robertearle
Well-known member
I have it that Ohio State loses 4 forwards, 4 D, and two goalies: Bilka, Gardner, Hausworth, and King; Barnes, Markowski, Hartmetz, and Bernard; Kirk, and Kuntz.
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Wisconsin Women's Hockey 2023-2024
- Thread starter robertearle
- Start date
I have it that Ohio State loses 4 forwards, 4 D, and two goalies: Bilka, Gardner, Hausworth, and King; Barnes, Markowski, Hartmetz, and Bernard; Kirk, and Kuntz.
robertearle
Well-known member
Preview article on the website shows O'Brien, Kotlowski, and Wheeler in the photo of 'seniors being celebrated' this weekend.
:-(
:-(
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Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Let's hope there is a change of heart for I'm hoping 2. There's also the portal. A strategic pick up there is not out of the question. If they just run what they have out there in MJ I trust.
BadgerPete
Active member
Casey O'Brien is such a remarkably underrated player but also an excellent first case study as to what the Olympics-PWHL effect ends up being.
If she scores five points over the rest of the season (which is at worst six more games) she passes Abby Roque to enter the top 10 in scoring in Wisconsin history. More than Emily Clark or Sarah Nurse. She has two titles and a shot at a third. She was a Patty Kaz finalist in 2022; every other finalist from that year except Skyler Fontaine is in the PWHL.
Now when you look at the PWHL, she would by my amateur evaluation be the sixth rated forward in the draft out of college (I have Fillier, Serdachny, Bilka, Gardiner, and Curl ahead). Adjusting for potential international players, she probably lands as a late second/early third round pick. If I assume she's graduating with her four-year degree this May, it's up to what her goals are.
Right now she's probably on the outside looking in for the 2026 Olympics team, but definitely on the radar. I'm sure she's had some former teammates like Buchbinder, Shirley, Campbell, Compher, and Watts telling her about the league. If she wants to make a splash and try to grab one of those roster spots, what moves the needle more? Another year of spending 2/3rds of her time skating around the Bemidjis of the world, or night in and night out world class competition? A breakout rookie season in the PWHL could move that needle; another 60 point college season would be great but probably doesn't.
Wilgren probably has the same calculus. Similar situation (Rivalry Series callup, likely on the wrong side of the cut line for 2026); probably a third/fourth round pick in the PWHL draft (behind Barnes, and in a group with Murkowski, Guay, and Simpson). When you remove the "finishing your degree" part of the equation, it might be quite appealing to try and grab your shot now. 2030 is a billion years away in lifetime terms.
Wheeler is a different case, even though I also think she's one of the most underrated Badgers (we'll call this the Sam Cogan Award). I don't think she's on that same radar; I think she would probably get a sixth or seventh round flier depending on the international draftees and would face an uphill but not necessarily insurmountable battle to squeeze onto a roster. She may have to think it over but I could see her returning.
Don't get me wrong, I want them all back. But I think we're getting an early lens into how the early success of the PWHL may change the calculus of some of those post-degree decisions.
If she scores five points over the rest of the season (which is at worst six more games) she passes Abby Roque to enter the top 10 in scoring in Wisconsin history. More than Emily Clark or Sarah Nurse. She has two titles and a shot at a third. She was a Patty Kaz finalist in 2022; every other finalist from that year except Skyler Fontaine is in the PWHL.
Now when you look at the PWHL, she would by my amateur evaluation be the sixth rated forward in the draft out of college (I have Fillier, Serdachny, Bilka, Gardiner, and Curl ahead). Adjusting for potential international players, she probably lands as a late second/early third round pick. If I assume she's graduating with her four-year degree this May, it's up to what her goals are.
Right now she's probably on the outside looking in for the 2026 Olympics team, but definitely on the radar. I'm sure she's had some former teammates like Buchbinder, Shirley, Campbell, Compher, and Watts telling her about the league. If she wants to make a splash and try to grab one of those roster spots, what moves the needle more? Another year of spending 2/3rds of her time skating around the Bemidjis of the world, or night in and night out world class competition? A breakout rookie season in the PWHL could move that needle; another 60 point college season would be great but probably doesn't.
Wilgren probably has the same calculus. Similar situation (Rivalry Series callup, likely on the wrong side of the cut line for 2026); probably a third/fourth round pick in the PWHL draft (behind Barnes, and in a group with Murkowski, Guay, and Simpson). When you remove the "finishing your degree" part of the equation, it might be quite appealing to try and grab your shot now. 2030 is a billion years away in lifetime terms.
Wheeler is a different case, even though I also think she's one of the most underrated Badgers (we'll call this the Sam Cogan Award). I don't think she's on that same radar; I think she would probably get a sixth or seventh round flier depending on the international draftees and would face an uphill but not necessarily insurmountable battle to squeeze onto a roster. She may have to think it over but I could see her returning.
