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Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Timothy A said:
After struggling to get chemistry going, once it got going it was awesome, I would not change Barnes/Zengerlee/Kerdiles.
I don't like the LaBate/Woods/Mersch Line. I think LaBate and Woods are more 3rd line guys. Zulinick is a C, but I recall Eaves didn't think he was responsible enough to handle the C spot, so he stuck him at wing. He's a year more responsible next year.

Barnes/Zengerlee/Kerdiles
Merch/Zulinick/Besse
Labate/Woods/Meuer
Little/Dahl/Best Available

Besse has to play with offensive players so he gets off to a good start. Eaves will need to tolerate his youthful mistakes becuase his firepower is too good to waste.
Click to expand...

I might be in the minority on this, but I thought Woods added A LOT to the Badgers down the stretch when he moved to 2nd line center. His edginess was needed and he scored a few timely goals when the team needed them. I would even go as far to say he was the most improved player from Game 1 to the end of the season (excluding freshman).

As for Steve Miller, yeah UW needs to get on that if he is available and Gwoz isn't going to need his services ASAP. That could be exactly what the doctor ordered for UW, regardless of a Will Butcher or someone else following him, but landing the next round of top flight recruits. DU has consistently done a great job recruiting, I think better than the Badgers the last several years, and I'm still shocked the school ****ed all that away either because he wanted more money or the school wanted to backseat hockey to BB or lacrosse (depending upon the story you read).
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Gandalf the Red said:
I might be in the minority on this, but I thought Woods added A LOT to the Badgers down the stretch when he moved to 2nd line center. His edginess was needed and he scored a few timely goals when the team needed them. I would even go as far to say he was the most improved player from Game 1 to the end of the season (excluding freshman).
Click to expand...

Yes, he turned it up. He'd be a great third line player as opposed to a very average second line guy.

It's a tremendous advantage for a team to have a very solid third line as many teams won't which will cause a mismatch. Could also throw them out there against other teams' top lines.

I'd like to see us have our top two lines be scoring lines and Woods and LeBate seem miscast in that role.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

My understanding is the guy that drives the zamboni at Magness Arena might become available as a result of all this turmoil, too. Frankly, I haven't been all that pleased with the water control of our guy at the KC lately... think there's any chance?


Also, I like Woods a lot. Does some dumb things does some great things. But he's not afraid to do something. How can you not like that? Agree though that ideally the top six are better and we have a great third line. It all sounds so good from this distance. :)
 
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Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Gurtholfin said:
Yes, he turned it up. He'd be a great third line player as opposed to a very average second line guy.

It's a tremendous advantage for a team to have a very solid third line as many teams won't which will cause a mismatch. Could also throw them out there against other teams' top lines.

I'd like to see us have our top two lines be scoring lines and Woods and LeBate seem miscast in that role.
Click to expand...

That was what was awesome about 2010, UW's 4th line was arguably as good as lesser team's 2nd lines and w/ Dolan/Grotting/Mitchell it wasn't much of a worry facing them against the other team's top lines because they caused some disruption and chaos. The 1st three lines that year were very equal IMO, sure the Geoffrion line got top billing, but the Stepan line was top notch and the Bendickson line contributed nicely too, while being solid on D.

I would love to see that next season, if that meant Woods was 3rd line and they were the equivilant of some teams 2nd line, UW will win a lot of games.

Jefferson Dahl needs some serious PT too, as Wisko mentioned previously, his intangibles are too high not to utililize all the time as a senior.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Wisko McBadgerton said:
My understanding is the guy that drives the zamboni at Magness Arena might become available as a result of all this turmoil, too. Frankly, I haven't been all that pleased with the water control of our guy at the KC lately... think there's any chance?


Also, I like Woods a lot. Does some dumb things does some great things. But he's not afraid to do something. How can you not like that? Agree though that ideally the top six are better and we have a great third line. It all sounds so good from this distance. :)
Click to expand...

Blake Geoffrion use to do dumb things too, really dumb things as a freshman, and he won the Hobey. Woods isn't going to win the Hobey in the next two seasons, but I too can't fault his consistent effort.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Gandalf the Red said:
I would love to see that next season, if that meant Woods was 3rd line and they were the equivilant of some teams 2nd line, UW will win a lot of games.
Click to expand...


Being on the 3rd line is not a bad thing or an unimportant role.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Someone mentioned Craig Smith a few posts ago. He had a nice shootout goal last night against the Hawks.

He's the second Nashville shooter.


 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Forgot this part of my post re: Steve Miller. I'm 100% for it, and it's 99% not happening. He's sticking with Gwoz.

Other things in terms of future lines, Besse likes playing on his off-wing and needs to be with a passing center. I'd also hesitate to stick him with a center like Zulinick because that line is a train-wreck waiting to happen in the defensive zone.

Also, the LaBate-Woods-Mersch thing has to be broken up. Mersch needs a passing center. I like Woods' game, but that's not a good fit. Someone brought it up before (Timmy A maybe?), and I kind of gave him a hard time, but he's right, Mersch wasn't the same guy without Lee. Numbers weren't terrible, but his effectiveness went down.
 
