Wisconsin seems to be a factory for pumping out high end NHL dmen. With Brendan Smith, Jake Gardiner and now Justin Schultz coming up who does everyone see as being the best of the bunch? Also what do you project their high end potential to be?
Jake Gardiner is the only one that played in the NHL and had a 30 point rookie season and was the best rookie defenseman. Until Smith or Schultz make any impact at all in the NHL it's Gardiner.
Sounds like he is just talking about Gardiner, Schultz, and Smith. But even then I think those three all have higher ceilings than McDonagh. Very good players.
Praying it's Smith, then Schultz, then Gardiner. I'm also praying that Schultz and Smith do it together and become the best defensive pairing the NHL has ever seen. And I am also praying that a trash bag filled with one hundred dollar bills falls in my lap within the hour.
I think they will continue the trend with Jake McCabe. I believe he was the youngest player on the team, and looked very comfortable out there. he will not get a lot of hype, probably drafted in the same range as a Schultz/McBain....but the kid will be another riser that people are going to love.
Wisconsin does develope a ton of great young dmen...more and more young top dmen should make that a #1 destination imo
Jake Gardiner is the only one that played in the NHL and had a 30 point rookie season and was the best rookie defenseman. Until Smith or Schultz make any impact at all in the NHL it's Gardiner.
Travis Moen VS Jonathan Huberdeau
Moen is the only one who played in the NHL and had a 6 pts and 142 PIM rookie season. Until huberdeau make any impact at all in the NHL, it's Moen.
See how flawed your logic is?
IMO it goes Schultz, Smith and Gardiner but it's a very close race.
Jake Gardiner is the only one that played in the NHL and had a 30 point rookie season and was the best rookie defenseman. Until Smith or Schultz make any impact at all in the NHL it's Gardiner.
Loosen up - the OP asks who will end up being the best. Plus you're on the Hockeys Future Boards not the Don't You Dare Compare Someone Who's Never Played in the NHL With Someone Who's Played One Season Boards.
As to the OP's question, I have no idea but Chuck Schwartz, a sports writer who's covered U of Wisconsin hockey for a few years, ranks them:
Loosen up - the OP asks who will end up being the best. Plus you're on the Hockeys Future Boards not the Don't You Dare Compare Someone Who's Never Played in the NHL With Someone Who's Played One Season Boards.
As to the OP's question, I have no idea but Chuck Schwartz, a sports writer who's covered U of Wisconsin hockey for a few years, ranks them:
Schultz
Smith
McDonagh
Gardiner
McBain
it would be interesting to see if he was ranking them at their tenure at Wisconsin, or how he sees them as professional players. I always think the unknown (Schultz) looks sexier then the known player. Smith would top my list because I think this kid is going to be a monster for the Wings next year.
it would be interesting to see if he was ranking them at their tenure at Wisconsin, or how he sees them as professional players. I always think the unknown (Schultz) looks sexier then the known player. Smith would top my list because I think this kid is going to be a monster for the Wings next year.
It seems to me he's weighing their time at Wisconsin. Schultz was something other worldly these past two seasons whereas other guys like McBain and Gardiner only had 1 dominant season.
Loosen up - the OP asks who will end up being the best. Plus you're on the Hockeys Future Boards not the Don't You Dare Compare Someone Who's Never Played in the NHL With Someone Who's Played One Season Boards.
As to the OP's question, I have no idea but Chuck Schwartz, a sports writer who's covered U of Wisconsin hockey for a few years, ranks them:
Schultz
Smith
McDonagh
Gardiner
McBain
That is exactly what my list would like too going off of potential. Schultz seems to be a 2 way freak, Smith will be killing the scoreboard and killing other players with his nasty edge and Mcdonagh has been amazing this year as well.
Leaf fans like to crown Gardiner a future number 1 dman, but I'll believe it when he doesnt crack under Toronto media. Toronto doesnt have a history of developing defensemen and a lot of guys follow up good rookie years cracking under the pressure. Aulie, Schenn etc have all done the same
it would be interesting to see if he was ranking them at their tenure at Wisconsin, or how he sees them as professional players. I always think the unknown (Schultz) looks sexier then the known player. Smith would top my list because I think this kid is going to be a monster for the Wings next year.
It was how I see them as pros. And trust me...it was very tough to do.
If I had to do a list of NHL potential since I've been covering the team (05-06) it would be something like this.
Schultz
Smith
McDonagh
Gardiner
Gilbert
McBain
McCabe
Goloubef
Drewiske
Piskula
Klubertanz
Simonelli
Ramage
Faust
Engel
I surely hope you mean while during their time at Wisconsin.
McDonagh is significantly better then all of these players. And there are some damn good names on that list.
No, like I said...that's my ranking based on ceiling. I love Ryan McDonagh. LOVE Ryan McDonagh, but I think the ceilings of Smith and Schultz are higher. They are also different types of defensemen.
I don't have anything to add to the comparison, but Smith should have been in the NHL this season. The games he played, he looked like he should have been there all along. Defensively, he still has a ways to go, but the rest of his game is NHL level. You stick him with a responsible partner and he'll make good things happen. Babcock said it himself a few times this year. Clearly Holland thought differently.
