Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

[Chuck Schwartz]

If you missed it at the end of the old thread that got locked, NAHL.com is reporting that the Badgers have landed a commitment from Alaska Avalanche goaltender Landon Peterson. Peterson, an Oregon, WI native had a 2.74 goals-against average and a .913 save percentage in 45 games for Alaska.

Here are the Badgers current committed recruits.

2011 Forward Recruits
Joseph LaBate-Academy of Holy Angels (MN HS)
Tyler Lapic-Chicago Steel (USHL)
Matt Paape-Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Brendan Woods-Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Brad Navin-Waupaca (WI HS)

2011 Defense Recruits
Patrick Daly-Benilde St. Margarets (MN HS)
Jake McCabe-USA NTDP U18's

2011 Goalie Recruits
Joel Rumpel-Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Landon Peterson-Alaska Avalanche (NAHL)

2012 Forward Recruits
Morgan Zulinick-Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
Corbin McGuire-Fargo Force (USHL)
Nic Kerdiles-USA NTDP U17

2012 Defense Recruits
Tim Davison-Notre Dame Academy (WI HS)-Could be 2013

2013 Goalie Recruits
Gabe Grunwald-Ajax Pickering midget

 

[UWisco]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

That is one good list of talent.

 

[Badgers1]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I think you forgot Gabe Grunwald for the 2013 class.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Glad to see another goalie will end up on campus this fall. I was really nervous at the concept of turning the keys over to a frosh with nothing as a fall back.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Glad to see another goalie will end up on campus this fall. I was really nervous at the concept of turning the keys over to a frosh with nothing as a fall back.

I'm not a big fan of another goalie in this yr's class, that means 3 goalies under scholarship in 2013, unless Rumpel leaves after his soph. yr. Eaves already spreads the money thin with 18 forwards on every team. Peterson is a pretty expensive insurance policy.

I just can't see Navin having any impact on the team next year. That's another wasted spot.

What are the chances Smith leaves with his great showing in the IIHF tourney. He just be thinking "I CAN play with these guys." Could he leave school without the Pred's approval?

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

What are the chances Smith leaves with his great showing in the IIHF tourney. He just be thinking "I CAN play with these guys." Could he leave school without the Pred's approval?

I'm not worried about that.

I'm more worried that Nashville will think that he absolutely MUST come out of school now and have him play a season in Milwaukee instead.

 

[Badgers1]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Maybe Chuck has some insight, but I can't see Pederson getting that much of a scholarship.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I'm not a big fan of another goalie in this yr's class, that means 3 goalies under scholarship in 2013, unless Rumpel leaves after his soph. yr. Eaves already spreads the money thin with 18 forwards on every team. Peterson is a pretty expensive insurance policy.

I highly doubt Peterson is on much, if any scholarship.

I think you forgot Gabe Grunwald for the 2013 class.

Thank you.

I'm not worried about that.

I'm more worried that Nashville will think that he absolutely MUST come out of school now and have him play a season in Milwaukee instead.

Nashville has proven with Geoffrion that they are willing to be patient and as long as a player wants to stay they are fine with it. With the success Blake has had, I doubt they would push a kid to come out.

I agree with Timmy, if he leaves, it's because of him (and his advisors).

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I've got to think the Preds LOVE how Geoffrion turned out and are in no hurry to see Smith leave Madison. They have been a patient organization when it comes to prospect development...hopefully that continues.

 

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I just can't see Navin having any impact on the team next year. That's another wasted spot.

On what basis do you say this? I think that it is a little unfair to proclaim a player's roster spot wasted 5 months before the season starts with no evidence to support such a claim. Is having Navin come in direct from WI HS ranks a risk that his contribution will be limited this season, sure. But give the kid a chance to perform before you lael him a waste.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I've got to think the Preds LOVE how Geoffrion turned out and are in no hurry to see Smith leave Madison. They have been a patient organization when it comes to prospect development...hopefully that continues.

I was very pleasantly surprised at how well he performed in the playoffs. Seriously, who here thought he'd jump right in and have that impact? He was getting solid minutes in very crucial situations including end of game and overtime.

Good for Blake!

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Nashville has proven with Geoffrion that they are willing to be patient and as long as a player wants to stay they are fine with it. With the success Blake has had, I doubt they would push a kid to come out.

I agree with Timmy, if he leaves, it's because of him (and his advisors).

I don't know if I would read too much into how one organization treats one prospect to say how they will treat another, but it's a fair point.

 

[aktick]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Didn't Smith come in a year later than Geoffrion (who came right after graduating, IIRC)?

I think the kid is clearly ready physically.

 

[DPlaya]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I just can't see Navin having any impact on the team next year. That's another wasted spot.

What are the chances Smith leaves with his great showing in the IIHF tourney. He just be thinking "I CAN play with these guys." Could he leave school without the Pred's approval?

As far as Navin having an impact next season the thing I keep coming back to when I look at the roster is that after Craig Smith there are NO forwards that would be considered scorers. I think Navin will get a look simply because the team will be desperate for scoring next season. I'm not sure if he'll be successful after making the jump straight from high school hockey, but I think he'll get a chance.

