Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

[HarleyMC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

I agree with you on that. I can see this team coming together at some point and being quite good.

It's just getting really old waiting around for it to happen.


Veteran teams with this kind of (supposed) talent should not start a season 4-5-1.

B1G improvement over last season at this time though (1-6-3) and then won the Broadmoor for the first time in 15 yrs. Must wait for the Girth.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

B1G improvement over last season at this time though (1-6-3) and then won the Broadmoor for the first time in 15 yrs. Must wait for the Girth.

Good point, we have three more wins. Add three more wins to the end of last year and it would have been a pretty good year.

With 18 more conference games to go, 10 at home, and none of them at the mooch, I'm pretty far from panic about this team. Lest we forget, our beloved 2006 team started the stretch run by going 3-7-1 before finally snapping out of it at home against the Cloudies.

OH! But Wisko! You forget that we were without Elliot for most of that stretch!

OK... so the only way we could get over .500 in ALL of Jan/Feb(5-7-1 or .423), with all the NHLer's on that roster, was to have the best goalie in the country in net? It's hockey, not bouncy ball where you have to go 31-2 to be considered any good. If we're going to give Burish and co. all the credit for winning, they can get the credit for that stretch too. Unless you want to say that stretch was Eaves fault and the NC run was all the players... Ok, I guess...

I've been around quite awhile and I bleed as much Badger Red as anyone here. I'm just as disappointed as anyone at the weekend, and at the overall program not meeting expectations, but I'm far from sticking my head in the oven, or pointing to Eaves as failing in this season. Put it in perspective. We have something like a .260 win percentage in Minneapolis all time. Mersch chips it out and we tie or win in OT, we all feel pretty good.

We have 8 straight home games leading up to the blue weasels coming in, all of which we should be heavy favorites in. If we're not a winning, ranked program by then, I'll be happy to buy the dynamite vests and meet all you guys outside the mooch for a kamikaze run.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

We have 8 straight home games leading up to the blue weasels coming in, all of which we should be heavy favorites in. If we're not a winning, ranked program by then, I'll be happy to buy the dynamite vests and meet all you guys outside the mooch for a kamikaze run.

...aaannnd Wisko McBadgerton has just been added to a government watch list.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Good point, we have three more wins. Add three more wins to the end of last year and it would have been a pretty good year.

With 18 more conference games to go, 10 at home, and none of them at the mooch, I'm pretty far from panic about this team. Lest we forget, our beloved 2006 team started the stretch run by going 3-7-1 before finally snapping out of it at home against the Cloudies.

OH! But Wisko! You forget that we were without Elliot for most of that stretch!

OK... so the only way we could get over .500 in ALL of Jan/Feb, with all the NHLer's on that roster, was to have the best goalie in the country in net? It's hockey, not bouncy ball where you have to go 31-2 to be considered any good. If we're going to give Burish and co. all the credit for winning, they can get the credit for that stretch too. Unless you want to say that stretch was Eaves fault and the NC run was all the players... Ok, I guess...

I've been around quite awhile and I bleed as much Badger Red as anyone here. I'm just as disappointed as anyone at the weekend, and at the overall program not meeting expectations, but I'm far from sticking my head in the oven, or pointing to Eaves as failing in this season. Put it in perspective. We have something like a .260 win percentage in Minneapolis all time. Mersch chips it out and we tie or win in OT, we all feel pretty good.

We have 8 straight home games leading up to the blue weasels coming in, all of which we should be heavy favorites in. If we're not a winning, ranked program by then, I'll be happy to buy the dynamite vests and meet all you guys outside the mooch for a kamikaze run.

It was pretty well documented at the time how different the relationship was between Eaves and the leaders of that team - who were led by Burish - than what was typical. Haven't heard of anything like it since that group.

The team meeting was documented as well where each of the seniors stepped up and took accountability and pledged to play their roles to the fullest. Brandt barely played in the first half of the year and played an important role during the second half. Licari became a single minded wrecking ball. Etc, etc.

The rest of the team saw the example and got with the program.

Yes, that team suffered through some adversity, but they also overcame the adversity in the end and grew from it along the way.


Of course Eaves gets credit as the head coach, but that was a special group and until he wins one without that group, I'll have my doubts as to which was the more important facet.


As far as getting too worked up over this year's start, I'd agree with you if this season existed in a vacuum or if this was a talented, but young team.

The fact is that expectations not being met has become the rule around Badger hockey rather than the exception. Just about every other good program coming in with what we have would have taken better advantage of it. There's no way we shouldn't have gotten one win in Boston and one in Minny.

Solid programs would have. We didn't.

Major fail by Eaves and the players on this team who really have no excuse at this point.


