Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

[Gurtholfin]

2006 was Eaves' crowning achievement, and if you saw that run you know the Cornell game was a toss up, and BC came within an eyelash on that last shot to tying it up in the Final. It went our way, and thanks to Mike for the banner.

If you've read my posts, you know that I agree with you about Eaves needing to go.

I will take umbrage though with those who think a post against Cornell is some kind of indication that the 2006 team was somehow less than the best team in the nation that year.

They were.

Hands down.

At the start of the season. For large stretches in between and at the end.

Cornell played us tough and I was there and sweating it our with everyone else who had tickets already for two weeks later in Milwaukee.

I'll never forget that game as it's probably the most excruciating game that I've ever been at that didn't involve my kid (my kid's team won a playoff game in double overtime and won state in triple overtime in the same season - THAT was rough as I was personally and emotionally invested).

That said, having to overcome a tough opponent (Cornell) doesn't diminish the accomplishment of winning a title and in the case of 2006, the title winner was without a doubt the best team in the country.


Also - keep in mind that a post/crossbar isn't even an actual shot on net.

 

[GoBucky!]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I assume it would be somewhat of a surprise if he was actually axed regardless.

After watching the coaching change in football recently, and seeing that the Regents had to ok the hires, I’m wondering how much a decision on firing Eaves would be Barry’s alone.

With the kind of money people have talked about that it would cost to buy out Eaves contract, and then pay a new coach, I don’t have much hope it will happen. I’m guessing they will go the route of not giving Eaves the usual one year extension.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

After watching the coaching change in football recently, and seeing that the Regents had to ok the hires, I’m wondering how much a decision on firing Eaves would be Barry’s alone.

With the kind of money people have talked about that it would cost to buy out Eaves contract, and then pay a new coach, I don’t have much hope it will happen. I’m guessing they will go the route of not giving Eaves the usual one year extension.

How much does the eroding season ticket base and attendance cost? My conservative math on just ticket revenue is $24 x 3000 fewer tickets x 20 home games = $1,440,000. I would expect that if Eaves is not replaced and someone brought in that excites the fan base, you will see another significant decrease in season ticketholders (the announced attendance always seems high because you have season ticketholders masquerading as empty seats....which will not continue indefinitely...those season ticketholders will not renew). Now add in the revenue lost from fewer people attending in mandatory donations to the Badger Fund for most season ticket seats, parking, concessions, etc. and the Men's hockey program under the guidance of Eaves has easily lost a couple million a year in revenue. In the real world (in my best Eavesism), a CEO that losses that much revenue gets fired rather quickly.

Next, I would guess the buyouts UW has collected off losing Bielsma and Anderson in footyball are probably multiple times more then what it would cost to make Eaves go away.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

After watching the coaching change in football recently, and seeing that the Regents had to ok the hires, I’m wondering how much a decision on firing Eaves would be Barry’s alone.

With the kind of money people have talked about that it would cost to buy out Eaves contract, and then pay a new coach, I don’t have much hope it will happen. I’m guessing they will go the route of not giving Eaves the usual one year extension.

Given the money that flows through the athletic department I don't think they would have a huge problem paying the (aprox.) $900,000 buyout if they felt it was in the best interest of the program. At the end of the day this is still a revenue producing sport for Wisconsin. I'm assuming they'd like to keep it that way.

 

[srkbadger]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

If you've read my posts, you know that I agree with you about Eaves needing to go.

I will take umbrage though with those who think a post against Cornell is some kind of indication that the 2006 team was somehow less than the best team in the nation that year.

They were.

Hands down.

At the start of the season. For large stretches in between and at the end.

Cornell played us tough and I was there and sweating it our with everyone else who had tickets already for two weeks later in Milwaukee.

I'll never forget that game as it's probably the most excruciating game that I've ever been at that didn't involve my kid (my kid's team won a playoff game in double overtime and won state in triple overtime in the same season - THAT was rough as I was personally and emotionally invested).

That said, having to overcome a tough opponent (Cornell) doesn't diminish the accomplishment of winning a title and in the case of 2006, the title winner was without a doubt the best team in the country.


Also - keep in mind that a post/crossbar isn't even an actual shot on net.

