Another two weeks pass with no new recruits. Where are the 2014 recruits going to come from?
Another two weeks pass with no new recruits. Where are the 2014 recruits going to come from?
Hard to not take this as spam when you have 3 posts total in the 3 threads about badger hockey on here and they are identical...just saying.Badger Fans - my name is Ryan and I'm one of the members of the staff associated with BadgersConnect - the University of Wisconsin's OFFICIAL fan zone.
I see all the passion on this site, and it's awesome, and I just wanted to take a second to make sure everyone was aware of all that we have to offer at BadgersConnect (Connect.UWBadgers.com).
Before you get upset that you think I'm spamming, I'm truly not.
It's completely free and I'm not looking to try to sell you anything - I just want the Badger Superfans of the world to know that we offer them the opportunity to make play predictions, answer trivia, post photos and earn points by checking-in at the game. Well even give points for you just telling us where you're following the game from.
The more points you earn the more likely it is you'll win unbelievable rewards and fan experiences (like season tickets, autographs, merchandise, suite tickets, on-field passes, etc.)
We hand them out every week in a contest we call "Winning Wednesday" - once you sign-up you're eligible for every drawing. It's honestly really simple and it's a no-brainer if you're a true Wisconsin Athletics Fan...which you clearly are.
I'm happy to answer any questions or assist in helping you sign-up, but what better place to come than this amazing board? Look forward to discussing more. Thanks, and On, Wisconsin!!
Another two weeks pass with no new recruits. Where are the 2014 recruits going to come from?
Take Christian Horn. He can afford to pay his way, and if he gets a lot of playing time it'll be the epitome of a Gopher reject.![]()
I wouldn't say it if it didn't.You joke, but I think it makes sense.
The more and more I look into the available options, the more and more embarrassed I am at the talent Wisconsin is producing, especially at forward. Certainly doesn't help the UW coaching staff in terms of being able to cherry pick a few in-state guys on low-mid scholarships to fill spots. There aren't any Jefferson Dahl's sitting out there right now. Slim pickings on instate guys.
There's three guys in the USHL: Kyle Schmidt (Sioux City), Mitch Hults (Indiana) and Conor Lemirande (Youngstown).
NAHL options: Nick Monfils (Corpus Cristi), Jesse Tredinick (Coulee Region), Eddie Matsushima (Coulee Region), Kyle Lee (Fairbanks), Drew Callin (Janesville).
Nothing against those kids personally, but that's a lot of "meh" ... Callin still has some prospect status. Schmidt could be a grinder type. Hults and Lemirande are project types, but you don't want too many of those on the roster.
Gut feeling is Wisconsin is going to end up filling some of those grinder/fourth line time roles with some Minnesota kids who can get reciprocity because the crop of Wisconsin forwards is embarrassing right now.
Badger Fans - my name is Ryan and I'm one of the members of the staff associated with BadgersConnect - the University of Wisconsin's OFFICIAL fan zone.
I see all the passion on this site, and it's awesome, and I just wanted to take a second to make sure everyone was aware of all that we have to offer at BadgersConnect (Connect.UWBadgers.com).
Before you get upset that you think I'm spamming, I'm truly not.
It's completely free and I'm not looking to try to sell you anything - I just want the Badger Superfans of the world to know that we offer them the opportunity to make play predictions, answer trivia, post photos and earn points by checking-in at the game. Well even give points for you just telling us where you're following the game from.
The more points you earn the more likely it is you'll win unbelievable rewards and fan experiences (like season tickets, autographs, merchandise, suite tickets, on-field passes, etc.)
We hand them out every week in a contest we call "Winning Wednesday" - once you sign-up you're eligible for every drawing. It's honestly really simple and it's a no-brainer if you're a true Wisconsin Athletics Fan...which you clearly are.
I'm happy to answer any questions or assist in helping you sign-up, but what better place to come than this amazing board? Look forward to discussing more. Thanks, and On, Wisconsin!!
The more and more I look into the available options, the more and more embarrassed I am at the talent Wisconsin is producing, especially at forward. Certainly doesn't help the UW coaching staff in terms of being able to cherry pick a few in-state guys on low-mid scholarships to fill spots. There aren't any Jefferson Dahl's sitting out there right now. Slim pickings on instate guys.
There's three guys in the USHL: Kyle Schmidt (Sioux City), Mitch Hults (Indiana) and Conor Lemirande (Youngstown).
NAHL options: Nick Monfils (Corpus Cristi), Jesse Tredinick (Coulee Region), Eddie Matsushima (Coulee Region), Kyle Lee (Fairbanks), Drew Callin (Janesville).
