NCAA: Wisconsin Badgers Midseason Update

The Wisconsin Badgers are a young and talented team that is chalked full of promising NHL prospects. The results have been mixed, as the Badgers have had their moments of brilliance and others clouded by consistency. McKeen's reviews several Badgers including 2007 NHL first round picks Kyle Turris, Ryan McDonagh and Brendan Smith.

Kyle Turris (Phx), C, Wisconsin Badgers

Nothing can be said that probably already has not been said about Turris, as he is the complete package of skill, hockey sense, and competitiveness .. has gone up against some of the top centers in college hockey and has won the one-on-one battles .. dynamic offensive threat that owns the powerful stride to explode past the defender and the patience while gaining the zone to allow the play to develop before striking with his deft passing game .. exceptionally skilled, as he's embarrassed multiple defenders and goaltenders with his sick dangle, creative moves, and explosive shot .. a winner through and through with great determination, as he does the little things it takes to win such as winning the foot races on the forecheck .. has phenomenal hockey sense and anticipation .. Turris plays on the penalty kill and makes mature decisions in his own end .. potential franchise cornerstone that would be well advised to return for another year of school next season because his lack of strength is the only glaring issue, as he can be less effective in the physical games.

Ryan McDonagh (Mtl), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Physical shutdown type that is being heavily relied upon on the Badgers penalty kill .. displays proper knee bend and foot speed to his stride along with strong backwards mobility and good first-step quickness .. not as refined offensively as he is defensively, although he shows glimpses of developing this aspect of the game .. he is receiving some time on the powerplay where he is beginning to jump more effectively and is beginning to find shooting lanes with more regularity .... nasty and mature defensively, as he is almost impenetrable one-on-one thanks to his outstanding stickwork and the ability to take his man out thanks to his superior strength .. covers his crease area very well, as he punishes the opposition physically for coming near it and clogs lanes with his active stick .. does a phenomenal job sensing where the play is developing, as he is often one-step ahead of the play mentally .. quietly very effective defensively and is beginning to blossom offensively.

Brendan Smith (Det), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Game breaker from the backend with amazing offensive skill, as he is often the Badger's most dangerous player on the ice .. high risk/high reward type with the puck, as few defensemen are as dynamic as he is moving or skating the puck up the ice, however he does not always pick his spots wisely and is caught up ice with disappointing regularity .. gifted with velvety hands and the ability to stretch the ice with his first passes and quarterback the powerplay .. effortless skater for a big man that covers a lot of ice with little effort, although his first step could be more explosive .. makes smart plays all over the ice, as he anticipates the game so well .. seeing time on the penalty kill, as he is big and strong with the ability to knock the opposition off their feet when he wants to, however his wild defensive game often leaves him out of position to do so .. could develop more of a physical edge especially considering his massive frame .. skies the limit for Smith, as it looks like the Red Wings found themselves another gem.

Cody Goloubef (2008), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Steady and reliable two-way presence that allows his teammates to make plays with the comfort of knowing he will be in the right place at the right time .. poised and has played beyond his years, more than holding his own against the top teams in the WCHA .. sees the ice well, as he moves the puck astutely with clean tape-to-tape passes from the point or while breaking the puck out of his own end .. his patience and composure while breaking the puck out of his own end is special for a player of his age, as he will hold onto the puck for that one last second to allow the breakout to develop .. consistently displays his exceptional decision-making skills with the puck .. skilled and will jump but he picks his spots wisely .. such a smooth and prodigious skater in all directions with a nice, long stride .. needs to be harder with his man at times and improve his gap control as well as his play in front of his own net .. cerebral and skilled defenseman that will have some teams hot for him because of his savvy play.

Blake Geoffrion (Nsh), C/LW, Wisconsin Badgers

The Nashville second rounder has developed well this season while inheriting a more offensive role with the young Badgers .. has already more than tripled his offensive output from a year ago in 14 less games .. he is seeing the ice better this season when in possession of the puck and has become more poised distributing the puck coming down the wing .. already possesses NHL-caliber size and strength, as he is a bull that goes to the net and stirs things up with his physical edge .. versatile and mature two-way forward that can play either wing or center and kill penalties .. still needs to improve on his skating, as his hockey sense gets him opportunities but his lack of a second gear often kills the offensive opportunity .. will play in a checking role in the NHL if he can improve his skating.

