Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you?

[Chuck Schwartz]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I could see 1st Star gone after next season, but Barnes will still be around unless he makes a gigantic leap in the next 18 months. I like what Barnes is bringing to Badger hockey (I like it A LOT) but compared to other forwards signing pro contracts I just don't see it happening so quick. Easily a 3 or 4 year guy.

As for Ohio State, they have the "potential" to be a good, even great, program, but its just that, potential. I think your guarnatee is a tad early Chuck, Oz might be a good coach, but they have a long way to go. Miami (OH) didn't become a contender in a handful of years, and I'm not convinced that Ohio State ever will.

Comparing a MAC school or whatever they are to a Big 10 school is like apples to elephants. The turnaround time at Ohio State can, and will be very short.

They are already consistently landing a much higher level of recruit and that's only going to increase with the advent of the Bi6 10 hockey conference. It's the same reason I feel Penn State will be a year in year out competitor within 10 years. These schools already have tremendous drawing power and now they are going to be playing in the best conference in the country? They are going to be picking up a lot of recruits that normally would have been a Denver, or CC, or North Dakota.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Comparing a MAC school or whatever they are to a Big 10 school is like apples to elephants. The turnaround time at Ohio State can, and will be very short.

They are already consistently landing a much higher level of recruit and that's only going to increase with the advent of the Bi6 10 hockey conference. It's the same reason I feel Penn State will be a year in year out competitor within 10 years. These schools already have tremendous drawing power and now they are going to be playing in the best conference in the country? They are going to be picking up a lot of recruits that normally would have been a Denver, or CC, or North Dakota.

What do you consider very short? When they don't make the Frozen Four in 4 or 5 years (which I consider very short) I want to save this post and make sure I come back and tell you, you were wrong. And I'll gladly eat crow if I'm wrong.

Because really what else is there at a level of success? Consistently winning? Big deal, if they aren't competing for NC's.

This isn't football Chuck, Miami isn't a MAC school in hockey, they are a young powerhouse, and turning into that in pretty short order. I'm not as convinced as you about the BTHC being a magnet for the best recruits. Why would any kid want to go to North Dakota right now? The women? The beautiful winter weather? Drunk driving being legal? The annual drunken lawn mower toss? Well maybe the last two, no they go to play hockey for a storied program who wins every year. I have a hard time believing a top flight recruit is going to choose Penn State over NoDak 5 or 10 years from now because PSU is in the BTHC. Same w/ Denver unless Gwoz leaves for different job.

I could be wrong, but in my eyes minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have more to offer ANY recruit right now, and they still lose top players to North Dakota and Denver, why would that change? The "national television" of the BTHC, I could watch the gophers every weekend right now if I had fox college sports channels in Utah or South Carolina.

 

[Gandalf the Red]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I'll reiterate what I said on twitter this afternoon. Would have loved to had Zach Stepan. Would have LOVED to have him. But we have no rooom in the 2012 class for another forward at this point. We've already got Zulinick, Kerdiles, and McGuire locked up for 2012 and Navin locked for 2012 or 2013.

I'll take Kerdiles and Zulinick over Stepan any day of the week and twice on Sundays. I love McGuire and have for years as well. It's a toss up between him and Stepan as to who will produce more at the college level. Navin also provides a lot more flexability than Stepan as he's willing to be a 2012 or 2013 where as I don't think we'd have that opportunity with Stepan.

Potential 2012 fowards:

Seniors
Derek Lee
Keegan Meuer
Ryan Little

Juniors
Mark Zengerle
Tyler Barnes
Michael Mersch
Jason Clark
Jefferson Dahl
Gavin Hartzog
Sean Little

Sophomores
Brendan Woods
Cody Strang
Matt Pappe
Tyler Lapic

Freshmen
Morgan Zulinick
Nic Kerdiles
Corbin McGuire
Brad Navin

This is assuming that Craig Smith signs early. That has us at 18 forwards for 2012. Obviously we would hold Navin back so that would put us at 17. Most likely we'll lose one or two of Barnes, Mersch, Zengerle etc. to a contract or someone else to natural attrition and Little can always be moved back to defense.

Moral of the story was we just ran out of spots for Stepan. It's a good problem to have. Would have loved him, but we'll be more than fine.

Chuck you certainly make a good point here, though if Stepan is a 2013 recruit for OSU that makes less sense, and is rather lame.

Wisconsin is pretty stacked at forward and the group of freshman this season aren't likely to have many early departures (like I said Zengerle has the best shot at a pro deal in the short term) and the next group isn't filled with any superstars either. Brendan Woods projects as a future pro, but will need a few years of fine tuning at UW before that is a possibility. As you diagramed, the cupboard is full in 2012 and 2013 at forward.

