track record of developing coaches - the fact that most of his assistants have left for bigger responsibilities (and have been desired for their skills) is a testament to him as the head of the program.

I also agree it's troubling that we have to replace both guys in one offseason.

There are two key areas that need addressing - player development and recruiting. I think Eaves will look to have the same general make-up for the staff - his primary assistant will hopefully be someone with a lot of coaching and recruiting experience, hopefully someone in the mold of Osiecki's resume before coming to Madison. Recruiting experience doesn't need to be on the college end, it could be from the other side of the coin - USHL, etc. The second assistant will, like KP, probably be a younger guy and one who can put in a lot of miles on the recruiting trail.

For player development, getting someone with NHL playing or coaching experience would be a huge plus, but I don't think it's an absolute requirement. Oz had such great value because he had both, but expecting that from the new hires would be a little much, I think.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

The Osiecki loss is a huge one, his name recruited defensemen for itself. I'm hoping that they talk to Luke Strand from Sioux City of the USHL. Not sure he would leave though.
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

Chuck Schwartz said:
The Osiecki loss is a huge one, his name recruited defensemen for itself. I'm hoping that they talk to Luke Strand from Sioux City of the USHL. Not sure he would leave though.
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What is Nick Licari up to? (5'5"? :D )
He would bring in the same kind of grit and enthusiasm that the players need.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

Chuck Schwartz said:
The Osiecki loss is a huge one, his name recruited defensemen for itself. I'm hoping that they talk to Luke Strand from Sioux City of the USHL. Not sure he would leave though.
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While I think Strand is a great coach, he just finished his first year with Sioux City. The Muskies have new owners and - presuming he's already met with them and been assured of his job status - and I can't see him leaving at this particular point.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

Gurtholfin said:
Empty Upper Deck = FAIL

I agree with you that the spectacle was important and with your economic argument.

It may have been a success from a revenue standpoint, but the fact that it was not even close to capacity makes it a forgettable failure of an event,IMHO.
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Are you STILL whining about that? Seriously, let it go...:rolleyes:
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

Assistant coach thought... Mike Richter.. Thoughts... think of the goaltending recruits... think of the influence... Its too great to think about.

I know Barry Alvarez doesn't even know who he is but i think it would be a great choice...
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Part 3: Just win, baby!

GB Puck Fan said:
While I think Strand is a great coach, he just finished his first year with Sioux City. The Muskies have new owners and - presuming he's already met with them and been assured of his job status - and I can't see him leaving at this particular point.
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He's a Wisconsin guy. I'm not ruling this possibility out yet.

Pucky-Bucky Backer said:
What is Nick Licari up to? (5'5"? :D )
He would bring in the same kind of grit and enthusiasm that the players need.
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He's not ready yet. We don't want another Grant Potulny mess on our hands.
 
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