Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Turris is a classic case of self value > actual value. But for years everyone said he was the next superstar, obviously he drank the koolaid and has ignored reality ever since he decided to leave UW.

I completely agree with this and would go so far as to say that this was the case coming into UW as well. He was heralded (IIRC) as almost the next Dany Heatley, or Jason Zent or whomever you want to insert who was a premium goal scorer @ UW, instead he turned out to be a good playmaker w/obvious room for growth (and strength).

I honestly think he should have been a 3-year college player.

Craig Smith and Derek Stepan are anomalies going the other way where I thought they weren't ready and they've proven me (and others) wrong w/their play at the NHL level.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

While it's obvious that he left UW too soon, Turris gets a bad wrap for his production in the NHL but it's not entirely his fault. Phoenix has botched his development so bad it's not even funny.

He plays a year in the NHL at 19 as a fourth line center. Plays the next entire season in the AHL. Then last season he plays another year as the fourth line center getting 11 minutes of ice time per game. Only Biz Nasty averaged less ice time than Turris last season for forwards.

 

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

While it's obvious that he left UW too soon, Turris gets a bad wrap for his production in the NHL but it's not entirely his fault. Phoenix has botched his development so bad it's not even funny.

He plays a year in the NHL at 19 as a fourth line center. Plays the next entire season in the AHL. Then last season he plays another year as the fourth line center getting 11 minutes of ice time per game. Only Biz Nasty averaged less ice time than Turris last season for forwards.

I agree that Phoenix has made a mess of this whole situation from the beginning. Phoenix should not have signed him when they did, he was not physically ready to play in the NHL. Turris wasn't able to hold his own in the WCHA physically, it's why he wasn't able to put up the points that everyone expected from his talent, I fail to see how experts couldn't recognize that would continue to be a problem at the pro level until his physical development catches up with his natural talent.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Good news that Lee is back to practicing.

I wonder if Eaves will have Thompson start against the USDP.

 

[mariucci]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

First of all, attendance is down about 15% (I think...I'm terrible at math, someone can correct me). Second of all, you claimed performance was 99% of the problem. That's just not true. It does have some effect, but not even close to all.

As has been brought up multiple times, discretionary income has continued to take a hit.

Additionally, other teams have stolen hockey attendance. For example:

Home opener: Played during the all important deciding game five of the Brewers NLDS game vs Arizona. Attendance: 9,444...for the HOME OPENER. Was Wisconsin in 10th place then?
Saturday vs North Dakota: Undefeated and top 10 ranked football team plays on National TV @ night vs Michigan State
Saturday vs Nebraska-Omaha: Football team plays another huge National TV game @ night vs Ohio State

IMO those factors weigh in more than performance, but that's just my opinion.

Couldn't agree more.

As a lifelong Goph fan and season ticket holder since my folks attended the U before I was around (i'm 42), i've never seen the Mooch with so many empty seats, never. The past few seasons have been down right garbage.

UW has a great college sports atmpsophere, and I remember traveling to those games while growing up and many times tickets were readily available during "down years" same goes for the Ralph.

Is is what it is, the economy sucks, and if the teams aren't playing good hockey eventually the seats will sit empty. Most of the D1 programs in the upper midwest have loyal fans, and large fanbases, start winning and its like waking the sleeping giant..

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Wild-Preds on FS-WI.

Just realized that Bam bam was sent back to Milwaukee. He's had just three assists and a shoulder problem this year, which can't be that fun. Hope he gets back in top form soon.

On the plus side, Heatley scored, Craig Smith has looked sharp and Ryan Suter is a Suter.

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Loved that every time the Wild play-by-play/color guys kept calling Craig Smith "former-Badger." Didn't hear them do that for anyone else on the ice. Nice shout out for UW.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Loved that every time the Wild play-by-play/color guys kept calling Craig Smith "former-Badger." Didn't hear them do that for anyone else on the ice. Nice shout out for UW.

You don't watch many Wild games, I take it? Hardly a game is played without at least one mention of a home grown talent on the team. It's actually gotten to the point where it's almost annoying. I know, not the same, but Minnesotans tend to care more about that than where they played their college hockey. Not to take anything away from Craig Smith, who is an unbelievable talent, but if he were a Minnesotan, they probably would have mentioned that much more than where he played his college hockey. For instance, they drop the "Minnesota guy" line when referring to Matt Cullen far more than "former St Cloud State Husky".

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Well that would make perfect sense, given that it is a Minnesota team and all but more importantly Holy Crap I don't care at all.

Good Lord, do you just hover around, waiting for someone to give you an excuse to butt in with the Pride on Ice ****? Or should we just preface everything we say about anything related to UW with "Well, Jdubbs would like us to remember how smug and fantastic Minnesota is, but..."?

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Well that would make perfect sense, given that it is a Minnesota team and all but more importantly Holy Crap I don't care at all.

Good Lord, do you just hover around, waiting for someone to give you an excuse to butt in with the Pride on Ice ****? Or should we just preface everything we say about anything related to UW with "Well, Jdubbs would like us to remember how smug and fantastic Minnesota is, but..."?

Wheeeee!

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

You don't watch many Wild games, I take it? Hardly a game is played without at least one mention of a home grown talent on the team.

Olczyk does it all the time on Hawks broadcasts - mentions where a guy played his college hockey.