And I have really no reason to want to march on the Mooch. Until we're relevant, what's the point of getting worked up over the Gophers? Other than hoping they don't win the Nattie.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

And speaking of the Gophers, how is it that their freshman come in and contribute in big ways right away and a supposed dynamic player like Besse comes here and looks completely invisible?

They lost major upperclassmen from last year's team and how do they respond? Fast start, don't miss a beat and #1 in the country.

We bring almost everything back and we can't get out of our own way.


Garbage.


C'mon apologists - make me feel better.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Yes, that team suffered through some adversity, but they also overcame the adversity in the end and grew from it along the way.


There's no way we shouldn't have gotten one win in Boston and one in Minny.

And I have really no reason to want to march on the Mooch. Until we're relevant, what's the point of getting worked up over the Gophers? Other than hoping they don't win the Nattie.

I just saved these parts of your good response. I generally agree with the rest, it's as much that its my nature to be contrary, as it is in actually disagreeing with your general sentiments.

On adversity: I don't think many teams win championships, especially in hockey without suffering it. Adversity builds character; Character wins championships. A legacy from Badger Bob at Wisconsin is exactly this and it's part of the fabric of Wisconsin Hockey. Remains to be seen what this group does with it, but last night can be the kind of catalyst that makes or breaks a team.

I certainly think if we're able come back with Rumpel against BU, we win that game. Peterson was shell shocked. We'll never know. Rumps was ok last night, made some big stops, but I don't feel he was super sharp, especially early... Only his second game in almost two months is probably why. Friday was a debacle IMO and I don't see what anyone can take away from it. Badgers played well enough to win last night. Didn't win.

I'm not worked up over the goofs, just the opposite in fact. But if we're all going to go all suicide watch over the team at this point, I just feel that's as good of way as any to go...

Hold on... there's some guys in suits and dark glasses at my door... What could that possibly be about?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Lot of reasons to be frustrated, 4-5-1 start, etc. Can't disagree with that. Although other than the final score, It's tough to be too frustrated with yesterday's game specifically if you look at it again. Wisconsin dominated large stretches of that game and owned total offensive zone time by a large margin. I had scoring chances charted at a slight edge to the Gophers -- I think they were even through two periods and the Gophers had 2-3 more in the third.

Need to be better, especially creating chances from that offensive zone time.

Mersch turnover to end the game was brutal, but to his credit he handled it like a man and took the blame after the game. One of the more emotional interviews I've ever been a part of. That was a lot of fun.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

I just saved these parts of your good response. I generally agree with the rest, it's as much that its my nature to be contrary, as it is in actually disagreeing with your general sentiments.

I think we're mostly on the same page. I'm just more p-i-s-s-y/less look on the bright side than you.

I'm just tired of the program scuffling along, which is what they've been doing for too long.


It's like a skipping record. Oh we'll be better next year because... followed by excuses and explanations followed by "Just wait till next year!"

Eaves has had MORE than enough time to steady the ship and has failed.


I'm not giving up on this season as a lot of parts are in place. Having the parts doesn't guarantee anything though and it's hard to give Eaves much benefit of the doubt as he's failed to show that he deserves it.

Oh yeah, and then there's the next couple of years where we'll not only be young, but might have to hold open tryouts to fill the roster.

 

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

I don't think any Badger fans are happy with the way that the season has started, but from the games I've seen, the peices are in place for this season to be successful provided that the team gels and I don't feel that is something that Eaves (or any coach for that matter) can just create. That is something thatit is up to the players to create and foster and transfer to the the new income players. Schools that have a long track record of success (MN, MI, BC) have that, UW used to have that.

The season is less than 1/3 over with a disjointed schedule that should get the scheduler fired, let's see where things sit after this homestand before we commit to blowing up the whole program and starting over.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

There certainly are good players on this team right now but they're not getting the job done. The part that's really irking me is this 4-5-1...vs. 11-2. Look at those records and tell me which team is more of a favorite to make the frozen four. The coaches have put the team in a position now where if they don't get there this season they've got two years of excuses on the horizon "we're young" "climbing the mountain" whatever. We're looking at 18 years of mediocrity with 3-4 good seasons sprinkled in there. If the team doesn't turn it around and play like they've got a mission we can add 3 more years to that tally (this year and the next 2 excuse seasons).

I hold the coaches entirely accountable for all of this.

The reality is the program is NOT living up to Bob Johnson's legacy, not by a long shot.

 

[Hammy]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

And speaking of the Gophers, how is it that their freshman come in and contribute in big ways right away and a supposed dynamic player like Besse comes here and looks completely invisible?

Frankly, I've never been a big Besse fan. I always thought he was a little overrated as a prospect. But you also have to be fair... he's on a team filled with veteran players on the depth chart. He's unlikely to get the best opportunities under those circumstances. In contrast, the Gophers lost some high end guys off of last year's team and needed some young guys to step in right away. To their credit (and talent), some of them have lived up to the team needs.