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Chuck Schwartz said:
Forgot this part of my post re: Steve Miller. I'm 100% for it, and it's 99% not happening. He's sticking with Gwoz.

Other things in terms of future lines, Besse likes playing on his off-wing and needs to be with a passing center. I'd also hesitate to stick him with a center like Zulinick because that line is a train-wreck waiting to happen in the defensive zone.

Also, the LaBate-Woods-Mersch thing has to be broken up. Mersch needs a passing center. I like Woods' game, but that's not a good fit. Someone brought it up before (Timmy A maybe?), and I kind of gave him a hard time, but he's right, Mersch wasn't the same guy without Lee. Numbers weren't terrible, but his effectiveness went down.
Click to expand...

Mersch-Zully-Besse seems to be a good line now after I think about it.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

UWisco said:
Well I'm not going to lie, I feel real dumb right now. My bad.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't lose sleep over it. That line would be awesome offensively, but I doubt Eaves uses it because of their defensive liabilities.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Timothy A said:
After struggling to get chemistry going, once it got going it was awesome, I would not change Barnes/Zengerlee/Kerdiles.
I don't like the LaBate/Woods/Mersch Line. I think LaBate and Woods are more 3rd line guys. Zulinick is a C, but I recall Eaves didn't think he was responsible enough to handle the C spot, so he stuck him at wing. He's a year more responsible next year.

Barnes/Zengerlee/Kerdiles
Merch/Zulinick/Besse
Labate/Woods/Meuer
Little/Dahl/Best Available

Besse has to play with offensive players so he gets off to a good start. Eaves will need to tolerate his youthful mistakes becuase his firepower is too good to waste.
Click to expand...

I like these lines. I don't care if Zulinick and Besse are trainwrecks in the d-zone, so were Zent and Schier as frosh. Eaves has to get the hell off his horse with that and allow goal scorers and playmakers to play the roles of goal scorers and play makers. besse w/zulinick *could* be magic together, who knows?

I also like Woods and LaBate on the 3rd line. it could be a VERY solid 3rd line with them and they were indeed miscast as 2nd liners (more due to a lack of depth I think)

re: Matt Walsh. Am I the only one here who thinks he did a bang up job with the D? the defense seemed to significantly improve once he stepped in
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

solovsfett said:
I don't care if Zulinick and Besse are trainwrecks in the d-zone, so were Zent and Schier as frosh. Eaves has to get the hell off his horse with that and allow goal scorers and playmakers to play the roles of goal scorers and play makers. besse w/zulinick *could* be magic together, who knows?
Click to expand...

It doesn't matter if you score 5 goals a game if you give up 6. You can still produce offense without sacrificing things on the other end. Don't put players in spots they can't succeed.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Gandalf the Red said:
I might be in the minority on this, but I thought Woods added A LOT to the Badgers down the stretch when he moved to 2nd line center. His edginess was needed and he scored a few timely goals when the team needed them. I would even go as far to say he was the most improved player from Game 1 to the end of the season (excluding freshman).

As for Steve Miller, yeah UW needs to get on that if he is available and Gwoz isn't going to need his services ASAP. That could be exactly what the doctor ordered for UW, regardless of a Will Butcher or someone else following him, but landing the next round of top flight recruits. DU has consistently done a great job recruiting, I think better than the Badgers the last several years, and I'm still shocked the school ****ed all that away either because he wanted more money or the school wanted to backseat hockey to BB or lacrosse (depending upon the story you read).
Click to expand...

woods played some outstanding hockey down the home stretch for the badgers, no doubt he would be a great 2nd liner, if not the depth it would show if he ended up on the 3rd line.....he is an impact player no doubt....dahl needs to be on the ice a little more just like his days back when he was playing for team wisconsin he just a little a rebel rouser out there with a knack for always being around the puck....get him on the ice
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

Chuck Schwartz said:
It doesn't matter if you score 5 goals a game if you give up 6. You can still produce offense without sacrificing things on the other end. Don't put players in spots they can't succeed.
Click to expand...

it's THE argument with Eaves isn't it? if Dany Heatley were on this team I doubt he'd make it of Eaves' doghouse, and that's the kind of notion I vehemently disagree with. Eaves needs to let offensive players play their games. he wouldn't need to worry about trapping or playing keepaway with a 2-1 lead (then ****ing games away) if he allowed the horses to go go go.

at least that's my .02
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol XXV: There's Hope! Or whatever...

solovsfett said:
it's THE argument with Eaves isn't it? if Dany Heatley were on this team I doubt he'd make it of Eaves' doghouse, and that's the kind of notion I vehemently disagree with. Eaves needs to let offensive players play their games. he wouldn't need to worry about trapping or playing keepaway with a 2-1 lead (then ****ing games away) if he allowed the horses to go go go.

at least that's my .02
Click to expand...

I wouldn't mind seeing things a bit more open, but the dramatic exaggeration is comical. I honestly wonder if you'd rather lose 6-5 than win 3-2 sometimes.

When Eaves has the horses, he lets them go. That 09-10 team was a top 5 scoring club in the country.
 
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