What's new
By:
USCHO Fan Forum

This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

  • The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.

Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Ship

Status
Not open for further replies.
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

GB Puck Fan said:
A different view that developed through some conversation here...

Seems that the recruiting level hasn't been the same since Osiecki and Kevin Patrick left. So, perhaps, the assistants ARE more of the issue. It's not like Eaves has forgotten what he knows about hockey.

Those who don't like Eaves won't like the line of thought... It certainly makes these hires critical.

A different POV.
Click to expand...

who hired sub par assistants? Yep we know. This doesn't solve the even out of classes that he has done nothing about. so the roller coaster continues. What good assistant is going to want to come to UW with Eaves on the hot seat?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

I don't think there's any question that making the right hires for assistants can make or break this situation, even among those of us who just want Eaves gone.

IMO the question is going to be: does Eaves really just need the right assistants for recruiting? Or does he need one or two assistants that would be qualified to take his job if/when he gets canned finally?
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Shirtless Guy said:
or a former badger like AJ Degenhardt or Chris Tok?
Click to expand...

I mean, I know them as players, not so much as coaches.

Honestly, I'd expect either unproven assistants or potential future head coaches out of this. Depends on how much support Eaves is getting from Barry. Either good assistants will shy away from the program being in the state its in, or we're going to get someone who thinks that they see the writing on the wall with Eaves and wants the first foot in the door.

I guess there's an outside chance that a quality assistant is interested just based on misplaced prestige (you know... almost like becoming the head football coach at Fordham right now) where he thinks he can help turn the ship around, but it's just hard to imagine that right now.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

No surprise, the handwriting was on the wall. Coaching is a tough business and I certainly thank Gary and Matt for their hard work and wish them the very best in their respective futures.

One downside always is a risk with current recruits, some of whom are very good, but perhaps as important is risk to some of the recent inroads made into Western Canada. Hopefully that can be built upon by the new staff as I firmly believe it's important to the future of the program to recruit North of the border.

I'm guessing there's a short list of guys and probably calls have already been made. Dan Boeser would be an interesting hire at this point...
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
One who knows he's qualified enough to take over?
Click to expand...

Well lets hope. But his history in hiring isn't great since 2010...

I have always been told in business, as a manager, you hire the best people possible, even those that might be better than you some day. I don't know if Eaves has that in him....
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Or how about they just back up the money truck to Don Granato's house and load up Matthews, Tkachuk, and Jones. That would be ok.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

The only way I see this getting turned around for Eaves is an absolute grand slam hire in bringing back Oz as associate head coach/lead assistant whatever title you want to give him. I know he still lives in the area so there might be some appeal to him and his family, although I am not sure how that works with him an assistant in the AHL with Rockford about to get into the playoffs (I can't see him being a guy that walks away from a team he has been a part of all season as they are about to go to the playoffs). The other should be a guy like the one Chuck mentioned (Maco Balkovec) young with Western Canada roots. Maybe Oz can be Eaves Mike Guentzel? Guenzel left for 3 years, and those happened to be 3 of only 4 years where Lucia teams didn't win at least 20 games in his last 22 years of coaching.

(Or Granato is about the only other guy I can think of as McBadgerton suggests). Hire a no experience video guy, a guy out of the fray for a decade who is on a ministry preaching tour, or a guy coaching Bantam hockey and that will be the final nail in the Eaves coffin.
 
Last edited:
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

It is obvious that Oz had A LOT to do with the Badgers' success when he was here. As head recruiter, having great classes and talent was never the issue IMO, it was getting them to win the games that was the issue (which I will throw the blame on to Eaves for that since that has been his hallmark during his tenure is under-performing). The blue line in 2010, along with the incredible decline in blue line recruits since Oz left shows his value.

I would love to see Oz come back, but no matter who Eaves hires this time around, even if they are the best assistants and they help turn the program around, I'm done w/ Eaves. Eaves is still the problem and until he is gone, I don't think Wisconsin Hockey ever truly recovers and flourishes again.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Oz and Don Granato sound like one heck of a 1 - 2 punch.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Steve Miller formerly of DU would be a good top assistant as well. Now at providence.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

WiscTJK said:
Steve Miller formerly of DU would be a good top assistant as well. Now at providence.
Click to expand...

Steve "Killer" Miller is Associate Head Coach at Providence as he was with George Gwozdecky at DU and generally acknowledged as a recruiting guru. Well liked and respected--a class act. Many expected he would get Green Bay Gamblers' job 4 or 5 years ago.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

WiscTJK said:
Oz and Don Granato sound like one heck of a 1 - 2 punch.
Click to expand...

Would pretty much render Eaves unnecessary, assuming that's not already the case.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

vizoroo said:
Steve "Killer" Miller is Associate Head Coach at Providence as he was with George Gwozdecky at DU and generally acknowledged as a recruiting guru. Well liked and respected--a class act. Many expected he would get Green Bay Gamblers' job 4 or 5 years ago.
Click to expand...
You mean the guy hired to start the Madison Capitols who bolted from the program before they had even played a game?
 
Chuck Schwartz said:
Shuchuk and Walsh are falling on the sword here. Had a pretty good feeling after Christmas this was the way it would go down...with Eaves staying on and cleaning house. After Shuey's comments in the newspaper, I had little doubt Eaves would use him as the scape goat.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'll bet Shuchuk cares about wins and losses now.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

WiscTJK said:
Oz and Don Granato sound like one heck of a 1 - 2 punch.
Click to expand...

I love this combo, but thinking a little outside box......Gwoz as associate head coach with Don Granato as the other assistant.

How comfortable will Eaves be with Oz since he left once already and we know how Eaves feels about guys shopping themselves/leaving after the Troy Ward situation.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Never like to see anyone lose their job, wish these guys the best in the future. I think we lose sight of the fact that these guys have mortgage and families and such while we're calling for their heads.

Really has the feeling like Eaves threw them under the bus, when he should have been inspecting the tires right with them.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Oz didn't leave for a lateral job and wasn't shopping himself constantly. I don't see some of these super staff combos working....to many chiefs and not enough Indians. I think Eaves desperately needs a top end high profile lead assistant, and then a younger, hungry, up and comer, with ties to western Canada. Oz with his Minnesota and dman recruiting ties as well as dman coaching rep or Granato with his ties to USDT kids makes sense as that lead guy.
 
Re: Wisconsin Hockey Vol. XXXIII: A Fanbase Gets Smarter When All The Idiots Jump Shi

Shirtless Guy said:
or a former badger like AJ Degenhardt or Chris Tok?
Click to expand...

ExileOnDaytonStreet said:
I mean, I know them as players, not so much as coaches.

Honestly, I'd expect either unproven assistants or potential future head coaches out of this. Depends on how much support Eaves is getting from Barry. Either good assistants will shy away from the program being in the state its in, or we're going to get someone who thinks that they see the writing on the wall with Eaves and wants the first foot in the door.

I guess there's an outside chance that a quality assistant is interested just based on misplaced prestige (you know... almost like becoming the head football coach at Fordham right now) where he thinks he can help turn the ship around, but it's just hard to imagine that right now.
Click to expand...

Degenhardt is the head coach of the NAHL's Chill team in Lacrosse. A very bare bones operation from the front office side. The made the playoffs again this year, and IIRC, has three players headed to D1 next year.

He may need some USHL time first, but could fit that second spot.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top