Don't get me wrong, I want them all back. But I think we're getting an early lens into how the early success of the PWHL may change the calculus of some of those post-degree decisions.
Such a thoughtful post BadgerPete, really enjoyed that!
Yes I am excited to see the impact the PWHL has EVERYWHERE.
It may impact college rosters if USA and Canada get less obsessed with specific programs and a little more PW focused, it may impact centralization, it may impact covid 5th years as you suggest. I am curious too to see what it might do for youth hockey enrollment.
Seeing some of the offensive challenges in the Pw and the adjustment someone like Jaques is having speaks to how good the defense in that league may be. Day in, day out it’s a higher average of competition than IIHF play too. Was remarkable to hear Gina Kingsbury comment on the Battle of Bay Street the other day that the speed of the game was not much less than a US Canada game.
Yes I am excited to see the impact the PWHL has EVERYWHERE.
It may impact college rosters if USA and Canada get less obsessed with specific programs and a little more PW focused, it may impact centralization, it may impact covid 5th years as you suggest. I am curious too to see what it might do for youth hockey enrollment.
Seeing some of the offensive challenges in the Pw and the adjustment someone like Jaques is having speaks to how good the defense in that league may be. Day in, day out it’s a higher average of competition than IIHF play too. Was remarkable to hear Gina Kingsbury comment on the Battle of Bay Street the other day that the speed of the game was not much less than a US Canada game.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
Great analysis BadgerPete of the OB situation. It's a different world now. The talent pool is very deep in the PWHL. The question I have is are all these drafted players good enough to make a roster? They are going to replace players already playing. Is she good enough to make a roster? Probably.
BadgerPete
Active member
One of the reasons that I included her college numbers is that when we look at Casey O'Brien, in college she hasn't just produced like a pro player, but she has produced like a top-6 PWHL player. Her Badger statistical comparables (Roque, Clark, Nurse) are marquee players, and her 22-23 NCAA stat comparables (Emma Maltais and Gabbie Hughes) project the same. That doesn't necessarily translate directly, but is certainly an indicator that COB has significant pro potential.
The other element to look at is the fourth line players on each team who she would have to bump for a roster spot. Taylor Wenczkowski, Gig Marvin, and Amanda Pelkey on Boston, Fanni Gar?t-Gasparics and Kristin Della Rovere on Ottawa, Brooke Bryant and Brittyn Fleming on Minnesota... all solid players and quality pros no question, but would I take Casey O'Brien over the whole group? Absolutely.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I guess it sure looks like you're right.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
An interesting thought on last week's crowd. Early on Friday, the "let's go red" chant started by the guy who always does it and it was the loudest I have ever hear it. It was echoing deep in the building. It gave me the chills. Saturday the same guy tried multiple times to get it going and it would not stick. I had thought most of the crowd for both games is the same, I wonder what caused the difference in the attitude of the crowd? There is also a very nice student section developing, great to see. And we had the band last weekend. Let's split some eardrums this weekend.
I know I was publicly waffling on whether or not to get season tickets next season and just watch most games on the B200 + app....Robert was right, you see a different game in person than on the tele and it you get the feel of the game. It's worth the investment in time for that experience. I'm all in for next season.
It's freaking game day and the Muzzinators will be in the house. LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know I was publicly waffling on whether or not to get season tickets next season and just watch most games on the B200 + app....Robert was right, you see a different game in person than on the tele and it you get the feel of the game. It's worth the investment in time for that experience. I'm all in for next season.
It's freaking game day and the Muzzinators will be in the house. LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO RED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In other sports, drafting a player and then cutting them in the preseason is death to a GM. With small-ish rosters, a salary cap, and a small number of teams, the spots available for young players will be limited. Older players like Hilary Knight have invested so much in getting the league started, they are going to stick around as long as they can. To avoid a logjam, league expansion or a reserve system, like NFL practice squads, will have to be developed.
Regarding the Senior Night announcement, if none of the recognized players return, the margin for error for injuries and illnesses will be tiny. I like the younger players and next year's recruits sound fantastic. However, if we have injury redshirts or injuries/illnesses like we did throughout this season, the bench will look empty. Time for MJ to go in for some Muzerall-esque transfer action.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I had the SAME thought. Then the question is how much do they get paid for being on the practice squad?
Let go RED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hockeybuckeye
Well-known member
If you're referring to Curl's penalty with two minutes to go I agree. I just couldn't believe the captain would do something to hamstring any advantage Wisconsin could have had to tie the game.
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
He always says it's a distraction but Wisconsin outshot OSU 19 to 2 after the emotional ceremony so I don't really think that's a factor. It's wonderful for the fans to be able to honor these players after watching them develop over all these years.