Steve Klein ([log in to unmask]) wrote:
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I think this is highly unfair, and I trust that Badger fans with a memory
will come to Jeff Sauer's defense.
In fact, that's the problem: defensemen who can get the puck out of the
defensive zone and move the forwards on the attack.  Was Terry at the UW-MSU
NCAA game last year when Rafalski almost singlehandedly won that game with
his breakout passes for goals?  That's what beat the Spartans and
contributed to a successful UW season.
That's what's missing this year.  It's a recruiting thing, and Sauer will
have to address it.  But MSU has been suffering from the same problem for a
few years now, and Ron Mason has worked hard to correct it. But it will be
at least one more season before he has a defense that can make the offense
work.  It's not a particularly sophisticated concept, but it's one that
knowledgeable college hockey fans are aware of.  Jeff Sauer has won two NCAA
titles at Wisconsin, and I know that the Dean of WCHA coaches will have that
program back in position for his third title and a sixth overall within a
couple years.
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Sorry, but I disagree.  I won't come to Sauer's defense (though he needs
defense).  I'm 100% with you that Rafalski was a god that day, and that
defense also triggers offense (including point play when up a man).  I take
exception to Sauer winning two NCAA titles and to the implication being "the
Dean of WCHA coaches".  Sauer's "first title" came with a team who's
Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors were recruited, drilled, taught, trained,
and led by Bob Johnson.  Heck *I* could've coached that team to a title.
Also, with a team that has a reputation of a Wisconsin (or Minnesota, or
Michigan, or LSSU, or BU) just about any coach can recruit talent.  And that
Sauer does; recruit talented players.  Talent alone will get you off to a
great start towards your annual 20-win seasons.  Throw in (arguably) the
best goalie coach, Bill Howard, in Div 1 (Richter, Behrend, Joseph, Derksen,
Carey, more that escape my memory) and you have a better record yet.  The
trick is to get those great athletes to play as a team (does it suddenly
smell like Jason Zent in here?) to achieve team goals.  I don't think Sauer
is in the top 50% of D-1 coaches at doing that.  In fact, if he were so good,
 why was his record at CC so abysmal?  I still maintain that Sauer focuses
on recruiting talent over need.  Getting defensemen now is closing the barn
door after the horse is gone - he should've gone after the talented
defensemen two years ago and maybe bypassed the 1 or 2 good Sophomore
wingers he got.
 
End of tirade.
 
Steve G
 
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