I was not trying to diminish the 2006 team. The 2006 NC was won fair and square and cannot be revoked. My point is championships are a crap shoot with even the best team. Things could have gone differently quite easily. That win buys Eaves a lot of latitude with some who resist his removal. I am more inclined to go with the body of work on which that NC rests on: the results of the full season. That season was very good, but unfortunately it's also too rare. There's not a lot of additional hardware. All that, along with the style of play, what I see on the ice (albeit through a TV screen), and recruiting news about top end offensive talent passing on his system indicate it's time to open a new page.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I was not trying to diminish the 2006 team. The 2006 NC was won fair and square and cannot be revoked. My point is championships are a crap shoot with even the best team. Things could have gone differently quite easily. That win buys Eaves a lot of latitude with some who resist his removal. I am more inclined to go with the body of work on which that NC rests on: the results of the full season. That season was very good, but unfortunately it's also too rare. There's not a lot of additional hardware. All that, along with the style of play, what I see on the ice (albeit through a TV screen), and recruiting news about top end offensive talent passing on his system indicate it's time to open a new page.

Barney won 2 NC's, but it was still time for him to go and go he did.

 

[GoBucky!]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

How much does the eroding season ticket base and attendance cost? My conservative math on just ticket revenue is $24 x 3000 fewer tickets x 20 home games = $1,440,000. I would expect that if Eaves is not replaced and someone brought in that excites the fan base, you will see another significant decrease in season ticketholders (the announced attendance always seems high because you have season ticketholders masquerading as empty seats....which will not continue indefinitely...those season ticketholders will not renew). Now add in the revenue lost from fewer people attending in mandatory donations to the Badger Fund for most season ticket seats, parking, concessions, etc. and the Men's hockey program under the guidance of Eaves has easily lost a couple million a year in revenue. In the real world (in my best Eavesism), a CEO that losses that much revenue gets fired rather quickly.

Next, I would guess the buyouts UW has collected off losing Bielsma and Anderson in footyball are probably multiple times more then what it would cost to make Eaves go away.

Thank you, and Chuck, for restoring some hope that this could happen!

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I was not trying to diminish the 2006 team. The 2006 NC was won fair and square and cannot be revoked. My point is championships are a crap shoot with even the best team. Things could have gone differently quite easily. That win buys Eaves a lot of latitude with some who resist his removal. I am more inclined to go with the body of work on which that NC rests on: the results of the full season. That season was very good, but unfortunately it's also too rare. There's not a lot of additional hardware. All that, along with the style of play, what I see on the ice (albeit through a TV screen), and recruiting news about top end offensive talent passing on his system indicate it's time to open a new page.

No, I get it and I believe I understand where Almington is coming from when he says he can still hear that post. Imagine if it had gone in. We'd still be waiting for number 6.

At the time, it seemed like we were a program reborn and that we'd be good for years to come and certainly contend the next season with Pavelski and Earle coming back. Hindsight obviously showed a very different story.


Almost every team that wins a championship overcomes a close call to win it all.

Imagine if the Seahawks win on Sunday...

 

[Almington]

I was not trying to diminish the 2006 team. The 2006 NC was won fair and square and cannot be revoked. My point is championships are a crap shoot with even the best team. Things could have gone differently quite easily. That win buys Eaves a lot of latitude with some who resist his removal. I am more inclined to go with the body of work on which that NC rests on: the results of the full season. That season was very good, but unfortunately it's also too rare. There's not a lot of additional hardware. All that, along with the style of play, what I see on the ice (albeit through a TV screen), and recruiting news about top end offensive talent passing on his system indicate it's time to open a new page.

I also believe that many if the reasons the 2005-06 was the best team that year had more to do with the senior class and less to do with Eaves. I still don't understand how they went from nearly unbeatable to horriblely pedestrian for 10 games in the middle of the season (Elliott's injury not withstanding).

That, from my perspective, is what is so frustrating about Eaves tenure: his teams never sem to live up to thier potential. The on-paper talent level always seems to outclass the actual on-ice results.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

still don't understand how they went from nearly unbeatable to horriblely pedestrian for 10 games in the middle of the season (Elliott's injury not withstanding).

According to an assistant that I knew (coached our kids' team together - so I actually knew him on a social level) and talked to at the time, it was 100% Elliott's injury. He couldn't figure it out or make sense of it either.

Their confidence without Elliott was non-existent.


Just goes to show how fragile a team can be and how thin the line can be.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

According to an assistant that I knew (coached our kids' team together - so I actually knew him on a social level) and talked to at the time, it was 100% Elliott's injury. He couldn't figure it out or make sense of it either.

Their confidence without Elliott was non-existent.


Just goes to show how fragile a team can be and how thin the line can be.

The funny thing about that: Connelly wasn't horrible during that stretch. I mean, he wasn't great, either, but he pulled a sub 3.00 GAA and had one of those wild acrobatic saves in a game.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

I also believe that many if the reasons the 2005-06 was the best team that year had more to do with the senior class and less to do with Eaves. I still don't understand how they went from nearly unbeatable to horriblely pedestrian for 10 games in the middle of the season (Elliott's injury not withstanding).

