-There's been some questions about 2011 recruit Tyler Lapic (pictured) and why he's been out of the lineup lately. Lapic played this season with the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.I was able to speak with Lapic tonight and he informed me that he's injured his wrist and is currently in a cast. With only a few weeks left in the USHL season, Lapic will not return to the Steel. He didn't make it seem too serious, and told me he will begin rehab on the wrist shortly. I see no reason for him not to be 100% for next season.
-One thing I wanted to note with the site re-design. If you click on the NHL jerseys on the top banner (which I think is pretty cool) it links you to the website I've set up to track the stats of all former Badgers who are playing pro hockey. Currently there are 45 Badgers playing pro hockey. 17 in the NHL, 14 in the AHL, 6 in the ECHL, and 8 in Europe.
-On the potential recruiting side of things, Sun Prarie native and Madison Capitols defenseman Will Butcher has accepted an invitation to play for the USA National Team Development Program for next season. I've been touting Butcher as the top 1995 born defenseman in the country and his early invite and acceptance to the NTDP does nothing to prove that theory wrong. Butcher should be the Badgers #1 target for the class of 2013.
-Kirk Daubenspeck has been released from the hospital which is outstanding news. Kirk still has a lot of recovery and rehab left but it's great to see that he's progressed to the point where he can go home.
-I wanted to express my congratulations to North Dakota, Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan, and Notre Dame on making it to St. Paul for the Frozen Four next week. All four teams had outstanding seasons and It's nice to see that the title will be brought back West again this season.
-11 players have already decided to leave college hockey early for the pro ranks. Last season 36 underclassmen left early and only 4 saw significant time in the NHL this season. Badgers Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan were two of the four.
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