Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Eaves still needs two forwards for next season. If I were him I'd be working on Dartmouth commit Will Johnson (Madison Capitols). Was on pace for a 72-point USHL season before hurting his knee half-way through the season. He's expected to come back to the Caps next season.

Doesn't hurt having Luke Strand on board. I'm just sayin' ....

 

[IndianaBadger1995]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Doesn't hurt having Luke Strand on board. I'm just sayin' ....

Is there a potential recruit you have in mind that Strand would have in his back pocket? Or is the hiring gonna sway Will Johnson towards UW?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I'm told Santa Barbara, Calif. native Will Johnson (Madison Capitols) has committed to the Badgers. 36 points in 30 games last year before injury. Johnson is expected to join the Badgers immediately next season. Was previously committed to Dartmouth.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I'm told Santa Barbara, Calif. native Will Johnson (Madison Capitols) has committed to the Badgers. 36 points in 30 games last year before injury. Johnson is expected to join the Badgers immediately next season. Was previously committed to Dartmouth.

And Johnson just made it official on twitter

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Proud to announce my commitment to the University of Wisconsin for the 2015-16 season. Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way</p>— Will Johnson (@willjohnson_7) <a href="https://twitter.com/willjohnson_7/status/606115238484832256">June 3, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Big get for the Badgers considering the circumstances. Also really have to like that Strand coached him and knows exactly what he's getting in Will Johnson. Plus, I always like seeing that name on the back of a Badger jersey.

Be curious to see if any other committed Caps players are targeted. There may be one or two there that could contribute. Of course Strand has obviously watched a few USHL games this year too, and you'd have to think if there are any sleepers or kids who could be turned left in the league, he's right on top of them.

 

[IndianaBadger1995]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Things are moving fast in Madtown. So that means we only need one more forward for next year and we are set, right?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Things are moving fast in Madtown. So that means we only need one more forward for next year and we are set, right?

Not 100% convinced they bring another guy in yet. We'll see.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Personally I could live with the forwards on the roster and bank the scholarship, but I sure would feel better with another dependable D available. Top six can be solid next year but after that I'm not too confident. One early season injury and it could spell real trouble.

 

[IndianaBadger1995]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

So is Will Johnson viewed as a top 6 or bottom 6 guy?

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Personally I could live with the forwards on the roster and bank the scholarship, but I sure would feel better with another dependable D available. Top six can be solid next year but after that I'm not too confident. One early season injury and it could spell real trouble.

It might not be the worst idea in the world to roll with 14 forwards this year. They don't graduate anyone and there are no guys that jump out as flight risks to leave (Maybe Besse if he goes off this year?). So you bring in Trent Frederic next season. Frederic is likely a 3-year type guy. If they are going to make an attempt at balancing the forwards they need to bring in more than Frederic next season. If you bring in 15 this year, Frederic is 16 and you're already handcuffed. If you go with 14, bring Frederic in as 15 next year and maybe 2 more and make it clear to some of the lower-rung forwards that they probably will never see the ice, you can at least attempt to get this thing back on track.

Cullen Hurley can be a swing guy an play forward in a pinch if a few guys go down.

If they can find the right defenseman, I'd like to see them bring in another one if possible. Wittchow, Schulze, Davison, Dougherty, Linhart, Tischke are the top 6. I don't trust Bunz and Hurley is very untested. I don't mind going with 9 defensemen with Hurley being a swing guy and Bunz a walk-on. Then you add Berkovitz and Stillwell next season to replace Wittchow and Schulze.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

So is Will Johnson viewed as a top 6 or bottom 6 guy?

He's a play-making type forward. Was on pace to finish second in the USHL in scoring this season before a knee injury ended his season. Finished with 36 points in 30 games.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

That's not a bad start

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

It might not be the worst idea in the world to roll with 14 forwards this year. They don't graduate anyone and there are no guys that jump out as flight risks to leave (Maybe Besse if he goes off this year?). So you bring in Trent Frederic next season. Frederic is likely a 3-year type guy. If they are going to make an attempt at balancing the forwards they need to bring in more than Frederic next season. If you bring in 15 this year, Frederic is 16 and you're already handcuffed. If you go with 14, bring Frederic in as 15 next year and maybe 2 more and make it clear to some of the lower-rung forwards that they probably will never see the ice, you can at least attempt to get this thing back on track.

Cullen Hurley can be a swing guy an play forward in a pinch if a few guys go down.

If they can find the right defenseman, I'd like to see them bring in another one if possible. Wittchow, Schulze, Davison, Dougherty, Linhart, Tischke are the top 6. I don't trust Bunz and Hurley is very untested. I don't mind going with 9 defensemen with Hurley being a swing guy and Bunz a walk-on. Then you add Berkovitz and Stillwell next season to replace Wittchow and Schulze.

This is pretty much what my thinking was going forward. And Eaves is going to have to recruit over the top of a few guys if there's any hope of straightening out the classes at all, but it would be a first step. Haven't seen enough of Hurley to feel very good about him playing D, but he's a good skater and I have no problem with him going out on a checking line should it come to that.