Jamie McBain (Car), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Skilled puck moving defenseman that is on pace to eclipse last year's totals despite his staggering individual development .. his best attribute is his ability to see the ice and make crisp tape-to-tape passes in all three zones .. can manufacture offense with his creative passing game while quarterbacking the powerplay .. can catch the opposition out of position or on a line change with a home run pass from his own end .. effective skating the puck up the ice for a guy that is not overly fast because he reads the play so well while in possession .. defensively, he needs work, as he's often caught flat-footed and his defensive tactics are suspect .. still a promising prospect but one that will need to take another step before leaving college.

Kyle Klubertanz (Ana), D, Wisconsin Badgers

Senior puck moving defenseman that has bulked up considerably while steadying his overall play .. one of the best pure passers you will see, as he is capable of stretching the ice with his beautiful passes that are catch able, hard, and tape-to-tape .. provides plenty of offense from the point, as he owns a heavy shot with a rapid release .. leans forward while skating, although his stride remains strong and gets him around the ice with no problem .. his veteran presence on this team shows, as he communicates well with his young defensive partners .. displaying more of a physical edge this season while defending, although he still can be sucked to the outside by skilled players and needs to be careful about not being caught flat-footed while standing his ground at the blueline .. back on track and is ready for the AHL next season.

Podge Turnbull (LA), RW, Wisconsin Badgers

Fiery spark plug that lacks speed but has a nose for the net .. spirited player that has the fortitude and passion you look for .. brings the pure energy and enthusiasm to the game every night that every team can use .. extremely vocal and is so loud you can hear him from the rafters .. still lacks explosiveness out of the gates, although his stride overall looks a bit stronger as the year has progressed and his motor was never in question .. can catch the unsuspecting opposition off guard with his surprising strength by knocking them off their feet with a heavy hit on the forecheck .. most dangerous down low, as he owns soft hands, competes hard on the puck, and is capable of moving the puck well or finishing himself with a hard wristshot .. competes hard with or without the puck, as his defensive awareness shows signs of improvement, especially in the marking department .. good mid-round investment by the Kings.

Matthew Ford (Chi), RW, Wisconsin Badgers

Big winger with a hard shot but below-average speed and inconsistent intensity .. owns one of the heaviest shots you will see, as he owns a missile that he can pick corners with if given the chance .. has added considerable amount of bulk this year and it has allowed him to become stronger on the puck, along the boards, and in front of the net .. displaying more awareness and effort while on the defensive side of the puck .. skating is still the main issue despite his stride having a little more burst to it this season, but his stride recovery is still non-existent .. has a great shot but his heavy-footed skating continues to keep on the fourth line at this level and makes his future in the Chicago Blackhawk's system questionable.

Patrick Johnson (2008), RW/C, Wisconsin Badgers

The son of former Badger and American great Mark Johnson, Patrick has made an immediate impact and is receiving icetime on both specialty team units .. obviously, a coach's son, as he thinks the game so well away from the puck and does the little things such displaying the poise to kill the clock instead of foolishly icing it or being strong on draws .. fluid and quick skater that has a nose for the net along with the ability to move the puck crisply in all three zones .. not shy of the physical side of the game despite his smallish stature, as he owns a mean streak that is shown with his vicious hits on the forecheck .. responsible defensive player that has earned the trust of coach Eaves to be used on the penalty kill .. should receive consideration late in the draft, as he could potentially play the role of a penalty-killing pest very well.

John Mitchell (UFA), C, Wisconsin Badgers

Has filled out dramatically since his draft year and is now a colossal presence on the ice .. decent skater for a player of his size that does not coast around and can catch the opposition off guard at times .. possesses soft hands with a gigantic reach that allows him to protect the puck well .. still so raw but his upside is undeniable and when he puts all of his physical gifts together, you could have something here.