Just for you, Screwball

[Goober McTuber]

Based strictly on potential, the University of Wisconsin men's hockey program just had its best showing ever in the NHL Entry Draft.

In fact, you also could argue the Badgers just had the most prolific draft of any NCAA Division I school in history.

UW had five players taken in the first 51 picks — including first-rounder Jake Gardiner and four second-round selections — and finished the two-day draft Saturday in Ottawa, Ontario, with seven players/recruits chosen.

No school ever has had that many prospects taken so early in the NHL draft, which currently spans seven rounds and includes 211 selections.

"It's incredible, to be honest with you," said UW assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Mark Osiecki, who represented coach Mike Eaves and the school at the draft. "It speaks volumes about what we're doing. It's about development."

If you're looking for a NHL overview on why so many UW players were so highly regarded, consider what Anaheim general manager Brian Burke said after taking Gardiner with the 17th overall pick Friday night.

An incoming freshman defenseman, Gardiner is considered a project of sorts because he began playing the position last year as a senior at Minnetonka (Minn.) High School.

"The thing that sold it for us is that Wisconsin is a top program for developing players," Burke told the Orange County (Calif.) Register.

That sentiment carried over to Saturday when the Ducks were part of a run on UW players/recruits in the second round, then closed out their draft by taking a third defensive prospect headed for Madison.

Defenseman Cody Goloubef, a sophomore-to-be, kicked things off for the Badgers in the second round when he was taken by Columbus at No. 37.

Then came two recruits projected to arrive at UW in 2009-10: Defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (Omaha, U.S. Hockey League) was chosen by Ottawa at No. 42 and defenseman Justin Schultz (Westside, British Columbia Hockey League) went to Anaheim at No. 43.

Center Derek Stepan, an incoming freshman from Shattuck St. Mary's (Minn.) High School, was next to the New York Rangers at No. 51.

The next UW wave came in the seventh round, when winger Patrick Johnson, a sophomore-to-be, went 206th to Montreal, and defenseman Nick Pryor, a 2009-10 recruit with the U.S. National Team Development Program, went 208th to Anaheim.

Another Wisconsin product — Wausau winger Nate Condon, who's committed to Minnesota — was taken 200th overall by Colorado in the seventh round.

Two other schools could argue they had the most prolific NHL draft class.

In 2005, North Dakota had three first-rounders (defenseman Brian Lee, center T.J. Oshie and defenseman Joe Finley) and two seconds (defenseman Taylor Chorney and winger Andrew Kozek) all taken in the first 53 picks. In 2006, Minnesota had four first-round picks (defenseman Erik Johnson, winger Phil Kessel, winger Kyle Okposo and defenseman Dave Fischer) and a third-rounder (center Mike Carman) all taken in the first 81 selections.

The last three NHL drafts for the Badgers have resulted in four first-round picks and seven tabbed in the second. How all this works out remains to be seen.

Will the prospects be as productive as the UW classes from 1982 (Patrick Flatley, Tony Granato and Dave Maley played 14, 13 and nine NHL seasons, respectively) and 1984 (Scott Mellanby, Gary Suter and Paul Ranheim played 21, 17 and 15 NHL seasons, respectively)?

Or will there be more busts than breakthroughs?

Over the last three drafts, the Badgers have had eight defensemen taken in the first two rounds.

"It's a growing reputation," Eaves said. "The proof is in the pudding."

[Screw_Michigan]

And you guys will waste all that talent by going .500 next year. But thanks for keeping me up to date on your perennially underachieving hockey program.

Go get hammered and take a swim in a river, DICK.

[Goober McTuber]

Your 1-AA hockey conference had their moment in the sun. Get ready for some more WCHA dominance, asslick.