The season is less than 1/3 over with a disjointed schedule that should get the scheduler fired, let's see where things sit after this homestand before we commit to blowing up the whole program and starting over.

I mentioned this a few weeks ago. I thought it was a bad situation to have so many off weeks early in the season. It is hard to build continuity under those circumstances when you have to kick a little rust off every other week.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Frankly, I've never been a big Besse fan. I always thought he was a little overrated as a prospect. But you also have to be fair... he's on a team filled with veteran players on the depth chart. He's unlikely to get the best opportunities under those circumstances. In contrast, the Gophers lost some high end guys off of last year's team and needed some young guys to step in right away. To their credit (and talent), some of them have lived up to the team needs.

Point(s) taken, but it seems to me that the Gophers have freshmen contributing just about every year. Maybe I'm remembering that wrong...

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Frankly, I've never been a big Besse fan. I always thought he was a little overrated as a prospect. But you also have to be fair... he's on a team filled with veteran players on the depth chart. He's unlikely to get the best opportunities under those circumstances. In contrast, the Gophers lost some high end guys off of last year's team and needed some young guys to step in right away. To their credit (and talent), some of them have lived up to the team needs.

I mentioned this a few weeks ago. I thought it was a bad situation to have so many off weeks early in the season. It is hard to build continuity under those circumstances when you have to kick a little rust off every other week.

Besse....the guy's on the 3rd/4th line, what do we expect him to do scoring wise? More than a couple fans had advocated him being on the 1st 2 lines to put him in the best position to get off to a hot start. He'll be fine in the long run.

Schedule....That's a huge issue. If you look thier performances, the poor Friday games were followed up with better Saturday games (LSS, BU, UM). BU and UM were losses, but they dominated BU but Petersen was still shell shocked. 2 ugly plays by McCabe and Mersch were the diff last night, UW played well 5 on 5. They played well enough Friday @ Miami to win. They are right there, they just need to play. UW has PSU, CC, UAH & AA for the next 8 games. 7-1 (loss to CC) is realistic in that stretch. That would put them @ 11-6-1.

 

[Bonin21]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

UW has PSU, CC, UAH & AA for the next 8 games.

That may be the weakest eight game home stretch I've seen in a long time. I don't know what you all are talking about, your scheduling guy will look like a genius.

 

[Hammy]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Point(s) taken, but it seems to me that the Gophers have freshmen contributing just about every year. Maybe I'm remembering that wrong...

Most years they usually have a pretty solid contribution from the frosh. Occasionally with a few really good years from a player or two (40+ pts).

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Sometimes freshmen put up a line of 2-4-6 and go on to win a Hobey Baker (Blake Geoffrion), and sometimes they average over a point per game (Kerdiles). They are freshmen...every situation is going to be different.

PS, if you haven't seen the video of Eaves talking about officials after the game...it's pretty funny. He would like to borrow $1,000 to talk about officiating. LINK

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

That may be the weakest eight game home stretch I've seen in a long time. I don't know what you all are talking about, your scheduling guy will look like a genius.

Doing well against weak opponents helps the win percentage, but it does less for your RPI and will do next to nothing for you in the Pairwise come March.

I'm hoping for the weak schedule to pay dividends in having a more confident team able to play up to its own talent level when they start playing in tougher games later in the year.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Sometimes freshmen put up a line of 2-4-6 and go on to win a Hobey Baker (Blake Geoffrion), and sometimes they average over a point per game (Kerdiles). They are freshmen...every situation is going to be different.

PS, if you haven't seen the video of Eaves talking about officials after the game...it's pretty funny. He would like to borrow $1,000 to talk about officiating. LINK

Good work --Great quotes from Mersch in last night's article. It was heartbreaking in my living room, hard to imagine how bad he feels. Kudos to him for standing up. Might be a great point for this team to rally around. And thank God you fixed that headline on this one. The grammar nazi side of my brain was exploding... You probably saved my life with that fix.

We should all kick in a c-note to send with Andy next time we get this sort of high quality officiating. It was killing Eaves not to say something and it'd be worth it to hear him go off with what he really thought.

 

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

There certainly are good players on this team right now but they're not getting the job done. The part that's really irking me is this 4-5-1...vs. 11-2. Look at those records and tell me which team is more of a favorite to make the frozen four.

How any team starts the season has zero impact on which team is more likely to make the F4 or even win the NC given the number of 4 seeds that have advanced out of the regionals over the past few seasons. 4-5-1 is far from an insurmountable barrier to making the NCAAs and when you do that anything can happen.

 

[Hammy]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXVIII: This could be a banner year, but how would we know?

Certainly you can recover from early season blunders but you never know until the end of the year if there was one or two games from early on that cost you.