Finding the right D at this point is a bit of a needle in a haystack proposition though... I'm sure somewhere in the world there's a guy that fits the bill, but where?

Thinking out of the box, if I felt like I had a line on another stud for '16, I'd wouldn't mind hiring a one year insurance policy. Maybe even a top D3 guy like UWSP's Alex Brooks. (who I mostly just pick because the last Alex Brooks we had turned out pretty good) Will be a 23 year old Sr. puck mover that's experienced enough to probably not get you in too much trouble if he actually had to play. He gets a free year of school and a Rocky Balboa shot at the big time, and you have an open scholarship again next year. (It's a little complicated but a guy like that can get an exception to play this year.) Of course the hitch being that you can't just call up and recruit another college player, they have to come to you. Bah. Technicalities...

 

[IndianaBadger1995]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

This is pretty much what my thinking was going forward. And Eaves is going to have to recruit over the top of a few guys if there's any hope of straightening out the classes at all, but it would be a first step. Haven't seen enough of Hurley to feel very good about him playing D, but he's a good skater and I have no problem with him going out on a checking line should it come to that.

Finding the right D at this point is a bit of a needle in a haystack proposition though... I'm sure somewhere in the world there's a guy that fits the bill, but where?

Thinking out of the box, if I felt like I had a line on another stud for '16, I'd wouldn't mind hiring a one year insurance policy. Maybe even a top D3 guy like UWSP's Alex Brooks. (who I mostly just pick because the last Alex Brooks we had turned out pretty good) Will be a 23 year old Sr. puck mover that's experienced enough to probably not get you in too much trouble if he actually had to play. He gets a free year of school and a Rocky Balboa shot at the big time, and you have an open scholarship again next year. (It's a little complicated but a guy like that can get an exception to play this year.) Of course the hitch being that you can't just call up and recruit another college player, they have to come to you. Bah. Technicalities...

Interesting player of choice. I'm trying to remember him from all the UWSP games I went to this year but I'm drawing a blank. Could very well be a good thing since he's a defenseman.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

It might not be the worst idea in the world to roll with 14 forwards this year.

Strand mentioned he needs to bring in 2 more guys. I don't get why you'd ever need more than 14. With so many tv timeouts, you could roll your top 3 lines and spot the 4th. It isn't like the #15th guy is an insurance policy if #1 guy leaves early, the talent gap is too big.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Interesting player of choice. I'm trying to remember him from all the UWSP games I went to this year but I'm drawing a blank. Could very well be a good thing since he's a defenseman.

Well he did have 5g 21a in 28 gp this year from the Blue line. Not bad. Wouldn't have to be him, but the idea of having a older, physically mature player for a year rather than an inexperienced youngster come in for next year appeals to me a lot. His points suggest he sees the ice well and I just think a guy like that can probably give you 10-12 minutes a game and not screw you up too much. And who knows? Sometimes you get lucky and find a diamond in the rough. The nice thing would be that you get the scholarship back next year just in time to hand it to Fabbro. And if Berkovitz doesn't get his mojo back you can even give his spot to Jost, still ok on D, and then we're back in the FF in two years. Simple!

So if you happen to see Alex down on the Square, maybe mention he should get permission from UWSP to call up Eaves.

 

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

Strand mentioned he needs to bring in 2 more guys. I don't get why you'd ever need more than 14. With so many tv timeouts, you could roll your top 3 lines and spot the 4th. It isn't like the #15th guy is an insurance policy if #1 guy leaves early, the talent gap is too big.

I suppose the other end of it is that you have scholarship $$ just sitting on the shelf and that probably doesn't feel right either. Especially for government employees.

I see a kid I kind of liked, Chase Pearson, is now headed to Maine this fall. Big, 2 way center with NHL pedigree and some upside. Could have been a Brendan Woods type who was a grinder the first year and then found his stride just in time to leave us in the lurch when we needed him. Could also be a Brad Navin type who had big potential for four years. So we missed out on that.

 

[DPlaya]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I'm thinking that the staff may reach out to former Green Bay Notre Dame forward Brett Gruber. He's not real big but tore up the BCHL in his first season (35-31=66 in 57 games) and was the #2 pick in the USHL Phase II Draft recently (by the Green Bay Gamblers). He's committed to ASU for 2016-2017. No inside knowledge, just a guy that would potentially make sense to pursue.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I'm thinking that the staff may reach out to former Green Bay Notre Dame forward Brett Gruber. He's not real big but tore up the BCHL in his first season (35-31=66 in 57 games) and was the #2 pick in the USHL Phase II Draft recently (by the Green Bay Gamblers). He's committed to ASU for 2016-2017. No inside knowledge, just a guy that would potentially make sense to pursue.

I like the sounds of this guy. I don't think size is that important. Maybe you should have applied for a job @ UW.

 

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. XXX: 1 All American at a Time

I don't understand the D3 player idea. He would have to sit out next season due to NCAA transfer rules. What would be the point?