Vitals:
Position: Defenseman
Year in School: Freshman
Shoots Right
Height: 6-0
Weight: 195 lbs
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Major: Undeclared
Previous Team: US NTDP last season
NHL Considerations: I was surprised he wasn’t drafted this summer. His dad Rob was the #1 overall pick in the 1974 NHL Draft, he has the bloodlines, and now has the best blue line coach in the NCAA’s.
08/09 Stats: 54 games, 2-10-12
09/10 Role: fighting for the 6th dman spot
08/09 Recap: Skated w/ the US National Team Development Program last season on their U-18 team after winning the Robertson Cup w/ the St. Louis Bandits the previous season in the NAHL. The U18 team won gold at the 2008 World U18 Championships.
Biggest Strength: All scouting reports say that he is a solid stay at home defenseman, something the Badger roster could really use. I heard he has a booming slap shot too.
Biggest Weakness: Having never seen John play, he’ll have a big transition to make to the WCHA especially fighting for PT against a group of future NHL blue liners.
09/10 Thoughts: W/ five top NHL draft picks in front of him, John will be battling w/ three other defensemen for playing time, and based on how well Craig Johnson was playing last season, it will be an uphill battle. I think he’ll see some PT, Eaves will want to get him out there to get experience and see what he can do, but w/ the depth on the blue line and at forward there won’t be many openings. I’m looking forward to seeing John play, I think the Badgers landed another recruiting steal as he was sitting out there uncommitted during the middle of last season.
John will be the first player in modern history to wear a non-traditional #, traditionalist need to get over it.
Prediction: 8 games, 1-2-3*
*All predictions for regular season only
Photo from uwbadgers.com
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