NCAA: Jake and the Pat Man

McKeen's correspondent Max Giese has an update on the Wisconsin Badgers, including a look at the blossoming game of freshman defenseman Jake Gardiner, who was the best prospect on the ice during the NCAA College Showcase that saw Michigan and Michigan State visit the Kohl Center in Madison. A man trapped inside a boy's body, Badgers tireless forward Patrick Johnson is also featured along with Brendan Smith, Cody Goloubef and Ryan McDonagh.

Jake Gardiner (Ana), D, Wisconsin Badgers

A highly skilled offensive defenseman with elite skating ability, Gardiner appeared hesitant early in his freshman season, but has recently grown into his own skin and is playing his best hockey yet .. the key to this transformation has been his newly found confidence in his ability to harness his game-breaking top gear to rush the puck up ice and spearhead the offensive attack .. has a flare for the highlight reel, as once he burned multiple opponents with his spellbinding speed before undressing another with a spin-o-rama .. simply a special skater, it is fun to watch Gardiner so effortlessly carry the puck past waves of opponents and recover instantaneously to break up plays defensively .. has also been more involved physically in recent viewings and appears more instinctive marking his defensive assignments, as well as being proactive in coverage around his crease .. subsequently his icetime has been increased, as Gardiner now receives a regular shift even strength and is on the second powerplay unit .. still prone to making green freshman mistakes at both-ends of the ice, but Gardiner appears to be a quick study and is being coached up at a fast rate by Mike Eaves and his staff.

Brendan Smith (Det), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Despite being a defenseman, Smith has been the Badgers most dangerous offensive threat this season .. arguably the most gifted player on the Badgers roster and could be special once all of his parts are fully assembled .. blessed with a beautiful pair of hands and a laser shot, Smith boasts the type of offensive ability to make opponents miss in the open ice and to be a dominant presence on the powerplay .. receiving top-pairing minutes and loads of icetime on the powerplay, as his game has blossomed since being partnered with Jamie McBain .. his offensive exploits have always been evident and he's really taken them to another level this season, however his defensive game has also enjoyed marked improvement .. is beginning to marry his natural physical strength with a more tenacious physical game, as he now contests his ground and pushes back when pushed himself .. previously guilty of running around and chasing after the puck, Smith appears more patient defending by sustaining positioning and allowing the play to come to him .. Detroit could have something good cooking here.

Cody Goloubef (CBJ), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Getting his game back on track after a shaky start, Goloubef's puck movement has really shined in recent viewings .. displaying superb on-ice vision in possession and the poise with the puck that he impressed with as a freshman is back in his game now, as he's making strong plays on the outlet and has displayed his ability to stretch the ice with the home-run pass coming out of his own zone .. works the point on the second powerplay unit and is making things happen by getting his big shot on net with an increased frequency .. his improved play also carries over to the defensive side of the game, where his coverage in his own zone is much stronger than it was previously, because he isn't chasing the play so much, but is competing harder in front of his own net .. has a lot to do with the Badgers improved play as of late.

Patrick Johnson (Mtl), RW, Wisconsin Badgers

Smart and relentless pint-sized winger that projects as a potential defensive specialist, as he is a dynamic penalty-killer that gets under opponents skin with his tireless work ethic .. a darty skater with good quickness and has some skill with the puck in tight spaces .. offensive production is down compared to a year ago and much of that has to do with the fact that he has not been able to get his deceptively hard shot on net as much .. unfortunately, he is built like his mom and not his dad, former Badger great Mark Johnson, as he is all skin and bones and is desperately struggling to add pounds of muscle to his 5-foot-9, 155-pound frame .. the major concern moving forward is can someone that frail play and last in the pro-game?

Ryan McDonagh (Mtl), D, Wisconsin

Nothing sexy and will never grab your attention with a flashy play, but McDonagh is as solid as they come in his own-zone and his athleticism is beginning to take over .. has always been a sharp all-access skater, but now his stride is even more powerful and his powerful straight-line speed has allowed him to make impact plays both with and without the puck .. not blessed with a high amount of finesse and is not seeing a lot of powerplay time, yet he chips in the occasional offense because of his honest play and calculated decisions with the puck .. has a robust physique, which he complements nicely with a mean streak, as it is a rare occurrence to see him be beaten one-on-one .. does not project to provide a lot of offense at the next level, but McDonagh is a safe bet to be a valued NHL defenseman.