I hope Eaves and Co are concentrating on another goalie recruit in the next few seasons to compliment Rumpel and some 2012 and 2013 defensemen. Tim Davison is a good start, and Hesketh and McCabe will be great next season, but an early departure or two, along a few graduations will mean some future NHL blue liners are needed in the queue.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I could be wrong, but in my eyes minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan have more to offer ANY recruit right now, and they still lose top players to North Dakota and Denver, why would that change? The "national television" of the BTHC, I could watch the gophers every weekend right now if I had fox college sports channels in Utah or South Carolina.

If we're just talking television, UND has the best deal in college hockey right now. Every single home UND game is nationally televised live on FSC, including a weekly Sioux Recap/Preview show as well. Not even the Gophers have that good of a deal.

 

[RinkPig]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

If we're just talking television, UND has the best deal in college hockey right now. Every single home UND game is nationally televised live on FSC, including a weekly Sioux Recap/Preview show as well. Not even the Gophers have that good of a deal.

Yea, maybe if you have the $30 sport package you can watch every Sue game....Gophs every game can be seen in all of MN, SD, and ND on FSN is HD....How many Susie games are in HD? Can you even get HD in North Dakota yet....you just got indoor plumbing last year!

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Edit: Heisenburg lists him as a 2013. If that is the case...then I just got a bit more upset.

I'm miffed. And Oz has been in McCoushen's ear too. There's no other reason a guy from WI would be considering OSU. Didn't UW lose a decommited D to OSU as well?

I'm sure it's just me ultra-loyal to UW and being black and white in a grey world, but I think it's wrong for a coach to go after guys he recruited on behalf of one school to go to another school where he is now employed.

And on top of that, UW has a newbie recruiting coordinator going against the Oz/Rolhik duo. Rohlik did some great recuiting for UMD. I wonder if any players UMD was interested in have signed with OSU.

Wisconsin Hockey: F#&K OSU

 

[brianvf]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Yea, maybe if you have the $30 sport package you can watch every Sue game....Gophs every game can be seen in all of MN, SD, and ND on FSN is HD....How many Susie games are in HD? Can you even get HD in North Dakota yet....you just got indoor plumbing last year!

The sports package is $4 a month. Pretty cheap, and you get a bunch of other college hockey games as well.
Speaking of Gopher hockey broadcasts, how many of them get tape-delayed due to Timberwolves basketball or HS football?

Plus, the only thing you see during a Gopher broadcast (aside from the Gophers losing) is how empty Mariucci is.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I'm miffed. And Oz has been in McCoushen's ear too. There's no other reason a guy from WI would be considering OSU. Didn't UW lose a decommited D to OSU as well?

I'm sure it's just me ultra-loyal to UW and being black and white in a grey world, but I think it's wrong for a coach to go after guys he recruited on behalf of one school to go to another school where he is now employed.

And on top of that, UW has a newbie recruiting coordinator going against the Oz/Rolhik duo. Rohlik did some great recuiting for UMD. I wonder if any players UMD was interested in have signed with OSU.

Wisconsin Hockey: F#&K OSU

All is fair in college recruiting. Be better than Oz/OSU or go home.

If a kid and his family got comfortable with Oz and wants to follow him, I say go for it.

I was talking to the father of a high profile UW senior who finished up last season and he mentioned in passing that he had talked to Eaves a grand total of 1 time in the 5 years that his son was at UW. It wouldn't surprise me if these kids and their families put a lot of weight in the relationship with the recruiting coach.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Plus, the only thing you see during a Gopher broadcast (aside from the Gophers losing) is how empty Mariucci is.

So true. But they're all at high school games instead.

How's Arizona, you *****?

Here's what you're missing right nowish.

 

[brianvf]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

How's Arizona, you *****?

Here's what you're missing right nowish.

AZ is great so far. I haven't experienced the heat of summer yet though, so we'll see how that goes.
I'm actually back in WI this week for my daughter's bday, so know all about the current snow.

 

[solovsfett]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

I'm miffed. And Oz has been in McCoushen's ear too. There's no other reason a guy from WI would be considering OSU. Didn't UW lose a decommited D to OSU as well?

I'm sure it's just me ultra-loyal to UW and being black and white in a grey world, but I think it's wrong for a coach to go after guys he recruited on behalf of one school to go to another school where he is now employed.

And on top of that, UW has a newbie recruiting coordinator going against the Oz/Rolhik duo. Rohlik did some great recuiting for UMD. I wonder if any players UMD was interested in have signed with OSU.

Wisconsin Hockey: F#&K OSU

I'm a bit upset by the Stepan thing as well. The d-man I think was Fiola (sp?)?...of course having said that, I get ****ed every time UW loses a recruit. going back to Holzinger (THAT was inexcusable in my book) and beyond.

As to the kids and famalies getting closer to the recruiting coach, I'm sure that's true. The head coach doesn't have time to recruit (unless it's making a visit to seal the deal) so it's the assistants who get the face time. That's probably true on campus as well as the assistants pretty much help implement the HC's systems and philosophy.

 

[FueledByRamen]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

As an avid snowmobiler/snowboarder, all I can say is AWESOME!!!!


