Best Recruiting Class All-Time

[JDUBBS1280]

Obviously a little biased and too early to tell, but I'd have to agree with FS23, UND '05 is pretty remarkable.

Brian Lee (2005, pick 9)
TJ Oshie (2005, pick 24)
Joe Finley (2005, pick 27)
Taylor Chorney (2005, pick 36)
Andrew Kozek (2005, pick 53)
Matt Watkins (2005, pick 160)
Jonathan Toews (2006, pick 3)
Ryan Duncan (Hobey Baker winner)

Obviously a little too early, but Toews and Oshie have had good NHL success and Lee, Finley, Chorney and Watkins (one game) have also seen NHL time. The argument gets a little strayed when you talk about Duncan, because there wasn't as much hype of him coming in, but he probably gave the most to the program. Kozek and Duncan both stayed in the AHL this season.

Yeah, that was a pretty sick draft class.

[JDUBBS1280]

for me Wisconsin's 1990-91 class stands out (in terms of individual talent, if you read Mike Kemp or Jeff Sauer's accounts, they landed every player they targeted in these classes)

Jason Zent 92g-68a-160
Chris Tucker 37g-44a-81
Andrew Schier 53g-115a-168
Dan Plante 42g-49a-91 (3 year-player)
Blaine Moore 57g-72a-129
Jeff Sanderson
Matt Buss

the following year 91-92 they added more firepower
Kelly Fairchild 56g-83a-139
Brian Rafalski 20g-80a-100
Maco Balkovec 16g-64a-80
Jamie Spencer 46g-59a-105
Mike Doers
Mike Strobel 49g-51a-100
Mark Strobel 21g-42a-63
Chris Tok

Another great one. Pretty solid two-year stretch for Sconnie. Thanks for posting Solo!

[JDUBBS1280]

Gopher fans - Consensus on the 1976-77 class, or does anyone have any others?

I am still amazed that a 3-year stretch of Gopher recruiting classes produced 8 Gold medalists. Gotta be considered the glory days of Gopher hockey. I guess that's why those classes stick out the most to me.

[Koho]

Cornell had a class which went on to:

-win a Calder Trophy
-win a Conn Smythe Trophy
-win 5 Vezina Trophies
-win 6 Stanley Cups
-make 5 All-Star game appearances
-have a member inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame

Not too shabby...

(oh - it was the class of '69, which included a goalie named Ken Dryden )

I don't remember hearing of any of these awards in college hockey?


Shouldn't a college recruiting class be judged on how the players performed in college? Stu Bickel was a last minute pick-up for the Gophs, played one year with the Gophs (solid defender but not spectacular) and has played himself into an NHL spot. That doesn't make him a better recruit than Grant Bischoff or Ryan Duncan. (I don't think Duncan played NHL, did he?)

[LynahFan]

I don't remember hearing of any of these awards in college hockey?


Shouldn't a college recruiting class be judged on how the players performed in college? Stu Bickel was a last minute pick-up for the Gophs, played one year with the Gophs (solid defender but not spectacular) and has played himself into an NHL spot. That doesn't make him a better recruit than Grant Bischoff or Ryan Duncan. (I don't think Duncan played NHL, did he?)

Well, then. You'll have a hard time finding a better class than the one that entered Cornell in fall of '66. They weren't eligible to play their freshman year, but in their 3 years of eligibility, they went 83-4 (.954). I'm sure this must be the best NCAA record for any individual class.

[PhatKroger10]

Well JDUBBS1280, could you refine what you mean by the "Best Recruiting Class All Time"? I mean there's obviously much different standards, best prospects, best college team, best post-college success?

[css228]

I don't remember hearing of any of these awards in college hockey?


Shouldn't a college recruiting class be judged on how the players performed in college? Stu Bickel was a last minute pick-up for the Gophs, played one year with the Gophs (solid defender but not spectacular) and has played himself into an NHL spot. That doesn't make him a better recruit than Grant Bischoff or Ryan Duncan. (I don't think Duncan played NHL, did he?)

Maybe, but Dryden is also pretty much indisputably the greatest goaltender to ever put on a pair of pads in a college game.

[The Boomer]

SCSU recruits in 1998: Scott Meyer, Dean Weasler, Mike Pudlick, Tyler Arnason, Nate DiCasmirro. Later joined by Duvie Westcott.