I recently talked with one of Navin's Team Wisconsin Major teammates (Ryan Dau from Hudson who is committed to Air Force) who played on a line with him quite a bit. He said the thing about Navin is that he doesn't really jump out at you as the fastest skater, or having the best handle, but that Navin can just find spots and make space for himself in front of the net and score. Since Dau was the playmaker on their top line much of the season and is great at distributing the puck I think I'll take his opinion on what Navin's good at.

As far as Smith, this article came out today on the USA Hockey site which also indicates Smith is headed back to UW next season. Regardless, nobody will be sure of anything for many more months unfortunately.

If lots of competition is good for forwards and defensemen, wouldn't it stand to reason it will be good for the goaltenders as well? I saw on Twitter today Rumpel welcomed Landon Peterson and they conversed a bit...

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Didn't Smith come in a year later than Geoffrion (who came right after graduating, IIRC)?

I think the kid is clearly ready physically.

Granted: the AHL and NHL are both a lot more physical than what Smith was up against in Slovakia.

 

[markwojo]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I don't know if I would read too much into how one organization treats one prospect to say how they will treat another, but it's a fair point.

Beyond just Geoffrion...the Preds have a track record of not rushing prospect. One noteable exception being Ryan Suter...but that was business/money more then necessarily rushing things.

 

[aktick]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

Granted: the AHL and NHL are both a lot more physical than what Smith was up against in Slovakia.

Very true. Although I would say he's more ready physically than I figured Derek Stepan was (a bit different style of player, sure)...and he turned out ok.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

On what basis do you say this? I think that it is a little unfair to proclaim a player's roster spot wasted 5 months before the season starts with no evidence to support such a claim. Is having Navin come in direct from WI HS ranks a risk that his contribution will be limited this season, sure. But give the kid a chance to perform before you lael him a waste.

I had previously compared him to Linaker, who has played against tougher competetion already. I think it's unrealiastic to think Navin will end up on the top 2 lines and score 30 pts right out of WI high school. IMHO, it would have been wiser to have him play 1 yr in the USHL, bulk up, get experience and then come in the next year, more ready to have an impact, and bring Linaker in now, who is more ready now than Navin.

I don't think UW is desperate for scorers next year....Zengerlee, Smith, Barnes, are all in line for monster years, Merch, Lee and Clark are all guys who can sieve a goalie.

Petersen scholarship

 

[Almington]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I had previously compared him to Linaker, who has played against tougher competetion already. I think it's unrealiastic to think Navin will end up on the top 2 lines and score 30 pts right out of WI high school. IMHO, it would have been wiser to have him play 1 yr in the USHL, bulk up, get experience and then come in the next year, more ready to have an impact, and bring Linaker in now, who is more ready now than Navin.

I don't think UW is desperate for scorers next year....Zengerlee, Smith, Barnes, are all in line for monster years, Merch, Lee and Clark are all guys who can sieve a goalie.

Petersen scholarship

How did you compair Navin and Linaker? Did you just make a cursory overview of their stats and make a completely arbitrary decision? Have you ever actually seen either player play in this lst season? You talk to any of their coaches? Know anything about their habits or skills? Are they a defensive liability? Will they be a good fit for the team's system? Do they have one thing they do exceptionally well? What are their strengths and weaknesses? How they approach the game? How well will they fit into UW's team culture? FAR more goes into evaluating a player than simply looking at a score sheet and comparing the leagues that they played in. If that was all that it took how would anyone ever miss on a draft pick?

At worst even if Navin doesn't contribute on the ice much, he roster sport is far from wasted. Navin will be able to come into UW and bulk up and take advantage of the strength and conditioning program, learn the system and what the coaches expect of him and what he needs to do to be successful, and just adjust overall to life in college. Not any real difference to football players who come in and redshirt as true freshmen.

On top of that the coaches have to consider not just this season but how decisions will impact subsequent seasons. You brink in Linaker next season, who gets bumped from the 2012 to 2013 class? How does scholarship money have to be adjusted and reallocated between players (Linaker as an out-of-state student will need a larger % scholarship).

 

[DPlaya]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: Filling the foundation with 5 stars

I had previously compared him to Linaker, who has played against tougher competetion already. I think it's unrealiastic to think Navin will end up on the top 2 lines and score 30 pts right out of WI high school. IMHO, it would have been wiser to have him play 1 yr in the USHL, bulk up, get experience and then come in the next year, more ready to have an impact, and bring Linaker in now, who is more ready now than Navin.

I don't think UW is desperate for scorers next year....Zengerlee, Smith, Barnes, are all in line for monster years, Merch, Lee and Clark are all guys who can sieve a goalie.

Petersen scholarship

Zengerle and Lee would rather set someone up for a goal than score one themselves, but they will score some. Mersch put up great numbers last year but wasn't counted on to score a whole lot with the USNTDP. Barnes and Clark remain to be seen but I don't doubt they have the potential to put goals on the scoreboard at some point in their career. Jefferson Dahl has scoring potential as well.

I think one of the other things about Navin that may help is that he is a big, strong kid already. He's 6'2", 190 lbs and appears to have the strength to match from what I've seen of him.

As an aside, the Badgers could potentially have a lot of size at forward next season. They've got five returning forwards that are at least six feet tall, and Navin, LaBate, Woods and Lapic are all 6'2" or above I believe!