Hardly limited to Wild games or anything going on within your hallowed borders.

Oh yeah, and welcome back to reality Wild fans.

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Well that would make perfect sense, given that it is a Minnesota team and all but more importantly Holy Crap I don't care at all.

Good Lord, do you just hover around, waiting for someone to give you an excuse to butt in with the Pride on Ice ****? Or should we just preface everything we say about anything related to UW with "Well, Jdubbs would like us to remember how smug and fantastic Minnesota is, but..."?

 

[JDUBBS1280]

Olczyk does it all the time on Hawks broadcasts - mentions where a guy played his college hockey.

Hardly limited to Wild games or anything going on within your hallowed borders.

Oh yeah, and welcome back to reality Wild fans.

I don't mind hearing where guys played their college hockey. But it's getting a little annoying being reminded that Matt Cullen, Mike Lundin, Nate Prosser, etc.. Are from Minnesota EVERY game it seems like.

As for the Wild, I didn't have high expectations coming into this season. They're still a few years away. But when three of your prospects are captains at the WJC (and one is widely considered the best player in the World outside the NHL), another has a hat trick in the tournament, and another is widely considered an NHL ready defenseman at 18, the future is pretty bright. Oh yeah, and Houston made it to the Calder Cup finals last year without any of these guys.

Not to mention, being without 5/6 of your Top 6 forwards for a while, and leading the league in missed games, players called up, and rookies played, will derail any team. Don't worry though, we support our team win or lose

 

[NMH]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

No, I don't watch a lot of Wild games.

Which actually leads to a question - We're big college hockey/Wisconsin fan and go to quite a few Admirals games here in Milwaukee, but we just can't seem to get into the NHL. Maybe it's the lack of games broadcast on local TV, but we just don't get excited about NHL games. We'll throw one on if we see it on Versus, but that's it. So Wisconsinites, how do you grow your NHL fandom?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Nic Kerdiles is in the lineup tonight for Team USA @ Minnesota State. Which means barring a set back, he should be full go tomorrow night against the Badgers. Jealous of all of you who get to go to the game. I expect a full report.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

No, I don't watch a lot of Wild games.

Which actually leads to a question - We're big college hockey/Wisconsin fan and go to quite a few Admirals games here in Milwaukee, but we just can't seem to get into the NHL. Maybe it's the lack of games broadcast on local TV, but we just don't get excited about NHL games. We'll throw one on if we see it on Versus, but that's it. So Wisconsinites, how do you grow your NHL fandom?

You grow up in Joliet?

Watching Hawks v Wings right now!

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Tentative lineup

F Michael Mersch-Mark Zengerle-Lee
F Brad Navin-Joseph LaBate-Tyler Barnes
F Brendan Woods-Jefferson Dahl-Sean Little
F Jason Clark-Matt Paape-Keegan Meuer

D Frankie Simonelli-Justin Schultz
D Eric Springer-John Ramage
D Jake McCabe-Joe Faust

G Mitch Thompson

Awesome that Thompson is getting the start tonight in goal.
Before Lee was injured, wasn't he playing C?
I was a little surprised to see Barnes on the 2nd line and Mersch on the 1st, but this is just an exhibition.
Also great to see McCabe back in the lineup, although he lost his spot with Schultz to Simonelli. I won't be listening at all with a NYE party at my place tonight, but I will have gametracker and/or the live blog up.

Let's go RED!

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Tentative lineup

F Michael Mersch-Mark Zengerle-Lee
F Brad Navin-Joseph LaBate-Tyler Barnes
F Brendan Woods-Jefferson Dahl-Sean Little
F Jason Clark-Matt Paape-Keegan Meuer

D Frankie Simonelli-Justin Schultz
D Eric Springer-John Ramage
D Jake McCabe-Joe Faust

G Mitch Thompson

Awesome that Thompson is getting the start tonight in goal.
Before Lee was injured, wasn't he playing C?
I was a little surprised to see Barnes on the 2nd line and Mersch on the 1st, but this is just an exhibition.
Also great to see McCabe back in the lineup, although he lost his spot with Schultz to Simonelli. I won't be listening at all with a NYE party at my place tonight, but I will have gametracker and/or the live blog up.

Let's go RED!

Interesting line combinations. It's a good game to try some things. I like giving Navin a shot in the top 6. He hasn't had much of a chance to show it at Wisconsin but the kid is an absolute sniper.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Lee had 2 pts, a good sign. Kerdiles had 2 points, also a good sign for the future.

A pretty critical stretch coming up, 6 winnable games on paper. I'd be happy with a 5-1 record over the next 6. RIT is 10-6-1, probably not a pushover, but Mercyhurst is ahead of them in AH, and those games were probably the least stressful of the year so far.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey: Vol. XX - Growth Through Experience

Kerdelis looked pretty good. Certainly looks physically ready to play college right now.

55 & 9 made a pair of gaffs that ended up in the back of our net that you would be ****ed to see a Squirt make, much less a college soph/junior one of which wears a letter. 55 looked like he just threw the puck right down the middle of the ice without really looking (at least I did not see any Badger there that he COULD have been thinking he was passing to). 9 trying to stick handle through 2 forecheckers just inside the blueline with under 10 seconds left in the period was especially painful to watch. I suppose 9 gets the benefit of the doubt, but 55 seems to be a pattern that reflects in his team worst -11.