[solovsfett]

Another great one. Pretty solid two-year stretch for Sconnie. Thanks for posting Solo!

no prob, my list is based solely on the amount of individual talent coming to Madison at one time (or in this case two consecutive years), I was too young to assess the 80's talent but do remember watching Richter, Granato's, Mellanby, Ranheim, Tuttle et al.

by no means did this group 90-91 (and 91-92) solidify and play as a team which was quite a shame as they should have won at least 1 NCAA Title. 1992 LSSU title game loss and subsequent melt-down ruined the team. from there forward they played like their were 5 pucks out there at all times.

[JDUBBS1280]

Well JDUBBS1280, could you refine what you mean by the "Best Recruiting Class All Time"? I mean there's obviously much different standards, best prospects, best college team, best post-college success?

Yeah, I was just thinking about that. I am leaning towards saying best recruiting class as it relates to college production/accomplishments. But as I say that, I realize that some really good players may not have stayed in college long (ie... Phil Kessel and Thomas Vanek for Gophers). So I think you need to factor in post-college accomplishments as well.

So, how about half and half?

[JDUBBS1280]

SCSU recruits in 1998: Scott Meyer, Dean Weasler, Mike Pudlick, Tyler Arnason, Nate DiCasmirro. Later joined by Duvie Westcott.

Good one!

[JDUBBS1280]

no prob, my list is based solely on the amount of individual talent coming to Madison at one time (or in this case two consecutive years), I was too young to assess the 80's talent but do remember watching Richter, Granato's, Mellanby, Ranheim, Tuttle et al.

by no means did this group 90-91 (and 91-92) solidify and play as a team which was quite a shame as they should have won at least 1 NCAA Title. 1992 LSSU title game loss and subsequent melt-down ruined the team. from there forward they played like their were 5 pucks out there at all times.

I know the feeling. The 1989 loss sticks with me in much the same way.

[UncleRay]

Well, then. You'll have a hard time finding a better class than the one that entered Cornell in fall of '66. They weren't eligible to play their freshman year, but in their 3 years of eligibility, they went 83-4 (.954). I'm sure this must be the best NCAA record for any individual class.

I was going to look up a Maine class or two (Paul Kariya's?) until I read this. Game over. I can't see anybody coming up with a cogent argument against this class in terms of college accomplishments.

[JDUBBS1280]

I was going to look up a Maine class or two (Paul Kariya's?) until I read this. Game over. I can't see anybody coming up with a cogent argument against this class in terms of college accomplishments.

The exercise is best recruiting class for the program you follow.

[LynahFan]

I was going to look up a Maine class or two (Paul Kariya's?) until I read this. Game over. I can't see anybody coming up with a cogent argument against this class in terms of college accomplishments.

I couldn't find a reference to what Maine's 93-94 record "actually" was (without the forfeits), but in the other 3 seasons that Kariya's class played, they were 103-16-12 (.832), which certainly is not too shabby! Imagine if Kariya *hadn't* left...

The only problem with the Cornell class of '70 is that they only won 1 title in their 3 amazing seasons. Michigan's class of '53 won the NCAA title every year they played...

[The Exiled One]

Maybe, but Dryden is also pretty much indisputably the greatest goaltender to ever put on a pair of pads in a college game.

The ghost of Frank Brimsek agrees.

[UncleRay]

The exercise is best recruiting class for the program you follow.

According to the thread title it is "Best Recruiting Class All-Time." Doesn't say anything about my program. But then, I'm not the dimwit who wrote it.

[UncleRay]

The only problem with the Cornell class of '70 is that they only won 1 title in their 3 amazing seasons. Michigan's class of '53 won the NCAA title every year they played...

Are you trying to trump your boys?

[burd]

According to the thread title it is "Best Recruiting Class All-Time." Doesn't say anything about my program. But then, I'm not the dimwit who wrote it.

This has always been a tough bar to play.

[JDUBBS1280]

According to the thread title it is "Best Recruiting Class All-Time." Doesn't say anything about my program. But then, I'm not the dimwit who wrote it.

Read (I know it's tough) the OP again. You are the dimwit

"What do you think your school's best recruiting class was?"

Not sure how much clearer I can make it.