That, from my perspective, is what is so frustrating about Eaves tenure: his teams never seem to live up to their potential. The on-paper talent level always seems to outclass the actual on-ice results.

This hits the nail on the head for me. Eaves has either completely squandered talent, the talent didn't materialize or plateaued upon on arrival, or what was on paper wasn't true before they arrived.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

The funny thing about that: Connelly wasn't horrible during that stretch. I mean, he wasn't great, either, but he pulled a sub 3.00 GAA and had one of those wild acrobatic saves in a game.

I know.

I was surprised at how frank he was when he told me that (during the bad stretch no less) coz I didn't usually bring up the inner workings of the team with him.

He (and the coaching staff) was as mystified as anyone.

Just goes to show that these aren't robots and it's not a video game where the player skill ratings are all that matter. There's so much more to it.


The last thing I said to him during that conversation was "I hope they understand the opportunity that is before them" - combining their talent with the regional and the FF being instate.

I like to think that he took that to the team and they ran with it.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

The difference between very good and average is indeed a thin line. Just having confidence is a big deal, let alone being without a top player. When Kerdiles or Barnes were missing last year everybody struggled. I'd say the current Badgers are much better with Eddie in the line up, not that it matters.


So Gurt... You couldn't come up with another decent bit of advice since 2006?

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

This hits the nail on the head for me. Eaves has either completely squandered talent, the talent didn't materialize or plateaued upon on arrival, or what was on paper wasn't true before they arrived.

The disappointment for me was 09/10 team in that they really fell short of achieving a legacy worthy accomplishment. Runner-up to a really good BC team in a farce of a F4 with putrid ice conditions was a part of it, but not winning the regular season WCHA title or the Final 5 tourney with a loaded team was disappointing indeed. 9 guys that went on to skate in the NHL (a half dozen of which are pretty darn good regulars) and a bridesmaid in WCHA regular season, 3rd place in WCHA tourney, and NC runner up.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

The disappointment for me was 09/10 team in that they really fell short of achieving a legacy worthy accomplishment. Runner-up to a really good BC team in a farce of a F4 with putrid ice conditions was a part of it, but not winning the regular season WCHA title or the Final 5 tourney with a loaded team was disappointing indeed. 9 guys that went on to skate in the NHL (a half dozen of which are pretty darn good regulars) and a bridesmaid in WCHA regular season, 3rd place in WCHA tourney, and NC runner up.

Yeah that team was loaded. I have memories of Davies, characteristically, missing the a wide open back door which would have made it 1-0. I always felt if they could have gotten that first goal before the 2nd intermission they would have found a way to win, but that obviously didn't happen.

I loved that team from top to bottom. That team was loaded w/ talent, but more importantly character and leadership. UW teams have lacked those last two since 2010, and the talent part too.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

It's almost criminal to look back and think that a team that had that much NHL talent (particularly Stepan and McD) couldn't have gotten it done.

Just look at that blue line. If/when John Ramage makes it to Calgary's regular lineup, that's a full three pairs of defensemen that will have gone on to play regular minutes in the NHL, including a captain (and Olympian) and at least two others that made an NHL all-rookie team. I don't think that happens too often.

I mean, not to slight the likes of Bombach, Street, Davies, etc., but once you got past Stepan, Craig Smith and Geoffrion, I don't know how impressive our forwards were by comparison. I suppose it's hard to compete with the blue line that year.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

Since the Badgers are honoring the '90 team on Saturday--

Came across this recently: Shuey's biggest moment on the way to claiming the Cup.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXII: No Where To Go But Up!

It's almost criminal to look back and think that a team that had that much NHL talent (particularly Stepan and McD) couldn't have gotten it done.

Just look at that blue line. If/when John Ramage makes it to Calgary's regular lineup, that's a full three pairs of defensemen that will have gone on to play regular minutes in the NHL, including a captain (and Olympian) and at least two others that made an NHL all-rookie team. I don't think that happens too often.

I mean, not to slight the likes of Bombach, Street, Davies, etc., but once you got past Stepan, Craig Smith and Geoffrion, I don't know how impressive our forwards were by comparison. I suppose it's hard to compete with the blue line that year.

That blue line compared to this blue line....I would take one McDonagh on the ice over any current pairing. Sorry, the current blue line is the worst I have seen at UW.

 

[Almington]

That blue line compared to this blue line....I would take one McDonagh on the ice over any current pairing. Sorry, the current blue line is the worst I have seen at UW.

You could say that for just about every part of this team.