(The downside was that it took me 2 hours to get from the Verona Rd. Beltline exit to Cascade Mtn. in Portage tonight... 6" of fresh was worth it though!)

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

All is fair in college recruiting. Be better than Oz/OSU or go home.

If a kid and his family got comfortable with Oz and wants to follow him, I say go for it.

I was talking to the father of a high profile UW senior who finished up last season and he mentioned in passing that he had talked to Eaves a grand total of 1 time in the 5 years that his son was at UW. It wouldn't surprise me if these kids and their families put a lot of weight in the relationship with the recruiting coach.

My take is Oz was recruiting him on behalf of the UW, not himself, selling the U itself, the facilities, the staff and the players. Now he goes to Zach and tells him, "No Zach, UW isn't for you, OSU has what you need and not UW". To me that's just crooked. Now if Zach is coming in 2012 and UW has no room; fine, that's the way it goes. But it he's going to OSU in 2013 and UW had room and wanted him; that's crooked.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

My take is Oz was recruiting him on behalf of the UW, not himself, selling the U itself, the facilities, the staff and the players. Now he goes to Zach and tells him, "No Zach, UW isn't for you, OSU has what you need and not UW". To me that's just crooked. Now if Zach is coming in 2012 and UW has no room; fine, that's the way it goes. But it he's going to OSU in 2013 and UW had room and wanted him; that's crooked.

Maybe so, but we both know that it's the way it works.

Who knows what Oz sold him on and it's not like he's now going to Huntsville. I would guess that OSU and Columbus are lateral moves even if the program is several steps back. Maybe Oz told them that he'd be personally involved in the kid's devo and they decided to stick with him.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

As an avid snowmobiler/snowboarder, all I can say is AWESOME!!!!

You're gonna love tomorrow then. My kid keeps asking me if we'll ever get to Cascade before February. Maybe this will be the year. Were all of the runs open, other than the non-lighted ones?

 

[crashthenet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Maybe so, but we both know that it's the way it works.

Who knows what Oz sold him on and it's not like he's now going to Huntsville. I would guess that OSU and Columbus are lateral moves even if the program is several steps back. Maybe Oz told them that he'd be personally involved in the kid's devo and they decided to stick with him.

Some of you guys are whacked. As a OSU fan...Here's what OSU has to offer to Zach Stepan:

Great coaching staff - likely will coach world juniors again in the future
Head coach that has likely watched the kid play for several years (because he was an asst coach)
Incredible campus and atomsphere - has everything to offer
Future Big 10 league
New Arena - incredible facility
A butt load of money that is being pumped into the program
Big enough school to chose any major he wants
A likely committment that he will play.

Should I go on...

 

[WeWantMore]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Some of you guys are whacked. As a OSU fan...Here's what OSU has to offer to Zach Stepan:

Great coaching staff - likely will coach world juniors again in the future
Head coach that has likely watched the kid play for several years (because he was an asst coach)
Incredible campus and atomsphere - has everything to offer
Future Big 10 league
New Arena - incredible facility
A butt load of money that is being pumped into the program
Big enough school to chose any major he wants
A likely committment that he will play.

Should I go on...

Because Wisconsin doesn't offer any of that...

Besides, I don't think many of us are ripping on OSU. Lots of people want to see Oz succeed.

 

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Because Wisconsin doesn't offer any of that...

Besides, I don't think many of us are ripping on OSU. Lots of people want to see Oz succeed.

Yeah, we're just upset that our recruiting classes are already so stacked that we still end up losing top notch kids like Zach to other schools.

It's probably one of the best problems you can have as a program.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Some of you guys are whacked. As a OSU fan...Here's what OSU has to offer to Zach Stepan:

Great coaching staff - likely will coach world juniors again in the future
Head coach that has likely watched the kid play for several years (because he was an asst coach)
Incredible campus and atomsphere - has everything to offer
Future Big 10 league
New Arena - incredible facility
A butt load of money that is being pumped into the program
Big enough school to chose any major he wants
A likely committment that he will play.

Should I go on...

Great first post!

I was actually taking Oz's side.

 

[MadCityRich]

Re: Wisconsin Recruiting: What are you going to do, when NHL-U, comes calling for you

Some of you guys are whacked. As a OSU fan...Here's what OSU has to offer to Zach Stepan:

Great coaching staff - likely will coach world juniors again in the future
Head coach that has likely watched the kid play for several years (because he was an asst coach)
Incredible campus and atomsphere - has everything to offer
Future Big 10 league
New Arena - incredible facility
A butt load of money that is being pumped into the program
Big enough school to chose any major he wants
A likely committment that he will play.

Should I go on...

Tell me, oh state school graduate, what the **** is an ATOMSPHERE, eh?

"Incredible facility"....... with 2900 asses in the seats. If Stepan wants to play in a 17,500 seat arena with 2900 in attendance (16.8% of capacity), well...kudos to him.