Nothing against those kids personally, but that's a lot of "meh" ... Callin still has some prospect status. Schmidt could be a grinder type. Hults and Lemirande are project types, but you don't want too many of those on the roster.
Gut feeling is Wisconsin is going to end up filling some of those grinder/fourth line time roles with some Minnesota kids who can get reciprocity because the crop of Wisconsin forwards is embarrassing right now.
What the hell have Eaves and Shuchuk been doing the past 1 1/2 years as far as recruiting forwards? One guy de-commits but still the fact they haven't lined up guys at forward for next year (considering the sheer # of open spots) is embarrassing.
Wisconsin at the high school level has NEVER (outside of Superior who plays against Duluth schools, Eagle River *on occasion*, and maybe historically Madison Edgewood) played good high school hockey so relying on in-state talent would be a huge mistake. Look at #26, scored 2000 goals in HS but at D1? He wasn't playing against Duluth East or Edina he was playing against schools with terrible talent and it's shown over the past 3 seasons.
EDIT: in light of the fact Wisconsin doesn't produce high-end talent with any frequency the UW should never have more than about 5 guys from the state on the roster who play significant minutes. Get up to Canada and get that pipeline going again, 3 Canadians on the roster is far to low, s/b 6-9 in my opinion and probably similar numbers of Minnesotans.
Eaves has a huge problem on his hands and it's all his own doing cause he failed to balance the classes. Where's the scoring coming from next season? Besse? one guy?
If I'm the coaches Horn, Sheehy, Hughes are priorities but that would still leave a couple of holes. How could you even begin to convince Kerdiles and LaBate to stay if there's no help coming?
If anyone wants a look at what Jeff Sauers final non-Heatley years looked like next year will be it. So, maybe it's time to finally get serious about this: Mike Eaves needs to go, if this season is/was supposed to be "The One" (according to some posters) then I'm off the bandwagon until there's a Coach here who can recruit real talent (consistently, I'm tired of the bs grinders that they have to bring in to fill up about 5-6 slots on the roster) and win consistently.
so with that: Tony Granato, Don Granato, are there any other UW alums out there coaching who appear to be on on upward track? Or if they look elsewhere where should they look? Miami of Ohio coach? Would he ever leave?
I thought Bo Brauer would end up at Michigan Tech but he either wanted more than Tech was willing to offer at the time...and they seem to have moved on based on his age and who's all committed to MTU right now.Would of of the Wisconsin kids playing in the Canada jr. hockey leagues make sense? Maybe walk on types?
Luke Karakas Neewapa MJHL (orginally from Green Bay)
Jared Sprink Waywall MJHL (Mosinnee)
There might be some more too.
Also any chance some of these Minnesota kids are walk on/partial kids?
Kelvin Walz Mellville SJHL (Dad played in NHL)
Bo Brauer Nanaimo BCHL
Christian Bryant Prince George BCHL
Lets see how this plays out over the next little bit (I would suspect we'll have clarity in the next few weeks). While I am alarmed at the quantity of spots we need to fill for 7 or 8 months down the road (think we still need 4-5 forward with a couple at least higher end scholarship worthy guys and a couple walk on/low money guys)...I've got to believe Eaves and Co have a handle on the numbers and a plan (the guy has been coaching high level D1 for a decade plus now).
I think what we've seen is a litte bit of a shift from fill your recruiting classes with 14, 15, 16 year old kids and hope they work out to something different. Look at how many times we pushed Corbin McGuire back and what he evolved into from a can't miss 15 year old to a cant play almost 21 year old. I think there is an advantage to letting the dust settle and kids develop into closer to what they are going to be before you have to make a commitment. The fact that we have some scholarship money left means we can take a Cameron Hughes or Sheehy....neither of which a year ago would have been as highly desired as they are at this moment. Most other high end programs wouldn't mind taking Hughes in particular....but don't have the scholarship money left to realistically take him next fall at this point. In his case....I am hoping we get a kid that somewhat developed a touch later (ie not 15 or 16) where what you will get at the college level is more of a certainty in part because we waited and now have money where a lot of his other options don't exist because those schools he might have considered don't have money available.
With regard to recruiting WI kids I maintain the talent level just isn't there to justify having 10 kids or more from in-state. I'd love to see the top 5 WI HS go to Minnesota and play teams ranked 10-15 and see what transpires. I'd wager the WI teams get waxed and the only one that could hold their own (go .500 or better) would be Superior.
ugh...UGH!
With regard to recruiting WI kids I maintain the talent level just isn't there to justify having 10 kids or more from in-state. I'd love to see the top 5 WI HS go to Minnesota and play teams ranked 10-15 and see what transpires.
The top 5 would more than hold their own against 10-15 in Minny.