Wisconsin Recruiting Vol. III - Building a better tomorrow...today!

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Caufield and Turcotte have been playing up with the U18's for around a dozen games or so, but getting named to the U18 National Team for the Worlds (with 18's Miller and Emberson) as U17's is a pretty exciting deal.

Congrat's boys. Go get the Gold!

[Bonin21]

Top ten programs (not teams this year) is an interesting topic. I think no point in actually ranking them since the debate could go on forever, but a list of teams for me would be:

BC, BU, DU, ND, UM, UMD, UMN, UND, uw (9) and someone from Lowell, Providence, Qpac, or Union with PSU a quickly rising program

And I know you didn't ask me sorry

I remembered writing this in January. Looks like UMD cemented itself as a top 8 hockey program in the nation.

[Ronny Wolf]

Check out this link:

http://usatodayhss.com/2018/2017-18-...key-first-team

Little better than I thought? What do you make of this?

[Timothy A]

Check out this link:

http://usatodayhss.com/2018/2017-18-...key-first-team

Little better than I thought? What do you make of this?

Looks good to me. The kid from West Salem may just be another Pavs. You don't see a kid from WI on an all country hockey list very often. Interestingly the 1st and 3rd team goalies (Kelly sr / Johnson jr) are uncommitted.

[Ronny Wolf]

Gorniak just signed his NLI this afternoon. Does that mean hes coming next year?

[Wisko McBadgerton]

I'd guess it means yes, Gorniak will be a Badger right away. I was curious as to why he wasn't in Lincoln as I believe the Stars hold his rights.

Keep in mind the USA High School All American list is just that -- High School players and not any players in Juniors where obviously many of the best 17-18 year olds are playing. Still there are a lot of good high schoolers and the record of success among the very top HS players is pretty good.

Lot of people are very high on Gorniak and some project him as high as the late second round. While you never know how the jump to NCAA from high school is going to go... (Brad Navin comes to mind) I think given the roster situation it's a good move to get him in. I'm all for it.

[DPlaya]

Brock Caufield and Roman Ahcan also signed NLI's today. No indication when any of them are coming in yet according to Milewski. I think these two are probably most ready to contribute next season.

[Wisko McBadgerton]

Brock Caufield and Roman Ahcan also signed NLI's today. No indication when any of them are coming in yet according to Milewski. I think these two are probably most ready to contribute next season.

Yeah, but I'd be shocked to find out UW is handing out Spring LOI's to players that aren't coming in the fall. There's just no need to do it at this point.

Caufield has had a nice second half to his season and has impressed. Ahcan hasn't produced the big numbers with Cedar Rapids but finished strong with 5 goals in his last 6 games.

I like bringing in Gorniak now becasue he can come in and play down the lineup and get up to speed early. Then if it goes well can be a contributor later in the season. If he continues on a high trajectory (which nobody can say if he will) he won't be a 4 year player. Getting something from him next season and having him all set to go when the other Caufield and Turcotte arrive is a good plan to me.

[MadCityRich]

Keep in mind the USA High School All American list is just that -- High School players and not any players in Juniors where obviously many of the best 17-18 year olds are playing.

I agree with the high school vs junior comparison, BUT....you didn't agree with me when I mentioned an NAHL player is just that, and not in the USHL for a reason.

It's a talent thing.

No Ian's Pizza for you, bro!

[Timothy A]

All 3 are coming next year per TDM.

[gwhinwi]

All 3 are coming next year per TDM.

Here is the exact quote from the article.

"UW coach Tony Granato indicated Wednesday that the team's intention is to bring all of the players it signs into the fold for the 2018-19 season. But he added a caveat that there are "a lot of factors that go into that."

Some roster changes have to happen. I'm guessing some upperclassmen may be moving on.

[solovsfett]

Here is the exact quote from the article.

"UW coach Tony Granato indicated Wednesday that the team's intention is to bring all of the players it signs into the fold for the 2018-19 season. But he added a caveat that there are "a lot of factors that go into that."

Some roster changes have to happen. I'm guessing some upperclassmen may be moving on.

No doubt. TG is finally getting his guys in and like football with new coaches some of the prior regime’s players end up getting washed out.

It may not be pleasant but it’s the reality of D1 sports and the pro’s. The new coaches must be given leeway to make the tough decisions (Mel Pearson is doing the same thing).

[Timothy A]

No doubt. TG is finally getting his guys in and like football with new coaches some of the prior regime’s players end up getting washed out.

It may not be pleasant but it’s the reality of D1 sports and the pro’s. The new coaches must be given leeway to make the tough decisions (Mel Pearson is doing the same thing).

Of the forwards, there really aren't that many that are not TG's recruits: Malone, Freytag, Johnson, Zimmer, Zirbel, Labosky, Mersch, Messner. One would think they would have cut ties with Mersch & Messner already if they didn't think they fit the bill. Zirbel and Labosky don't play much at all. They would want to keep Malone, Freytag, Johnson & Zimmer (who they intentionally brought in early) right?

[WiscTJK]

And I would guess all these NLI signers means the Peltonen brothers aren't coming......

[gwhinwi]

I've updated the spreadsheet with two changes, but I have a feeling that this isn't the last time I'll be working with that spreadsheet in the coming weeks.

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

There aren’t too many obvious targets for this year’s purge.

[Timothy A]

There aren’t too many obvious targets for this year’s purge.

Bunz, Sexton, Zirbel, Labosky?

[ExileOnDaytonStreet]

Bunz, Sexton, Zirbel, Labosky?

That’s about it

[Timothy A]

That’s about it

The only thing we don't know are there any guys who are bad locker rooms guys among the kept Eaves players that may have to go for the betterment of the team. I don't want there to be and don't know if there are, but we all seem to agree something was amiss in there.

[WiscTJK]

The only thing we don't know are there any guys who are bad locker rooms guys among the kept Eaves players that may have to go for the betterment of the team. I don't want there to be and don't know if there are, but we all seem to agree something was amiss in there.

Agree here. I thought Zirbel in his limited action looked pretty good. I don't know if the other three Bunz, Sexton, and Labosky saw the ice at all.

One guy missing from the spreadsheet, but on the roster is that kid from Europe.